Senior Director of Urban Design

Field States Employer:
Portland, OR, USLocation:
Tue, Oct 15 '24Posted on:
$87,000 - $110,000 annually Pay:

Qualifications

Excellent urban design and architecture skills, including spatial concepting, clear visual storytelling, sensitivity to user experience, aesthetic vision, and a strong design voice. Familiarity with industry standards (e.g. Complete Streets, LEED) and an enthusiasm for the cutting edge of the field.

Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills, including leading workshops with clients and stakeholders, visual and graphic communication skills, ability to present complex ideas in a clear and compelling way, writing, professional communications (written, in-person, and virtual or phone communications), and public speaking – to a general audience, clients, and peers in the field.

5-7 years experience with project management and operations in the urban design, architecture, and design fields. This includes budgeting, project planning and execution, managing / supervising direct reports and subcontractors, and building + maintaining client excellent relationships. Clear ability to prioritize complex workloads while managing the work of others to meet deadlines and provide high quality products / services to clients.

Strong ability with architecture and urban design tools and methods, including 2D and 3D software (preferred: Figma, Rhino, Sketchup, Google Suite, and Adobe Suite), design methods and ideation, and development processes for visuals. An eagerness and willingness to learn new software and processes.

Training and certification, including advanced degree in urban design or planning (e.g. MAUD, MCP, MLAUD, MUP, MARCH and MLA). Licensure (e.g. AICP, AIA) is a bonus but not a requirement.

About the Company & Role

Field States is a nationally acclaimed urban design + strategy firm that designs and delivers place-based transformation projects to create civic value. Past clients include: OMSI, a science museum leading a new district development in Portland; Michigan Central, a subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company creating an innovation campus for the future of mobility in Detroit; the Shorefast Foundation, a Canadian organization creating new economic systems for local economies; the City of Boston, MA and the City of Vernon, CA; and many more. An array of current and near future projects – including urban design, neighborhood-scale storefront activation strategy, and international exhibition design – are propelling Field States into a growth phase.

We are seeking a talented and experienced Senior Director of Urban Design with a strong focus on design to join Field States. This role requires expertise in leading urban design and strategy through all phases. The ideal candidate will have a passion for cities and design, attention to detail, and leadership abilities to guide the team’s strategic design decisions to deliver high-quality projects from concept through completion.

As the Senior Director of Urban Design, you will lead and contribute to a variety of projects, ensuring that they are completed with the highest degree of polish, professionalism, and creativity. In addition to your focus on delivery across our products / services, you will support our team, and grow our portfolio. You will expand Field States’ capacity by working with key partners and subcontractors, and you will actively shape studio culture and systems. This is a partner-track role – as a key part of a fast-growing firm, you will have the opportunity to become an integral part of the firm and its identity as you build and excel.

Field States is committed to a recruitment and selection process that is fair, equitable, and results in effectively hiring great people. We actively seek to increase the diversity of our applicant pool and constellation of collaborators. 

Bonus

• Participate in profit share of total net profit for work completed in 2025.
• Basic calculation for the allocation of the total net profit will be determined in Q4, based on company financials, including business needs, revenue, hiring, project pipeline and cashflow projection, and hiring.

Benefits

• Healthcare stipend in 2026. Healthcare plan through Field States starting in 2027. Details of the stipend and plan will be provided during 2026.
• Parental leave through PaidLeaveOregon.
• 15 days PTO, subject to increase based on annual performance review.

Business Development Incentive

• 1% of total project contract value, up to $1,500 per project.

Location

• On-site / hybrid in Portland, OR preferred. Remote is possible under special circumstances.

Growth Potential

• This is a partner-track role. Your work will be reviewed regularly based on the responsibilities outlined in this offer, meeting key targets, and annual performance evaluation with the leadership and advisory board. Growth opportunities include increased financial compensation, increased responsibilities, and ownership options.

Primary Responsibilities

Project execution and management

• Analyze project sites, organizations, communities, programs, and other key project elements through quantitative and qualitative means.
• Lead and manage key projects, with a focus on urban design and architecture. Ensure that projects are on-time, on-budget, and create positive value for places.
• Produce high-quality urban design, architecture, and strategy processes and outputs.
  • Develop analytical, diagrammatic, design, and narrative drawings throughout the design process using analog (sketching and physical modeling) and digital means (through digital analyses, sketching, and modeling). Create supporting material such as media assets.
  • Strategize, outline, mockup, and develop design documentation including master plan reports, design guidelines, diagrams, and client-ready presentation materials.
  • Lead productive, engaging, and effective meetings and workshops with clients and stakeholders.
  • Produce effective and clear project evaluation and reporting.
• Manage direct reports, drawing out their best work, maintaining effective team dynamics, and helping them grow.
• Build and maintain positive client relationships, leading to successful projects, satisfied clients, and repeated or expanded work packages.
• Manage and supervise subcontractors, with a focus on rendering and architectural + urban graphics.
• Build and maintain positive partner relationships, leading to elevated project delivery and new value-creation.

Narrative-building & promotion

• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of the company strategy and vision, contribute to shaping it, and work to enact it. Contribute to shaping and telling the story of Field States – our value-add, purpose, direction, and impact.
• Contribute to case studies of projects, and impact evaluation (project level and firm level). Lead the development of case studies and impact evaluation of projects you lead.
• Create and fulfill opportunities for public speaking and publications.

Business development

• Contribute to defining and executing a business development strategy.
• Find and vet promising client leads.
• Scope and contract projects that fit within the firm’s purpose, mission, and capacities.

Operations

• Participate in applicable company decisions, keeping the best interests of Field States in focus. Contribute to a creating a culture of positive and effective decision-making.
• Contribute to building and maintaining firm-wide project management and operational systems (such as information repositories, process protocols, calendaring, meeting notes, etc.).
• Contribute to financial planning (project-level and firm-level) and operations planning (project-level and firm-level) including scoping and strategic forecasting.
• Contribute to positive team dynamics, so that Field States works collaboratively, creatively and boldly. Foster the personal and professional growth of direct reports.
• Be present and contribute robustly during calls, and at work in-person. Contribute to shaping positive team dynamics and company culture.