Senior Interior Designer

Gilder Search Group; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary Annual Bonus

Medical, dental and vision plans

401k with company match

Generous PTO and holidays

Job summary

Lamar Johnson Collaborative (LJC) is seeking a Senior Interior Designer to contribute to a diverse design practice and lead projects in Chicago. You will work with leadership to grow the Chicago presence, manage design development, and coordinate with clients and consultants on complex, high-profile spaces.

Requirements include a bachelor’s in interior design or architecture, 10+ years of experience, professional registration, and proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD/Revit, and MS

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in interior design or architecture.
• Active professional registration as architect or interior designer.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop spatial program and project requirements with client and management.
• Lead presentations and coordinate with consultants and team.
• Oversee design development, documentation, and submission processes.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor's degree in interior design or architecture

Professional registration (architect or interior designer)

LEED/WELL accreditation desirable

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

AutoCAD/Revit

MS Office

Job description

About Us

Lamar Johnson Collaborative (LJC) is a team of high-energy professionals. We share a passion for design among our colleagues across various disciplines throughout the country with opportunities to engage with our parent company, Clayco. We leverage the collective expertise and ingenuity of the best and brightest minds across development, design, and construction. Lamar Johnson Collaborative attracts a dynamic and diverse group of people who work together to realize our clients' vision. Our market sectors include Corporate, Hospitality, Entertainment, Healthcare, Industrial, Higher Education, Residential, and Adaptive-Reuse. LJC is a growing firm, and is recruiting top talent to join and progress our evolving team.

The Role We Want You For

As a Senior Interior Designer, you will contribute to a variety of projects to support our diverse and innovative design practice. In this position, you will enhance and assist the practice’s leadership team, helping to grow and expand our Chicago presence and portfolio by producing quality projects, pursuing new opportunities, engaging with the community, and forming long-term client relationships.

The Specifics of the Role

• Engage with the client and management team to develop the spatial program and project requirements.
• Develop and maintain the project schedule and internal resource planning.
• Understand and design to client budget expectations.
• Develop the overall design concept and provide support throughout the project process in collaboration.
• with the internal team and collaborative consultants.
• Develop material palettes and furniture specification packages.
• Develop presentation packages, including 2D and 3D documents.
• Develop and oversee the technical viewpoint on projects, recommending appropriate technical solutions and product strategies.
• Prepare and coordinate final documents for submission to the governing authorities.
• Oversee construction administration activities and coordinate with project team.
• Lead and document client presentations and provide ongoing communication on agenda items.
• Provide input to RFP responses, marketing proposals, and participate in pursuit interviews.
• Establish and maintain positive relationship with the client and project team.
• Represent LJC in the community and at industry events.
• Practice LJC's core values of integrity, humility, and fearlessness.
• Contribute to LJC's Core Councils (Design, Culture and Sustainability).
• Provide support and coaching/mentoring to colleagues.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in interior design or architecture.
• 10+ years’ experience with interior design and architecture.
• A project portfolio demonstrating design and technical capabilities.
• Active professional registration as architect or interior designer.
• LEED and/or WELL-accreditation desirable.
• Demonstrated competence with Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD/Revit and MS Office.
• Exemplary written and spoken communication.
• Comfort and poise presenting to external and internal audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal relationship-building and colleague-coaching skills.

Some Things You Should Know

• Our clients and projects are nationwide – Travel will be required.
• We work on creative, complex, award-winning, high-profile jobs across the United States.
• The pace is fast!

Why LJC and Clayco?

• 2025 Best Places to Work - St. Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal.
• 2025 ENR Top 400 - Top Data Center Contractor (Top 3).
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Design-Build Firms - Design-Build Contractor (Top 5).
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Green Contractors - Green Contractor (Top 3).

Benefits

• Discretionary Annual Bonus: Subject to company and individual performance.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package Including: Medical, dental and vision plans, 401k, generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!

Compensation

• The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to: Education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for the role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The LJC Nationwide salary range for this position is approximately $100,000 - $150,000 +/- annually (not adjusted for location).