Director, Interior Architecture & Design

Ware Malcomb; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Ware Malcomb is seeking a senior leader to oversee the interior design group, including finances, operations, and business development in the Irvine area.

The role requires 10+ years in interior design, team leadership, and strong client relationships. Responsibilities include ensuring contracts, budgets, staffing plans, and a positive team culture while driving revenue and market share growth.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of interior design experience in a leadership role.
• Experience guiding a studio or group and managing proposals.
• Proven ability to develop client relationships in the local market.

Responsibilities

• Oversee finances, business development, operations, and team management.
• Ensure proposals and contracts (client and consultant) are in place.
• Review project budgets before contract execution.
• Forecast staffing needs with the Region's operations manager.
• Lead operations of the group and support positive culture.
• Attend networking functions and grow market share.

Skills

Interior design

Team leadership

Client relationships

Proposals

Budget management

CRM system

Education

Bachelor's degree in Interior Design or Architecture

Tools

CRM system

Job description

Are you ready to join a growth-oriented team where creativity meets innovation? At Ware Malcomb, we are a dynamic and forward-thinking design firm committed to pushing the boundaries. Our team-oriented, collaborative approach ensures that every project is a blend of visionary design, seamless project delivery, and we are actively engaged with both the community and the industry. Discover our vibrant culture to get an inside look into life at Ware Malcomb and the programs we offer. https://waremalcomb.com/life-at-ware-malcomb/

Your Role

• Oversee finances, business development, operations, and team member management of the group.
• Take overall responsibility for ensuring all proposals and contracts (client and consultant) are in place.
• Review and sign off on all project budget reports before contract execution.
• Be responsible for the group's organizational charts and conduct a continuous review of office forecasts, financials, and current/future staffing needs with the Region's operations manager.
• Overall responsibility for the operations of the group, in collaboration with the Operations Manager.
• Ensure the positive culture, morale and general wellbeing of team.
• Review monthly project revenue projections and provide necessary weekly updates.
• Prepare a monthly business report and participate in monthly meetings.
• Responsible for business development and client relationships to increase market share and win work.
• Attend business development and networking functions. Set up regular networking meetings with client and industry contacts.
• Utilize Ware Malcomb CRM system to track all business development activity.
• Review of groups workload scheduled. Attend scheduling meetings.
• Proactively manage any/all project liability issues.
• Stay connected to the team with reoccurring scheduled meetings and communication.
• Collaborate with Ware Malcomb Talent Acquisition team to recruit new team members.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience within the field of interior design
• Prior experience leading a team or studio
• Proposals experience
• Experience developing and maintaining client relationships in the local marketRegistered Interior Designer, Licensed Architect, or NCIDQ Certification strongly preferred
• Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design or Architecture
• Ability to lead and foster a team environment

This is a full-time, long-term position.

Established in 1972, Ware Malcomb is a dynamic, forward-thinking commercial real estate design firm providing professional architecture, interior design, civil engineering, branding, building measurement, structural engineering and MEP engineering services to clients throughout the world. With office locations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil, the firm specializes in the design of office, industrial, science & technology, healthcare, multifamily, retail, hospitality and public/institutional projects.

The firm is also ranked among the top 10 Architecture/Engineering firms in Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms and the Top 30 Interior Design Firms in Interior Design magazine’s Top 100 Giants. For more information, visit waremalcomb.com.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.