Project Interior Designer V

CannonDesign; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 98,000 - 123,000; Full time

Job summary

CannonDesign seeks an experienced Interior Designer V to lead and mentor project teams across interior design projects with a focus on furniture planning, procurement coordination, and design leadership. The role requires proactive communication and independent conceptualization to uphold quality and standards while building strong client relationships.

You will guide project goals through all phases, collaborate with architecture, engineering, strategy, and branding teams, and contribute to

Qualifications

• Bachelor or Master’s degree in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, or relevant field.
• Minimum of 10 years related experience.
• NCIDQ certification or licensure preferred.
• Ability to lead interior design across multiple projects focusing on furniture.
• Strong storytelling, presentation, organizational, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to the client and project team in establishment of the project goals and vision.
• Operate with high autonomy and strategic influence, guiding firm-wide standards, mentoring teams, and setting design direction independently.
• Provide interior design leadership across multiple projects with a focus on furniture planning, building a strong conceptual strategy for the project that is rooted in the client’s vision and aspirations.
• Lead and motivate teams, lead the creative process, and promote firm strategies, policies, and procedures.
• Conceptualize and set direction for design with a focus on furniture planning, and oversee production and discipline coordination.
• Lead the interior design approach through all project phases (Pursuit, Programming and Visioning, Concept Design, Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Design, Procurement and Construction Administration).
• Evaluate client needs, analyze and document design objectives and spatial requirements.
• Coordinate and delegate project design work and code compliance.
• Collaborate with other disciplines (architecture, engineering, strategy, branding, consultants).
• Review drawings and support functions for time, budget, and quality constraints.
• Mentor and oversee design visualization production.
• Develop project work plans for interior design components and monitor adherence to schedule.
• Lead client meetings and maintain strong client relationships.
• Enforce interior design standards across project aspects/phases.
• Oversee documentation for furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FFE) throughout all phases.
• Develop material palettes that communicate stories and support client objectives.
• Specification oversight.
• Mentor junior staff.
• Promote design excellence and firm strategies.
• Collaborate with design leadership and participate in business development and industry events.
• Consult with furniture manufacturers, dealers, vendors, and partners.
• Lead or participate in marketing activities and interviews.
• Participate in construction administration, site visits, submittals reviews, punch lists.
• Ensure sustainability metrics goals are met for projects.
• Work within budgets and schedules to meet profitability; maintain 80% billable time and 10% marketing time.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Furniture planning

Procurement coordination

Design leadership

Storytelling

Client relations

Communication

Conceptualization

Quality standards

Education

Bachelor or Master’s degree in Interior Design/Interior Architecture

NCIDQ certification or licensure preferred

Tools

Revit

Enscape

Bluebeam

Microsoft Office

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE

This senior-level position is a leadership role within our multi-disciplinary team, responsible for guiding and mentoring project teams across multiple interior design projects. The Interior Designer V will demonstrate expertise in furniture planning, specification, procurement coordination, design leadership, storytelling, and strategic impact. This role requires proactive communication, independent conceptualization, and a commitment to quality and standards. The individual will serve as a furniture subject matter expert, collaborate with design leaders and contribute to business development and community engagement.

HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Provide leadership to the client and project team in establishment of the project goals and vision.
• Operates with high autonomy and strategic influence, guiding firm-wide standards, mentoring teams, and setting design direction independently.
• Provide interior design leadership across multiple projects with a focus on furniture planning, building a strong conceptual strategy for the project that is rooted in the client’s vision and aspirations.
• Guides and motivates teams, leads the creative process, and promotes firm strategies, policies, and procedures.
• Expected to conceptualize, set direction for design, with a focus on furniture planning, and oversee production and discipline coordination.
• Lead the interior design approach of the project’s goals through all phases of the project (the Pursuit, Programming and Visioning, Concept Design, Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Design, Procurement and Construction Administration).
• Evaluate client needs, analyze and effectively document design objectives and spatial requirements.
• Coordinate and delegate project design work and code compliance.
• Collaborate work with other disciplines, including architecture, engineering, strategy, experiential branding and consultants.
• Conduct a review of drawings and support functions in conformance with project time, budget and quality constraints.
• Delegation and oversight of and production of design visualization.
• Collaborate with project leaders to develop project work plans for the interior design components of the project and monitor design staff adherence to schedule.
• Lead client meetings and maintain strong client relationships.
• Implement, follow, maintain, and enforce interior design standards used throughout interior design team in all project aspects/phases.
• Lead the development of and/or oversee documentation for furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FFE) throughout all phases of the interior furniture design work, as required.
• Lead the development of material palettes that communicate stories and support the client’s objectives
• Specification oversight.
• Mentor and guide less experienced interior design staff.
• Actively participate and promote design excellence and firm strategies.
• Collaborate with design leadership and participate in business development opportunities, and industry events
• Consult with furniture manufacturers, dealers, product vendors and industry partners, building strong relationships in the design community.
• Lead and/or participate in marketing activities, including proposal development and interviews.
• Participate in construction administration activities, including site visits, review of submittals and shop drawings, and conducting punch lists. Site visits frequently require a physical walk-through of site.
• Ensure sustainability metrics goals are met for projects.
• Work within project budgets and schedules to meet profitability goals.
• Maintain 80% billable time and 10% marketing time.
• May perform other duties as required.

HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• Bachelor or Master's degree in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, or relevant field required.
• A minimum of 10 years of related experience is required.
• Current NCIDQ certification or applicable certification/licensure preferred.
• Ability to provide interior design leadership focusing on furniture across multiple projects.
• Strong experiential design, storytelling and technical skills as well as the knowledge of building and life safety codes required.
• Exceptional presentation, organizational, team building, collaboration and communication skills are a must.
• The ability to build and maintain client relationships is essential.
• Experience leading a high performing team and mentoring staff is required.
• Conceptualization and ability to set direction for furniture planning, furniture palettes, specifications and implementation.
• Application of standards and quality process adherence.
• Production oversight and discipline coordination.
• Critical thinker and highly analytical.
• Must be a fully qualified professional able to perform work with a high degree of self-motivation, autonomy and strategic influence.
• Proficiency with Revit, Enscape, Bluebeam, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Creative Suite required.
• Travel as required.

The salary range for this position is $98,328 to $122,933 annually. This salary range is the range we believe is the anticipated range of possible base compensation at the timing of the posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the anticipated salary range for the position. Employees may be eligible for discretionary bonuses. We offer a full benefit package including medical, dental and vision coverage and flexible spending account options and voluntary insurances. We have paid time off, flex-time schedules, remote work options and a 401k plan and employee perk programs. For a general overview of our benefits, please visit our careers page at https://www.cannondesign.com/careers/benefits. Actual compensation may vary from posting based on geographic location, work experience, education and/or skill level.

ABOUT OUR FIRM

CannonDesign is a design practice where strategy, experience, architecture, engineering, and social impact converge. We don’t just dream up solutions — we create and bring them to life in ways to solve some of the biggest challenges facing our clients and the society. At the heart of everything we do is Living-Centered Design, a bold commitment to using our talents to not just improve the world but to truly reshape it for the better. It’s more than a philosophy — it’s who we are, and it drives us to make a meaningful, lasting difference every day.

ABOUT WORKING HERE

• We are relentless in our pursuit of client adoration (not simply satisfaction). Consistent delivery of the best service is what we are about.
• We are committed to ensuring our practice provides equal opportunities for all employees, as we strive to connect with communities around us and focus on the future of design. We support equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts that benefit all employees through the leadership of our DEI Council, our Employee Resource Groups which are open to everyone, and other community initiatives.
• We’re about communication and transparency here. If you want to talk to someone about an idea you have, or a challenge that needs addressing, we’re ready for you.

As a condition of employment, all employees are expected to complete mandatory training, including compliance training, within required timeframes and adhere to our internal policies and our Code of Conduct.

CannonDesign is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CannonDesign is committed to maintaining a work environment that is free from any and all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment. It is therefore the firm’s policy to prohibit discrimination and harassment against any applicant, CannonDesign employee, vendor, contractor, or client on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. It is also CannonDesign’s policy to prohibit any and all forms of retaliation against any individual who has complained of harassing or discriminatory conduct, or participated in a firm or agency investigation into such complaints.