Design Director | FFE + Procurement

Level Five Designs is a multi-family interior design firm based in Raleigh, NC. Our goal is to bring property branding to life through our design, finishes and furniture selections for developers, multifamily property managers and asset management firms.

OUR CORE VALUES

• We curate impactful and innovative designs. Always thinking outside the box.
• We don't have one style. The client's aesthetic is our aesthetic.
• We connect people and places. Making every community feel like home.
• We guide the project from inspiration to installation. Our design bags hold samples and hard hats.
• We deliver the highest level of finish. Standing beside you and for you.

BENEFITS

• Work from home/flexible hours
• Unlimited PTO
• Medical, dental, vision, short term and long term disability and life insurance
• 12 weeks paid parental leave
• Office and telephone stipend
• Collaborative and supportive team environment with an emphasis on work-life balance

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Design Director leads the company's furniture, accessories, and procurement operations with vision, precision, and intention, shaping the tactile, experiential, and functional layers of every project from concept through installation. This role sets the standard for FF+E excellence across the company, ensuring selections are aligned with the project's established design vision, operationally sound, budget-conscious, and executed with exceptional attention to detail.

GENERAL | LEADERS + VALUES IN ACTION

The Design Director is expected to:

• Lead with empathy, integrity, and trust, creating an environment where teams feel supported, challenged, empowered and accountable.
• Model and promote Level Five Designs' values, culture, design philosophy, and commitment to exceptional client service.
• Take initiative naturally, proactively identifying risks, inefficiencies, and opportunities to strengthen FF+E strategy, sourcing, and storytelling.
• Maintain a composed, positive, confident and inspiring presence, even during high-pressure project phases and complex client situations.
• Represent the company with a professional and polished executive presence during client meetings, site visits, industry events and other professional engagements
• Build strong, respectful relationships with clients, consultants, vendors, industry partners, and internal teams through transparency, communication and care.
• Foster a culture of curiosity, collaboration, creativity, technical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Challenge teams to think holistically, design intentionally, solve problems creatively, and continuously elevate design quality and material standards.
• Demonstrate an ownership mindset, balancing the creative aspirations of the company with its operational and financial objectives.

FF+E AND PROCUREMENT LEADERSHIP + CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

• Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and refine firm-wide FF+E and Procurement standards, and support their ongoing implementation and maintenance.
• Lead selections of FF+E and detailing to ensure cohesive design
• Ensure all FF+E selections align with the project's established design vision while supporting brand storytelling, user experience, durability, budget, and long-term performance.
• Balance creativity with FF+E constructability, cost awareness, and long-term performance.
• Partner with the leadership team to align project execution with overall design strategy and operational goals.

L5D DESIGN STANDARDS + DESIGN INNOVATION

• Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing refinement of Level Five Designs' company-wide design standards and creative frameworks.
• Establish clear design quality benchmarks that reinforce the firm's design philosophy, support consistent project delivery, and allow for thoughtful project-specific creativity.
• Direct the creation and maintenance of structured design standards and specification libraries covering materials, finishes, lighting, furniture, fixtures, and other commercial interior design elements.
• Ensure design standards consider aesthetic quality, commercial durability, functionality, constructability, maintenance, budget alignment, and procurement effici