Design Director Jobs in Florida
Design Director jobs in Florida are in strong demand, concentrated in the state's advertising, hospitality, tech, and real estate development sectors, with openings ranging from senior designer step-ups to VP-adjacent creative leadership roles. Miami, Orlando, and Tampa are the most active hiring metros, where established employers such as Royal Caribbean Group, Universal Destinations and Experiences, and Lennar have consistent creative leadership needs. Brand identity, experience design, and digital product design are the specialties Florida employers seek most consistently. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 9+ Design Director jobs
Description
DIRECTOR, DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
Wild Fork Foods | Doral, FL |
Role Overview
The Director of Design & Construction owns the full construction execution lifecycle for every new Wild Fork store — from the moment a lease is signed to the day keys are handed to the Operations team. Real Estate drives site selection, lease execution, LOI management, and GC/subcontractor engagement upstream. Marketing owns brand and design standards. This role sits squarely in between: translating approved plans into built stores, on time and on budget.
Execution is the mandate. This Director ensures that Marketing-approved design standards are delivered in the field, that General Contractors and subcontractors are held accountable to scope, schedule, and payment obligations, and that the company's financial exposure — bonds, liens, and contractor payment risk — is actively managed in partnership with Legal and Real Estate.
At 20–25 new openings per year, there are 8–12 projects in flight at any given time across multiple markets. The Director leads a construction PM, a coordinator, and an AP specialist, and serves as the primary D&C voice in cross-functional approval processes alongside Real Estate and Legal.
Key Responsibilities
Portfolio & Program Management
- Maintain real-time visibility across all active projects — budget, schedule, and risk — and report program health to leadership on a regular cadence
- Develop and manage the annual project calendar aligned to the 20–25 store opening target
- Identify capacity constraints and resource gaps before they become schedule problems
- Own the project management system and ensure it reflects accurate, current project status
- Participate — alongside the Real Estate team — in regular committee meetings and project approval processes; involve Legal whenever contractual, lien, or compliance matters arise
Construction Execution & Delivery
- Upon receipt of the executed lease from Real Estate, coordinate with Marketing (design) and the relevant parties (GC, landlord) to manage the permitting and construction readiness process — ensuring timely progress while respecting each party's ownership of their respective scope
- Manage GC bid process, contract award, and contract administration across all active projects
- Oversee construction execution through punch list, Certificate of Occupancy, and clean handover to Operations
- Hold General Contractors and subcontractors accountable to scope, schedule, and budget; manage change orders with rigorous scrutiny and appropriate approvals
- Proactively track and manage payment bonds and liens related to GCs and subcontractors across all active projects; work closely with Legal and Real Estate to address any disputes, exposures, or required filings in a timely and structured manner
- Conduct or delegate site visits at critical milestones; escalate and resolve field issues quickly
Vendor & GC Relationships
- Build and maintain a regional panel of preferred GCs sized to support 20–25 concurrent openings
- Note: Real Estate retains ownership of LOI management, lease agreements, and formal GC/subcontractor engagement agreements; this role manages performance and execution within those established relationships
- Evaluate GC and subcontractor performance continuously; provide recommendations to Real Estate on expanding or exiting vendor relationships
- Negotiate favorable terms leveraging volume; standardize scopes of work and unit pricing where possible
Budget & Financial Oversight
- Own project cost tracking across the portfolio; ensure actuals are reconciled against approved budgets
- Partner with the AP Specialist to ensure contractor billing, draws, and lease-related payments are processed accurately and on time
- Drive year-over-year improvement in per-unit build cost without compromising quality or approved brand standards
Compliance with Marketing-Approved Design Standards
- Ensure all construction deliverables comply fully with design standards as defined and approved by Marketing
- Coordinate with Marketing on site-specific deviations or landlord-required modifications; obtain formal approvals before field execution
- Do not modify or approve changes to brand standards; escalate any conflicts between landlord requirements and approved design to Marketing and Real Estate for resolution
Team Leadership
- Lead, coach, and develop the D&C team; set clear priorities and remove blockers
- Identify capacity needs proactively — recommend adding a second Construction PM as volume demands it
- Build a culture of accountability, urgency, and operational rigor
Cross-Functional Partnership
- Serve as the primary D&C liaison to Real Estate, Legal, Marketing, Operations, and Facilities
- Flag construction-related lease issues to Real Estate and Legal early; provide documented recommendations
- Ensure clean handoffs to Operations: no open punch items, all systems commissioned, documentation complete
Qualifications
Required
- 8–12 years of construction and/or development experience with a multi-unit retail, restaurant, or similar operator — ideally one opening 15+ units per year
- Demonstrated experience managing a portfolio of 10+ concurrent projects simultaneously
- Strong working knowledge of construction processes: reading plans and specs, interpreting schedules, evaluating change orders, and managing GC and subcontractor performance
