Design Leader I - Interiors
Posted Updated
Summary
Senior interior design leadership role at CannonDesign's St. Louis office: leading design concepts and client presentations across project phases, mentoring emerging designers, strengthening the firm's design culture, and contributing to business development with a $1M net signed fees goal. Requires 12+ years' experience and a portfolio with 3+ built works.
If you think your skills, experience and aspirations make you a good match for this position, we encourage you to apply.
ABOUT THE ROLE
We are seeking a creative leader who has the skills, experience and a growing reputation that reflect the importance of this role in our interior design practice. You will help us achieve our goal to be one of the most innovative, creative, and highly regarded design firms in the world. You will contribute to office leadership, nurturing and developing our people and culture and being a voice for design excellence to your colleagues, clients and the outside world.
HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL DO
Your primary responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
- Perform in a lead design role communicating and representing design goals to the client and the team for the life of the project, with particular emphasis on early phase development. Partner with team members, co-lead visioning and set conceptual direction. Collaborate with teams throughout all phases of development to ensure design quality. Support Senior Design Leaders on significant strategic pursuits.
- Create innovative design concepts that synthesize our clients’ culture, goals, and aspirations with the needs of people, community, society and the environment. Deliver solutions uniquely responsive to this expanded view of design impact.
- Prepare and direct the preparation of client presentation materials, including oversight and production of design visualizations, to convey the design in a compelling and sophisticated manner. Co-lead design presentations, with an emphasis on storytelling and aiding client understanding of the design. Capture and communicate key client goals and metrics and how our design solutions add value to our clients’ success.
- Work within our culture of being an integrated practice by collaborating with technical leaders, subject matter experts and others, creating holistic design solutions that fulfill the complex array of demands our projects require.
- Integrate performance-based and sustainable design strategies into design solutions. Further our goals to decarbonize the built environment and meet the AIA 2030 Commitment.
- Engage in activities that strengthen, differentiate, and promote our brand locally, regionally and nationally. Contribute to the external recognition of our work by identifying opportunities for publication and awards and contributing to submissions.
Culture, Growth and Mentorship
Partner with us in creating a strong design culture in your office and region. You will be responsible for:
- Mentoring and growing emerging professionals toward future creative leadership. You will assist in nurturing an environment that exemplifies collaboration, experimentation, innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.
- Recruiting and retaining design talent.
- Creating a stimulating and rewarding environment that sets the tone for design excellence and demonstrates it across the firm.
- Empowering staff and delegating effectively; building high-performance teams by encouraging innovation and continuous improvement.
- Provoking critical thinking and critique of our work.
- Leading by example, contributing to project pursuits that represent our future selves and advance our Living-Centered Design philosophy.
Client and Business Development
You will be responsible for developing and maintaining client relationships; building client trust and loyalty; and collaborating in bringing in work. You will be expected to build upon CannonDesign’s legacy clients, as well as your own prior relationships for these purposes. You will seek out and identify new client opportunities for CannonDesign in collaboration with the business development and marketing teams.In service of top line success, you will have a contributory goal of $1M in net signed fees, in collaboration with your office practice and market leaders.
HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED
- Bachelor or Master degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Interior Architecture or relevant required.
- Current licensure or NCIDQ certification preferred.
- Minimum of 12 years of experience in related roles. Interiors project experience preferred.
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Current US Architectural Registration preferred.
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Additional accreditations and/or training relevant to this role is preferred, including LEED.
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Design portfolio of built and unbuilt work for which you were both primary and contributing designer. Must contain 3 or more fully constructed building designs representing a high level of design excellence.
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Third party recognition (awards, publications) preferred.
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Strong communication and presentation skills.
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Must be able to understand and execute business strategy.
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Must have professional acumen and maturity demonstrated by the ability to communicate authentically and respectfully.
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Travel required.
For a general overview of our benefits, please visit our careers page at
ABOUT OUR FIRM
CannonDesign is a design practice where strategy, experience, architecture, engineering, and social impact converge. We don’t just dream up solutions — we create and bring them to life in ways to solve some of the biggest challenges facing our clients and the society. At the heart of everything we do is Living-Centered Design, a bold commitment to using our talents to not just improve the world but to truly reshape it for the better. It’s more than a philosophy — it’s who we are, and it drives us to make a meaningful, lasting difference every day.
