Director of Design

Description

• Coordinate with architects, as needed, to ensure projects comply with relevant codes, ordinances, and guidelines as required by local, state, and federal municipalities.
• Ensure the design team is providing accurate project documentation and training regarding any design-specific special needs (propose new specifications, regulations, cost increases, etc.).
• Partner with Procurement to establish preferred pricing and build strong vendor relationships.
• Partner with Asset Management and Reinvestment to plan and execute design elements for major capital and redevelopment projects, ensuring the projects are operationally and functionally viable.
• Oversight of proper project approvals as needed in accordance with the Essex Policies and Procedures and the specific Delegations of Authority.
• Monitor contractor and vendor performance, quality, and timelines through completion, including the oversight of online design team request system.
• Lead the design team and design projects for all Essex properties located within the assigned regions.
• Responsible for ensuring that the design team is obtaining and maintaining all records for any assigned projects, accurate tracking of expenses, actual spent to date, funds remaining, and approved budget limits.
• Oversee vendor bid reviews, establishing parameters, and appraising those bids for quality conformance to specifications, cost savings, and recommending desirable vendors to the Contracts team and Project Management team.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Design, or relevant field.
• Self-motivated with strong interpersonal skills and effective collaborative working style
• Experience leading direct and/or matrixed teams.
• Strong cross-functional influence across operations, investment, and execution teams.
• Strong analytical, organizational, time-management, written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to recruit, coach, and retain top design talent.
• Requires the ability to work Mondays through Fridays with in-person office requirements for a minimum of 4 days per week: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays located at Essex's corporate office in Irvine.
• Primarily office-based role requiring extended periods of sitting or standing at a workstation, with minimal physical exertion in day-to-day activities.
• Must demonstrate a working knowledge of basic real estate investment principles and effectively make informed “investment” related decisions with respect to renovations and basic knowledge of construction estimating.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office.
• Able to set priorities, manage deadlines, and drive accountability.
• This role requires travel to various locations for meetings, projects, client visits, or on-site work. Traveling (~25%) is required on the West Coast.
• Strategic decision-maker with strong problem-solving and analytical capability.
• Ability to differentiate colors throughout the color spectrum with strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Suggestion, presentation and implementation of changes to specifications or design programs ensuring current knowledge and application of design trends is applied in a sustainable and functional manner.
• Requires walking properties and active construction sites in various outdoor conditions, including landscaped areas and exposure to dust or dirt, with occasional light to medium lifting during project installations.
• 10+ years in multifamily, real estate, or construction industries in a design role with 5+ years of people leadership.
• Strong graphic, visual and verbal communication skills required.

Benefits

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance