New York, USA
Senior design manager
at Charcoalblue
Charcoalblue is hiring a senior design manager to join its team in New York.
We are seeking a senior design manager to join our talented, global Charcoalblue Experience (CBX) team. This is a new position working directly with a key client to support the ongoing delivery and development of their fleet of world leading UX (user experience) spaces.
To apply please complete the online application form and submit a short resume (one to two pages max.) and a cover letter addressing the below prompts:
- which of your previous experiences would you highlight as being particularly relevant to this role?
- how your experience in design and or project management has led to successful outcomes when working with design teams?
- how you would apply your interest in innovative space types and/or global design processes in this role?
- how your communication styles will ensure success in this role?
- your salary expectations in line with your experience.
Brief description of role
Charcoalblue have been asked by a long-standing client to provide a Senior Design Manager to oversee and support the ongoing delivery and development of their fleet of world leading UX (user experience) spaces globally. The role will be primarily based on distributed working, but with the opportunity to work from Charcoalblue offices, and on occasion in the client’s offices in London or New York. You will benefit from day-to-day support from the wider Charcoalblue experience team, CBX also has a range of other accounts with the same client, and your wider CBX team will consist of other design managers and senior design managers across these accounts. The Senior UX Design Manager will be a key part of the Charcoalblue Experience team and will benefit from the support and training offered to, and by our in-house consultant and business support teams.
The spaces will include user experience testing labs, sprint spaces and custom workplaces. As a forward-thinking organisation, the client are always looking to improve and develop their UX space offerings, this role gives you the chance to work on some of the most innovative and advanced UX collaboration spaces in the industry.
You will join a UK based colleague also new to CBX and working on this UX design service, undertaking the role of technical design and drawing consultant and senior Charcoalblue staff providing oversight and account management. You will be able to work closely with them for drawing and modelling support on projects. The technical design and drawing consultant will also be responsible for developing and improving design guidance for the UX team, you will collaborate closely with them to feed in design guidance requirements from active projects, working together to support and improve the overall delivery and design success of UX spaces for the client.
The ideal individual for this role is a multi-faceted and innovative problem solver with broad knowledge of architectural and design project management, ideally with some background or previous experience of project work with a digital or technology design focus. With an ability to deliver and launch projects on time, on budget, and on strategy. Additionally, the senior design manager must be a clear communicator, action-oriented, self-motivated, and comfortable with ambiguity.
Key responsibilities:
- oversee the client requirements and design of UX spaces for a major global organization
- act as a key point of contact for other stakeholder teams within the clients organization such as, AV project managers, and the external architectural design teams, to ensure accurate communication between all parties
- be actively involved in design team meetings, providing subject matter expert advice to guide the project
- be a trusted, friendly, and robust collaborator for all client and external partners while balancing diverse team priorities
- ensure the architectural design of UX spaces are optimized for the overall functionality and user experience
- work with the clients project tracking tools, to manage intake of new projects featuring UX space needs, tracking ongoing progress of active projects and upcoming project needs, reporting ‘pain points’ to the client and client project manager
- eepresent and be an ambassador for Charcoalblue experience, interfacing daily with this important client
Typical duties:
- review design team information, ensuring suitability of all UX spaces and ensuring alignment with UX deign guidance
- attend regular meetings to review project progress & respond to project RFI’s where necessary
- develop client requirements documentation for new UX spaces and produce briefs for the architectural design team
- assist the external project manager and client with the set-up and sharing of all documents, reporting and data management tools, written meeting minutes and all design templates
- provide best practice documentation and design comparatives for different UX spaces, to assist project design teams
- ensure all client team members are engaged in each appropriate project phase; maintain and distribute necessary documentation to keep project phasing on track. Presenting milestones to the client on project designs where necessary
- work with the client team to seek ways to refine and improve the delivery model for UX spaces. Including how external design teams are engaged on projects, workshop & milestone schedules, and how the UX team work with the clients other internal stakeholders (Technical AV, security, networks etc.)
- working with the CBX technical drawing and design consultant to feedback project needs and RFIs to routinely improve and develop the UX design assets and standard guidance information
Note – this list is not intended to be exhaustive and may be subject to alteration over time as we develop the service.
Qualifications and key skills
We are open to receiving applications from candidates with a varied range of experience and education.
If you meet most of the qualifications below, we encourage you to apply
Qualifications
A masters level degree in design management, project management or architectural / construction related field. Bachelor level degrees combined with notable experience will be considered. Other interesting & relevant areas of study include technical and digital design, Interior design, design engineering or user experience. At least five years’ professional experience in the design management of spaces relating to workplace, user experience, labs based, audiovisual or digital design focused space.