- Solid understanding of payment bonds, mechanics liens, and construction contract risk — and the discipline to manage them proactively
- Track record of delivering projects on time and within budget at volume
- Comfortable operating within a cross-functional model where design, real estate, and legal each own distinct lanes; able to coordinate across those boundaries without overstepping them
- Sharp communicator — able to give leadership a clear and accurate read on program health without drama
- High organizational discipline; builds and uses systems, not just manages by inbox
Preferred
- Background in retail, grocery, QSR, or convenience store rollouts — somewhere that builds the same thing over and over, fast
- Experience managing both ground-up and second-generation (tenant improvement) builds
- Familiarity with lease exhibits, landlord work letters, and construction-related lease obligations
- Experience presenting in committee-style approval environments with Legal and Real Estate stakeholders
- Degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Civil Engineering, or related field — or equivalent experience
EOE/Vets/Disability
Description
DIRECTOR, DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
Wild Fork Foods | Doral, FL |
Role Overview
The Director of Design & Construction owns the full construction execution lifecycle for every new Wild Fork store — from the moment a lease is signed to the day keys are handed to the Operations team. Real Estate drives site selection, lease execution, LOI management, and GC/subcontractor engagement upstream. Marketing owns brand and design standards. This role sits squarely in between: translating approved plans into built stores, on time and on budget.
Execution is the mandate. This Director ensures that Marketing-approved design standards are delivered in the field, that General Contractors and subcontractors are held accountable to scope, schedule, and payment obligations, and that the company's financial exposure — bonds, liens, and contractor payment risk — is actively managed in partnership with Legal and Real Estate.
At 20–25 new openings per year, there are 8–12 projects in flight at any given time across multiple markets. The Director leads a construction PM, a coordinator, and an AP specialist, and serves as the primary D&C voice in cross-functional approval processes alongside Real Estate and Legal.
Key Responsibilities
Portfolio & Program Management
- Maintain real-time visibility across all active projects — budget, schedule, and risk — and report program health to leadership on a regular cadence
- Develop and manage the annual project calendar aligned to the 20–25 store opening target
- Identify capacity constraints and resource gaps before they become schedule problems
- Own the project management system and ensure it reflects accurate, current project status
- Participate — alongside the Real Estate team — in regular committee meetings and project approval processes; involve Legal whenever contractual, lien, or compliance matters arise
Construction Execution & Delivery
- Upon receipt of the executed lease from Real Estate, coordinate with Marketing (design) and the relevant parties (GC, landlord) to manage the permitting and construction readiness process — ensuring timely progress while respecting each party's ownership of their respective scope
- Manage GC bid process, contract award, and contract administration across all active projects
- Oversee construction execution through punch list, Certificate of Occupancy, and clean handover to Operations
- Hold General Contractors and subcontractors accountable to scope, schedule, and budget; manage change orders with rigorous scrutiny and appropriate approvals
- Proactively track and manage payment bonds and liens related to GCs and subcontractors across all active projects; work closely with Legal and Real Estate to address any disputes, exposures, or required filings in a timely and structured manner
- Conduct or delegate site visits at critical milestones; escalate and resolve field issues quickly
Vendor & GC Relationships
- Build and maintain a regional panel of preferred GCs sized to support 20–25 concurrent openings
- Note: Real Estate retains ownership of LOI management, lease agreements, and formal GC/subcontractor engagement agreements; this role manages performance and execution within those established relationships
- Evaluate GC and subcontractor performance continuously; provide recommendations to Real Estate on expanding or exiting vendor relationships
- Negotiate favorable terms leveraging volume; standardize scopes of work and unit pricing where possible
Budget & Financial Oversight
- Own project cost tracking across the portfolio; ensure actuals are reconciled against approved budgets
- Partner with the AP Specialist to ensure contractor billing, draws, and lease-related payments are processed accurately and on time
- Drive year-over-year improvement in per-unit build cost without compromising quality or approved brand standards
Compliance with Marketing-Approved Design Standards
- Ensure all construction deliverables comply fully with design standards as defined and approved by Marketing
- Coordinate with Marketing on site-specific deviations or landlord-required modifications; obtain formal approvals before field execution
- Do not modify or approve changes to brand standards; escalate any conflicts between landlord requirements and approved design to Marketing and Real Estate for resolution
Team Leadership
- Lead, coach, and develop the D&C team; set clear priorities and remove blockers
- Identify capacity needs proactively — recommend adding a second Construction PM as volume demands it
- Build a culture of accountability, urgency, and operational rigor
Cross-Functional Partnership
- Serve as the primary D&C liaison to Real Estate, Legal, Marketing, Operations, and Facilities
- Flag construction-related lease issues to Real Estate and Legal early; provide documented recommendations
