Director, Workplace Strategy & Design

Responsibilities

Workplace Strategy and Space Planning

• Develop and implement short- and long-term workplace strategies for Hearst Tower, Sheffield, and other domestic locations.
• Assess current and future workplace needs using business objectives, headcount projections, organizational changes, work styles, and operational requirements.
• Lead programming, test fits, blocking and stacking, adjacency planning, occupancy planning, and workplace scenario development.
• Recommend strategies to improve space utilization, flexibility, departmental adjacencies, employee experience, and operational efficiency.
• Partner with business units and senior leadership to gather requirements and translate them into effective workplace solutions.
• Establish and maintain workplace planning standards, guidelines, and reporting processes.
• Provide regular recommendations regarding space allocation, capacity, utilization, and future planning needs.

Corporate Interior Design and FF&E

• Lead the design direction for corporate interiors, ensuring consistency with Hearst’s brand, culture, workplace objectives, and design standards.
• Develop and maintain standards for space planning, furniture, materials, finishes, color, lighting, signage, branding, and workplace typologies.
• Review design concepts, test fits, finish palettes, furniture plans, specifications, and construction documents.
• Provide design recommendations to executives, business leaders, user groups, architects, interior designers, dealers, and manufacturers.
• Lead the selection, specification, procurement, and installation of furniture, fixtures, equipment, lighting, accessories, and related interior elements.
• Review and approve FF&E specifications, pricing, orders, substitutions, and vendor recommendations.
• Manage the master furniture inventory in New York and support inventory visibility and procurement nationwide.
• Establish preferred products, vendors, and purchasing strategies that improve quality, consistency, flexibility, and cost efficiency.
• Review and update Hearst Design and Construction guidelines as needed.
• Balance design quality, functionality, durability, sustainability, employee experience, schedule, and cost.

Space Management and Workplace Changes

• Oversee the workplace space management system, including WISP and office space assignments.
• Maintain accurate occupancy information, floor plans, departmental allocations, space assignments, and chargeback data.
• Coordinate office moves, adds, changes, reconfigurations, and other workplace modifications.
• Improve processes for managing internal workplace changes and configurations.
• Partner with Human Resources, Facilities, Technology, and business units to coordinate workplace changes and minimize disruption.
• Manage relationships with movers, installers, furniture vendors, and other workplace service providers.
• Review post-occupancy feedback and recommend improvements to workplace planning, design, furniture, and space management practices.

Project Management and Implementation

• Manage or oversee interior workplace renovation, relocation, and reconfiguration projects nationwide from planning through completion.
• Establish project scope, objectives, requirements, budgets, schedules, design criteria, and FF&E expectations.
• Coordinate architects, interior designers, engineers, project managers, furniture dealers, contractors, movers, installers, and other consultants.
• Monitor project scope, schedule, budget, quality, risks, procurement, and deliverables.
• Review project proposals, schedules, budgets, change orders, design documents, and consultant deliverables.
• Ensure projects align with approved workplace strategies, design standards, FF&E requirements, budgets, and schedules.
• Conduct site visits and oversee construction progress, furniture installation, punch-list completion, and project closeout.
• Develop and maintain project management guidelines, forms, reporting standards, and implementation processes.
• Select, engage, and manage local third-party project management services when required.
• Support the selection, bidding, and negotiation of architectural, engineering, project management, furniture, and general contracting services.
• Evaluate and implement project management tools and systems that improve communication, consistency, and accountability.
• Anticipated domestic travel: 10–20%.

Who You Are

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Interior Design, Architecture, Workplace Strategy, Strategic Interior Planning, Facilities Planning, Project Management, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in corporate interiors, workplace strategy, interior design, space planning, FF&E, project management, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience developing workplace strategies and leading corporate interior design initiatives.
• Proven experience managing interior renovation, relocation, or workplace implementation projects from concept through completion.
• Strong expertise in corporate interiors, workplace planning, furniture systems, materials, finishes, lighting, and installation.
• Experience managing FF&E selection, specification, procurement, installation, and inventory.
• Strong understanding of space management, occupancy planning, blocking and stacking, and move/add/change processes.
• Experience working with executives, business leaders, user groups, architects, interior designers, dealers, manufacturers, contractors, and project managers.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit, test-fit tools, or comparable design and workplace planning software.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Experience with space management, furniture management, workplace, or project management systems is preferred.
• Demonstrated design expertise is required, including meaningful experience with corporate interiors, workplace planning, FF&E, materials, finishes, and design decision-making.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Excellent verbal, written, visual communication, presentation, and storytelling skills.
• Strong design judgment, strategic thinking, and attention to detail.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, budgeting, negotiation, and vendor management skills.
• Ability to translate business objectives into practical workplace and design solutions.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
• Ability to review and evaluate design documents, furniture specifications, schedules, budgets, and construction-related information.
• Ability to prioritize work, delegate effectively, and make sound decisions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and related design, workplace, space management, and project management software.

In accordance with applicable law, Hearst is required to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role if hired in New York City.  The reasonable estimate, if hired in New York City, is $150,000-$170,000.  Please note this information is specific to those hired in New York City.  If this role is open to candidates outside of New York City, the salary range would be aligned to that specific location.  A final decision on the successful candidate’s starting salary will be based on a number of permissible, non-discriminatory factors, including but not limited to skills and experience, training, certifications, and education.  Hearst provides a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, 401(k), paid holidays and paid time off, employee assistance programs, and more.