Director, Interior Design, Design & Architecture

About the RoleThis is an opportunity to join one of the country’s largest privately‑held mixed‑use developers in a senior design leadership role with broad scope and real creative authority. The Studio is WS Development’s in‑house team of architects and designers—responsible for shaping the design ethos, built environment, and tenant and customer experience across a portfolio of over 100 properties nationwide.We’re looking for a Director who brings a strong design instinct—someone with genuine taste, an eye for detail, and the authority to raise the bar on design quality across a complex, high‑velocity portfolio. This person will shape design across the portfolio, own key cross‑functional relationships, and play a meaningful role in Studio operations.WS is fast‑paced and committed to best‑in‑class outcomes. We’re looking for someone who finds real satisfaction in results—and who wants to do some of the best work of their career in a design‑forward, entrepreneurial environment.Key Responsibilities Design LeadershipServe as a senior design voice within the Studio, with meaningful authority to define quality standards and push the aesthetic bar across tenant fit‑outs, new development, and the public realm.Develop and apply clear design standards, guidelines, and documentation for internal and external stakeholders—including property‑specific criteria and Tenant Design Manuals—that reflect WS’s aspirations for each asset.Act as a creative resource and design ambassador in work with tenants, consultants, and internal partners—able to make the case for design with both authority and diplomacy.Contribute to the design of the broader built environment, including architecture, landscape, signage and way finding, and the public realm.Project Oversight & DeliveryProvide design leadership across the full project lifecycle—from Feasibility and Planning through Design, Construction, and Opening—for a portfolio of new and existing mixed‑use developments.Review tenant fit‑out documentation, storefront and interior design submittals, and lease design and construction terms, ensuring quality and accuracy.Lead detailed design reviews for technical and aesthetic content and manage internal approval processes.Provide critical design collateral—plans, renderings, criteria documents—to Leasing in support of dealflow and tenant negotiations.Collaborate with Development, Construction, Leasing, and Marketing to align design goals with schedule, budget, and strategic objectives.Team & Cross‑Functional PartnershipWork closely with Studio colleagues and leadership to maintain design consistency and elevate the overall quality of the team’s output.Mentor junior and intermediate team members, providing feedback on design, process, technical acuity, and professional development.Build and maintain strong relationships with tenants, consultants, Leasing, Development, Construction, and Field teams—elevating design quality while serving as a trusted partner, both internally and externally, who understands commercial realities and can navigate complex stakeholder dynamics as a senior Studio representative.Contribute to Studio initiatives around workflow, process improvement, design standards, and AI tool implementation.The StudioThe Studio is the design backbone of WS Development. We work at the intersection of creativity, strategy, and execution, and we’re in the process of building something meaningfully better.QualificationsDegree in Architecture, Interior Architecture, or a related design discipline.10–15+ years of progressive design experience, with a background in retail, hospitality, or mixed‑use commercial environments.Demonstrated strong design judgment…