ABOUT WORKING HERE
- We are relentless in our pursuit of client adoration (not simply satisfaction). Consistent delivery of the best service is what we are about.
- We are committed to ensuring our practice provides equal opportunities for all employees, as we strive to connect with communities around us and focus on the future of design. We support equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts that benefit all employees through the leadership of our DEI Council, our Employee Resource Groups which are open to everyone, and other community initiatives.
- We’re about communication and transparency here. If you want to talk to someone about an idea you have, or a challenge that needs addressing, we’re ready for you.
Please note that candidates can only apply to our positions on our company Careers site. It's not uncommon for scammers to create positions that look legitimate on other sites; never enter your information or apply for CannonDesign positions on any platform. Should an issue arise that you feel we should be aware of, please contact us. Please provide your resume and portfolio when applying.
As a condition of employment, all employees are expected to complete mandatory training, including compliance training, within required timeframes and adhere to our internal policies and our Code of Conduct.
CannonDesign is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CannonDesign is committed to maintaining a work environment that is free from any and all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment. It is therefore the firm’s policy to prohibit discrimination and harassment against any applicant, CannonDesign employee, vendor, contractor, or client on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. It is also CannonDesign’s policy to prohibit any and all forms of retaliation against any individual who has complained of harassing or discriminatory conduct, or participated in a firm or agency investigation into such complaints.
Skills
As published by greenhouse · 31 questions · 4 written answers
Basics
First Name, Last Name, Email, Phone, Resume/CV, Cover Letter, Location
Short answers (12)
- Preferred First Name
- How did you hear about us? optional
- LinkedIn Profile optional
- Website optional
- Desired Salary
- If yes, please provide dates of employment. optional
- If yes, please provide details regarding your immigration sponsorship needs. optional
- What is your legal first name?
- What is your legal middle name? (if applicable) optional
- What is your legal last name?
- By typing my legal name below, I acknowledge that the information contained in this document, my resume, and any other materials submitted on my behalf are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. I understand that any incorrect, incomplete, or false statements, or information furnished by me and/or on my behalf during the application or employment process, may subject me to disqualification from consideration or to discharge. I understand that employment at CannonDesign is at will and an employment offer from CannonDesign does not constitute an expressed or implied contract of employment. If hired, I have the right to terminate my employment for any reason at any time. I also understand that CannonDesign reserves the same right. I agree that any claims or lawsuits relating to my service with CannonDesign or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries must be filed no more than six (6) months after the date of the employment action that is the subject of the claim or lawsuit. I waive any statute of limitations to the contrary. I authorize, without reservation, any party or agency contacted at CannonDesign’s request to furnish references and verifications regarding information including but not limited to the names and dates of previous employers, reason for termination of employment, job performance, character, work experience, academic records, and professional licensure or certification. I acknowledge that my electronic signature is as valid as an original signature and that a copy of this document will be as valid as the original.
- Application Date Signed
Pick from a list (10)
- Preferred Contact Method
- Do you have current or former government work experience including military service?
- Have you ever been employed by CannonDesign?
- Do you have a current employment agreement that includes a non-compete and/or non solicitation restrictions?
- Do you minimally have a Bachelor degree in Architecture?
- Do you have a minimum of 12 years of experience in related roles?
- Do you hold an active or expired professional license?
- Are you authorized to work in the United States?
- Do you require sponsorship to work in the United States now or in the future?
- If selected for this role, do you intend to begin or continue any outside employment, self-employment, freelance work, board position, or other business affiliation while employed by CannonDesign?
Written answers (4)
- If yes, please provide details. optional
- If yes, please provide details and status of license. optional
- Please provide the names of three work-related references that we may contact, including their name, relationship, company and contact information. If you do not have prior work experience, you may list school or volunteer-related references.
- Please provide details, including name of the organization if applicable, nature of the work, position, or affiliation, estimated hours spent per week, and any other details that you think may be relevant.
Attachments (5)
- Additional Attachment optional
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