Executive Director

Summary

Join CannonDesign as the Executive Director for the Great Lakes Region, overseeing offices in Buffalo, NY, Chicago, IL, Pittsburgh, PA, and Toronto, ON. This executive management role requires developing and executing a regional growth plan targeting at least 10% year-over-year growth. You will collaborate with firm leadership to build complementary capabilities across offices and implement regional growth aligned with a firm-wide strategy. Responsibilities include leading a high-performing leadership team, defining and executing strategic growth plans, identifying growth opportunities, and championing design excellence and sustainable strategies. The role also involves external representation of the firm and internal communication to foster collaboration. This position offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree is required for this role
• Generally, at least 20 years of related experience or equivalent is required
• Experience working in the A/E/I industry is required
• Proven track record of ability to lead and inspire others required
• 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
• Responsible for sourcing, building and advancing 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
• Responsible for defining and executing 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
• Work with others to evaluate and take appropriate action to address the senior talent needs in the region
• Focusing 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 are preferred

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