Director of Design

Director of Design
COST of Wisconsin, Inc. Jackson, WI

About Us
The COST of Wisconsin, Inc. team creates award-winning construction for zoos, theme parks, casinos, resorts, museums, botanical gardens, residential communities, golf courses, family entertainment centers, theme retail stores, and restaurants.

Impact of the Role
The Director of Design leads a design team of approximately 3-5 designers to ensure project design objectives, deadlines, and company and customer quality standards are met. This role oversees team performance, development, daily priorities, and design deliverables while collaborating with leaders across functions to align resources, processes, and project needs. All work is performed efficiently, safely, and according to applicable regulations and guidelines. This exempt role is hands‑on.

What the Role Does

Lead the design team by setting expectations, providing oversight of design and engineering work, reviewing drawing sets, and addressing team performance needs.

Identify and forecast staffing needs and assist with hiring activities for the team.

Use performance data to measure productivity, goal achievement, and opportunities for improvement.

Coordinate training based on individual and team needs.

Ensure design tasks meet quality standards and deadlines, based on estimates and requirements of the project.

Plan, assign, delegate, and balance project workload effectively.

Communicate clearly with the team, other departments, subcontractors, suppliers, and customers.

Peer review design work for accuracy, precision, value engineering opportunities, customer requirements, and efficient use of labor and materials.

Lead design meetings and provide input to improve designs and reduce inefficiencies.

Direct work from rough sketches, schematics, written instructions, architectural and engineering drawings, and other source materials while ensuring adherence to industry standards and codes.

Participate in engineering and general design reviews; coordinate pricing and contract data as needed.

Obtain project design information from suppliers, consultants, clients, and other stakeholders.

Prepare and revise the design submittal packages to meet project requirements and company standards.

Support and collaborate with sales, shop, project management, and other teams at all phases of projects.

What You Bring
Knowledge & Education

Associate's degree in drafting, design, architecture, or a related field

Preferred: project management, design, or leadership certification

Experience

3+ years of team leadership experience preferred

7+ years of design experience in commercial construction, architecture, structural design, and/or landscape architecture

Experience with resource allocation, supplier coordination, budget awareness, and performance tracking

Background in shotcrete and/or themed construction desired

Skills & Abilities

Must demonstrate COST's Core and Leadership Competencies

Positive attitude in approaching daily projects, and team opportunities and challenges

Customer focused, motivating to spark employee enthusiasm while promoting and implementing policies and standards

Analytical thinker who breaks down problems and creates solutions, often working from limited information

Flexible to change, able to multitask, and able to meet changing customer needs and deadlines

Proficient with Microsoft Office applications

Familiar with design and project tools such as AutoCAD, Revit, Adobe Creative Suite, ProCore, Bluebeam, or other specialized platforms

AI and 3D design knowledge, and Rhino experience, useful

Ability to coach, mentor, and develop team members

Strong written, verbal, listening, and presentation communication skills with internal and external stakeholders

Ability to think strategically and solve complex design problems

Proactive in improving design processes and increasing efficiency

Understanding of design principles, industry standards, and relevant regulations

Familiar with value engineering practices that optimize designs for cost‑efficiency and performance

Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously

Physical

Regularly use hands to handle objects and regularly walk, stand, and sit; may occasionally stoop, kneel, or crouch

Must have close, distance, color, and peripheral vision; depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus

Must occasionally lift up to 20 lbs.

Work Environment & Schedule

Standard office environment, some interactions in the warehouse/shop facilities

Standard office equipment is used (quiet to moderate noise level), including a computer, phone, copier, etc.

Occasional travel to satellite offices, client meetings and job sites as needed

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