Lead Interior Designer

Employment Type: Full-time Company Overview The Lead Interior Designer owns day-to-day design leadership for assigned projects and ensures design packages are complete, accurate, brand-compliant, and ready for procurement and production handoff. Outcomes / Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) • On-time milestone completion (concept, design development, final package) • * Approval success rate and revision cycles (client and franchise/brand) • * Field issues attributable to design (omissions, spec errors, unclear alternates) • * Client satisfaction on design experience (communication, responsiveness, confidence) • * Accuracy of specifications, finishes, and quantities for procurement handoff • * Contribution to value engineering outcomes without degrading design intent • * Team throughput and utilization (on-time delivery by assigned designers) • * Quality/rework rate of design deliverables (internal QA findings; revisions due to documentation errors) • * Development of junior staff (skill progression, adherence to standards, performance feedback completion) • Core ResponsibilitiesDesign Leadership (Concept Through Documentation) • Lead design development, documentation, and revisions for assigned projects from concept to final deliverable packages • * Translate client needs, brand standards, and site constraints into functional, safe, aesthetically pleasing interior solutions • * Develop design concepts and progress them into detailed plans, elevations, and specifications suitable for execution • * Maintain familiarity with hospitality design trends and major hotel brand standards and apply them consistently • Approvals and Design Communications • Coordinate approvals and manage design communications with clients and franchise/brand reviewers • * Prepare and submit design packages for franchise review and approval; incorporate feedback efficiently • * Maintain clear documentation of decisions, revisions, and approval status; escalate risks to the Design Director as needed • Execution Readiness and Procurement Handoff • Maintain accurate specifications, finishes, and quantities to support procurement handoff and reduce downstream change orders • * Partner with Procurement and Operations to confirm constructability, alternates, and lead-time feasibility • * Support value engineering exercises by proposing alternatives that achieve cost savings without degrading design quality • * Coordinate with contractors and vendors to ensure design intent is correctly implemented in the field • Project Meetings and Issue Resolution • Participate in key project meetings and contribute to issue resolution, including field questions, substitutions, and installation constraints • * Coordinate with architects, engineers, contractors, and other consultants as required to support successful implementation • * Manage project design timelines and support budget alignment; surface constraints and tradeoffs early • Team Leadership, Management, and Quality Assurance • Lead the day-to-day work of the assigned project design team, including task assignment, prioritization, and schedule coordination across concept, DD, and final package phases • * Provide direction and oversight to junior designers and design coordinators; ensure deliverables meet brand standards, JMHS templates, and documentation requirements • * Establish and maintain a QA/QC cadence (checklists, redlines, review gates) to reduce omissions, spec errors, and downstream rework • * Coach and mentor team members through regular feedback, skill-building, and constructive critique; document performance feedback as required • * Partner with the General Manager on staffing plans, workload balancing, and resource requests to support on-time delivery across multiple projects • * Support hiring and onboarding efforts as needed (interviews, portfolio reviews, ramp plans), and help maintain a high-performing team culture • * Set expectations for responsiveness, documentation hygiene, and communication standards across the team; address issues early and escalate when appropriate • Standards, Process Improvement, and Knowledge Management • Provide guidance to junior designers supporting the project; review their work for accuracy and alignment to standards • * Contribute to templates, standards, and the living design library under Design Director governance • * Identify workflow bottlenecks and recommend process improvements to increase speed, clarity, and consistency of design delivery • Key Interfaces • General Manager • * Procurement Team • * PM Lead / Project Managers • * Production / QC Team • * Sales (pre-award support as needed) • Authority Limits • Recommends design decisions; final approvals per Design Director governance • * Escalates major scope changes, high-risk decisions, and brand exceptions to the Design Director and/or GM as defined • * Provides day-to-day direction to assigned design team members; performance decisions, compensation changes, and terminations remain with Design Director/GM per company policy • Requirements • Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design, Architecture, or related field; CIDA-accredited program preferred • * NCIDQ certified (required to be titled Interior Designer, in good standing) • * Hospitality interior design experience required; strong knowledge of major hotel brand standards and trends • * Proven ability to manage multiple projects concurrently and work within strict deadlines • * Strong understanding of interior design principles/theory and applicable building codes, life safety, and accessibility requirements • * Strong documentation and specification discipline; ability to produce and review buildable packages • * Strong written and verbal communication skills; confident client-facing presence • * Demonstrated ability to lead and develop others (mentoring, assigning work, reviewing deliverables, and improving team performance) • Technical Skills • Proficient with Revit and/or AutoCAD; experience with SketchUp preferred • * Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (or equivalent tools) • * Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint • * Experience with 3D visualization tools (3DS Max and/or similar) is a plus • Work Location and Schedule • In-person role (no remote work available) • * Monday to Friday, standard business hours (8-hour shift) • * Ability to commute/relocate: Morrisville, NC 27560 (required) • Benefits • Benefits package offered after 3 months (PTO, sick leave, and bonuses) • Legal & Employment Disclaimers Reasonable Accommodation Employment is at-will, meaning either the employee or the company may terminate employment at any time, with or without cause or notice, subject to applicable law.