Architecture and Design Director

About the Role

Strategic brand design, customer experience, and architecture leader for multiple brands within a matrix organization that includes brand leadership, peers, teams, and Franchisees. Develop and implement design strategies and processes that contribute to the long-range success of the Brand's direction with strategic influence and innovation to the design, construction, and franchise support teams, along with outsourced design consultants. Maintain high-performance and quality standards for all design ventures and contribute to the attainment of the overall vision, goals, and objectives of the Brands using design thinking methodologies as the basis for growing and enhancing the business.

Promote and maintain design excellence on customer experience, site planning, building, interiors, signage, store planning, and brand initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Liaison with brand leadership on strategic design and aesthetic needs and influence leadership teams in the development of new concepts, prototypes, multi-store formats, and design elements for corporate and franchise stores.
• Set the vision, strategy, and execution of all design and organizational initiatives for the multiple Brands including but not limited to: peer-level disciplines, development, future technology, contractual relationships with architects, engineers, design consultants, local government jurisdictions (planning and zoning), etc.
• Lead the creation and implementation of building design brand standards. Serve as the design authority for building design standards and manage the brand exception review process.
• Lead all design-related activities outward to Franchisees including presenting to a variety of franchise committees, gaining alignment on new and evolved prototypes, guide sets, and brand standards.
• Create and implement value engineering solutions across multiple Brands.

Requirements

• Minimum 4-year/Bachelor’s degree required in architecture, construction, engineering, interior design, or another related field.
• Preferred Graduate Degree in Development trades.
• 10+ years of applied experience creating compelling customer experiences.
• 10+ years of experience in full-service restaurant or retail architecture, construction, or store design.
• 5+ years working within a matrix organization.
• Preferred: 15+ years’ experience in capital planning and project management, with an emphasis in restaurants or retail outlets.
• Leadership in design and construction; experience in the franchise industry required; previous work in a restaurant franchise development function seen as highly desirable.
• Preferred experience working both nationally and internationally.

Skills

• Strong communicator with excellent oral and written skills, including formal presentation experience and the ability to prepare, present, and negotiate agreements.
• Ability to interface and maintain excellent professional relationships with a variety of audiences, including franchise partners, internal construction and real-estate functions, internal and outsourced consultants, and various other departments within the Brands.
• Ability to participate in and facilitate group meetings inward and outward across the organization and franchisee groups.
• Highly motivated and the ability to work as a team player.
• Design and technical acumen across the entire restaurant design and architecture process, including architectural, site/civil, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and brand elements.
• High level of proficiency in reading and understanding architectural, structural, mechanical, and technical engineering documents.
• Extensive value engineering experience across the development disciplines.
• Restaurant or retail concept design development and execution.
• Ability to motivate cross-functional teams to produce quality materials within tight timeframes.
• Proficient in ACAD/REVIT/SketchUp/Adobe Creative Suite.
• Proficient in PowerPoint/Word/Excel.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule.

Schedule

Travel required: ability and willingness to travel up to 20%.