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About the Role
The Associate Principal – Workplace Interior Designer is a strategic design leader responsible for advancing workplace interiors projects from pursuit and conceptual design through documentation and construction administration. This role translates client aspirations, workplace research, organizational goals, and program requirements into compelling, high-performing interior environments. The Associate Principal brings a forward-looking perspective to workplace design, incorporating evolving models of work—including hybrid work, activity-based working (ABW), employee experience, and workplace wellness—into thoughtful and adaptable environments. The role leads project teams with limited oversight from a Principal or Partner, manages client relationships, guides design and technical development, and contributes to the continued growth of SOM’s workplace interiors practice.
Responsibilities
- Lead the design and development of workplace interiors projects across multiple phases, from pursuit and programming through construction administration.
- Translate client goals, workplace strategies, user needs, data, and program requirements into clear spatial concepts and compelling design narratives.
- Lead workplace planning, test fits, programming, adjacency studies, space standards, and conceptual design development.
- Establish and communicate design direction while integrating architectural, engineering, branding, technology, lighting, sustainability, and other interdisciplinary criteria.
- Plan, organize, direct, mentor, and coordinate project teams with limited oversight from a Principal or Partner.
- Build and maintain strong client, consultant, and stakeholder relationships through clear communication, responsiveness, and proactive problem solving.
- Lead the development of design deliverables, presentations, renderings, diagrams, material palettes, FF&E concepts, and project narratives.
- Oversee the selection and application of materials, finishes, furniture, fixtures, equipment, and building systems in alignment with design intent, performance, budget, and schedule.
- Guide teams through design development, construction documentation, permitting, bidding, and construction administration, as applicable.
- Coordinate with consulting engineers, contractors, vendors, and specialty consultants to support design quality and successful project execution.
- Lead project document reviews and quality-control processes in accordance with SOM standards and procedures.
- Resolve complex design, technical, operational, and coordination challenges through research, collaboration, and sound professional judgment.
- Participate in project planning, scheduling, staffing, fee development, scope definition, and financial coordination.
- Advance sustainable and resilient design strategies, including wellness, material health, accessibility, and carbon-conscious design principles.
- Maintain consistency, accuracy, and quality of project documentation across teams and project phases.
- Participate in marketing, business development, and proposal efforts supporting workplace interiors and workplace strategy services.
- Contribute to pitch materials, interviews, client presentations, conferences, and other external communications.
- Help develop and advance workplace interiors standards, tools, processes, and best practices across the office and firm.
- Perform other responsibilities as required.
- Lead multiple projects, teams, and initiatives with a high degree of autonomy.
- Serve as an officewide and firmwide resource in workplace interiors, workplace planning, or a related area of expertise.
- Directly supervise, train, mentor, and develop team members while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
- Support recruiting and talent development through resume review, interviewing, professional networking, mentoring, and staff development.
- Advocate for design excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Identify and advance new ways of working, services, standards, and processes that strengthen SOM’s practice and support business and risk-management objectives.
- Share knowledge and contribute to professional discourse within SOM and the broader design community.
Requirements
- Professional degree in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, Architecture, or a related discipline.
- Minimum 10 years of professional experience, or equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities.
- Professional licensure in the state of practice or NCIDQ certification required; LEED accreditation preferred.
- Demonstrated experience leading corporate, commercial, institutional, or other complex workplace interiors projects.
- Thorough knowledge of workplace planning, interior architecture, programming, design development, construction documentation, construction administration, FF&E, materials, building systems, applicable codes, and construction practices.
- General understanding of sustainable design strategies and green building rating systems.
- Strong client-service, presentation, written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to lead interdisciplinary teams and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
- Familiarity with Revit and digital design, visualization, and documentation tools, including Adobe Creative Suite, Rhino, Enscape, Navisworks, and related applications.
- Experience with workplace data, benchmarking, surveys, visualization, or other research-based design methods preferred.
- Strong portfolio demonstrating design leadership, workplace expertise, visual communication, and persuasive storytelling.
- Ability to support and uphold SOM BIM/CAD standards, quality-control procedures, and project-delivery protocols.
- 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.
Skills
- Workplace planning
- Interior architecture
- Materials
- FF&E
- Technology integration
- Sustainable design
- Interdisciplinary coordination
- Design leadership
- Client management
- Team leadership
- Business development
- Revit
- Digital design
- Visualization
- Documentation tools
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Rhino
- Enscape
- Navisworks
- Workplace data
- Benchmarking
- Surveys
- Research-based design methods
- Visual communication
- Storytelling
- BIM/CAD standards
- Quality-control procedures
- Project-delivery protocols
Experience Level
- Minimum 10 years of professional experience
Education Level
- Professional degree in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, Architecture, or a related discipline.
- Professional licensure in the state of practice or NCIDQ certification required
- LEED accreditation preferred
Salary/Compensations
- $120,000 to $170,000
About the Company
- At SOM, we are a collective committed to shaping a better future for our clients, communities, and planet.
- We pursue sustainable, impactful work through creative, interdisciplinary teams and are guided by a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusivity, and collaboration.
- For more about SOM: www.som.com