Project Strategy Director

Project Strategy Director Reports to: Head of Project Management: Job Description Role Overview The Project Strategy Director (PSD) is a senior leader responsible for the end-to-end success of assigned Luci projects across creative, strategic, operational, and commercial dimensions. Working in close partnership with the Project Creative Director and Project Manager, the PSD co-drives the creative and strategic vision, leads client relationships, and guides projects from early planning through delivery. The PSD owns project health in its entirety—creative direction, client confidence, team performance, schedule, scope, and financial outcomes—and serves as the primary point of contact for the client from kickoff through closeout. Project Leadership & Oversight Drive overall strategic direction, establishing and protecting the project vision from concept through installation in partnership with the Project Creative Director. Own project health across creative, commercial, and operational dimensions. Proactively identify risks—schedule, scope, budget, client and mobilize resources to resolve them before they escalati. Create and manage project work plans, timelines, milestones, and team collaboration processes. Inform and oversee the project schedule maintained by the Project Manager. Maintain scope of work throughout the project lifecycle. Track deliverables, identify out-of-scope work, and manage change orders and additional services with proper documentation. Own commercial performance: monitor budget, fee burn, and margin health. Partner with the Operations Manager and Leadership to flag financial risks early and course correct. Lead and facilitate creation of all client deliverables. Serve as an internal quality control check across disciplines. Client Journey & Relationship Own the end-to-end client journey from kickoff through project closeout, shaping every touchpoint—communication quality, update cadence, presentation professionalism—so the client feels heard, informed, and confident. Serve as the client’s primary point of contact. Anticipate needs and concerns before they surface. Design the rhythm of client engagement including meeting cadence, milestone reviews, and check-ins. Lead all commercial conversations with clients: scope changes, additional service requests, and fee adjustments. Protect Luci’s interests while maintaining strong partnership. Contribute to business development through pitches, proposals, and client interviews. Act as a Luci ambassador to build relationships and support growth. Interview and help select project partners and subcontractors in collaboration with Leadership. Manage those relationships to ensure work aligns with project vision. Team Coordination Lead the project team throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring effective coordination and collaboration across all internal and external partners. Coordinate with Department Managers and the Operations Manager on resourcing, scheduling, and budget. Communicate work plan changes to all relevant stakeholders promptly. Provide ongoing support, troubleshoot issues, and mentor junior project staff. Foster a culture of learning and best practice sharing in storytelling, visitor experience and experiential design. Experience Strategy & Content Development Translate project vision into actionable design direction, ensuring storytelling intent and visitor experience goals carry through from concepting into final built work. Plan, facilitate, and synthesize project team and client brainstorming sessions. Package and distribute and distribute outcomes. Lead content development: collaborate with the project team, client, and advisors to identify exhibit stories, develop content bubble diagrams, define exhibit flow, and determine how stories will be communicated (graphics, artifacts, interactives, etc.). Oversee multimedia development including concepting, defining objectives, creating RFPs, and managing media partners. Project Delivery & Partner Oversight Provide strategic and creative oversight through delivery, ensuring design intent is maintained from documentation through fabrication, installation, and commissioning. Lead relationships with external execution partners (fabricators, AV integrators, interactive developers, lighting designers, graphic producers, specialty consultants) and ensure their work meets Luci’s quality standards. Oversee the design-to-production transition: manage documentation handoffs, review shop drawings and submittals, and flag deviations from design intent. Participate in site visits, installation oversight, and punch list review to ensure the final experience delivers on the project vision. Qualifications 10+ years of experience in Museum Exhibit Design, Themed Entertainment, Branded Environments, Experiential Agency work, or Event Production. 7+ years in a client-facing leadership role focused on creative development or strategy; agency background and project: management experience preferred. Proven track record of holistic project ownership: deliverables, team morale, client confidence, commercial performance and creative quality. Strong command of project commercial management: budgets, fee structures, change order processes, and profitability metrics. Confidence leading financial conversations with clients including scope adjustments and additional service negotiations. Sharp instincts for client experience management—ability to read a room, anticipate concerns, and shape the client’s perception of the work and partnership. Experience managing external execution partners including fabricators, AV integrators, specialty consultants, and general contractors. Familiarity with design-build or construction delivery methods. Background in content development, interpretive planning or narrative strategy. Solid understanding of the built and physical environment. Solid understanding of user experience. Strong presentation, proposal, and written communication skills. Ability to manage multiple clients simultaneously in a fast-paced environment. Willingness to travel as projects require. #J-18808-Ljbffr Luci