Location: New York, New York
Job Type: Permanent
Compensation Range: $250,000 - 290,000 per year
We are seeking a Vice President of Design to serve as a senior executive leader dedicated to elevating our agency’s design excellence. Reporting directly to the Chief Creative Officer, you will be responsible for the end-to-end delivery of world-class experiential and spatial brand activations. You aren't just managing a department; you are the visionary architect of immersive, culturally relevant environments that redefine how brands connect with their audiences in the physical world.
This role requires a rare mastery of both artistic ambition and operational precision. You will lead a multidisciplinary team—with a primary focus on 3D and environmental design—to bridge the gap between abstract concepts and the technical realities of architecture, fabrication, and interactive technology. Whether you are spearheading a global pop-up tour or a permanent brand installation, you will ensure that every project pushes creative boundaries while remaining structurally and strategically sound. If you are a seasoned design executive who thrives on the complexity of large-scale spatial storytelling, we want you to lead our studio into the future.
Responsibilities:
Design Leadership & Strategic Vision
- Creative Excellence: Lead the overall vision and execution of the design function, ensuring all outputs across spatial, environmental, and integrated disciplines meet the highest standards of craft.
- Innovation: Champion the integration of creative technology and future-focused design trends to maintain a competitive edge in the experiential landscape.
- Client Partnership: Act as a strategic design consultant for high-profile clients, translating complex business objectives into industry-defining physical and visual solutions.
Team & Department Management
- Mentorship: Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team of 10+, fostering a culture of accountability, growth, and creative curiosity.
- Talent Acquisition: Collaborate on hiring strategies to attract top-tier talent and manage an extensive national network of freelance specialists and 3D partners.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Production, Strategy, and Account teams to ensure design integrity is maintained from initial sketch through final on-site installation.
Operational & Technical Oversight
- Design Workflow: Refine departmental workflows, templates, and software standards (including 3D modeling and rendering platforms) to improve efficiency and output quality.
- Feasibility & Execution: Oversee the technical vetting of materials and fabrication processes, ensuring ambitious concepts are delivered on time, on budget, and within structural requirements.
- Business Development: Direct the design of compelling pitch materials and environmental visualizations to win new business and expand the agency's portfolio.
Qualifications:
- Experience: 10+ years of design experience within experiential, environmental, or architectural roles, with at least 4 years in a senior leadership position (VP or Director level) at a creative agency or design studio.
- 3D Mastery: Deep expertise in 3D/spatial design is mandatory; advanced proficiency in modeling and rendering software such as SketchUp, Rhino, Vray, or Unreal Engine is required.
- Technical Knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of fabrication processes, materials, and production workflows specifically for large-scale brand experiences and physical builds.
- Presentation Skills: Exceptional ability to articulate complex creative visions to executive-level stakeholders and persuade clients through evocative storytelling and visuals.
- Portfolio: A robust portfolio demonstrating a high level of "innovation" and "spatial storytelling" rather than just traditional 2D graphic design.
- Logistics: Must be based in one of the agency's primary hubs (Los Angeles, San Francisco, or New York City) and willing to adhere to a hybrid in-office schedule (2 days per week).
JOBID: 042026-129181
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Equal Opportunity Employer: Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, National Origin, Age, Genetic Information, Disability, Protected Veteran Status, or any other legally protected group status.
At Cella, a randstad digital company, we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please contact HRsupport@randstadusa.com.
Pay offered to a successful candidate will be based on several factors including the candidate's education, work experience, work location, specific job duties, certifications, etc. In addition, Cella by randstad digital offers a comprehensive benefits package, including: medical, prescription, dental, vision, AD&D, and life insurance offerings, short-term disability, and a 401K plan (all benefits are based on eligibility).
This posting is open for thirty (30) days.
