Design Director

The Design Director, as a member of the leadership team, leads, manages and holds accountable the Design Services Department team members. This person participates in all leadership functions of Exhibit Systems, including the weekly leadership team meeting, quarterly meetings and yearly planning meeting. The Design Director will also be a responsible for new exhibit design, specifically with larger projects and RFP opportunities. They will attend client meetings, working with the Sales and Marketing Department, to assure that Exhibit Systems’ design styles and processes line up with our creative look and feel.

KEY RESPONSIBILITES:

Leadership of Design Services Department:

• Leads and holds the Design Services Department accountable for achieving agreed-upon goals and commitments, while providing positive direction and training as required to maximize their abilities.
• Integral part of the Leadership Team and embraces the Entrepreneurial Operating Systems (EOS) the company uses to plan and operate the business effectively, including participating in the weekly Level 10 Leadership meeting.
• Schedule development of renderings, floor plans, detail drawings, and graphics.
• Keeping current on new techniques, procedures and design software.
• Identifying problems and opportunities for improvement and recommending and implementing actions to address these issues.
• Overseeing department administration, timesheets, PTO, quarterly Rocks, weekly focus meetings with each member of the department,
• Ensure that the processes, specifically the Exhibit Force and departmental processes, are being followed by each member of the department
• Determine if our current design program, VectorWorks is the program that is best suited to be used by Exhibit Systems. If the decision is made, with the collaboration of the Leadership team, to change programs, this person will effectively implement a new software and will help teach and train the rest of the department on proper use of the software program.
• Integral part of the bi-weekly company-wide Production Meeting
• Motivate all Design Services members to ensure that deadlines and timelines are being hit in order to help Exhibit Systems fulfill it’s 360-Degree Guarantee to its clients.
• Needs to be a positive role model of the way we conduct business, always endeavoring for continuous improvement while living our Core Values and working towards the greater good of the business and Culture for strong team engagement.
• Ensure the whole Design Services team are the Right People on the Right Seats.

Senior Exhibit Designer:

• Actively involved in the “team selling” approach of Exhibit Systems.
• Clarifying and interpreting client needs and providing recommendations based on budgetary constraints and design wants/needs, both to the clients and to the Design Services Team Members.
• Prepare design renderings for the larger and more complicated projects that Exhibit Systems participates in, specifically any RFP/RFQ opportunities.
• Participating in design presentations, explaining designs to clients and providing rationales for design elements.
• Work with Sales Team, Marketing Manager and other key employees on larger RFP opportunities; provide the creative direction of the company with regards to new exhibit and graphic design.
• Involved in the creative direction of our new company branding, which will be launched in March 2020.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Exhibit Design and/or Industrial Design 
• Have 7-8 years or more of experience in the trade show exhibit industry or an equivalent industrial design position. 
• Experience in the exhibit industry is preferred 
• Management/leadership experience is preferred but is not required. 

Preferred Skills and Knowledge:

• Ability to operate under tight time constraints 
• Need strong communication skills with good verbal and written abilities 
• Advance knowledge of Microsoft 365, Adobe Suite and VectorWorks, 3D Studio Max, or equivalent Design/CAD software 
• Flexible, adaptable, detail-oriented and self-motivated 
• High level of organization and time management skills 
• Ability to work independently and within the context of a team. 
• Lead, Coach and Mentor Design department Team to greatness 
• Very adaptable – responds effectively to changing situations or information; ability to influence others and build consensus 
• Must have a strong flair for creativity 
• 100% Dedication to Exhibit Systems Company Culture, Core Values, and our Purpose. 

Required Skills:

• Great customer service orientation and skills. 
• Must have a record of reliable attendance and personal integrity. 
• Must present a well-groomed, professional appearance, with a cheerful and upbeat personality. 
• Ability to work long hours as required. 
• Must have full speech, vision, hearing, and mobility, with or without reasonable accommodations, and meet all the requirements of Exhibit Systems including a criminal background check and drug test.
• Excellent professional and character references.