Design Director

At Roto, the Design Director manages and is accountable for the creative design and development of engaging and immersive experiences across museums, attractions, zoos, aquariums, and play-based environments. This role manages creative teams, makes assignments and balances quality creative output with budget and schedule for each assigned project through the full scope of exhibit design from Master plan through detail. Design Directors can make strategic decisions, run multiple projects, lead others to create strong visual and interpretive ideas, and mentor mid- and early-career designers.

Primary Responsibilities

Design Leadership & Execution

• Manages multidisciplinary teams on from concept to detail design.
• Guides teams on the spatial, experiential, and visual direction of assigned exhibit environments.
• Create project visions for team through sketches, floorplans, models, and visualizations to communicate design intent.
• Manages the production of compelling and thorough design presentations for internal and client review.

Collaboration & Communication

• Partners with and manages multidisciplinary teams of exhibit developers, graphic designers, producers, and technical staff.
• Present work to clients, facilitate design discussions, and guides next steps.
• Communicate ideas clearly through visuals, writing, and verbal presentations.
• Effectively manages personal workload while managing and prioritizing assignments for junior team members.

Project Contribution

• Manage project teams to create high-quality, on-brand design solutions that meet project goals and constraints.
• Balance multiple projects simultaneously while looking forward and strategic planning with keen understanding of deadlines and detail.
• Provides guidance to others on maintaining Roto’s design standards.

• 10+ years of experience in exhibit, architectural, or environmental design.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in architecture, industrial design, or a related field.
• Strong skills in 2D and 3D software tools such as SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD, and/or Revit.
• Portfolio that demonstrates creativity, storytelling, and a strong command of space, form, and visitor flow.
• Knowledge of materials, construction methods, and exhibit fabrication techniques.
• Experience managing client relationships as a design lead, including presenting work and integrating feedback.
• Experience managing large multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience managing 2-4 multidisciplinary direct reports.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines while maintaining creative vision and strategic approach.
• Experience managing resources across multiple projects.
• Experience mentoring team members and coordinating with cross-disciplinary teams.
• Excellent visual, verbal, and written communication skills.