Interior Designer/Space Planner

US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 73,400 - 141,891; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

FEHB health insurance

FEGLI life insurance

Dental and vision programs

FSAs and pre-tax benefits

Three-tier retirement plan (FERS/TSP)

Job summary

The Office of the Circuit Executive for the Eighth Circuit in St. Louis seeks an experienced Interior Designer and Space Planner to lead complex facility projects, develop detailed AutoCAD space plans, and oversee finishes, millwork, and furniture specifications.

It involves travel across circuit facilities and rebuilding and renovation initiatives. The ideal candidate has 5+ years in interior design/space planning, a relevant degree, advanced AutoCAD skills, and strong presentation abilities to

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of specialized experience in commercial interior design and space planning.
• Bachelor’s degree in interior design/architecture, or associate degree with seven years total experience.
• Advanced proficiency in AutoCAD.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to present design options to judges and court executives.

Responsibilities

• Lead interior design phase for complex renovations and space reconfigurations.
• Advise judges and court executives on furniture, fabrics, acoustics, and finishes.
• Review plans and shop drawings for compliance with policies and codes.
• Manage furnishings budgets, funding requests, and procurement packages.
• Coordinate with GSA, architects, contractors, and vendors for deliveries and moves.
• Prepare project budgets and status reports for court approval.
• Maintain master furniture inventory and finish standards database.
• Perform other facility and project management duties as assigned.

Skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Budgeting

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in interior design/architecture

Associate degree +7 years experience

Tools

AutoCAD

Job description

Position Title: Interior Designer/Space Planner

Posting Date: July 27, 2026

Location: Circuit Executive Office, St. Louis, Missouri

Salary Range: CL 28 – CL 29 ($73,400 - $141,891) Starting salary is determined by qualifications, experience, and Judiciarypolicy. This position offers non-competitive promotion potential up to CL29.

Closing date: Open until filled; preference will be given to applications received on orbefore Friday, August 28, 2026.

Organization Overview

The Office of the Circuit Executive for the Eighth Circuit is seeking an experienced Interior Designer and Space Planner. The Office of the Circuit Executive provides policy development, administrative, technical and staff support to (1) the Eighth Circuit Judicial Council, a governing body of federal judges with jurisdiction over the federal courts of seven mid-western states and ten judicial districts; (2) the Chief Circuit Judge; (3) the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit; and (4) as requested, to the various court units within the Eighth Circuit.

Working under the general direction of the Assistant Circuit Executive for Space and Facilities, this position serves as the circuit’s technical expert in interior architecture, design, space programming, finish standards, and furniture specifications. The scope of work will encompass both renovation and new construction projects, ranging from minor office reconfigurations to large-scale facility installations, and will involve regular travel.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Leads the interior design phase for complex facility renovations, chambers and administrative space reconfigurations, courtroom modernizations, and special events. Translates operational requirements into detailed AutoCAD space plans, 2D/3D elevations, furniture layouts, custom millwork details, and finish schedules.
• Advises judicial officers and court unit executives through oral and written presentations on the style, quality, color, finish, and layout of furniture, fabrics, window coverings, and acoustic treatments, balancing personal preferences with budgetary rules and U.S. Courts Design Guide standards.
• Reviews architectural plans, construction documents, submittals, and vendor shop drawings alongside the Assistant Circuit Executive for Space and Facilities to ensure compliance with judiciary policies, building codes, and accessibility standards, identifying issues early to minimize construction change orders.
• Manages interior furnishings funding requests, budget tracking, and procurement packages via GSA schedules and local vendors. Contacts suppliers, negotiates pricing, obtains competitive bids, drafts purchase orders, and verifies fair pricing in accordance with judiciary procurement guidelines.
• Coordinates with GSA, consulting architects, contractors, building security, and furniture vendors to schedule deliveries, oversee installations, perform site surveys, and supervise moves or repairs (including after-hours logistics as required).
• Prepares project-specific and annual interior design budgets, maintains expenditure accounting, and generates periodic status reports on project timelines and funding requirements for court approval.
• Coordinates with the Circuit Custodial Officer to maintain the circuit-wide master furniture inventory, finish standards database, and manufacturer sample libraries.
• Performs other facility, project management, and administrative functions within the Circuit Executive’s Office as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible specialized experience in commercial interior design, complex space planning, move coordination, and comprehensive furniture, fixtures, and equipment specification, demonstrating the ability to independently manage technical deliverables.
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in interior design, interior architecture, or architecture; OR an associate degree in interior design or architectural drafting combined with two additional years of specialized technical experience (seven years total).
• Advanced proficiency in AutoCAD.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills to present design options confidently to judges, court executives, external consultants, and vendors.

Preferred Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of government procurement policies, the U.S. Courts Design Guide, and the Guide to Judiciary Policy.
• Prior professional interior design experience within a federal, state, or appellate court environment, or similar public sector facility setting.

Conditions of Employment

Must be a U.S. citizen or eligible to work in the United States. Federal judiciary employees are appointed in the excepted service, are considered "at-will" employees, and serve at the pleasure of the Court. Final selection is contingent upon the successful completion of a mandatory FBI background check, including fingerprinting, and a satisfactory suitability determination. At the discretion of the appointing authority, a candidate may be hired provisionally pending final background check results. The position is subject to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees. Direct deposit of net pay is required for all employees. The selected candidate must be available for overnight travel throughout the circuit and may be required to move light furniture or design samples.

Benefits

• Time Off: Paid annual, sick leave, and 11 federal holidays.
• Insurance: Comprehensive health (FEHB), life (FEGLI), dental, and vision programs.
• Financial Flexibilities: Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and pre-tax benefits programs.
• Retirement: A three-tiered retirement plan featuring a federal pension (FERS) and the tax-advantaged Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with employer matching.
• Telework: Limited telework depending on the position.

Detailed information on employee programs is available at the official U.S. Courts Careers Benefits page https://www.uscourts.gov/careers/benefits.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Office of the Circuit Executive is an Equal Opportunity Employer