- Ensure clean handoffs to Operations: no open punch items, all systems commissioned, documentation complete
Qualifications
Required
- 8–12 years of construction and/or development experience with a multi-unit retail, restaurant, or similar operator — ideally one opening 15+ units per year
- Demonstrated experience managing a portfolio of 10+ concurrent projects simultaneously
- Strong working knowledge of construction processes: reading plans and specs, interpreting schedules, evaluating change orders, and managing GC and subcontractor performance
- Solid understanding of payment bonds, mechanics liens, and construction contract risk — and the discipline to manage them proactively
- Track record of delivering projects on time and within budget at volume
- Comfortable operating within a cross-functional model where design, real estate, and legal each own distinct lanes; able to coordinate across those boundaries without overstepping them
- Sharp communicator — able to give leadership a clear and accurate read on program health without drama
- High organizational discipline; builds and uses systems, not just manages by inbox
Preferred
- Background in retail, grocery, QSR, or convenience store rollouts — somewhere that builds the same thing over and over, fast
- Experience managing both ground-up and second-generation (tenant improvement) builds
- Familiarity with lease exhibits, landlord work letters, and construction-related lease obligations
- Experience presenting in committee-style approval environments with Legal and Real Estate stakeholders
- Degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Civil Engineering, or related field — or equivalent experience
EOE/Vets/Disability
See All 9 Design Director Jobs in Florida
Find roles in Florida that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Director JobsDesign Director Jobs by City in Florida
Where Florida roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Design Director Job Market in Florida
A snapshot from current Florida openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Florida Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in design director jobs across Florida.
- Bachelor's degree in graphic design, industrial design, architecture, or a related creative discipline
- Seven or more years of progressive design experience with at least three in a leadership role
- Demonstrated portfolio showing creative direction across brand, digital, or built-environment projects
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and other industry-standard design and prototyping tools
- Experience managing multidisciplinary creative teams and cross-functional stakeholder relationships
- Strong presentation and communication skills for pitching concepts to executive and client audiences
Design Director Jobs in Florida: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a design director in Florida?
Becoming a design director in Florida typically starts with a bachelor's degree in graphic design, interior design, architecture, or a related field, followed by progressive creative roles building toward leadership. Florida does not require a state license for most design director positions outside of interior design, where the Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design oversees licensure. Building a strong portfolio, earning leadership experience, and gaining proficiency with current industry tools are the clearest paths to this role in the Florida market.
Which companies hire design directors in Florida?
Employers hiring design directors in Florida right now include Fendi, eberjey, and Wild Fork, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Florida's concentration of hospitality, real estate, and entertainment companies means creative director roles here often blend brand, experiential, and digital design disciplines more than in other states.
Which Florida cities have the most design director jobs?
Miami, Orlando, and Doral have the most design director openings in Florida. Miami's dense concentration of advertising agencies, hospitality brands, and fashion companies drives the largest share of postings, while Orlando's entertainment and resort industry anchors demand there, and Tampa's growing tech and financial services sector has expanded its creative leadership hiring in recent years.
Are there remote design director jobs in Florida?
Yes, and more than many leadership roles, because design direction often centers on creative strategy, reviews, and stakeholder communication that translates well to distributed teams. About 33% of design director openings tied to Florida are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the role's collaborative but screen-based nature. Brand strategy, digital product design, and marketing creative direction tend to be the most remote-friendly specialties within this role.
How can I get hired as a design director in Florida with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into a senior designer or design lead role first, then building toward director-level responsibility over time. Large Florida employers in hospitality and real estate, such as theme park operators and major hotel groups, regularly hire associate creative and junior art director roles that grow into leadership tracks. A strong portfolio demonstrating creative problem-solving and at least some team collaboration, combined with relevant software credentials, gives candidates without formal director experience a meaningful edge in Florida's competitive market.
Where can I find and apply to design director jobs in Florida?
You can find and apply to design director jobs in Florida on Migrate Mate, which lists current Florida openings across Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and beyond. Find the roles that fit your experience and specialty, then apply directly to each one.
See All 9 Design Director Jobs in Florida
Find roles in Florida that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Director Jobs