Lead Interior Designer at Luxury Design Firm

About This Job

About Our Company

Corinne Mathern Studio is dedicated to creating intentional and enduring interior spaces that capture the unique narratives of our clients. Our portfolio includes luxury homes and specialized commercial environments, each approached with dedication, innovation, and a focus on outstanding client care. We are currently looking for a Lead Designer—a refined, systematic, and motivational leader capable of bringing order, progress, and focus to our dynamic studio.

Role Summary

The Lead Designer will be the central force behind daily project advancement, guiding design evolution, handling communications with clients and suppliers, and guaranteeing operational quality across all ongoing work. This position calls for a design professional who can transform the Principal\'s creative direction into complete, practical, and installation-ready plans while leading a team with transparency, assurance, and responsibility.

Primary Duties

Design Leadership and Implementation

• Oversee daily project progression from initial concept to final installation, preserving design integrity and studio benchmarks.
• Convert the Creative Director\'s conceptual ideas into comprehensive, executable design plans and documentation.
• Evaluate all design development packages, technical drawings, and material samples before final approval by the Principal.
• Uphold quality assurance for all creative outputs, ensuring alignment with the distinctive Corinne Mathern Studio style.

Project and Client Oversight

• Assume full responsibility for project management: schedules, delegation of tasks, meeting planning, and progress monitoring.
• Act as the main client liaison after project initiation.
• Coordinate on-site activities with builders, vendors, and specialists to ensure precise implementation.
• Supervise purchasing and installation processes, resolving any complications promptly and with expertise.

Team Guidance and Development

• Conduct weekly internal meetings to synchronize objectives among assistant designers, procurement, and operations staff.
• Provide mentorship to less experienced team members in design application, technical details, and client relations.
• Delegate tasks efficiently while maintaining supervisory control over all key project deliverables.

Operational and Financial Oversight

• Monitor project financial performance by tracking hours, deliverables, and workflow productivity.
• Foresee possible obstacles and formulate preemptive strategies to maintain project timelines and budgetary limits.

Requirements

Essential Background:

1. A minimum of eight years in interior design, including at least three years in a senior or lead capacity at a firm specializing in high-end or luxury interiors.
2. Demonstrated experience managing complete project lifecycles with minimal direct oversight from a principal.
3. A robust portfolio that presents work consistent with upscale, custom residential and/or commercial interior design.

Abilities and Expertise:

1. Excellent leadership, delegation, and forward-thinking communication skills.
2. Advanced understanding of design documentation, construction detailing, and product specifications.
3. Skilled use of AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, and Studio Designer or comparable software.
4. Outstanding professional demeanor for client interactions, with the talent to articulate design concepts clearly and convincingly.
5. Superior organizational skills and the capacity to handle several major projects at the same time.

Ideal Candidate Profile

We seek a design leader who:

• Can thoroughly represent and articulate the Corinne Mathern design philosophy.
• Prosper in a creative, rapid, and excellence-driven setting.
• Is adept at connecting visionary ideas with practical, technical realization.
• Motivates the team while upholding responsibility and meticulousness.
• Is devoted to achieving superb design results that meet the caliber of an AD100-recognized firm.

Remuneration

• Attractive salary
• Comprehensive benefits
• Chance to contribute to nationally acclaimed, prominent projects

This is a full-time role based either in Santa Barbara, California, or in Los Angeles with a requirement to be present at our Santa Barbara design studio several days per week.

Application Procedure

Please submit your resume, a selected portfolio of applicable work, a concise cover letter outlining your leadership and design background, salary expectations, and two to three professional references to the email provided in this posting. Use the subject line: Lead Designer Application – [Your Name].