Job Title: Director of Client ServicesLocation: Somerville, NJThe difference you'll make:We're looking for a strategic and collaborative Director of Client Services to lead and scale dancker's specifier-facing services and project execution teams. In this role, you'll oversee the connection between design, specification, procurement, project management, and installation to ensure projects are thoughtfully planned, accurately specified, and delivered with excellence. You'll serve as a senior leader for design-specifier relationships and project delivery, partnering closely with Sales, Design, Project Management, Operations, and Manufacturer Partners to create a consistent, high-quality client and specifier experience across every project. If you're an experienced leader who is passionate about building strong teams, improving execution, and delivering client-centered results, we'd love to hear from you.
How you'll make an impact:Specifier Services Leadership - Lead and develop the Specifier Services function, supporting designers, and specifiers through furniture design development, product specification, budgeting, and technical support across commercial interiors projects.
- Build trusted partnerships with A+D firms, serving as an escalation point for complex specifications, application challenges, and project coordination needs.
- Ensure high standards of design integrity, product appropriateness, ADA/compliance requirements, and constructability across all furniture and FF&E specifications.
- Collaborate with Sales and Design leadership to align early design intent with project scope, budget, and execution feasibility.
- Provide mentorship, coaching, and technical guidance to foster a high-performance, collaborative team culture.
- Model and promote accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement across departments.
- Conduct monthly one-on-one meetings with direct reports to review the Design Performance Matrix.
- Address performance issues with clear documentation, initiating weekly one-on-ones and Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) when necessary.
Project Management & Delivery Oversight- Partner with sales leadership on strategic accounts, providing design expertise and support for business development initiatives.
- Ensure consistent execution across the full project lifecycle:
- Project kickoff and planning
- Furniture design & specification
- Pre-installation planning
- Establish and maintain standards, tools, and best practices to drive predictability, accountability, and margin protection.
- Proactively manage project risk, issue resolution, and cross-functional coordination with Design, Operations, Logistics, and Installation teams.
- Ensure project schedules, budgets, and client expectations are clearly defined and actively managed throughout execution.
People Leadership & Team Development- Lead, coach, and develop a multidisciplinary Specified Services team including leaders.
- Drive clarity around roles, handoffs, and decision rights between Design, Specifier Services, and Project Management teams.
- Establish performance expectations, capacity models, and career development paths aligned with business growth.
- Foster a culture of client-centricity, accountability, continuous improvement, and collaboration.
Cross-Functional & Manufacturer Partnership- Partner closely with Manufacturer Partners to ensure accurate product application, pricing alignment, lead-time management, and issue resolution.
- Support strategic initiatives to improve specifier tools, standards libraries, specification efficiency, and project margin performance.
Strategic & Operational Excellence- Analyze project performance metrics (e.g., margin variance, delivery timelines, change orders, rework drivers) and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
- Contribute to leadership planning around resource allocation, organizational structure, and scalable delivery models.
- Support the company's brand positioning as a trusted interiors integrator delivering remarkable, end-to-end experiences.
- Assist in guiding teams to appropriately engage with dancker's Growth Ventures (e.g., DBE, ForBuild, dePloy).
What you'll bring to this role:- 10+ years of experience in commercial furniture, interior design, or FF&E project delivery, with progressive leadership responsibility
- Proven experience leading specifier-facing services and/or project management teams
- Deep understanding of furniture systems, manufacturers, specification documentation, procurement, and installation processes
- Strong financial and operational acumen-experience managing project budgets, margins,
Key Behaviors to succeed in the role All Employees: Collaborates | Accountable | Innovative | Customer Focused | Self Development | Courage
People Leaders: Builds Effective Teams | Sets Vision & Purpose
Salary Range: $125,000-$150,000, based on skills, capabilities, and experience.
