Senior Interior Designer

Title: Senior Interior Designer

Location: Hartford, CT

Job Type: Direct Hire

Job Summary

The NCIDQ certified Senior Interior Designer works in collaboration with the firm’s Design leadership and Project leadership to create and develop interior design solutions for K-12 and higher-ed clients . The Senior Interior Designer will develop and demonstrate variety of interior design leadership skills on projects of all sizes. The individual will establish themselves within the professional community of Interior Design professionals. This role manages projects, leads teams, performs schematic design work, participates in design control of projects, and is responsible for project budget management and cost control. Responsibilities include managing projects of all sizes and levels of complexity while providing project team leadership. The hired candidate will be responsible for schematic design work and will participate in the design control of projects in the design development, construction document, and supervision phases.

Communication and Collaboration

• Consistently demonstrates working knowledge of conceptual, schematic, design development construction documentation and construction administration phases on assigned projects. Senior Interior Designer can convey this information to other internal and external consultant team members.
• Maintains and initiates frequent communication with team members to sustain proper information flow. Demonstrates project team leadership and may serve as Lead Designer on selected projects, or lead interior design teams
• Fully participates in designated project meetings, both virtual and in-person. Demonstrates the ability to lead certain meetings, especially those that focus on coordination with the consultant and internal team.
• Demonstrates proficiency at written communication in email and virtual communication via virtual meeting software.
• Prepares meeting notes using standard formats.
• Maintains an on-going vigilance about self-checking work and conveying questions or concerns to Project team leadership. Perform checking of junior staff level work, when requested.
• Participates in the formulation of work and scheduling strategies with team and adheres to established project schedules.
• Adheres to established conventions for digital file keeping and assists in promoting this practice to project team.
• Coordinates work with internal project team and sub-consultants.
• Participates in the preparation and delivery of presentations to clients both physically and virtually. Assumes leadership of selected portions of presentations.
• Further refines a portfolio in one market sector.
• Consistently demonstrates thorough knowledge of time management skills required to work on multiple projects of all sizes.
• Responsible for checking of all deliverables for design intent, internal fee management, construction/FF&E budgets. Shares this information with project team.

Design, Visualization and Space Planning

• Consistently demonstrates creativity in design and the ability to adapt design solutions to a variety of building types. Conveys the spirit of this approach to team members.
• Consistently understands and embraces the architectural design approach as established by the Project Leadership and demonstrates the ability to integrate interior design with architecture to create a unified statement.
• Consistently implements design direction that is cognizant of construction methods and coordination with engineering disciplines. Spends designated time teaching this awareness to mid and junior level staff.
• Consistently demonstrates a working knowledge of the conventions of space planning, including proper/legal clearances, awareness of human scale and ergonomics, functional organization, and three-dimensional implications of planning.
• Develops design solutions. Selects and presents multiple schemes to internal and client team. Consistently demonstrates a working knowledge of the application of function, price points, lead times and durability of products and systems being recommended for use within projects.
• Demonstrates facile computer aided visualization skills via multiple software applications including Revit, AutoCAD, Sketch Up and Adobe Platforms. Shares knowledge of these applications with team members.
• Reviews and approves manufacturers, appropriate colors, finishes and materials from viewpoint of function, client preference, aesthetics, and cost. Checks to see that accurate information is conveyed in drawings and specifications. On most projects, delegates the task of selections to Junior staff.
• Develops and leads client presentations. Supports business development activities by creating presentation collateral including digital or physical finish boards, visual slide-deck presentations. This may require coordination with business development and marketing teams.
• Maintains an up-to-date level of awareness of fashion, industry, and cultural design trends. Demonstrates leadership through Company staff forums and external conferences and symposia.
• Selects and presents multiple FF&E schemes to internal and client team. Consistently demonstrates a working knowledge of the application of function, price points, lead times and durability of products being recommended for use within projects. On most projects, delegates the task of selections to Junior staff.
• Business development: participates in prospective client presentations and creates visual slide decks in close coordination with Company’s business development and marketing teams. Develops new work opportunities out of existing client relationships. In some cases, aids in fee estimation or proposal writing.
• Balances all efforts, both internal and external, with cost control and budget management.

Delineation, Detailing and Documentation

• Oversees the development of building project documentation from concept through construction documents. Creates some detail drawings for such items as architectural millwork, furniture case goods, custom furniture, tile and stonework. On certain projects, delegates this task to junior staff.
• Oversees the creation of Interior Finish lists and Finish location plans and elevations. Develops awareness and application of industry construction best practices. Remains current with Company's Technical Bulletins.
• Reviews construction documents under the direction of the Project Architect, as part of the company's QA/QC process. Checks for utilization of architectural graphic conventions of line weight, scale, and sheet organization.
• Adheres to company's conventions for Revit/AutoCAD standards, file and drawing organization.
• Performs site observation, including photographic and dimensional notes, coordinates with Project Architect.
• Accurately performs numeric tasks such as square footage calculations, furniture counts, and material quantity take offs for budgeting purposes. Assembles collected information into budget formats that allow for assigning costs. On certain projects, delegate this task to junior staff.
• Demonstrates knowledge about Building, ADA and Life/Fire safety codes, their industry wide applications and impact upon space planning. Understands how to interpret applicable local, federal and state accessibility, building and fire codes

Specifications, Resource Management and Budgeting

• Oversees the maintenance of resource materials and data base in physical and digital libraries.
• Consistently demonstrates knowledge of Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment (FF&E) and Material costs. Maintains role as a leading technical resource for the firm.
• Oversees the development of FF&E specifications and FF&E location plans and budgets using company's established software and formats.
• Consistently prepares and analyzes the bid tabulation of FF&E bid documents.
• Oversees and coordinates Interior Finish lists and tagging of Finish location plans and elevations. Coordinates with Company's Specifications team.
• Consistently demonstrates ability to make financial recommendations to clients.
• Oversees coordination with 3rd party FF&E procurement companies.
• Develops strategies for cost management at each phase of the project in collaboration with Senior Leadership.
• Checks work of Junior staff.

Construction Administration

• Provides positive leadership during value engineering exercises.
• Answers RFI’s and coordinates responses with project team.
• Oversees shop drawings and submittals process.
• Provides leadership to and coordinates with construction manager/contractor/procurement client team from DD through CA phase.
• Attend regular construction phase meetings.
• Coordinates with internal CA team and processes.

Job Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in design or equivalent work experience.
• 10+ years’ experience in interior design, design management and design services.
• 5+ years creating interior design solutions for k-12, education, academic, higher-ed clients.
• Must be able to work in the United States without visa transfer or sponsorship.
• Must be able to travel to Hartford, CT offices on a hybrid work schedule (TBD).

Training Requirements (licenses, programs, or certificates)

• Professional Registration (preferred but not required).
• NCIDQ certification required.
• Advanced Computer and Information Management Skills (AutoCAD, Revit).