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About the Role

Ovadia Interior Design and Architecture seeks a Design Director to lead the firm's creative vision and mentor a talented team. This senior role involves setting aesthetic direction, approving design concepts and materials, and ensuring projects are delivered on schedule and budget. The Design Director will also contribute to executive decisions regarding studio structure, hiring, and training.

Responsibilities

• Set and protect the design point of view for the studio, guiding concept development.
• Lead design charrettes and internal reviews, and give final approval on design concepts, finish palettes, and material and FF&E selections.
• Cultivate a refined, on-brand aesthetic across the team, and keep pushing the work forward.
• Research new trends, makers, and materials in high-end residential design.
• Lead client presentations and design meetings, communicating the reasoning behind every decision.
• Uplift, teach, and inspire the design staff.
• Mentor Senior, Intermediate, and Junior Designers along with interior architects and drafters.
• Develop Lead Designers into confident, capable faces of the project.
• Onboard the team to new projects and lead internal kickoff meetings.
• Set and monitor goals, milestones, and KPIs for the design team.
• Build training guidelines that continually improve.
• Participate in hiring, defining credentials and portfolio bar for design positions.
• Oversee design and project management status across a portfolio of concurrent projects.
• Guide design decisions to align with project budgets, contracts, and schedules.
• Review construction documents and specifications for constructability, coordination, and quality.
• Partner with Purchasing and Project Management on procurement, lead times, and installation planning.
• Support the team through construction administration, resolving field issues.
• Manage team workload and capacity planning across the studio.
• Review and refine design standards, including CAD, drawing, presentation, and specification standards.
• Teach design standards to the team and foster their contribution to shaping them.
• Partner with Operations to design, document, and oversee design team processes.
• Work with Operations to measure and improve processes, using data to identify bottlenecks.
• Contribute insight at leadership meetings and collaborate on firm-wide decisions.
• Demonstrate the firm's vision, mission, and goals in daily practice.
• Weigh in on prospective client fit during interviews and selection.
• Represent the studio in press, awards submissions, and editorial opportunities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or master's degree in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, Architecture, or a related field
• 12 or more years of experience in high-end residential interior design or interior architecture
• NYC experience preferred
• 5 or more years leading a team of five or more designers or architects
• Fluency in residential design documentation from schematic through design development and construction documents
• Real familiarity with shop drawings, specifications, pricing, and constructability
• Mastery-level knowledge of interior architecture, custom millwork, lighting, finishes, and FF&E specification
• Expert proficiency in AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office
• Knowledge of New York trade resources, including the D&D Building, NYDC, and local workrooms and artisans
• Excellent presentation and client management skills
• Ability to run a room and advise private clients with discretion
• Proven capacity and genuine desire to mentor and develop staff
• Working understanding of project budgets, design hours, and profitability
• Judgment to make decisions and stand behind them
• Organization to oversee many projects at once

Skills

• AutoCAD
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Microsoft Office
• SketchUp
• Revit
• Rendering
• Marker and trace
• Studio Designer
• ClickUp
• Miro
• AI tools

Location

• Manhattan
• New York area

Work Type

• In-person
• Full-time

Experience Level

• 12+ years of experience
• 5+ years of leadership experience

Education Level

• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• NCIDQ certification
• Architectural registration

Salary/Compensations

• $155,000 to $190,000

Benefits

• PTO and paid holidays
• Medical coverage (75% company-paid)
• Dental coverage (75% company-paid)
• Vision coverage (75% company-paid)
• 401(k) plan
• Pre-tax commuter benefits
• Summer Fridays
• Professional development support
• Team-building events

About the Company

• Ovadia Interior Design and Architecture is a nationally recognized interior design and architecture studio in Manhattan.
• We craft fully customized interiors for high-end homes, luxury apartments, and ambitious development and commercial projects.
• Our work combines modern elegance, warmth, and a sense of play.