Perkins&Will
Director of Strategic Advisory | Portland
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Director of Strategic Advisory – Portland Design
Portland Design are a design-led consultancy creating brands and places for people. We are based in London and part of the Perkins & Will global architecture and design group.
Through evidence, data and research, we uncover insights that shape future direction. We define foresight, strategic vision and experience drivers, then translate this thinking into designed experiences across:
- Place branding
- Experience masterplanning
- Wayfinding
- Retail
- Advertising and media
- Public art
The result is a seamless customer journey, where strategy becomes lived experience.
We work across scales and sectors, from stores to city-wide regeneration. Retail environments, commercial masterplans, airports, mixed-use destinations, restaurants and leisure spaces are all shaped around how people live, behave, move and make decisions.
We believe future value is created through people and culture. By understanding behaviour, expectations and motivations, we create environments that build stronger connections and deliver lasting social, cultural and commercial value, ultimately becoming places people love.
About the Role
Portland is entering a new phase of growth, increasing the depth of its senior advisory capability in response to the rising complexity of client challenges.
We are looking for a Director of Strategic Advisory, someone who:
- Brings a distinct perspective and complements the existing leadership team
- Operates naturally at executive level
- Moves comfortably between client leadership, strategic thinking and commercial growth
- Shapes client outcomes and business direction
- Grows our advisory offer, deepens senior relationships, and converts opportunity into impact
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This is not just another role. We are looking for a different perspective—a people-centred leader who:
- Broadens how we think
- Sharpens how we work
- Strengthens how we grow
- Brings capability that evolves our offer while staying true to Portland’s values and culture
Key Skills
This role requires a blend of strategic authority, commercial instinct and visible leadership presence.
- Significant experience in strategy, advisory, consulting, design or place leadership roles
- Strong commercial instinct, with the ability to:
- Identify growth opportunities
- Shape and drive business development
- Experience operating at executive and board level
- Proven thought leadership and public speaking experience, ideally on a global stage
- Someone who:
- Inspires audiences
- Is at ease on stage
- Brings energy, clarity and authority
- Excellent strategic facilitation, communication and influencing skills, with a collaborative leadership style that complements the existing leadership team
Key Responsibilities
This role spans client leadership, strategic advisory and commercial growth, shaping both outcomes and opportunity.
- Act as a trusted strategic advisor to senior stakeholders and executive teams
- Drive thinking on complex business, creative, place and organisational challenges
- Shape and convert commercial opportunities from early engagement through to pitch and delivery
- Lead senior client engagements, formulating project strategy and facilitating high-stakes decision-making and transformation
- Represent Portland externally through thought leadership, speaking and industry engagement
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What Success Might Look Like (12–24 Months)
Impact in this role is measured through:
- Client influence and commercial growth
- Strengthened advisory reputation through:
- Senior client impact
- Visible thought leadership
- Deepened relationships across:
- Key accounts
- Emerging clients
- Generated and converted commercial opportunities driving business growth
- Elevated quality of strategic decision-making beyond individual project briefs
- Increased external profile through:
- Speaking engagements
- Thought leadership initiatives
- Added new perspectives and capability to the wider leadership team
Support & Inclusivity
Please note, if you require any further assistance or adjustments during the process, kindly let us know in your application. Our team will ensure added measures are in place to support you.
Perkins & Will are an equal opportunity employer. We support diverse backgrounds, valuing the experiences, viewpoints and solutions that best serve our clients, community, and enrich our work environment.
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