Studio Director
About ATÖLYE
ATÖLYE is a strategic design and innovation consultancy. We amplify the impact of purpose-driven leaders by transforming people, places, and experiences through the power of communities.
We have physical hubs in both Dubai and Istanbul, and our community of over 250+ people are based all across the globe.
ATÖLYE is a member of the kyu Collective, a group of the leading creative organizations whose purpose is to be a source of creativity that propels the economy and society forward. We are also a certified B Corporation as of 2021, using business as a force for good to help create positive impact for people and the planet.
About the job - Studio Director
The Studio Director is a pivotal role that encompasses a broad range of responsibilities merging strategic studio leadership with an operational oversight to drive ATÖLYE’s expansion and ensure operational excellence.
This senior-level position requires a unique blend of strategic foresight, operational expertise, and a deep understanding of the design and creative industries. The role will ensure growing cohesive and innovative internal team dynamics.
Main Responsibilities
Client Engagement:
- Cultivate and maintain strong client relationships, serving as the primary point of contact for key accounts.
- Collaborate with clients to understand their business objectives, challenges, and design needs, and translate them into actionable creative strategies and roadmaps.
- Anticipate client needs, provide strategic guidance, and deliver innovative solutions that drive client satisfaction and loyalty.
Project Leadership:
- Oversee delivery of client projects and programs at a Director level
- Guide head of Project Managers and Design Directors in the planning, execution, and delivery of multiple design projects concurrently, ensuring adherence to quality standards, timelines, and budgets with an effective change management.
- Collaborate with project managers, designers, and other stakeholders to define project objectives, scope, and deliverables.
- Monitor project progress, identify potential risks, and implement proactive measures to mitigate issues and ensure successful project outcomes.
Studio People Strategy & Operational Excellence
- Define, execute and monitor a comprehensive People Strategy in collaboration with Design Directors and other key internal stakeholders, ensuring the Studio team is equipped and aligned with ATÖLYE’s strategic goals.
- Oversee resource allocation, project staffing, and workload management to ensure optimal project outcomes and team efficiency.
- Effective budget management to allocate resources wisely for recruitment, training, and other people-related initiatives ensuring cost-effectiveness and alignment with financial objectives
- Oversee mentor, motivate, and develop a core team of ~20 consultants managed by respective heads of practice, encouraging continuous learning and professional growth.
Community Engagement & Thought Leadership:
- Engage with the broader community through events, thought leadership, and public relations efforts to build a robust network of clients, partners, and industry leaders, reinforcing ATÖLYE’s position in the market - overseeing the fostering and development of a broader collaborator pool of 100 practitioners across various practices.
Requirements
- Minimum 15 years of professional experience (at least 5 years in a leadership role) in creative services, design and consulting with a proven track record of successfully delivering impact-driven design and innovation projects for multinational clients
- Experience in developing and executing People Strategies, including talent acquisition, management, coaching, team development, and operational excellence.
- Comfortable working in a feedback culture with excellent collaboration skills in managing multiple leads and client accounts simultaneously.
- A solid understanding of engagement practices in the creative services and consulting domain, including; project scoping, teaming, pricing, negotiating, and contracting.
- Experience in participating in design reviews, retros and IP-development sprints as needed
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate creative concepts and build consensus among stakeholders.
- Strategic thinker with a passion for innovation and continuous improvement.
Application Form
A Note Regarding Job Location
ATÖLYE has two hubs in Istanbul and Dubai that houses its core team and its community. However, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, ATÖLYE has adopted a hybrid way of working where team members can choose to work remotely and visit the ATÖLYE spaces when their physical presence is necessary. Meanwhile, we regularly organize in-person events and gatherings for our team and community in order to foster physical interactions.
Non-Discrimination Policy
Throughout the entire job application process, ATÖLYE does not discriminate against individuals directly or indirectly based on language, race, color, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, parenthood, childcare, age, health status, disability, political opinion, philosophical belief, religion and sect, or similar reasons. ATÖLYE provides suitable working conditions obligating employees to behave equally among teammates and complies with the principle of equality which is embedded in its organizational policy.