Key skills:
- skilled in the visual, written, and verbal communication of design issues with capability to think outside the box and bring creative, non-standard, and innovative solutions to the table
- a practical understanding of the AIA design stages, and the typical level of information required at each stage
- competence in the presentation of imagery and drawings to convey ideas
- experience of interior design in workplace, events, hospitality, or related field, either through direct experience or professional design work
- proven vision, leadership, and strategic skills to prioritize evolving initiatives; ability to turn ideas and capabilities into effective initiatives that engage users
- an understanding of permitting process, construction terminology and building systems and overall project sequence/timing
- ability and proven record of helping to steer decision making and process.
- an imaginative approach to problem-solving will be a significant advantage
- a collaborative and personal approach is essential
- ability to read construction drawings and specifications is critical to being successful in this position
Interpersonal skills:
- ability to work in a collaborative and fast-paced environment with a high degree of self-motivation and initiative
- highly organized, with an ability to easily manage multiple projects simultaneously
- detail oriented with ability to think, plan, and execute on multiple projects in different phases simultaneously with little direct supervision
- able to work calmly and effectively under pressure
- flexibility and adaptability to changing business needs
- ability to build relationships with colleagues, clients, vendors, stakeholders, and management.
Company overview
Charcoalblue was established in the heart of the UK theatre industry in 2004. Since then, we have carved out a reputation as the world’s leading integrated theatre, acoustic and experience consultancy service. We now operate as a cohesive and collaborative team across six international studios in the UK, USA, and Australia, delivering projects to every corner of the globe.
We provide a full spectrum of consultancy services from strategic analysis and creative concept generation through to detailed design and full project leadership. Simultaneously, we have the expertise to integrate world-class acoustic, technical, and digital design solutions from the outset.
Charcoalblue Experience (CBX) is a dedicated business unit within the Charcoalblue group that applies our expertise gained from working with globally renowned cultural organisations to the workplace, sports, exhibition, and events markets.
Working with world leading companies, Charcoalblue experience works with any business looking to create spaces for collaboration and storytelling that wants to deliver an enhanced experience for staff, visitors, guests, and spectators. Projects include hybrid workplaces, one-off event spaces, sports facilities, broadcast studios, conference centres, and ecosystems across entire buildings and campuses.
Our CBX team includes specialist project managers, design managers, research and development (R&D) Consultants, technical drawing and standards consultants, producers and administrators and they often work closely with single clients and are fully embedded into their workflow and teams.
Equality and diversity policy overview
Charcoalblue is an equal opportunities employer, actively working towards becoming an inclusive organization. We work consistently to ensure elimination of unfair and discriminatory practices within the Partnership and encourage full contribution from its diverse community.
Our mission is to manifest an inclusive ethos by creating a diverse and inclusive working environment across our practice. Recruitment opportunities are open to all, but we are particularly keen to hear from ethnically diverse and disabled candidates, as these groups are currently underrepresented within our teams.
If you require this application in a different format or need support during the application process, please contact Kabir Naidoo via email [email protected] or Sian Thompson via email [email protected]. Equally, please contact Kabir and Sian if you have any questions in relation to access, or how the role might need to respond to your personal circumstances.
The partnership aims to provide a service that does not discriminate against its clients and customers and works to ensure all can access the services and goods supplied by the Partnership.
The partnership believes that all employees and clients are entitled to be treated with respect and dignity.
Working hours
The role is being offered on an ‘at will’, exempt basis at 40 hours per week.
As an international organisation, the needs of the business are as such that this role requires a flexibility in working hours (which can be variable from week to week) to facilitate project demands and maintain support across our global entities’ varying time-zones.
Working hours patterns will be agreed with your line manager to suit your personal circumstances and the current project load
The role is subject to a three-month probationary period.
Location
This role will be based on a distributed model (remote working), with the option of attending the Charcoalblue New York studio. There will also be opportunity to occasionally work from the client’s offices in New York.
Travel within the US and occasionally international for projects and/or team building may be required, with notice.
Salary
The annual salary offered for this role will be between $100,000 – $125,000
Please include your salary expectations in line with your experience as part of your covering letter.
Annual leave
Based on a 40-hour working week, you will receive 15 days’ paid holiday per year, plus federal and some local public holidays, plus some additional discretionary paid days between Christmas and New Year.
Additional benefits:
- to support you in successful remote/distributed working, you will receive a laptop and any other associated IT peripherals required for the role
- you will receive contributions towards your home internet and utilities to enable you to work productively and comfortably
- following 60 days of employment, you will be eligible to join our 401K scheme (employee contributions only). There is an employers’ contribution of 5% of annual gross salary following two years’ successful employment
- following 60 days of employment, you will be eligible to join our company healthcare scheme for the duration of your contract
- following 60 days of employment, you will be eligible for life assurance cover, short term disability and you may take advantage of joining our FSA/dependents’ care schemes
- following completion of your three month probationary period, you will receive two free theatre/live performance tickets per month in line with our expenses policy
- Charcoalblue operates a bonus scheme which you will benefit from following successful completion of a three-month probationary period Please note that this is subject to the partnership’s performance year on year, is not guaranteed and is paid pro-rata where applicable
- you will receive regular check-ins with your line manager to enable you to succeed in the role