Design Director of Architecture

The Design Director of Architecture is a leadership position based in the NYC office, reporting directly to the NYM Architecture Lead with a secondary, advisory reporting connection to the National Architecture Lead. This role is responsible for setting and advancing STV's architectural design vision across all offices, embedding design excellence as a defining characteristic of the firm's work, and integrating design quality seamlessly into every stage of project development.

The Design Director leads the firmwide Design Practice Community, shaping and maintaining design standards and guidelines, inspiring innovation, and mentoring design talent across all levels. They serve as a unifying voice for design culture, ensuring that every project reflects the firm's commitment to creativity, client vision, and strategic goals. This role works in close collaboration with the Technical Director of Architecture and Management Director of Architecture to align design aspirations with technical feasibility and efficient delivery.

The Design Director is directly involved in select, high-profile projects, leading or co-leading the design effort and representing STV in high-level client, public, and stakeholder presentations. Through this dual role as visionary leader and hands-on designer, they elevate both the perception and reality of design quality across the firm.

* Establish, maintain, and evolve STV's firmwide design vision, standards, and guidelines, ensuring consistent application across all offices and market sectors.

* Lead and inspire a culture of design excellence, creativity, and innovation throughout the firm.

* Oversee and participate in internal design reviews for select, high-profile projects at key milestones (concept, schematic, design development), providing critical feedback to elevate outcomes.

* Curate and maintain a central library of design resources, case studies, and precedent studies for firmwide use.

* Partner with the Technical Director of Architecture to ensure design intent is fully realized in technically sound, constructible solutions.

* Collaborate with the Management Director of Architecture on best practices for aligning design process with project workplans, schedules, and budgets.

* Work with Studio Development Leaders (SDLs) to ensure design talent is mentored, developed, and deployed effectively across projects.

* Serve as a bridge between creative vision and operational realities, fostering solutions that satisfy client goals, design integrity, and technical performance.

* Lead the firmwide Design Practice Community, connecting designers across offices to share ideas, approaches, and lessons learned.

* Mentor project designers, junior architects, and emerging talent to grow the next generation of design leaders.

* Organize and lead design-focused training sessions, charrettes, and workshops to enhance creative skills and collaborative thinking.

* Act as lead or co-lead designer on select, high-profile or strategically important projects from concept through final presentation.

* Guide project teams in developing compelling design narratives, clear visual communications, and client-ready presentations.

* Participate in competition entries, public presentations, and design interviews to secure new work and strengthen client relationships.

* Represent STV's design capabilities in high-level client, planning board, and community meetings.

* Serve as a visible advocate for the firm's design brand in the industry, including participation in conferences, publications, and award submissions.

* Collaborate with firm leadership to position STV as a leader in design innovation and quality.

* Licensed Architect (RA required)

* Minimum 15 years of experience with a strong record of design leadership across multiple project types and market sectors

* Proven ability to lead design on large, complex, and high-profile projects from concept through completion

* Demonstrated skill in integrating design excellence with technical feasibility and project delivery requirements

* Experience leading firmwide or multi-office design initiatives, including standards development and design review processes

* Strong presentation and client communication skills, with the ability to inspire confidence and enthusiasm for design vision

* Proficiency in design visualization tools and software; familiarity with BIM workflows and coordination processes

* Recognized design awards or significant publications preferred

Compensation Range:

Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At STV, we are fully committed to expanding our culture of diversity and inclusion, one that will reflect the clients we serve and the communities we work in, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

STV offers the following benefits * Health insurance, including an option with a Health Savings Account * Dental insurance * Vision insurance * Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care and Transit and Parking where applicable) * Disability insurance * Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment * 401(k) Plan * Retirement Counseling * Employee Assistance Program * Paid Time Off (16 days) * Paid Holidays (8 days) * Back-Up Dependent Care (up to 10 days per year) * Parental Leave (up to 80 hours) * Continuing Education Program * Professional Licensure and Society Memberships

STV is committed to paying all of its employees in a fair, equitable, and transparent manner. The listed pay range is STV's good-faith salary estimate for this position. Please note that the final salary offered for this position may be outside of this published range based on many factors, including but not limited to geography, education, experience, and/or certifications.