Project Director

Gensler's Experience Studio brings together strategy, storytelling, design, and technology to create immersive, inhabitable experiences that build lasting emotional connections. Our work spans mixed use and entertainment districts, experience centers, exhibitions, branded environments, and digital-physical ecosystems, delivered through highly collaborative, multidisciplinary teams.

About the role

We are seeking a Project Director to lead the operational engine of the studio — the person who ensures that ambitious experiential work is produced, integrated, fabricated, and delivered with excellence, predictability, and profitability. This role is ideal for a seasoned production leader who understands the full lifecycle of experiential delivery, from creative development through fabrication, technology integration, installation, and commissioning, and who thrives on building the systems, partnerships, and teams that make world-class work possible at scale.

Responsibilities

• Production Leadership
  • Own the end-to-end production strategy for the studio's experiential portfolio, spanning physical fabrication, AV and interactive technology integration, media and content production, and on-site installation and commissioning.
  • Lead production planning across all active projects, translating creative intent into executable production roadmaps, budgets, and schedules.
  • Direct the transition of projects from design development into production, ensuring documentation, specifications, and vendor scopes are complete, coordinated, and buildable.
  • Oversee on-site delivery phases, including installation supervision, integration testing, commissioning, and punch-list closeout.
  • Establish quality standards and review protocols across fabrication, technology, and content workstreams.
• Studio Operations
  • Build and continuously improve the studio's operational infrastructure: production workflows, resourcing models, estimating frameworks, vendor management systems, and delivery playbooks.
  • Lead studio-wide resource planning and staffing allocation across concurrent projects, balancing utilization, capability, and project needs.
  • Oversee studio financial operations in partnership with studio and practice leadership, including portfolio-level budget tracking, forecasting, margin management, and monthly financial reporting.
  • Manage risk across the portfolio, identifying schedule, budget, contractual, and technical risks early and driving mitigation.
  • Partner with legal and finance on production contracts, vendor agreements, and compliance requirements unique to experiential delivery.
• Vendor and Partner Ecosystem
  • Develop and manage a best-in-class network of external partners, including fabricators, AV integrators, software developers, content studios, general contractors, and specialty vendors.
  • Serve as the studio's senior point of accountability for production partner relationships and escalations.
• Team and Practice Leadership
  • Build, mentor, and lead a team of producers, production managers, and technical directors; define career paths and development plans for the production discipline.
  • Serve as a senior member of studio leadership, contributing to strategic planning, growth initiatives, and studio culture.
  • Support new business pursuits with production feasibility assessments, cost estimating, delivery approaches, and scope development for proposals.
  • Collaborate with practice leadership on productization, repeatable delivery models, and scaling initiatives across the broader Experience practice.

Requirements

• 12+ years of experience in experiential production, exhibit fabrication, themed entertainment, brand environments, live events, or related fields, with 6+ years in a senior production or operations leadership role.
• Demonstrated success delivering large-scale, technically complex experiential projects — such as innovation centers, experience centers, exhibitions, immersive attractions, or permanent branded environments — from design intent through fabrication, integration, and opening.
• Deep working knowledge of physical fabrication methods, AV and interactive systems integration, media production pipelines, and on-site installation and commissioning processes.
• Proven operational leadership: building teams, workflows, estimating models, and delivery systems within a studio, agency, fabricator, or integrator environment.
• Strong financial acumen, with experience owning multimillion-dollar production budgets, portfolio forecasting, and margin accountability.
• Extensive vendor management experience, including contract negotiation, scope development, and performance management across fabrication and technology partners.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills; able to hold creative ambition and operational rigor in productive tension.
• Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Proficiency with project management, resourcing, and financial tools (e.g., Smartsheet, Airtable, Microsoft Project, Excel); familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite a plus.
• Willingness to travel to fabrication facilities and project sites as required.

Pay

The base salary range is estimated between $170,000-$185,000 per year, plus bonuses and benefits, contingent on relevant experience.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, and disability coverage.
• Wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off.
• 401k, profit sharing, and employee stock ownership.
• Twice annual bonus opportunities.
• Reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees.
• Tuition reimbursement for certain eligible programs or classes.