Position title
Senior Interior Designer
Reports to
Principal
Position Purpose
The position works with the Principal and team to design and manage hospitality and residential projects.
Essential Functions
Design
- Lead project design efforts in tandem with the Principal on projects ranging in scale, complexity and timeline. Ability to collaborate with a team to prioritize, delegate and multitask, within tight timelines.
- Fluid in both hospitality and residential design.
- Serve as a thought partner and provide expertise throughout all phases of the design process, specifically for hospitality.
- Develop space plans and 3-D concepts, and be involved in all aspects and phases of construction documentation and project demands.
- Develop visual presentations, furniture plans, custom built-in finishes including cabinetry, furniture, etc. and material schemes. Deep knowledge of safety requirements regulations for material selection for hospitality, such as fire ratings for fabrics. Deep understanding of finish differences of residential and commercial.
- Research and source furniture, lighting, fabrics, wallpapers, interior finishes within project budget. Research and identify unconventional and lesser-known artists, artisans, and commissioned work.
- Actively manage project budgets, finish schedules, documentation and timely communication with client, vendors, architects, general contractor, trades.
- Coordinate vendor and installer site visits, workroom visits, and in-person meetings to ensure successful project deliverables. Expected to respond to delivery teams, GCs or trades that need immediate attention.
- Ensure the project files are updated with all schedules, item tear sheets, customization notes, reference photos, specifications, and drawings.
- Prioritize multiple deadlines, project scopes, disfear immediate demands and aesthetics simultaneously.
- Stay up-to-date with industry practices in design management.
Personnel + Culture
- Efficiently manage Associate Designer and Interns on multiple projects
- Effectively delegate tasks to team members to ensure projects remain on schedule and within budget, providing a seamless experience for our clients
- Participate in the hiring, training and development and review of team members, when applicable
- Able to develop and participate in culture development activities within and out of the studio, such industry events, conferences, museum visits, etc.
Client Management
- Lead client meetings, attend site visits and create task lists for project management.
- Serve as a primary point of contact with clients to keep projects on schedule and within budget while providing exceptional service.
- Oversee project installation scheduling and coordination.
- Oversee accurate design time hours for self and project team.
- Work with current clients also contribute and identify key new contacts within the industry.
- Manage clients expectations, with proactive communication. Preferred form of communication is email, to have a record of details and conversation.
- Occasional texts, phone calls and meetings outside office hours. Client communication is encouraged to stay during office hours.
Requirements
- 5- 7+ years of experience in high-end commercial and residential design with a deep knowledge of hospitality projects, practices and safety regulations.
- Interior Design and/or Interior Architecture education.
- Demonstrated experience in hospitality and luxury residential design management in a senior role.
- Strong leadership skills with an ability to spearhead concepts from origination to completion on multiple projects.
- Highly adaptable, strong team player, with team building skills and high-level ability to multitask. Ability to collaborate with a team to prioritize, delegate and multitask, within tight timelines.
- Persuasive, effective and clear communicator with clients, team members, and vendors.
- FF&E focused — extensive knowledge of vendors, product, materials, shopping and resourcing.
- Strong on the job experience in all phases of a hospitality project.
- Strong experience in project management, budgeting and scheduling.
- Must be able to work well under pressure managing multiple deadlines.
- Willing to travel domestically to job sites, when necessary.
- Possess strong connections with established client base and vendor network.
- Understanding of custom furniture design and fabrication process.
- Revit, AutoCAD, Enscape, Photoshop, Sketch-up, Google Slides, Google Sheets skills are essential.
- Knowledge of IVY is a plus.
- Position is located in Chicago