Executive Director

Summary

Join CannonDesign as the Executive Director, Central Region, and lead the growth of the firm's central region offices. This executive management role requires developing and executing a regional growth plan with a minimum 10% year-over-year growth target. You will partner with senior leaders to build a high-performing leadership team, define and execute strategic growth plans, and identify growth market opportunities. Responsibilities include overseeing business practices, risk mitigation, and quality execution, while championing design excellence and sustainable strategies. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree (advanced degree preferred), at least 20 years of relevant A/E/I industry experience, and a proven track record of leadership and inspiration.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Generally, at least 20 years of related experience or equivalent
• Experience working in the A/E/I industry
• Proven track record of ability to lead and inspire others
• Build our Brand by being connected externally and being visible in the region
• Champion our Living-Centered Design ethos
• Demonstrate ownership and accountability
• Be a great teammate, championing collaboration, design excellence and show fairness in actions and decisions, always putting our firm first
• Champion entrepreneurial behavior; open to new ideas, innovative concepts, and solutions
• Demonstrate optimistic and inclusive leadership of a diverse team
• Demonstrate business acumen with a sound approach regarding risk management and mitigation
• Communicate effectively internally; energize, inspire, motivate, and develop high-performing accountability

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a regional growth plan with a target of a minimum of 10% year-over-year growth, while continually being a champion for design excellence
• Collaborate with key individuals to build out complementary and distinct capabilities across the firm to further advance SFMO (Single-Firm, Multi-Office)
• Implement the regional growth in context with a firm-wide blueprint for developing a network of highly integrated offices
• Oversee the business practices, risk mitigation and quality execution of the work using a firm first, region second methodology
• Review contracting exceptions and grant exceptions using the firm’s and legal team guidance
• Be a champion for design, quality and a voice of sustainable strategies
• Source, build and advance a high-performing, diverse and inclusive senior leadership team including region, location / office-based talent
• Provide leadership, guidance, and support, holding leaders accountable to achieve firm wide goals and individual role responsibilities and expectations
• Define and execute a strategic regional growth plan
• Partner and engage with other firm, office, and market leadership to develop and implement a business plan which identifies key business strategies and entrepreneurial initiatives focused on the continued growth and impact of the region
• Partner with Office Practice Leaders, Market Leaders, and Business Line Leaders to identify growth market opportunities, key target clients and yearly Net Signed Fee targets that will grow the business volume of the region a minimum of 10% a year
• Champion clients for life vs commodity work
• Evaluate and take appropriate action to address the senior talent needs in the region
• Focus on building strong leadership teams capable of expanding our growth potential for our markets, practices, and business lines
• Identify new potential markets, practices, and business lines for investment and development
• Support research and development and encourage development of new ideas, services, and products to differentiate the firm and expand business potential
• Partner with your Regional Practice Director to champion the best practices of project management, risk management, process improvement, project leadership and financial stewardship
• Together with the Regional Practice Director be accountable for achieving or exceeding the profitability goals noted above for the firm first and the region second
• Represent the Firm externally at community-based events, conferences and broader events that continually support the overall brand and direction of the firm
• Regularly write, speak and communicate through external venues
• Work with the Executive team annually to identify strategic placement / speaking opportunities
• Be a leadership voice in firm-wide meetings, and events
• Provide inspirational leadership communicating aspirations, outcomes, directions, initiatives, policies, etc
• Develop and execute internal communication processes to keep staff informed and foster collaboration

Preferred Qualifications

Advanced degrees

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision coverage
• Flexible spending account options
• Voluntary insurances
• Paid time off
• Flex-time schedules
• Remote work options
• 401k plan
• Employee perk programs
• Employees may be eligible for discretionary bonuses