Vice President of Design

Vice President of Design

Magnifica (Hospitality + Airline) | Windermere, FL | Full-Time

Job Summary

Magnifica is hiring a Vice President of Design to lead internal design teams across Magnifica Hospitality (private residences and

resorts) and Magnifica Air (private-class airline). This role drives creative direction within Magnifica’s signature design philosophy,

establishes standards, and ensures projects move from concept to execution with consistency and operational discipline.

A key part of the role is building and maintaining relationships with world-class luxury designers, producers, and retailers—

strengthening sourcing capabilities and ensuring access to exceptional materials, craftsmanship, and specialty production.

Key Responsibilities

Design Direction + Standards

• Define and maintain design standards across residences, resorts, and aviation environments.

• Create guidelines for materiality, furnishings, lighting, finishes, and detailing.

• Ensure design decisions support guest experience and operational realities (durability, maintenance, lifecycle).

Leadership + Team Management

• Lead internal design teams and key external partners; set priorities, roles, and expectations.

• Recruit, mentor, and develop high-performing designers and support functions.

• Establish review rhythms that improve quality and speed (critiques, approvals, documentation standards).

Operational Delivery (DesignOps)

• Build repeatable workflows from concept through procurement and installation.

• Own design timelines, budgets, resource planning, and quality control checkpoints.

• Implement templates and systems for FF&E schedules, finish packages, vendor briefs, and punch lists.

Sourcing + High-End Partnerships

• Develop and maintain a network of designers, artisans, fabricators, showrooms, and specialty suppliers.

• Create preferred-vendor programs and sourcing standards to improve reliability, pricing leverage, and lead-times.

• Support contracting, lead-time tracking, and vendor performance management in coordination with procurement and

project teams.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with development, construction, operations, and brand teams to align design intent with execution requirements.

• Hospitality: support concept and delivery for public spaces, guest rooms/residences, amenities, and F&B environments.

• Air: support cabin interiors and onboard design elements in coordination with technical and operational requirements.

Qualifications & Experience

• 10+ years of design experience with leadership responsibility; luxury hospitality and/or high-end residential strongly

preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality design outcomes within schedule, budget, and build constraints.

• Strong understanding of FF&E procurement, fabrication timelines, vendor management, and quality control.

• High standards for taste and detailing, balanced with practical decision-making.

• Clear executive communication and strong cross-functional collaboration skills.

Preferred Attributes

• Experience establishing design standards across multiple properties or product lines.

• A strong network across luxury design, fabrication, and specialty sourcing.