Senior Interior Designer

HOK; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

HOK is seeking an experiencedInterior Designer to lead all phases of design for diverse projects in Chicago. You will guide strategic design direction, mentor junior designers, and collaborate across sectors to deliver high-impact, sustainable environments.

The role requires strong leadership, creative vision, and a deep commitment to design excellence, with travel and overtime expected as part of project delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in interior design, architecture, or related discipline.
• NCIDQ certification is required.
• If registered as an Architect, NCARB registration is preferred.
• 10+ years of experience as an Interior Designer in design, architecture, engineering, or planning firm.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of high-quality, innovative design concepts aligned with client objectives and budget.
• Oversee all project lifecycle stages from contract negotiation to construction administration.
• Assess material needs, costs, bid processes, and support subcontracting for fabrication and installation.
• Coordinate cross-disciplinary collaboration to ensure alignment with project goals and technical requirements.
• Provide leadership and strategic direction to the design team and maintain values alignment.

Skills

Leadership

Mentorship

Client relationships

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in interior design/architecture

NCIDQ certification

NCARB registration preferred

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

Adobe Creative Suite

SketchUp

Microsoft Office

Job description

In this role you will lead all phases of the design process, guiding strategic design direction, encouraging, and advising junior designers, and collaborating across sectors to create impactful, sustainable environments. The ideal candidate brings strong leadership, creative vision, and a deep commitment to design excellence.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the development of high-quality, innovative design concepts that align with client objectives, brand identity, and budgetary parameters.
• Oversee all phases of the project lifecycle, from contract negotiation and budgeting to planning, design execution, documentation, and construction administration.
• Assess material needs and costs, coordinate bid processes, and support subcontracting for fabrication, installation, and material logistics.
• Facilitate collaboration across disciplines, vendors, and contractors to ensure alignment with project goals and technical requirements.
• Provide strong leadership and strategic direction to the design team, ensuring alignment with project goals and organizational values.
• Collaborates with and may take leadership direction from a Senior Project Interior Designer or the Director of Design, Interiors, depending on project scope and team structure.
• Mentor and develop junior staff, fostering growth, creativity, and professional development within the team.
• Cultivate and maintain strong client relationships, proactively communicating progress, addressing key issues, and identifying opportunities for future collaboration.
• Represent the firm at industry events and conferences, enhancing visibility and reinforcing the organization's reputation for design excellence.
• Participates in marketing and business development efforts by guiding the creation of compelling presentations, publications, and award submissions.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in interior design, architecture, or related discipline required.
• NCIDQ certification required.
• If registered as an Architect, NCARB registration is preferred.
• 10 plus years prior experience as an Interior Designer in a design, architecture, engineering, or planning firm, focused on offices, airports, hospitals, sports venues, schools, labs, and other commercial ventures.
• Proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp, and Microsoft Office.
• LEED accreditation required within 12 months of employment.

OTHER:

• Travel will be required.
• Overtime will be required.
• The job duties and requirements that this document describes may be altered or supplemented at any time at the sole discretion of HOK.

The reasonably expected annual salary range for this position is $100,000 to $115,000. Other compensation may include a discretionary bonus. Compensation is based on experience, qualifications, education and location.