Design Manager

Job Description Summary

The Design Manager plays a pivotal role in shaping the design vision for new builds, renovations, and conversions across the portfolio. This role ensures renovation and new build designs and plans meet brand objectives, are operationally acceptable, and adhere to quality assurance measures. The individual contributes to the development and refinement of prototypical brand program designs to maximize performance and guest experience.

The Design Manager will serve as the main AD&C contact for design partners and ownership teams across franchise and managed-property projects. The individual will be responsible for reviewing drawing and specification submission packages, ensuring compliance with brand and AD&C standards. At times, this individual will be tasked with visiting properties to propose renovation scope, review quality of work and compliance with Property Improvement Plans. Travel approximately 20%.

The ideal candidate is exceptionally organized, has strong project management design experience, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, demonstrates a strong attention to detail, can adapt to shifting priorities, and comfortable working independently within a fast pace and dynamic environment. This position requires a steadfast execution mindset, strong collaboration skills and the ability to excel in a demanding environment, while maintaining a composed, professional demeanor. A high degree of ownership, initiative, interaction and teamwork is required to be effective in the role.

Job Description

Strategy/Planning

• Leverage expertise to ensure proposed designs and specifications comply with the brand and fulfill approved project scope and deliver project objectives in the most cost-effective manner possible.
• Interpret architectural, design, and engineering drawings and specifications.
• Work with wide landscape of key stakeholders to keep current the applicable design standards for all Sonesta brands.
• Work with key stakeholders and outside firms to develop and update programs for FF&E and construction materials.
• Work with vendor portfolio and outside design firms to stay current with new performance efficiencies and product developments and recommend incorporation into brand standards, as applicable.
• Create prototypical layouts for different building types and consult on plan submissions for new build, renovations and capital projects.

Operational Functional

• Provides strategic design guidance and support to ownership groups, their consultants, and internal teams in adapting brand standards to unique project conditions.
• Partner with owners and franchisees to align design solutions with brand vision and operational goals, leveraging expertise in hospitality design and brand strategy to ensure compliance.
• Develop property-specific Property Improvement Plans for the Sonesta-managed portfolio.
• Review design presentations and plan review sets to ensure objectives of Property Improvement Plans and brand standards are met.
• Review specifications to ensure brand standard performance specifications are met.
• Work with approved suppliers to develop approved shop drawings for new program specifications.
• Review final product and construction quality.

Organizational Management

• Support, comply with and promote company initiative, policies and guidelines.
• Track and report on project status.
• Identify potential issues and bring awareness to key stakeholders as needed. Work toward and track prompt resolution.

Leading with Passion

• Responsible for ensuring success through the eyes of employees, guests, and owners.
• Utilize and collaborate with resources across different departments, corporate office, properties and consultants.
• Capable of influencing employees and stakeholders to perform to their highest standard and establishing a trusting environment to enrich the culture.
• Focus on the mission and well-being of the department, hotels, and company as a whole.
• Lead by example and operate with integrity and respect.
• Demonstrate our values and GUEST People Standards.

Requirements

• 4-year degree from an accredited Interior Design program.
• NCIDQ certificate preferred.3+ years of demonstrated experience designing hospitality projects.
• Previous hotel-brand design experience is preferred.
• Well-developed and effective team skills; able to be an active partner in a cooperative and accountable team environment.
• Experience managing projects across multiple geographically dispersed locations.
• Strong business acumen.
• Strong organizational skills including attention to detail and prioritization.
• Strong facilitation and interpersonal skills; self-starter, positive, high energy; demonstrated ability to work effectively with senior management, peers and entry-level employees; ability to work cross-functionally to support meeting and exceeding customer expectations.
• Ability to act as a positive role model to peers and team members.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment and able to manage priorities well.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. This includes excellent listening skills, concise communication and targeting the message to specific audiences.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suites of products, (Visio, OneNote, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)
• Proficiency in use of project planning tools (Smartsheets, MS Project, ServiceNow, etc.)
• Proficiency in use of space planning and presentational tools (AutoCAD, Bluebeam, Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop, etc.)

Additional Job Information/Anticipated

Pay Range

$85,000 to $100,000 annually. Base pay offer may vary depending on various factors, including but not limited to job related knowledge, skills and job specific/overall experience.

Benefits

Sonesta recognizes that benefits play a vital role in helping ensure the health and financial security of employees and their families. We offer a variety of benefits to our employees including:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account with Company Match
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match
• Paid Vacation and Sick Days
• Sonesta Hotel Discounts
• Educational Assistance
• Paid Parental Leave
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Company Paid Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance
• Various Employee Perks and Discounts
• Hospital Indemnity
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Accident Insurance

Sonesta is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Upon submitting your application, please ensure you complete a full application in addition to attaching a resume. Incomplete applications received will not be considered.