HKS
Overview:
Responsible for leading the firm's brand strategy and visual identity, ensuring that HKS is consistently represented as a bold, innovative, and trusted architecture firm across every practice and region.
Owns brand positioning, guidelines, creative direction, and brand governance, and ensures brand equity is protected and amplified across all channels. Partners closely with Practice Marketing Directors (PMDs), Centers of Excellence (COEs), and firmwide leadership to make sure the HKS brand shows up consistently while adapting appropriately for market needs.
Responsibilities: Defines, manages, and evolves the HKS brand strategy and architecture
Ensures brand consistency across all practices, regions, and offices
Creates brand governance frameworks and enforce adoption across marketing and BD functions
Leads the development of brand campaigns and creative assets that reinforce HKS's positioning
Oversees visual identity, design systems, and templates to support both practice and regional needs
Partners with COEs (Creative, Digital, PR) to ensure brand is integrated across every touchpoint
Partners with PMDs to translate practice strategies into brand-aligned assets, campaigns, and content
Ensures practice value propositions are consistently expressed in all materials
Partners with firmwide leadership to localize the brand for regional relevance while protecting consistency
Develops scalable brand tools, playbooks, and templates for regional teams and local coordinators
Provides direct brand support for priority regional campaigns and pursuits
Defines KPIs to measure brand strength (awareness, perception, consistency)
Monitors adoption of brand guidelines and consistency of execution across practices and regions
Reports regularly to CMO and firm leadership on brand performance and alignment
Collaborates with PR, Digital, and Creative teams to deliver fully integrated campaigns
Provides high level of interactive service to others, building relationships, addressing identified needs and following through with implementing resolutions for the firm's brand identity system
Stays current on trends and developments in graphic design
Models and holds others accountable to the firm's cultural values, including a commitment to quality, innovation, learning and growth
Oversees and actively invests in the professional development of staff through mentoring, performance management and career planning
Leads efforts in attracting, training, retaining, growing and recognizing diverse talent
Manages conflict effectively and encourages a healthy team environment
Partners with leadership, business development and marketing teams to implement/maintain the strategic plan goals for brand
Fosters and maintains a collaborative professional working relationship with the project team, including promoting communication and creating approachability
Takes personal responsibility for fostering a green workplace through sustainable work practices
Develops budgets and timelines of team projects in collaboration with Chief Marketing Officer
Responsible for the financial implications of overhead and chargeable time, including accountability to project plan and planned utilization rate
Collaborates in managing projects to satisfy requirements with best possible ROI and delivering projects on defined budget requirements
Collaborates with practice leaders and Marketing team to ensure the brand is presented across all tactics and assets in a synchronized and impactful way
Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Advertising or related degree
Typically with 15+ years of experience in advertising/design agency environment, with experience in brand strategy and visual identity within a global or matrixed organization
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite such as InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and Sketchup graphic software
Proficiency in MS Office Suite, including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint preferred
Prior experience in professional services or design industries
Successful track record with managing a team and performing duties in a fast-paced environment
Proven experience in successfully scaling a global brand in a competitive market landscape
Proven ability to balance consistency with flexibility across diverse practices and markets
Proven ability to work across stakeholder groups, functional areas, geographies, and differing levels of seniority
Proven ability in identifying issues, determining their cause, developing creative solutions
Excellent writing skills with leadership experience in creative direction, storytelling, and visual communication
Excellent attention to detail and commitment to excellence
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with all levels of staff and clients; ability to forge trusting relationships within a diverse team
Strong presentation skills
Strong organizational skills and the ability to work on multiple projects at the same time
Ability to thrive in a complex, matrixed global organization
Ability to influence senior stakeholders across practices, regions, and BD teams
Ability to measure and report brand performance
Ability to manage team with diplomatic and collaborative leadership style which puts value on relationships and collaboration, both internal and external
Ability to communicate and present ideas in a clear, concise and professional manner both verbally and in writing
Ability to proactively problem solve and apply innovative solutions
