Director of Design (Development)

BKV Group has a 45 year history of design excellence, winning more than 190 regional and national awards to date. We are passionate about how innovation and creative design can shape communities for the better – enhancing the economic, aesthetic, social, and environmental context. As a holistic national design firm, we bring a full complement of architecture, interior design, urban design, engineering, landscape architecture, and construction administration services together to collaborate from project kick-off to closeout. The diverse perspectives formed from this collaboration help us make better design decisions and are the keys to our success. We value being open, honest, genuine, and thoughtful with each other, our clients, community stakeholders, and consultants.

Position Description:

BKV Group seeks a visionary Director of Design to lead design excellence within our Chicago development practice. As a senior design leader, you will guide and elevate design efforts for our private sector projects spanning multifamily (affordable and market-rate), student living, senior living, and mixed-use developments. This highly collaborative and strategic position requires a passionate design thinker to skillfully balance innovation with functionality, inspire and mentor design teams, and advance BKV’s mission of delivering holistic design solutions that enrich lives and strengthen communities and exceed client expectations.

Design and Project Leadership

• Lead design efforts for large, complex development projects from concept through completion, fostering a creative and integrated design culture.
• Collaborate with project managers, technical leads, and clients to translate goals into cohesive and buildable design solutions.
• Develop and refine design concepts that align with client objectives, budgets, and project constraints.
• Prepare and deliver compelling design presentations for client and stakeholder review in coordination with the Practice Leader and project team.
• Advance BKV’s “holistic multidisciplinary approach” to ensure unified and innovative design outcomes.
• Partner with Managing Partners, Practice Leaders, and Business Development teams to support marketing efforts, project pursuits, and proposal strategies.

Team Development

• Mentor and coach junior and mid-level designers, fostering growth in design thinking, technical skills, and professional development related to innovative design solutions.
• Collaborate with the VPO and Managing Partners to provide training and mentorship opportunities across the firm.
• Champion a design-focused, collaborative culture through studio engagement, design reviews, and creative workshops to provide opportunities for creative exploration, feedback and presentations, etc.

Design Systems and Innovation

• Support the development and implementation of design standards, best practices, and innovative strategies to strengthen BKV’s design excellence.
• Stay informed of emerging trends, technologies, and tools that enhance design quality and sustainability.
• Promote sustainable and forward-thinking design principles across all project types.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture or equivalent.
• Professional architectural license preferred.
• 15–20 years of progressive experience in architectural design leadership, with a strong portfolio of development-sector projects.
• Exceptional leadership, design, communication, collaboration, and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Revit, SketchUp, Bluebeam, BIM360, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience or certification in sustainable design (LEED, WELL, etc.) is a plus.

Compensation range: $150,000 – $175,000 annually, or commensurate with experience.

With excellent benefits, competitive salaries, a flexible work schedule, and continuous opportunities for growth, we give you the tools to achieve your goals. We believe in a collegial, engaging, opportunistic, and fun working environment and are always interested in connecting with talented individuals who share our passion for enriching lives and strengthening communities. Sound like a fit? We want to hear from you!

BKV Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE)