Global Corporate Services – Senior Vice President – Head of Design & Construction

Global Corporate Services – Senior Vice President – Head of Design & Construction

Requirements

• 15+ years of experience in architecture, construction, and commissioning of best-in-class hospitality and corporate interior projects.
• Bachelor’s degree required in related fields (e.g., architecture, engineering, construction management).
• Proven success leading capital project design and transformational change in a global company, including projects ranging from interior renovations to $100M headquarters initiatives.
• Experience developing and managing high-performing teams of design and project professionals.
• Strong design acumen, advanced program management skills, and expert-level ability to influence, negotiate, and communicate confidently in high-pressure environments.
• Knowledge of principles, processes, and standards of commercial interiors construction, construction procurement, and customary building codes.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD (no drafting required) and contemporary building systems (architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing).
• Highly influential and adaptable leadership style, capable of navigating situations ranging from hard-charging execution to deftly influencing internal and external constituencies.
• Expert-level ability to meet tight deadlines and perform under pressure.
• Organized and thorough in a demanding and dynamic work environment.
• Experience cultivating a collegial atmosphere where all opinions are valued and considered.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior member of the GCS and CRES leadership teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence.
• Maintain accountability for developing and executing the Americas capital projects strategy, ensuring alignment with workplace design standards, sustainability goals, and future objectives.
• Guide, mentor, and motivate internal teams and external vendors to achieve high performance and successful project delivery.
• Enhance partnerships with Procurement, Technology, and other internal teams to drive operational excellence.
• Lead by example, providing transparency into project vision, goals, status, and risks.
• Organize, plan, and execute initiatives utilizing extensive design and construction knowledge for strategic, financial, and business transformation.
• Collaborate with Corporate Real Estate & Strategy, Technology, and Workplace Planning teams to transition capital project initiatives from programming to execution stages.
• Develop and articulate detailed client requirements and establish clear and verifiable expectations.
• Oversee and take full responsibility for securing all required approvals, including permitting, PM requisitions, and associated project administration.
• Establish an approvals process to ensure all internal signoffs across the organization are completed before authorizing third-party consultants and contractors.
• Partner with the Strategic Sourcing and Procurement Team to conduct vendor, contractor, and consultant risk assessments, negotiate contracts/MSAs/SOWs, and implement agreements.
• Support the development of RFPs and MSAs for outside consultants, construction, and other outsourced vendor services.
• Refine best practices around vendor selection, vendor risk, and vendor management in collaboration with the Head of CRES-AMER and Global Head of Sustainability-GCS.
• Collaborate with internal teams and third-party project management consultants to ensure transparent communication, accurate reporting, and effective risk management.
• Provide consistent updates on project status, issues, risks, and goals to stakeholders and management.
• Create and distribute project status reports and dashboards to project teams and CRES management.
• Integrate sustainable building practices into all projects, driving initiatives for certifications such as LEED and WELL.
• Partner with Procurement to align contracts and RFPs with sustainability goals and measurable outcomes.
• Ensure year-end reporting of decommissioning and commissioning activities in partnership with the GCS Global Head of Sustainability.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing team of internal design and construction professionals, providing development opportunities and fostering collaboration with external resources.
• Evaluate team performance regularly and manage staffing levels as needed to meet project demands.
• Drive a creative, functional, and cost-effective design and implementation process while ensuring alignment with the firm’s goals.
• Provide weekly reporting across all active projects to the CRES Head of AMER, including those on hold and in the close-out phase.
• Oversee the design, management, and construction of regional projects to ensure schedule, scope, quality, and costs are achieved within approved parameters.
• Maintain knowledge of new technologies, designs, and best practices in the market.
• Finalize Global Design & Workplace Guidelines with the CRES Head of AMER, supported by the Workplace Strategy Lead and CRES Heads of EMEA & APAC.
• Organize, plan, and execute capital project initiatives utilizing extensive design and construction knowledge.
• Oversee furniture and fixture (FF&E) selection, procurement processes, schedules, and cost management in collaboration with the dealer network and GCS Hospitality team to ensure brand alignment and functional goals.
• Manage and report on the performance of external consultants and vendors in a collaborative manner while ensuring the firm’s interests remain the sole focus.
• Ensure consolidated and integrated schedules, scope, quality, and financial controls for AMER capital projects are achieved within approved parameters.
• Deliver fast-track projects through experienced leadership, problem-solving techniques, and expertise.
• Drive a functional, creative, and cost-effective design and implementation process.
• Ensure projects comply with corporate and local standards and procedures related to design guidelines.
• Serve as a transparent resource on all construction matters, including process improvement, construction techniques, cost and schedule control, project updates, and overall documentation.
• Ensure seamless integration and collaboration with internal delivery teams, including technology, audio-visual, security, hospitality services, and facilities teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Financial Services industry experience preferred but not required.