Director of Design

Framework Construction Recruiting; Jacksonville (FL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401(k) with company match

Annual bonus potential

Job summary

Framework Construction Recruiting is partnering with a Jacksonville-based luxury custom home builder to hire a Director of Design who will lead the in-house design and selections process for high-end homes.

You will guide homeowners through every interior and exterior selection, own the budgeting aspects including change orders, and mentor a Design Coordinator to take on more responsibilities as the department grows.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of design and selections experience for a residential home builder or luxury builder.
• Leadership experience in design leadership role or as senior Design Coordinator.
• Hands-on experience running homeowner selection meetings in vendor showrooms.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and selections for roughly fifteen active custom homes at various design stages.
• Meet homeowners at vendor showrooms to guide selections for cabinetry, countertops, tile, flooring, plumbing, lighting, and more.
• Own interior selections from start to finish and manage budget, change orders, and pricing with vendors.
• Coordinate exterior color/finish selections within scope (siding, trim, roofing).
• Create drawings, layouts, and mood boards to visualize choices and align field team.
• Obtain pricing from trades and present options clearly to homeowners.
• Prepare, track, and close out selections and changes in Buildertrend to keep budget/schedule intact.
• Communicate with project manager to translate selections into field execution.
• Lead and mentor a Design Coordinator, fostering ownership of homes and appointments.
• Build a collaborative, low-ego design culture and refine processes and vendor relationships as the company grows.

Skills

Design leadership

Vendor showroom meetings

Budgeting & change orders

Drawings & mood boards

Team development

Project scheduling knowledge

Driver's license

Education

Interior design degree

NCIDQ credential welcome

Tools

Buildertrend

CoConstruct

JobTread

Job description

We are working with a boutique, Jacksonville-based luxury custom home builder to find a Director of Design to lead its in-house design and selections process. The company builds high-end, one-of-a-kind homes across Jacksonville and the surrounding coastal communities, typically with around fifteen homes underway at once. Unlike many custom builders who hand clients off to outside designers, this team keeps design in house so the experience stays consistent from first showroom visit to final walkthrough. This hire owns that experience: guiding homeowners through every interior and exterior selection, keeping pricing and change orders tight, and leading and developing a capable Design Coordinator who is ready to take on more.

What You'll Do

Lead the design and selections process for a portfolio of roughly fifteen active custom homes, each at a different stage and level of design intensityMeet homeowners at vendor showrooms (cabinetry, countertops, tile, flooring, plumbing, lighting, appliances) to guide selections, typically a couple of days each weekPartner with dedicated vendor representatives who work as an extension of the team, combining their product knowledge with your design directionOwn interior selections from start to finish: cabinetry, countertops, tile, flooring, hardware, plumbing fixtures, lighting, appliances, and paint colorsCoordinate exterior color and finish selections such as siding, trim, and roofing within the defined scope of each homeCreate drawings, layouts, and mood boards that help homeowners visualize their choices and keep the field team alignedObtain pricing from trades and vendors on upgrades and alternates, and present options clearly to homeownersPrepare, track, and close out selections and change orders in Buildertrend so the budget and schedule stay accurateVerify that selections are complete, correctly specified, and released on time to support the construction scheduleCommunicate with the project manager and superintendent on each home so selections translate cleanly into the fieldLead, mentor, and delegate to a Design Coordinator, giving real ownership of homes and appointments rather than keeping work centralizedBuild a collaborative, low-ego design culture where the team shares the workload and plays to each other's strengthsHelp refine design processes, standard offerings, and vendor relationships as the company continues to grow

What You'll Bring

5+ years of design and selections experience working for a residential home builder; custom or luxury builder background strongly preferredCurrent or recent experience in a design leadership role, or a senior Design Coordinator ready to step into oneHands-on experience running homeowner selection meetings in vendor showroomsWorking knowledge of residential construction sequencing and how selections drive the build scheduleComfort with pricing, budgets, allowances, and change orders, and the ability to discuss cost with homeowners confidentlyExperience with Buildertrend or a comparable residential platform such as CoConstruct or JobTreadAbility to produce drawings, layouts, and mood boards (design software proficiency a plus)A collaborative leadership style: you delegate, develop people, and see a strong team member as an asset, not a threatStrong organization and follow-through across many homes and homeowners at onceDegree in interior design or a related field preferred; NCIDQ or similar credentials welcome but not requiredValid driver's license and reliable transportation for showroom appointments and jobsite visits

What You'll Gain

$90,000 - $105,000 base salary plus annual bonus potential, based on experienceLeadership of an in-house design function at a builder that treats design as a core part of the homeowner experienceA capable Design Coordinator on your team and the autonomy to build the department the way it should runEstablished, collaborative relationships with high-end vendors and showrooms throughout the Jacksonville areaWork on luxury, one-of-a-kind custom homes where your design decisions are visible in every roomMedical benefits and a 401(k) with a company matchA small, team-oriented company where leadership is accessible and good work is noticed