Lead Interior Designer at High-End Design Firm

Description

About This Job

About Our Company

Corinne Mathern Studio is dedicated to creating intentional and enduring interior spaces that capture the unique narratives of our clientele. Our portfolio includes luxury homes and distinctive commercial projects, each approached with dedication, innovation, and an unwavering focus on superior client care. We are currently looking for a Lead Designer—a sophisticated, systematic, and motivational leader capable of bringing order, progress, and focus to our dynamic studio environment.

Role Summary

The Lead Designer will be the central force behind daily project advancement, guiding the design process, handling communications with clients and suppliers, and upholding operational quality across all ongoing work. This position calls for a design professional who can effectively interpret the Principal\'s creative direction into complete, practical, and installation-ready plans, while leading a team with transparency, assurance, and responsibility.

Primary Duties

Design Leadership & Execution

• Oversee daily project progression from initial concept through to installation, safeguarding the design vision and studio benchmarks.
• Transform the Creative Director\'s conceptual ideas into comprehensive, executable design plans and documentation.
• Evaluate all design development packages, drawings, and material samples before final approval by the Principal.
• Uphold quality assurance for all creative outputs, ensuring alignment with the established Corinne Mathern Studio style.

Project & Client Management

• Assume full responsibility for project management: scheduling, task delegation, meeting organization, and progress monitoring.
• Act as the main client liaison after project initiation.
• Coordinate on-site activities with contractors, vendors, and specialists to guarantee impeccable implementation.
• Supervise purchasing and installation processes, resolving any complications promptly and with expertise.

Team Leadership & Development

• Conduct weekly internal meetings to synchronize objectives among assistant designers, procurement, and operations staff.
• Guide and develop junior team members in design implementation, technical specifications, and client relations.
• Assign tasks efficiently while maintaining supervisory control over all key project deliverables.

Operational & Financial Oversight

• Monitor project financial performance by tracking hours, deliverables, and workflow productivity.
• Foresee possible obstacles and formulate preemptive strategies to maintain project timelines and budgetary parameters.

Requirements

Required Experience:

1. A minimum of eight years in interior design, including at least three years in a senior or lead capacity at a firm specializing in high-end or luxury interiors.
2. Demonstrated experience managing complete project lifecycles with minimal direct oversight from a principal.
3. A compelling portfolio that exhibits work consistent with luxury, custom residential and/or commercial interior design.

Skills & Competencies:

1. Outstanding leadership, delegation, and forward-thinking communication abilities.
2. Advanced expertise in design documentation, detailing, and product specifications.
3. High proficiency in AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, and Studio Designer (or comparable software).
4. Exceptional poise in client interactions, with the skill to articulate design concepts clearly and convincingly.
5. Superior organizational talent and the capacity to handle several major projects at once.

Our Ideal Candidate

We seek a design leader who:

• Can authentically represent and articulate the Corinne Mathern design philosophy.
• Enjoys a vibrant, rapid-paced workplace with exacting standards.
• Is adept at connecting abstract vision with practical, technical realization.
• Motivates the team while ensuring accuracy and accountability.
• Is devoted to achieving outstanding design results that meet the caliber of an AD100 firm.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Comprehensive benefits package
• The opportunity to contribute to nationally acclaimed, prominent projects

This is a full-time role based in Santa Barbara, California, or in Los Angeles with a requirement to be present at our Santa Barbara design studio several days per week.

Application Instructions

Please submit your resume, a selective portfolio of applicable work, a concise cover letter outlining your leadership and design background, salary expectations, and two to three professional references to the email provided in this posting. Use the subject line: Lead Designer Application – [Your Name].

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