Careers
We believe great employees make great companies. When we talk about recruiting the best and brightest, we’re talking about people who thrive on the excitement of collaboration for high quality and innovative design, set their own goals, and work hard to achieve them. Our employees are self-motivated and are passionate about what they do and passionate about creating designs that matter.
At Design Collective, we make it a priority to recruit talented people based upon our long-term vision for the firm’s growth and how prospective employees can contribute and prosper within our culture. By taking the time to strategically fill positions with employees on a career path instead of for the immediate needs of a single project, both the firm and each employee benefit from a lasting commitment.
Design Collective is a nationally recognized Baltimore and Chicago-based architecture, planning and urban design, landscape architecture and interior design firm that offers competitive salaries, an Employee Stock-Ownership Plan (ESOP), voluntary 401K participation, above-standard company paid contributions towards medical and Rx coverage, a licensure/registration reimbursement plan, and flexible work opportunities. The firm maintains a core of well-respected public and private sector clients and a portfolio of award-winning projects in a variety of high-performing, growth-oriented market sectors.
We provide resources for continuing education, professional development programs, and networking. Employees can attend relevant professional or education classes, seminars, or conferences to advance their knowledge or obtain credits required by the State Registration Boards for maintaining current licensure or pursuing new accreditations.
In addition to outside programs, Design Collective has a well-established in-house series of educational programs. These include regular “Lunch and Learn” sessions, “Design Collective University” seminars, construction site visits, and our “First Thursday” program, where employees socialize and discuss projects, the profession, and life.
Baltimore magazine included us in Best Places to Work 2019.
As a multi-disciplinary design firm, Design Collective is always looking for passionate and qualified candidates for current or future positions that may open. These include architects, urban planners, interior designers, landscape architects and graphic designers.
Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.
*Submissions without a portfolio will not be reviewed.
Current Opportunities
Position: Urban Designer
Design Collective is looking for a talented, self-motivated design professional, with 10-15 years’ experience, to join our Urban Design studio in Baltimore and focus on urban design/planning projects. A degree in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and/or Urban Design (BS or master’s degree from an accredited college or university) is a requirement, as is a portfolio. Importantly, candidates should have a passion for planning and designing livable, engaging, and sustainable places at a variety of scales.
Our Urban Design studio’s projects range from sites as small as a few city blocks to several hundred acres or more. Our work focuses on placemaking, retrofitting our suburbs and corridors, reinvesting in our neighborhoods and cities, and creating vibrant, walkable, mixed-use places that are dynamic, equitable, and diverse. The urban design position will collaborate with studio members and our in-house, expert architects, landscape architects, and graphic designers as well as work on larger, complex planning and urban design projects working alongside market, economic, civil, transportation, and/or environmental subconsultants. The position requires the preparation of rigorous context, site, and zoning analysis, engagement with diverse stakeholders, and evaluation of economic, historic, cultural, social, and environmental assets of a place.
Our planning and urban design expertise supports private developer clients as well as public sector agencies, including cities and towns, transit agencies, planning departments, housing authorities, MPOs, and non-profit organizations. Our plans have guided the transformation of aging commercial corridors, revitalization of disinvested neighborhoods, phased implementation of mixed-use and transit-oriented development, and rebuilding of our cities and urban districts.
Candidates must be comfortable working on a variety of project types, in various settings, within a comprehensive team-oriented approach, and with deadline-oriented deliverables.
To see some of our recent projects, visit our website at https://www.designcollective.com/files/dci-planning-ud-2021-forwebsite.pdf
Requirements:
- A degree in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and/or Urban Design (BS or master’s degree from an accredited college or university) and a portfolio;
- Outstanding planning, design, analytical, graphic, writing, and verbal skills;
- Demonstrated proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, CAD, and SketchUp or Rhino (proficiency in GIS and Lumion is preferred but not required); and
- Licensure or Certification (AIA, AICP, ASLA, LEED-AP, etc.)
- Project Management experience is preferred, but not required.
Responsibilities:
- Preparing existing conditions analysis, plan diagrams, conceptual site plans, massing models, street sections, presentations, and charrette/workshop materials;
- Preparing and formatting report and design guidelines graphics, text, and documents;
Attending site visits; - Supporting and/or managing projects in coordination with our in-house team and/or subconsultants;
- Supporting community engagement and facilitation; and
- Active involvement in client and team communications and meetings.
The Compensation and Benefits
Design Collective offers competitive salaries, an employer funded Employee Stock-Ownership Plan (ESOP), voluntary 401(k), above-standard company paid contributions towards medical and RX coverage, employer paid medical deductible, voluntary dental, vision, STD and LTD, paid life insurance, two weeks of paid vacation or more depending upon level, four paid sick days, flexible work arrangements, licensure/registration reimbursement plan, professional development opportunities, networking support, and much more.
The compensation range for this position is $85,000 to $115,000 annually and is commensurate with experience. In addition, Associate level positions and above are eligible for annual bonuses.
Interested candidates should send a resume and portfolio* (or online link) to: HR@designcollective.com and enter “Urban Designer” in the subject line
*Submissions without a portfolio will not be reviewed.
Design Collective, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to diversity in the workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, familial status, genetic information, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by State or Federal law. Applicants who need an ADA accommodation for an interview should request the accommodation when notified of a request to be interviewed. Applicants must be legally eligible to work in the United States. Design Collective, Inc. does not offer sponsorship.