Regional design center director

The Newport Group - Executive Recruiters; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading homebuilder firm in Phoenix is seeking a Regional Director of Design Center Operations to oversee design studio operations. This role includes strategic oversight, team leadership, and ensuring a seamless home selection process. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and 7-10+ years of experience in design center management. A focus on customer satisfaction and operational excellence is essential. Competitive compensation and opportunities for growth are offered.

Qualifications

• 7-10+ years of progressive leadership experience in design center management.
• Ability to manage vendor relationships and team performance.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret profitability reports.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations of all design centers.
• Develop standardized workflows for efficiency.
• Drive customer satisfaction through exemplary service.

Skills

CRM systems proficiency

Microsoft Office Suite

Construction management software proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management

Job description

Our client a well known, well funded private regional homebuilder in the Southwest with a long track record of success is seeking someone to lead studio operations at various design studios.

Direct Answer: The Regional Director of Design Center Operations is a leadership role responsible for the strategic oversight, financial performance, and operational excellence of multiple homebuilding design centers within the Southwest. This leader ensures that the home selection process is seamless for buyers, profitable for the company, and integrated with purchasing and construction workflows.

Job Summary

This position serves as the primary architect of the "soft-cycle" customer experience, bridging the gap between a home sale and groundbreaking. You will lead a regional team of Design Center Managers and Consultants to drive option sales revenue while maintaining high customer satisfaction (CSAT) scores. Your focus will be on standardizing best practices, managing vendor relationships, and ensuring that design selections are accurately communicated to the field to prevent construction delays.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic & Operational Leadership
• Oversee the daily operations of all design centers within the assigned region.
• Develop and implement standardized workflows to improve the efficiency of the home selection process.
• Collaborate with the Head of Sales and Director of Purchasing to determine market-driven standard features and profitable upgrade options.
• Accountable for meeting or exceeding regional revenue goals for design options and upgrade margins.
• Monitor Project Budget Variance (PBV) and ensure design selections align with construction cost parameters.
• Analyze regional profitability reports, including Gross Margin Percentage (GM%), to identify underperforming markets.
• Team Management & Development
• Recruit, train, and mentor a high-performing team of Design Managers and Consultants.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide coaching to ensure premium showroom standards and customer service excellence.
• Customer Experience & Quality Control
• Drive Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) and Net Promoter Scores (NPS) by ensuring a professional and inspiring selection environment.
• Ensure all selection paperwork and change orders are accurate and distributed to the field in a timely manner to avoid rework.
• Manage regional vendor relationships and negotiate product offerings to maximize revenue opportunities.
• Maintain the physical appearance of design centers, ensuring updated samples and brand-aligned displays.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design, Business Administration, Construction Management, or a related field preferred
• Experience: 7-10+ years of progressive leadership experience in design center management with a homebuilder or third party firm supporting production homebuilders.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce), construction management software (e.g., Procore, BuildPro), and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Travel: Ability to travel in region to conduct site visits and team reviews.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Option Revenue per Start: Total revenue generated from design upgrades divided by the number of home starts.
• Design Cycle Time: The average time from contract signature to final selection sign-off.
• Selection Accuracy: Percentage of homes completed without "Variant Purchase Orders" (VPOs) caused by design errors.
• Regional CSAT/NPS: Overall customer satisfaction rating for the design phase.