West Coast Interiors Lead

SOM; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness

401K matching

Flexible schedules

Professional development

Job summary

SOM is seeking a leader to head the San Francisco and Los Angeles Interiors studios, setting a bold vision for design and delivery on the West Coast. You will work with firm leaders to inspire teams, cultivate new business, and elevate SOM’s interiors portfolio across AI, tech, and entertainment sectors.

Responsibilities include guiding studio culture, mentoring staff, managing client relationships, and ensuring design excellence from concept through delivery.

Qualifications

• Professional degree in Interior or Architecture; licensed in practice.
• LEED or green building accreditation preferred.
• Minimum 12 years of experience with interiors projects and leadership.
• Strong knowledge of sustainable design strategies and codes.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; cross‑functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead Interiors practice with West Coast studio leadership to achieve design, technical and financial success.
• Develop strategies to build teams and strengthen studio culture.
• Mentor staff, define expectations, and delegate based on ability and potential.
• Manage client relationships and projects across corporate, hospitality and residential interiors.
• Oversee risk, quality control, and project documentation in line with SOM standards.

Skills

Leadership

Client relationship management

Mentoring

Project management

Team collaboration

Strategic thinking

Education

Professional degree in Interior or Architecture

Tools

CAD software

Job description

At SOM, we are a collective committed to shaping a better future for our clients, communities and planet. We aspire to create the most sustainable, impactful work through creative, interdisciplinary teams with all the resources and diversity of a global firm. We value those who are passionate about excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusivity, and collaboration. Together we can achieve great things.

Success at SOM Means

• Ideas: We believe in a meritocracy of ideas. We look to everyone to actively contribute to the discourse in the firm.

• Knowledge: We believe that expertise is the result of lifelong learning. We are not expected to know everything, but rather to passionately pursue answers, develop new skills and deepen our knowledge.

• Product: We strive for excellence in the concept, quality, and delivery of our work.

• Individual: We value individuals who bring the highest standards of professionalism and personal integrity in the way they work. Each person can develop and contribute their wealth of attributes, skills and knowledge to support the overall health of the firm.

• Team: We value the power of interdisciplinary integration. A positive team culture in which everyone collaborates openly towards common goals is essential.

• Firm: We have a history of making transformative contributions to the profession and our communities. We are constantly innovating and attempting to bring new approaches, solutions and processes to our work.

Position Overview

Lead the San Francisco and Los Angeles Interiors studios to set a new vision for the design and delivery of Interior Design for the West Coast including the unique culture and markets in this region such as design for AI, Tech and Entertainment clients. Work in collaboration with leaders across the firm to inspire each other, share ideas and opportunities and contribute to SOM’s global expertise and portfolio. Goals for the position include strengthening and growing the West Coast and firmwide interiors practice through: fostering an environment that supports design excellence, exceptional management of projects and the studio, business development, process improvements, talent development and effective collaboration to leverage the firmwide portfolio and elevate the interiors practice.

Position Responsibilities

Practice Leadership & Culture

• Lead the Interiors practice through close collaboration with West Coast studio leadership to achieve design, technical and financial success.

• Provide thought leadership and development of strategies to build and inspire teams, and to enhance studio culture.

• Lead by example, participate in staff mentoring and training, clearly define team member expectations and responsibilities, empower others, and delegate where appropriate, based on team members’ recognized abilities and potential.

• Demonstrate team and project experience inclusive of managing client relationships, and project teams for small, medium and large-scale corporate, hospitality and/or residential interiors projects.

• Engage in internal and external professional development opportunities.

Business Development & Strategy

• Cultivate business development by leading marketing efforts, formulating strategic business plans, and managing the project pipeline.

• Contribute to strategic business plans.

• Manage existing project pipeline and new business and marketing efforts.

• Review RFPs, qualify bids, assign due dates and tasks to key collaborators, and provide responses.

• Cultivate strong client relationships and provide excellent client service.

Studio Management

• Be accountable for monitoring the financial performance of the studio.

• Plan, organize, direct, mentor, and coordinate work efforts for the technical, design and/or management aspects of a project team, through all phases of a project, with minimal oversight from Principal and/or Partner.

• Oversee project plans with input from Design and Technical leads.

• Contribute to the development of standards, policies, and procedures.

• Assess project risk management through close collaboration with SOM leaders and our legal group.

• Proactively participate in project documents reviews (design phase documents, technical documents and/or project management tools/documents) and is accountable for quality control of associated documents in accordance with SOM’s quality control program.

• Mitigate project risk through familiarity with contract and close collaboration with leadership and legal teams.

• Oversee internal controls including client agreements, additional services, billings, collections, and expense management.

Technical & Design Excellence

• Lead and deliver creative and innovative solutions to complex problems and guide team in the development of appropriate research and documentation to support these solutions.

• Provide technical/design/management leadership and support for the development of the entire design concept through all phases of the project in collaboration with partners and principals.

• Demonstrate knowledge of Interiors and Architecture Industry Best Practices, including programming, planning, design, construction documentation and construction administration, as well as consulting engineering engagement and coordination.

• Demonstrate knowledge of Interior Architecture and Architectural design and leading teams through workplace planning and design concept development (hospitality and/or residential as applicable), design and detailing standards, building materials, building systems, current and applicable building and fire codes, FF&E, construction techniques and current market costs

• Demonstrate leadership in terms of implementing SOM standard procedures and protocols for the technical, design and/or management aspects of a project to assure continuity, coordination and consistency of project documentation across the firm in support of overall office wide goals.

Minimum Qualifications

• Completion of a professional degree in Interior or Architecture or a related field.

• Licensed in state of practice; LEED or other green building accreditation preferred.

• Minimum 12 years of experience or equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities.

• Strong understanding of sustainable strategies and principles including familiarity with LEED or other green building rating systems.

• Strong interpersonal and verbal and written communication skills.

• Familiarity with appropriate software.

Are you ready to join a team of creative professionals working on transformational projects around the world? Take advantage of this exciting opportunity to build a better future with SOM.

Our Benefits:

Health and Wellness: Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life & accident insurance

Savings: 401K matching, pre-tax spending accounts, and employee discount programs

Work/Life Balance: Inquire about our approach to flexible schedules, paid family leave, paid vacation, backup child and elder care, and an employee assistance program

Professional Development: Reimbursement for professional licenses, associated renewals, and exam fees as well as specialized in-house career development

Compensation for this role is based upon experience, qualifications, location, and education and typically ranges from $150,000 to $200,000.

Our Culture:

Our creative, interdisciplinary teams work like small, dynamic studios, with all the resources and diversity of a global firm. Here, you’ll collaborate with industry experts on some of the most exciting and transformative architecture, engineering, and planning projects in the world.

We believe an inclusive environment improves our teams, our firm, and our communities and are passionate about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Our DEI Action Plan was created to bring meaningful change to our profession, starting with our own culture and practices.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Visit this page to learn more about SOM’s employment policy as well as additional information such as a privacy notice for California residents and how to apply offline.

For more about SOM: www.som.com

Portfolios must be submitted for all design and project management positions (Architecture, Interiors, City Design, Graphics, etc). Applications without work samples will not be reviewed. Portfolios should be one PDF attachment, 10-20 pages, maximum 5 MB. Submit portfolios as part of your application in the section where the application asks you for your Resume or CV.