Ability to collaborate and encourage collaboration in a team environment, and ability to work independently and prioritize work
Ability to effectively meet deadlines at expected quality
Travel may be required
If you currently work for HKS, please submit your application via the
Internal Careers Portal . HKS is an EEO/AA Employer: M/F/Disabled/Veteran
Responsibilities: Defines, manages, and evolves the HKS brand strategy and architecture
Ensures brand consistency across all practices, regions, and offices
Creates brand governance frameworks and enforce adoption across marketing and BD functions
Leads the development of brand campaigns and creative assets that reinforce HKS's positioning
Oversees visual identity, design systems, and templates to support both practice and regional needs
Partners with COEs (Creative, Digital, PR) to ensure brand is integrated across every touchpoint
Partners with PMDs to translate practice strategies into brand-aligned assets, campaigns, and content
Ensures practice value propositions are consistently expressed in all materials
Partners with firmwide leadership to localize the brand for regional relevance while protecting consistency
Develops scalable brand tools, playbooks, and templates for regional teams and local coordinators
Provides direct brand support for priority regional campaigns and pursuits
Defines KPIs to measure brand strength (awareness, perception, consistency)
Monitors adoption of brand guidelines and consistency of execution across practices and regions
Reports regularly to CMO and firm leadership on brand performance and alignment
Collaborates with PR, Digital, and Creative teams to deliver fully integrated campaigns
Provides high level of interactive service to others, building relationships, addressing identified needs and following through with implementing resolutions for the firm's brand identity system
Stays current on trends and developments in graphic design
Models and holds others accountable to the firm's cultural values, including a commitment to quality, innovation, learning and growth
Oversees and actively invests in the professional development of staff through mentoring, performance management and career planning
Leads efforts in attracting, training, retaining, growing and recognizing diverse talent
Manages conflict effectively and encourages a healthy team environment
Partners with leadership, business development and marketing teams to implement/maintain the strategic plan goals for brand
Fosters and maintains a collaborative professional working relationship with the project team, including promoting communication and creating approachability
Takes personal responsibility for fostering a green workplace through sustainable work practices
Develops budgets and timelines of team projects in collaboration with Chief Marketing Officer
Responsible for the financial implications of overhead and chargeable time, including accountability to project plan and planned utilization rate
Collaborates in managing projects to satisfy requirements with best possible ROI and delivering projects on defined budget requirements
Collaborates with practice leaders and Marketing team to ensure the brand is presented across all tactics and assets in a synchronized and impactful way
Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Advertising or related degree
Typically with 15+ years of experience in advertising/design agency environment, with experience in brand strategy and visual identity within a global or matrixed organization
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite such as InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and Sketchup graphic software
Proficiency in MS Office Suite, including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint preferred
Prior experience in professional services or design industries
Successful track record with managing a team and performing duties in a fast-paced environment
Proven experience in successfully scaling a global brand in a competitive market landscape
Proven ability to balance consistency with flexibility across diverse practices and markets
Proven ability to work across stakeholder groups, functional areas, geographies, and differing levels of seniority
Proven ability in identifying issues, determining their cause, developing creative solutions
Excellent writing skills with leadership experience in creative direction, storytelling, and visual communication
Excellent attention to detail and commitment to excellence
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with all levels of staff and clients; ability to forge trusting relationships within a diverse team
Strong presentation skills
Strong organizational skills and the ability to work on multiple projects at the same time
Ability to thrive in a complex, matrixed global organization
Ability to influence senior stakeholders across practices, regions, and BD teams
Ability to measure and report brand performance
Ability to manage team with diplomatic and collaborative leadership style which puts value on relationships and collaboration, both internal and external
Ability to communicate and present ideas in a clear, concise and professional manner both verbally and in writing
Ability to proactively problem solve and apply innovative solutions
Ability to collaborate and encourage collaboration in a team environment, and ability to work independently and prioritize work
Ability to effectively meet deadlines at expected quality
Travel may be required
If you currently work for HKS, please submit your application via the
Internal Careers Portal . HKS is an EEO/AA Employer: M/F/Disabled/Veteran