Designer & Sales Director

Designer & Sales DirectorAbout the CompanyAward-winning design, Installation, and maintenance company for your outdoor spaceIndustryConstructionTypePrivately HeldFounded2004Employees51-200Specialtieslandscape designlandscape & exterior constructionlandscape maintenanceand seasonal colordecor& enhancementAbout the RoleThe Design/Sales Director is responsible for overseeing and guiding the design efforts of the company. This includes creating and implementing design strategies, managing a team of designers, and working closely with other departments to ensure that the design vision is being executed effectively. Key Responsibilities: 1. Design Leadership Responsibilities: Drive profitable revenue growth through: • Design excellence: • Review and approve all conceptual designs prior to client presentation. • Oversee construction drawing standards and technical accuracy. • Direct high-level conceptual design work for premium clients. • Establish and improve internal design workflows and efficiencies. • Implement design fee structures and profitability targets. • Maintain a library of details/templates to reduce one-off drafting and errors. • Establish and maintain design standards (details, notes, typical sections, specs, plant standards, lighting standards, drainage/grade conventions). • Pricing discipline: - Implement design fee structures and profitability targets. • Pipeline management: - Ensure alignment between design intent and construction execution. • Sales team performance: - Lead and mentor landscape designers and junior sales designers. • Set and enforce creative design standards and presentation quality benchmarks. • Final approval on design packages and standards. • Can stop a release to production if not Ready-to-Start. • Run weekly design reviews: concept critique, constructability check, budget alignment. 2. Sales & Revenue Leadership Responsibilities • Strategic sales leadership: Drive innovation in sustainable and regionally appropriate design practices. • Own company-wide sales goals and revenue targets. • Lead initial client consultations and high-value sales presentations. • Develop and oversee pricing strategy and margin targets. • Manage and monitor sales pipeline and CRM reporting. • Track close rates, contract value averages, and profitability metrics. • Develop referral partnerships with architects, builders, and influencers. • Create and refine proposal templates and sales collateral. • Implement structured sales training for design staff. • Approve final project estimates before contract execution. • Drive expansion into new service lines or geographic markets. 3. Estimating: Does not produce every estimate but owns estimating accuracy and margin protection.  Estimating Structure & Process • Hire and manage estimators • Standardize estimating templates and takeoff processes • Define estimating workflow and deadlines • Ensure scope clarity before pricing • Oversee material selections and vendor partnerships.  Pricing & Margin Control • Set company-wide markup standards • Define minimum gross margin thresholds • Approve large or strategic bids • Control discount authority • Monitor estimated vs actual margin variance  Bid Accuracy & Risk Control • Ensure complete scopes (no missing line items) • Review subcontractor quotes • Reduce change-order exposure from missed scope • Analyze recurring estimating errors  Estimating KPIs • Estimated Gross Margin % • Sold vs Actual Margin Variance % • Bid Hit Rate % • Estimate Turnaround Time 4.Contruction Support  Preconstruction + sales support • Lead key client meetings (vision, constraints, priorities, budget reality). • Ensure every proposal has: clear scope boundaries, defined allowances, alternates/options (good/better/best), and documented assumptions/exclusions. • Coordinate early engineering needs (structural, drainage, pools, electrical, etc.).  Ready-to-Start gate (hard stop) • No release to production until scope, selections, measurements, grades, details, long-lead items, access, approvals/permits, and schedule constraints are cleared. • Own the design-side checklist and enforce compliance (main lever to reduce waiting + rework).  Construction support (controlled, not chaotic) • Define a standard cadence for job support: preconstruction handoff meeting, "first day" alignment, scheduled site checks at defined milestones. • Prevent "drive-by redesigning." Changes follow the CO-before-work rule. 5. Strategic & Executive Leadership Responsibilities • Participate in annual budgeting and financial forecasting. • Contribute to long-term company growth strategy and expansion planning. • Collaborate with Operations leadership to improve project handoff systems. • Establish KPIs and performance dashboards for design and sales teams. • Support recruiting, hiring, and retention of top-tier design talent. • Shape company brand positioning within the high-end residential market. • Represent the company at industry events and networking functions. • Lead quarterly performance reviews for design and sales teams. • Identify operational bottlenecks impacting profitability. • Drive a culture of accountability, excellence, and client-first service. 6. Continuous improvement (Lean) • Identify and remove waste in design + handoff (waiting, overprocessing, defects). • Use a simple "waste inspection" habit during key workflows (handoffs, revisions, submittals) and turn issues into standards. 7. Team development • Hiring plan + onboarding for designers. • Skill matrix and training plan (grading/drainage, planting design, detailing, client communication). • Coaching rhythm: weekly 1:1s, quarterly reviews. Decision rights • Recommends pricing/allowances/alternates structure (final pricing authority sits with GM/Owner unless delegated). Working relationships • Ops/Field leadership: buildability, schedule, sequencing, logistics constraints • PM/Admin: change orders, documentation, client communication • Vendors/Subs: spec quality, lead times, availability • Municipalities/Partners: approvals, engineering coordination To apply Send resume + portfolio (10–20 pages max) + a short cover letter describing: (1) leadership style, (2) best-built project you designed, and (3) how you prevent rework.Team Size75Direct Reports4Travel PercentLess than 10%FunctionsDesignSkillsDesign requiredLeadership requiredSales required