Senior Interior Designer

Harken Interiors Llc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Vision Insurance

Dental Insurance

Paid vacation

Sick leave

Year-end PTO

Simple IRA

Professional development

Job summary

Harken Interiors is seeking an innovative Senior Designer with a foundation in hospitality design and entrepreneurial spirit. Ideal candidates will bring a blend of creative curiosity and technical savvy working through each phase of design at their level.

We care about kind collaboration, rigorous process, curious exploration, and determined resourcefulness as we work as a team towards the BEST answer for our clients and end-users. Senior Designers lead client presentations and mentor staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, or Architecture from an accredited program.
• Seven years of experience in a design firm with FF&E experience through all phases.
• Ability to manage staff and serve as client contact.
• Strong time-management and organizational skills for multiple deadlines.
• Ability to work independently within a collaborative team.
• Excellent communication and client management skills.
• Experience developing detailed FF&E and material specifications.
• Knowledge of building systems, codes, and ADA requirements.
• Proficiency in CAD/SketchUp and 3D modeling tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead conceptual research and design direction; mentor junior designers across project phases.
• Manage and review CAD drawings and SketchUp models to ensure design integrity.
• Direct and finesse space planning and FF&E/material selections; redline and finalize specs.
• Develop and ensure adherence to budgets, schedules, and staffing projections.
• Direct content and graphics for client presentations; incorporate client feedback.
• Participate in production efforts as needed; provide clear direction to staff.
• Lead client presentations and project team calls with senior leaders.

Skills

Project leadership

Client management

Time management

Staff management

Detail oriented

FF&E knowledge

Budgeting

Contract administration

Code knowledge

ADA compliance

Presentation skills

Spanish language

Education

Bachelor's degree in Interior Design/Interior Architecture/Architecture

Tools

CAD

SketchUp

Photoshop

InDesign

Microsoft Office

Studio Designer

Job description

Position is full-time with benefits partially covered by the employer (Health, Vision, Dental Insurance), two weeks of paid vacation plus one week of sick time, additional paid time off between Christmas and New Years, opportunity to participate in Simple IRA, and employer support of pre-approved professional development opportunities.

ABOUT US

Harken Interiors is an award-winning, woman-owned interior design firm founded in 2015. Our name means "to listen" and it's this skill that allows us to uncover and develop the client's dream with great care from the spark of inspiration to final installation. We strive to find the authentic voice and signature moments that form a truly memorable and meaningful environment. We've had the pleasure of bringing over 100 projects to life, many with legacy partners that we've collaborated with on numerous ventures. Always hospitality-minded, we work across multiple segments including hotels, restaurants, spas, entertainment, luxury senior living, multifamily residential, and student housing.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Harken Interiors is seeking an innovative, Senior Designer with a foundation in hospitality design and entrepreneurial spirit. Ideal candidates will bring a blend of creative curiosity and technical savvy working through each phase of design at their level. We care about kind collaboration, rigorous process, curious exploration, and determined resourcefulness as we work as a team towards the BEST answer for our clients and end-users.

SENIOR DESIGNER

Responsibilities include but are not limited to leading conceptual research and design direction; directing and mentoring junior designers through all project phases; managing and reviewing CAD drawings and SketchUp models of consultants and junior designers to ensure integrity of overall design and design details; directing and finessing space planning; guiding and reviewing FF&E and material selections, redlining and finalizing specifications; developing and ensuring adherence to budgets, schedules, and staffing projections; directing content and graphics for client presentations while integrating all client feedback; and participating in production efforts as needed. Senior Designers are responsible for providing clear direction to junior staff, keeping senior leadership informed of critical project information and milestones, and fostering a cohesive team spirit. Senior Designers will lead client presentations and project team calls and correspondence.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Bachelor's degree in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, or Architecture from an accredited program
• A minimum of seven years of work experience in a design firm with demonstrated success in drawing and FF&E through all phases of the design process; demonstrated ability to manage staff; demonstrated ability to serve as client contact
• Strong time-management and organizational skills to manage multiple deadlines as the project coordinator for several projects in various stages of development; ability to forecast future workflow of the team, efficiently and quickly activate teams, and apply strategy and flexibility to management approach
• Capacity to work self-sufficiently and think independently within a collaborative effort; ability to partner with senior leadership to track to overall goals and work with junior staff to adhere to such goals
• Exceptional communication and polished client management skills; strong graphic and presentation skills to direct team in layout and contents
• Experience developing and reviewing detailed custom FF&E and material specifications
• Strong understanding of design principles, theory, and the commercial/hospitality construction documentation process; Ability to complete a full architectural drawing set; Aptitude in detailing and contract administration
• Extensive knowledge of building systems, codes, and ADA requirements
• Extensive knowledge in Microsoft Office, CAD, Photoshop, InDesign, SketchUp or an alternate 3D Modeling program, Studio Designer or similar spec writing programs
• Hospitality experienced highly desired
• Spanish speaking is a plus