Design Director

About the role

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At Parsons, you can imagine a career where you thrive, work with exceptional people, and be yourself. Guided by our leadership vision of valuing people, embracing agility, and fostering growth, we cultivate an innovative culture that empowers you to achieve your full potential. Unleash your talent and redefine what's possible.

About the role

Parsons is seeking an accomplished Design Director to lead the design management function for a major ultra-luxury hospitality development.

In this role, you will provide strategic leadership across architecture, interiors, landscape, engineering, FF&E, OS&E, technology, specialist systems, and operational requirements. You will be responsible for protecting the project's design vision, maintaining exceptional quality standards, coordinating international consultants and stakeholders, and ensuring the timely delivery of fully coordinated design information.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead the overall design management strategy and delivery plan.
• Direct multidisciplinary coordination across architecture, interiors, landscape, structure, MEP, ICT/ELV, FF&E, OS&E, and specialist consultants.
• Maintain the project's design vision, luxury positioning, guest experience, and brand standards.
• Lead design reviews, technical workshops, stage-gate reviews, mock-up reviews, and design audits.
• Review and approve design deliverables for completeness, coordination, quality, and compliance.
• Manage interfaces between the client, hotel operator, brand representatives, consultants, contractors, vendors, and authorities.
• Oversee design development from concept through construction documentation, procurement, installation, testing, and handover.
• Lead design optimization, constructability reviews, value management, and lifecycle assessments.
• Monitor design progress, risks, decisions, approvals, dependencies, and change control.
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes, regulations, authority requirements, sustainability objectives, and project standards.
• Provide strategic advice to the Project Director and senior client representatives.
• Lead the resolution of complex design, technical, and interface issues.
• Support procurement, tender clarification, contractor appointment, and construction-stage design activities.
• Promote a collaborative, innovative, and quality-driven project culture.

What Required Skills You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Interior Design, or a related discipline.
• Professional registration, chartered status, or equivalent professional accreditation.
• Minimum of 20+ years of relevant experience.
• Significant experience leading multidisciplinary design teams on ultra-luxury hospitality, resort, branded residence, or mixed-use projects.
• Strong knowledge of design management, construction, procurement, project delivery, and contract administration.
• Experience working with international hotel operators, luxury brands, and specialist consultants.
• Proven ability to manage complex stakeholder environments.
• Excellent leadership, negotiation, communication, and presentation skills.
• Strong knowledge of project management, design review, and collaboration platforms.

What Desired Skills You'll Bring

• Experience with destination resorts, private islands, luxury branded residences, private clubs, or high-profile cultural developments.
• Experience managing international design studios and globally distributed teams.
• Knowledge of sustainable design, WELL, LEED, BREEAM, or equivalent standards.
• Experience with operational readiness, hotel opening, guest experience, and brand compliance.
• Professional certification in project management, design management, or construction management.

Minimum Clearance Required to Start: Confidential

• Parsons equally employs representation at all job levels no matter the race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability or genetic information.
• We truly invest and care about our employee's wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest-APPLY TODAY!
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