Director of Strategic Advisory | Portland

Portland Design are a design-led consultancy creating brands and places for people. We are based in London and part of the Perkins & Will global architecture and design group.
Through evidence, data and research, we uncover insights that shape future direction. We define foresight, strategic vision and experience drivers, then translate this thinking into designed experiences across place branding, experience masterplanning, wayfinding, retail, advertising and media, and public art. The result is a seamless customer journey where strategy becomes lived experience.

We work across scales and sectors, from stores to city-wide regeneration. Retail environments, commercial masterplans, airports, mixed-use destinations, restaurants and leisure spaces are all shaped around how people live, behave, move and make decisions.

We believe future value is created through people and culture. By understanding behaviour, expectations and motivations, we create environments that build stronger connections and deliver lasting social, cultural and commercial value, ultimately becoming places people love, more.

Who are we looking for?

Portland is entering a new phase of growth, increasing the depth of its senior advisory capability in response to the rising complexity of client challenges.

We are looking for a Director of Strategic Advisory who brings a distinct perspective, complements the existing leadership team, and operates naturally at executive level. Someone who moves comfortably between client leadership, strategic thinking and commercial growth. This role shapes both client outcomes and business direction. It grows our advisory offer, deepens senior relationships, and converts opportunity into impact.

We are looking for a different perspective.

A people-centred leader who broadens how we think, sharpens how we work and strengthens how we grow, bringing capability that evolves our offer while staying true to Portland's values and culture.

Key Skills:

This role requires a blend of strategic authority, commercial instinct and visible leadership presence.

• Significant experience in strategy, advisory, consulting, design or place leadership roles
• Strong commercial instinct with the ability to identify and shape growth opportunities
• Experience operating at executive and board level
• Proven thought leadership and public speaking experience, ideally on a global stage
• Someone who inspires audiences, is at ease on stage and brings energy, clarity and authority.
• Excellent strategic facilitation, communication and influencing skills, with a collaborative leadership style that complements and strengthens the existing leadership team

Key Responsibilities:

This role operates across client leadership, strategic advisory and commercial growth, shaping both outcomes and opportunity.

• Act as a trusted strategic advisor to senior stakeholders and executive teams
• Drive thinking on complex business, creative, place and organisational challenges
• Shape and convert commercial opportunities from early engagement through to pitch and delivery
• Lead senior client engagements, formulating project strategy and facilitating high-stakes decision-making and transformation
• Represent Portland externally through thought leadership, speaking and industry engagement

What success might look like (12–24 months)

Impact in this role is measured through client influence, commercial growth and Portland's external profile.

• Strengthened Portland's advisory reputation through senior client impact and visible thought leadership
• Deepened relationships across key and emerging client accounts
• Generated and converted commercial opportunities that drive business growth
• Elevated quality of strategic decision-making beyond individual project briefs
• Increased external profile through speaking engagements and thought leadership
• Added new perspectives and capability to the wider leadership team

Please note, if you happen to require any further assistance or need us to make any adjustments for you during this process, then please let us know in your application. This way, our team can ensure we put added measures in place to support you during the interview process.   

Perkins&Will are an equal opportunity employer and supports talent from diverse backgrounds that bring experiences, viewpoints and solutions that best serve our clients, community and enrich our work environment.