How do I fit in?
DIRECTORS
15+ years of work, management, and executive experience
SENIOR STAFF
6+ years of experience
PROJECT STAFF
4+ years of experience
JUNIOR STAFF
1-3 years of experience
INTERN
0–1 year of experience
WANT TO MOVE UP?
Work with your director to set, monitor, and achieve your goals to allow growth in the workplace. We will do our best to ensure you make the most of your opportunity here.
TITLE CHARACTER
Generally, our titles are simple and it includes your role, followed by a discipline. For example:
Director, Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning
Senior Designer, Environmental Graphic Design
Intermediate Technician, Civil Engineering
Junior Designer, Interaction Design
Intern, Architecture
Take a good look at the various positions and their responsibilities. See an opportunity? Almost every executive and management position comes open at some time or another—and we would love to reward someone from inside the organization with a promotion and/or a new position.
The President is the primary shareholder for each company, and is responsible for all primary business decisions. Not to mention, Rob is the founder of both Ekistics Planning and Design and Form:Media, which merged in 2019 to become Fathom Studio.
Our Controller (Shelley), helps to run the financial aspects of the firms and is the conduit between the owner, the GM’s and the accountant. This office is responsible for the ensuring the fiscal health of the business, resulting from a focus on incoming and outgoing fees, expenses, and all aspects related to financial record keeping.
At Fathom, Directors are responsible for the oversight of disciplines within each of the business units. These individuals are responsible for writing/reviewing proposals, as well as resource allocation, signing-off on leave time, and other issues related to the management of the division. The Director manages senior managers and creative staff, and is also responsible for ensuring all potential and current work aligns with the company vision. Directors are responsible for checking all fees on all proposals and approving all proposals. In addition to managing staff, the Director also manages contractors. For the most part, your director is the go-to person for leadership, to guide your future here, and to resolve issues. For our EGD group, see John, for Fathom Architecture see Chris, and for Landscape Architecture, see Devin.
Senior Designers/Technician represent the bulk of our creative and technical capacity. Senior staff are responsible for the design of solutions from concept to completion. Within each of the specialties, skills sets and responsibilities will vary, however these staff members are seasoned veterans within their respective disciplines. A senior staffer directs the work of one or more junior designers, and are authorities in design decision-making as well as mentors. From time to time, Senior Designers are also responsible for writing proposals and can be the primary client contact. Senior staff are your go-to person when it comes to questions about the how we work, why we do it, and where to find things: they are your design mentors.
Intermediate Designers/Technicians collaborate with, and take direction from, senior staff. In this position, intermediate staff have the opportunity to hone their skills and expertise on their path to gaining experience. Intermediate staff may have some occasional contact with clients but are almost solely responsible for design and technical support.
Junior Designers/Technicians are staff members who have been out of school for less than four years. These team members are responsible for project support, including but not limited to research, design and production. Some projects may require you to contact clients, while others require supervision or permission from a senior staff member.
Interns are typically employed with a goal to help the individual fulfill scholastic or professional requirement, or to gain new skills in the work place. Depending on the placement, staff are often required to meet predefined requirements specific to their area of practice and the goals of the internship. Interns work directly with a mentor to identify and fulfill goal prerequisites.
• Not to be forgotten are Administrative Support staff. These team members play an important role in the daily functions of every business, and offer help in a variety of capacities including coordination services, financial support, and front-line support.
Return to the employee handbook.