Head of Design

Clevanoo LLC; Fenton (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Head of Design at Mahn Custom Homes & Renovations leads the full design experience from initial homeowner conversations to final walkthroughs, setting the creative direction and ensuring every project is buildable, on budget, and on schedule.

This role heads the design department, mentors designers, coordinates with project teams, and drives design excellence across high-end residential builds in the St. Louis area, including renovations, with a focus on client satisfaction and craftsmanship.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in high-end residential design, custom homes or major renovations.
• 2+ years leading, managing, or mentoring designers.
• Advanced proficiency in Chief Architect, including renderings and design documentation.
• Working proficiency in BuilderTrend, or equivalent CM software.
• Strong knowledge of cabinetry, millwork, finish carpentry, and sequencing.
• A portfolio of high-end residential work showing aesthetic range and technical docs.
• Ability to manage multiple active projects without missing details.
• Valid driver's license and ability to visit job sites regularly.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Design Department and mentor designers.
• Uphold design standards for consistent quality across projects.
• Assign designers, balance workloads, and manage complex homeowner relationships.
• Recruit and onboard new designers as the team grows.
• Guide homeowners through design phases from discovery to final specification.
• Create mood boards, palettes, renderings, and plans in Chief Architect.
• Lead selection meetings and drive decisions within budget and schedule.
• Present in homeowner meetings with empathy and authority.
• Ensure designs are built as drawn on site.

Skills

5+ years in high-end residential

2+ years leading designers

Chief Architect proficiency

BuilderTrend proficiency

cabinetry & millwork knowledge

construction sequencing understanding

portfolio of high-end work

multi-project management

valid driver's license

Education

Degree in interior design/architecture

NCIDQ or NKBA credentials

Tools

Chief Architect

BuilderTrend

Job description

The Head of Design owns the full design experience at Mahn Custom Homes & Renovations, from first homeowner conversation to final walkthrough. This person sets the creative direction, leads and develops the design team, and makes sure every design is buildable, on budget, and on schedule.

MCH builds high-end custom homes and major renovations for discerning St. Louis families, with typical projects starting at $750-mil K. Our homeowners trust us with some of the largest decisions of their lives. The Head of Design earns that trust by pairing beautiful, lasting design with disciplined process.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead the Design Department

• Manage, mentor, and develop the Interior Designers through weekly Goal Setting Reviews (GSRs) and 30-60-90 day reviews.
• Set and uphold MCH design standards so every project carries a consistent level of quality and polish.
• Assign designers to projects, balance workloads, and step in on the most complex or sensitive homeowner relationships.
• Recruit and onboard new designers as the team grows.

Own the Homeowner Design Experience

• Guide homeowners through every design phase: discovery, concept, design development, selections, and final specification.
• Create mood boards, material palettes, renderings, and design plans in Chief Architect.
• Lead selection meetings, frame options clearly, and move homeowners to confident, timely decisions. Set a decision deadline for every selection and drive it to closure.
• Present in high-stakes homeowner meetings with empathy and steady authority, including when the answer is "no" or "not within budget."
• Meet with homeowners and PMs on site to confirm designs are being built as drawn.

Protect Scope, Budget, and Schedule

• Participate in the budget process and keep every selection within the approved budget.
• Obtain quotes for all selection items and flag cost or lead-time risks early.
• Communicate change orders, with updated cost and schedule impact, before work proceeds.
• Keep the design pipeline flowing: no stalled selections, no late handoffs, and selections ordered and delivered in step with the production schedule.

Run Clean Documentation and Systems

• Own the BuilderTrend and Chief Architect ecosystem for design: every selection, revision, and as-built is entered, current, and accurate.
• Keep on-site binders current and remove outdated plans the same day revisions are issued.
• Build and maintain design SOPs, including a design QA checklist, selections binder format, BuilderTrend entry standards, and homeowner communication standards.
• Continuously improve design workflows and the handoff from pre-construction to construction.

Collaborate Across the Team

• Work with architects in the redlining process and confirm redlined plans with homeowners.
• Partner with Project Managers, who initiate all purchase orders in BuilderTrend, so materials arrive on time.
• Coordinate with trades on cabinetry, millwork, finish carpentry, and installation details to ensure constructability.
• Attend all project planning meetings with homeowners and all staff meetings.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• 5+ years in high-end residential design, custom homes or major renovations.
• 2+ years leading, managing, or mentoring designers.
• Advanced proficiency in Chief Architect, including renderings and design documentation.
• Working proficiency in BuilderTrend, or equivalent construction management software with the ability to master BuilderTrend within 30 days.
• Strong working knowledge of cabinetry, millwork, finish carpentry, and construction sequencing.
• A portfolio of high-end residential work showing both aesthetic range and technical documentation.
• Proven ability to manage multiple active projects at once without dropping details.
• Valid driver's license and ability to visit job sites regularly.

Preferred

• Degree in interior design, interior architecture, or architecture.
• NCIDQ certification or NKBA credentials (CKD or CMKBD).
• Adobe Creative Suite or other presentation and rendering tools.
• Consultative sales experience with high-net-worth homeowners.
• Experience building SOPs or design systems for a growing team.
• Familiarity with St. Louis-area vendors, showrooms, and trades.