Interior Designer

POSITION SUMMARY

As an Interior Designer, your main responsibility will be to work within a Project Team environment to provide interior design services on a variety of project types & sizes - collaboratively conceiving and/or implementing projects’ interior design objectives through all phases of a project’s life-cycle.

Although you will report directly to your Office Director, you will often take direction from others on a Project Team such as the Project Manager, Project Captain, or Lead Designer(s), and from firm leadership such as the Director of Design.

As an Interior Designer, you will be expected to prioritize, coordinate, and execute your work with some direction, collaboration, and guidance from others. You will also be expected to effectively communicate & collaborate with other JLA Team Members, clients, and external ‘stakeholders’.

The expected workload of an Interior Designer would be between 40-45 hours per week and may require some infrequent travel between JLA offices.

Specific functions & responsibilities of an Interior Designer include, but are not limited to, the following:

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Related Responsibilities - Schematic Design Phase:

During the Schematic Design Phase, an Interior Designer’s responsibility is to collaboratively work with the Project’s lead architectural & interior designers (and others on the Project Team) to help conceive strong schematic options for the interior design of a Project – the specific responsibilities may include:

• Participating in Client meetings to determine project’s goals & objectives, and to determine a project program.
• Producing & maintaining the project program.
• Identifying design challenges, design opportunities, key/unique issues, and other analysis that will have an impact on the project design.
• Researching design precedents.
• Producing design precedent documentation such as ‘mood boards’, ‘visual preference boards’, or ‘sample boards’.
• Researching finish materials, furnishings, fixtures, or equipment, and obtaining samples - as appropriate for projects.
• Providing schematic level interior design work - collaborating to solve design challenges, resolve design issues, and develop the project’s interior design - based on collaboration & feedback from Clients, JLA Team Members, and other outside ‘stakeholders’.
• Producing schematic design documents/deliverables per direction & project schedule.
• Performing design reviews on project progress documents.
• Producing presentation materials for internal reviews, client meetings, and other purposes.
• Preparing for, attending, and participating in project meetings & presentations. Some external meetings may be outside of traditional business hours (Neighborhood Meetings, or other Municipal Entitlement Meetings, etc.).

Project Related Responsibilities - Design Development Phase:

• During the Design Development Phase, an Interior Designer’s responsibility is to collaboratively work with the Project’s lead architectural & interior designers (and others on the Project Team) to help develop & finalize the interior design of a Project – the specific responsibilities may include:
• Updating & maintaining the project program, as necessary.
• Researching/Updating design precedents.
• Producing/Updating design precedent documentation such as ‘mood boards’, ‘visual preference boards’, or ‘sample boards’.
• Researching finish materials, furnishings, fixtures, or equipment, and obtaining samples - as appropriate for projects.
• Providing design development level interior design work - collaborating to solve design challenges, resolve design issues, and to develop & finalize the project’s interior design - based on collaboration & feedback from Clients, JLA Team Members, and other outside ‘stakeholders’.
• Coordinating Interior Design with other design disciplines.
• Producing design development documents/deliverables per direction & project schedule.
• Performing design reviews on project progress documents.
• Producing presentation materials for internal reviews, client meetings, and other purposes.
• Preparing for, attending, and participating in project meetings & presentations. Some external meetings may be outside of traditional business hours (Neighborhood Meetings, or other Municipal Entitlement Meetings, etc.).
• Evaluating substitution requests as final interior selections are determined.
• Coordinating specification requirements with the Project Team and producing progress interior design specification documents as required.

Project Related Responsibilities - Construction Document Phase:

During the Construction Document Phase, an Interior Designer’s responsibility is to provide support & design input to the Project Team as Construction Documents are produced - the specific responsibilities may include:

• Evaluating potential ‘Value Engineering’ options:
• Changes impacting interior design scope of work;
• Substitution requests for interior selections.
• Performing design reviews on project progress documents.
• Producing Interior Design Construction Document drawings.
• Including, but not limited to finish plans, interior elevations, interior details, and interior schedules.
• Including coordinating Interior Design Construction Documents with other design disciplines.
• Producing final interior design specification documents as required.
• Providing FF&E services, if part of Scope of Services – including:
• Assisting in the development of a furniture budget - in collaboration with the Client.
• Assisting in the determination of a procurement process – in collaboration with the Client & Contractor.
• Producing FF&E drawings & schedules as required.
• Producing final FF&E specifications as required.

Project Related Responsibilities - Contract Administration Phase:

During the Contract Administration Phase, an Interior Designer’s responsibility is to provide support & design input to the Project Team as the Project is constructed or as ‘Value Engineering’ options are analyzed - the specific responsibilities may include:

• Assisting with the review of shop drawings, submittals, and product samples for conformance with design.
• Evaluating potential ‘Value Engineering’ options:
• Changes impacting interior design scope of work;
• Substitution requests for interior selections.
• Producing ‘Construction Bulletin’ drawings/documents to address changes to, or the clarification of, interior design Construction Documents.
• Providing interior design support & input to the Project Team throughout the construction of the project.
• Participating in periodic construction site visits to observe construction progress, proactively identify potential design issues, and/or assist with the resolution of design issues that may arise.
• Participating in ‘Punch-List Walks’ and producing interior design Punch-Lists.
• Participating in final walk throughs to evaluate project for ‘lessons learned’ and identify areas for design improvement.

Additional Administrative & Operation Responsibilities:

In addition to the responsibilities above, an Interior Designer is expected to:

• Assist with the maintenance of the JLA Architects Interiors Library – obtaining, organizing, cataloging, and returning materials as needed to keep the Interiors Library effective & efficient.
• Provide input & updates to Project Managers as it relates to developing the interior design scope of work, design deliverables, workplan, and project schedule for new or potential projects.
• Mentor less experienced Team Members in the architectural & interior design professions.
• Perform other project-related or administrative/operational-related duties as required and assigned.

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal person for this position would have the qualities, skills, and knowledge listed below.

• Associate Degree or Bachelor of Interior Design or Interior Architecture
• At least 5 years of professional interior design experience - designing projects of a size scope similar to that of JLA
• Projects (or demonstrated equivalent).
• Knowledge of FF&E, interior finishes, lighting, art, and current design trends.
• Ability to source, specify, and budget for materials and furnishings.
• NCIDQ, LEED certifications (preferred - but not required).
• Experience/proficiency with Sketch-Up software (required);
• Experience/proficiency with Revit Architecture software (required);
• Experience/proficiency with Adobe Suite Software – specifically Photoshop & InDesign (required);
• Experience/proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite Software;
• Experience/proficiency with AutoCAD architectural software (preferred – not required);
• Good communication and presentation skills - verbally, graphically, and written.
• Skills to prioritize & execute a variety of tasks within a single project and across multiple projects.
• Skills & desire to work in a fast-paced, multi-project environment - while maintaining a keen attention to detail.
• Skills to work effectively with a variety of people with different backgrounds, skillsets, and personalities.
• Possesses a great collaborative approach, attitude, and work ethic – with NO inflated ego.
• Understands that our clients are our lifeblood, and that client satisfaction is a critical priority.