Director, Design & Construction

The Senior Director, Design, Construction & Facilities is responsible for the end-to-end leadership of the built environment across the family’s portfolio, overseeing design vision, project delivery, and ongoing property performance. 

This role operates at the intersection of aesthetic excellence, operational functionality, and long-term asset stewardship. The Senior Director is accountable not only for delivering exceptional spaces, but for building the systems, teams and partnerships that ensure consistency, quality, and scalability across all properties. 

This is a high trust, high impact leadership role requiring strong judgement, discretion, and the ability to operate seamlessly between principals, internal teams, and work class external partners. The ideal candidate is both strategic and execution orientated. Capable of setting vision while ensuring flawless delivery. 

• Partner closely with family members and senior leadership to translate vision into thoughtful, functional, and aesthetically exceptional environments
• Establish and uphold portfolio-wide design standards, ensuring consistency, quality, and alignment with the family’s preferences
• Lead selection and direction of architects, interior designers, landscape architects, and specialty consultants
• Guide design development from concept through construction documents with close attention to materials, finishes, and furnishings

• Provide oversight of all construction projects, including planning, budgeting, procurement, and execution
• Manage general contractors, project managers and vendors to ensure projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to the highest standards
• Conduct regular site visits and maintain hands-on involvement throughout project lifecycles
• Implement rigorous project controls, reporting, and risk management practices
• Lead value engineering efforts while preserving design intent and quality

• Develop and manage annual operating budgets and multi-year capital plans
• Prioritize and sequence projects across the portfolio based on family needs and strategic objectives
• Provide regular updates and reporting on project status, budgets, and risks
• Identify opportunities to enhance asset value, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability

• Build and scale the design and construction organization to support a growing multi-property, multi-geography portfolio, including PM bench strength, regional leads where appropriate, and specialty functions.
• Coach, develop and mentor an internal team elevating capability across the organization 
• Foster a culture of excellence, accountability, safety, and service
• Lead through influence across distributed teams and geographies, ensuring consistency in standards and execution
• Develop training programs and succession plans to ensure operational continuity
• Establish performance metrics and evaluate team effectiveness 
• Collaborate closely with other family office functions, including finance, legal, and most importantly property operations which consists of; house manager, housekeeping, culinary, schools and childcare
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the family on all matters related to the built environment

• Maintain a trusted network of best-in-class architects, builders, artisans, and service providers
• Negotiate contracts and oversee procurement processes
• Ensure accountability, performance, and alignment with expectations across all external partners

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field  
• 15+ years of experience in high-end residential and commercial projects including leading multi-property portfolios with concurrent capital deployment
• Proven track record managing complex, design-forward construction projects from concept through completion
• Strong understanding of building systems, construction methods, and materials
• Experience overseeing multi-property portfolios across multiple geographies required. Experience delivering projects in international jurisdictions and direct experience supporting UHNW principals or family office environments strongly preferred.
• Exceptional financial acumen, including budgeting and capital planning
• High level of discretion, professionalism, and emotional intelligence

• Accountability - Take full ownership of outcomes, sets a high bar, and holds team to it
• Alignment - Breaks down silos and drives collaboration across functions and geographies
• Authenticity - Communicates with clarity, discretion, and trust-building transparency
• Achievement - Invests in developing people and building long-term organizational capability
• Adaptability - Navigates ambiguity, evolving priorities, and complex environments with agility
• Judgement & Discretion - Exercises exceptional decision-making in a high-confidentiality environment
• Service Leadership - Models a silent service mindset anticipating needs without being intrusive

• Frequent domestic and international travel between properties and project sites, with availability to support principal presence and active construction milestones across time zones
• Availability to support time-sensitive projects and family needs
• Combination of office-based, field-based, and on-site residential engagement

This role is instrumental in shaping and maintaining the family’s physical environments, ensuring each property is thoughtfully designed, expertly built, and impeccably maintained. The Senior Director serves as a steward of the family’s assets, delivering enduring quality, comfort, and value across generations.