Director, Interior Architecture & Design

Ware Malcomb; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Ware Malcomb in Seattle seeks a Director to lead the Interior Design group, drive growth, manage profitability and client relationships, and foster a collaborative, high-performance culture. You will oversee budgets, proposals, and contracts while guiding a talented design team across a range of projects.

The role requires 10+ years in interior design, leadership experience, and credentials such as RID/architect licensure or NCIDQ.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of interior design experience.
• Experience leading a team or studio.
• Proposals experience.
• Experience developing and maintaining client relationships in the local market.
• RID/NCIDQ/Architect licensure preferred.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design or Architecture.

Responsibilities

• Oversee finances, business development, operations, and team management.
• Ensure all proposals and contracts are in place.
• Review and sign off on project budget reports before contract execution.
• Maintain group organizational charts and staffing forecasts with the Region's operations manager.
• Oversee group operations in collaboration with the Operations Manager.
• Foster positive culture, morale and wellbeing of the team.
• Review monthly project revenue projections and provide weekly updates.
• Prepare a monthly business report and participate in monthly meetings.
• Develop and nurture client relationships to increase market share and win work.
• Attend business development and networking events and set up regular client meetings.
• Utilize Ware Malcomb CRM to track business development activity.
• Monitor group workload and scheduling meetings.
• Proactively manage project liability issues.
• Coordinate with Talent Acquisition to recruit new members.

Skills

Interior design

Team leadership

Client relationships

Proposals

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design or Architecture

NCIDQ Certification/ RID or Licensed Architect

Professional registration

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/

The Director is a key member of the Ware Malcomb senior management team responsible for leading design, growth, revenue, profitability, staff management, and client relationships for the local market. Your role involves fostering a positive, team-oriented environment and ensuring the achievement of our business objectives. This includes spearheading the growth of our Interior Design group by enhancing design, meeting financial targets, mentoring existing team members, and expanding our practice.

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 market
• Registered 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.