Design Director

About Us

Gropen, Inc., is a full-service, custom fabrication, architectural signage, and graphics firm in Charlottesville, VA.

For over 40 years we have developed a reputation for quality products and superior results. Our clients, both locally and nationally, include architects, landscape architects, real estate developers, park administrators, hospitals, and universities, for whom we provide smart, innovative, and effective solutions. We strive to maintain a friendly, supportive culture for people who want to work, learn, and enjoy what they do. This position offers opportunities for involvement in diverse project types and professional advancement in a team-oriented, dynamic culture.

Gropen is looking for a Design Director to lead our Design Department and take ownership of its people, quality, standards, and output. This isn't a senior designer role with a few management duties tacked on — it's a leadership role for someone who wants to build a team and a department that consistently delivers exceptional, buildable environmental graphic design and signage work.

If you bring strong design judgment, real experience leading and developing people, and a passion for getting the details right from concept through fabrication and installation, we'd love to talk.

What You'll Do

• Lead, coach, and develop the Design team — setting clear expectations, roles, and priorities.
• Own the quality and consistency of Gropen's design output, including standards, review processes, and final sign-off.
• Build stronger onboarding, training, and professional development for designers.
• Manage visibility into workload, capacity, and deadlines, partnering with Project Management to keep priorities aligned.
• Improve design workflows from concept through technical development and production handoff — reducing rework and reinventing the wheel.
• Develop and maintain design standards, precedents, and reference libraries built on Gropen's institutional knowledge.
• Serve as Design's primary point of leadership and escalation with Project Management, Sales, Fabrication, Production, Installation, clients, and company leadership.
• Ensure designs account for client intent, brand, code requirements, materials, fabrication, installation, and constructability.
• Step into complex or high-value design work when your expertise makes a meaningful difference.
• Stay current on environmental graphic design, signage, materials, fabrication methods, and industry trends.
• Support client presentations, proposals, and business development alongside senior leadership.

What You'll Bring

• Significant experience in environmental graphic design, signage, experiential design, architecture, or a closely related field.
• A track record of managing and developing people — not just being the most senior designer in the room.
• Strong design judgment, backed by a portfolio of sophisticated environmental, signage, or built-environment work.
• Working knowledge of materials, fabrication, production, installation, code considerations, and constructability.
• Excellent communication, presentation, prioritization, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience improving processes, documenting standards, and building consistency across a team.
• Proficiency with relevant design and technical software.
• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Environmental Design, Architecture, or a related field — or equivalent experience.

The Perks!

• Full-time salaried position
• Competitive salary compensation based on experience
• Paid holidays and PTO
• Affordable health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401k plan
• Career growth opportunities
• Monday-Friday, no weekends

Why Gropen

You'll have real ownership over how Design operates at Gropen — its people, its standards, and how it shows up for every other department and client we work with. This is a chance to shape a growing department, not just manage one.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume and portfolio to [application email/link]. We review applications on a rolling basis.

ACCOUNTABLE | PERSONABLE | RESOURCEFUL | CONSISTENT | TEAM PLAYER