Description

The Director of Projects serves as a key leader linking executive design leadership with project delivery teams. Building on the Manager of Project Design role, this position expands responsibility to portfolio‑wide performance and client outcomes across all active projects. The Director is accountable for schedule, budget, and work‑plan adherence while ensuring an exceptional client experience at every stage.

In this role the Director translates the Vice President of Design’s strategic vision into actionable project and portfolio management practices. They lead, mentor, and develop Project Design Managers and their teams, fostering a culture of accountability, ownership, and high performance. The Director also supports department‑wide staffing decisions, performance feedback, and professional development planning, championing Blue Heron’s core values.

The Director leads project teams to deliver on budget, schedule, and work‑plan adherence across all assigned projects, monitoring budgets, schedules, and key milestones to anticipate risks and troubleshoot challenges. They report portfolio status—including budget, schedule, risks, and key decisions—to the Vice President of Design on a regular cadence and ensure comprehensive documentation from early design through construction handoff. Direct leadership is maintained on select key or marquee projects while guiding broader portfolio performance.

Ensuring an exceptional client experience is a core responsibility, with the Director establishing standards for communication about budget, square footage, and schedule at every client interaction. They require timely client approvals and signatures whenever scope, budget, or schedule parameters change and serve as the senior escalation point for client issues related to design scope, cost, schedule, or documentation.

The Director continuously improves design and project‑delivery processes, defining and enforcing standards for project planning, work‑plan development, and performance tracking. They oversee adherence to design processes and departmental standards, integrating lessons learned, and partner with production, QA/QC, and BIM leadership to ensure documentation quality, coordination, and constructability. Creation, maintenance, and use of best‑practice tools, checklists, and templates support repeatable and efficient delivery.

Cross‑functional collaboration is essential; the Director works with Architecture, Interior Design, Construction, Estimating, Purchasing, Sales, Marketing, and Accounting to align project deliverables with company goals and operational standards. They collaborate closely with Project Managers, Construction Managers, and Superintendents to resolve RFIs, field issues, and design changes efficiently, and support coordination with external consultants to ensure compliant, coordinated documentation.

• Translate VP of Design’s strategy into actionable project and portfolio management practices
• Lead, mentor, and develop Project Design Managers and their teams
• Align resources and coordinate project teams to meet evolving client needs
• Oversee project budgets, schedules, and milestones; anticipate and mitigate risks
• Report portfolio status (budget, schedule, risks) regularly to senior leadership
• Ensure comprehensive documentation from design through construction handoff
• Serve as senior escalation point for client issues related to scope, cost, schedule, or documentation
• Define and enforce standards for project planning, work plans, and performance tracking
• Partner with production, QA/QC, and BIM leadership to maintain documentation quality
• Develop and maintain best‑practice tools, checklists, and templates for repeatable delivery
• Collaborate with Architecture, Interior Design, Construction, Estimating, Purchasing, Sales, Marketing, and Accounting
• Resolve RFIs, field issues, and design changes efficiently with project and construction teams
• Support coordination with external consultants to ensure compliant, coordinated documentation

Requirements

Essential qualifications include 10–12+ years of architectural or design experience in residential or hospitality projects, with at least 5 years in a supervisory or portfolio‑management role. A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture is required, and licensure is preferred. Candidates must have proven success managing multiple concurrent projects while balancing design quality, budget, and schedule expectations.

The role demands strong knowledge of architectural design principles, building systems, construction documentation, and relevant codes, as well as high‑level construction knowledge to communicate effectively with trade partners. Proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, and familiarity with project‑management software such as MS Project or Smartsheet are required, along with excellent written, graphic, and verbal communication skills.

Leadership competencies include the ability to mentor, coach, and hold teams accountable while maintaining morale, high organization, proactive detail‑orientation, and effective prioritization in a fast‑paced environment. Strong problem‑solving, analytical skills, and a commitment to continuous improvement and scalable solutions are essential.

• Possess 10‑12+ years architectural/residential or hospitality design experience, with 5+ years supervisory/portfolio management
• Hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s in Architecture; licensure preferred
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent projects while balancing design quality, budget, and schedule
• Strong understanding of design principles, building systems, codes, and construction documentation
• Proficient in Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp; familiar with project management software (MS Project, Smartsheet)
• Excellent written, graphic, and verbal communication skills for client presentations and executive reporting
• Skilled people leader who mentors, coaches, and holds teams accountable
• Highly organized, proactive, detail‑oriented, and able to prioritize in a fast‑paced environment
• Strong problem‑solving and analytical abilities

Benefits

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance