Technical Director - Workplace

Located in the heart of the city, the Gensler San Francisco office serves as one of the firm’s flagship locations and a hub for innovation, collaboration, and interdisciplinary design excellence. Home to a diverse collective of architects, interior designers, strategists, planners, and technical experts, the office supports a broad range of practice areas including Workplace, Mixed-Use, Government, Urban Design, Sports, Sciences, Education, and Corporate Interiors.

Your Role

As a Technical Director, you will serve as a senior leader within one of our Workplace studios, guiding teams through all phases of the design and delivery process — from early test fits and technical detailing through construction documentation and administration. This role requires a passionate and experienced technical leader who thrives in a collaborative environment and brings deep expertise in the execution of complex architectural and interiors projects.

The ideal candidate will possess exceptional technical knowledge, strong presentation and relationship-building abilities, and a demonstrated capacity to understand and interpret client needs while delivering innovative and technically sound solutions.

You will have a comprehensive understanding of the end-to-end design process, beginning in the pursuit and marketing phase through construction completion, with proven experience across a broad range of project types and scales.

A self-motivated and collaborative team player, you will partner closely with colleagues across practice areas within the San Francisco office and across the firm, while also working alongside clients, consultants, vendors, and stakeholders at all levels. You will play a key role in mentoring and developing less experienced team members while serving as a trusted technical advisor to the studio.

What You Will Do

• Partner with Studio Directors, Principals, and project leadership to guide teams through all phases of project delivery

• Lead the technical development and execution of projects, ensuring design intent, quality standards, budget, schedule, and regulatory requirements are achieved

• Oversee the preparation and coordination of construction documentation, specifications, and construction administration activities

• Serve as the primary technical resource for project teams, resolving complex design and construction challenges in collaboration with consultants and stakeholders

• Mentor and develop junior staff through technical guidance, coaching, and day-to-day leadership

• Ensure project teams remain informed of applicable building codes, legislation, industry standards, and firmwide quality management practices

• Participate in Construction Administration efforts, including review of RFIs, submittals, change orders, and attendance at Owner-Architect-Contractor (OAC) meetings as needed

• Coordinate closely with Project Managers regarding staffing, scheduling, project execution, and technical resourcing

• Collaborate with technical leaders across the office, region, and firm to maintain consistency in technical standards and best practices

• Support a wide variety of project typologies including workplace, mixed-use, retail, government, sports, office buildings, and corporate interiors

• Partner with studio leadership and legal counsel on matters related to project delivery, contracts, and construction-related risk management

Your Qualifications

• Architecture Licensure is required

• Professional degree in Architecture required

• Minimum 20 years of professional architectural experience

• Demonstrated expertise in construction documentation, bid review, construction administration, and field observation

• Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills

• Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

• Passion for mentorship, team development, and technical excellence

• Advanced proficiency in Revit and AutoCAD

• Experience with Bluebeam Revu, Microsoft Word, and Excel preferred

• Strong understanding of building codes, standards, regulations, and specification writing

• Extensive experience in construction administration, construction contracts, and building systems including exterior enclosures, roofing/waterproofing, and primary building systems

• LEED accreditation preferred

Preferred Experience

• Experience building strong relationships with external design firms, corporate clients, and executive stakeholders

• Experience advising leadership teams within professional services and financial services organizations

• Skilled at facilitating meetings with diverse stakeholder groups to achieve alignment and consensus

• Demonstrated success mentoring and developing emerging professionals

Meet ourSan Francisco, CA team:San Francisco | Offices | Gensler

*The annual base salary will be estimated to be between $145,000 to $175,000. Gensler’s total compensation package is multi-layered and includes a base salary, two annual bonuses paid in December and June, an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), and profit sharing."

To learn more about our compensation philosophy and full benefits offerings, please visit Great People, Great Rewards | Gensler