Gropen is looking for a Design Director to lead our Design Department and take ownership of its people, quality, standards, and output. This isn't a senior designer role with a few management duties tacked on - it's a leadership role for someone who wants to build a team and a department that consistently delivers exceptional, buildable environmental graphic design and signage work. If you bring strong design judgment, real experience leading and developing people, and a passion for getting the details right from concept through fabrication and installation, we'd love to talk. What You'll Do - Lead, coach, and develop the Design team - setting clear expectations, roles, and priorities. - Own the quality and consistency of Gropen's design output, including standards, review processes, and final sign-off. - Build stronger onboarding, training, and professional development for designers. - Manage visibility into workload, capacity, and deadlines, partnering with Project Management to keep priorities aligned. - Improve design workflows from concept through technical development and production handoff - reducing rework and reinventing the wheel. - Develop and maintain design standards, precedents, and reference libraries built on Gropen's institutional knowledge. - Serve as Design's primary point of leadership and escalation with Project Management, Sales, Fabrication, Production, Installation, clients, and company leadership. - Ensure designs account for client intent, brand, code requirements, materials, fabrication, installation, and constructability. - Step into complex or high-value design work when your expertise makes a meaningful difference. - Stay current on environmental graphic design, signage, materials, fabrication methods, and industry trends. - Support client presentations, proposals, and business development alongside senior leadership. What You'll Bring - Significant experience in environmental graphic design, signage, experiential design, architecture, or a closely related field. - A track record of managing and developing people - not just being the most senior designer in the room. - Strong design judgment, backed by a portfolio of sophisticated environmental, signage, or built-environment work. - Working knowledge of materials, fabrication, production, installation, code considerations, and constructability. - Excellent communication, presentation, prioritization, and problem-solving skills. - Experience improving processes, documenting standards, and building consistency across a team. - Proficiency with relevant design and technical software. - Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Environmental Design, Architecture, or a related field - or equivalent experience. The Perks! - Full-time salaried position - Competitive salary compensation based on experience - Paid holidays and PTO - Affordable health, dental, and vision insurance - 401k plan - Career growth opportunities - Monday-Friday, no weekends You'll have real ownership over how Design operates at Gropen - its people, its standards, and how it shows up for every other department and client we work with. This is a chance to shape a growing department, not just manage one. How to Apply Interested candidates should submit a resume and portfolio to [application email/link]. We review applications on a rolling basis.