Senior Interior Designer, Higher Education
DLR Group
Senior Interior Designer, Higher Education
DLR Group is an integrated design firm with a promise to elevate the human experience through design. This fuels the work we do around the world and inspires our mission to improve the lives of our clients, our communities, and our planet. This role could be based in the following cities:
Atlanta
Boston
Charlotte
Dallas
Houston
Los Angeles
Other locations may be considered
DLR Group's Higher Education practice fully embraces our responsibility to society by designing spaces that emphasize academic learning and social development. We are transforming the educational landscape, working with our clients to set new horizons for learning and living that enrich school communities, the spaces they strive to provide, and what they can achieve. Our team draws from evidence-based design to work with shareholders to affect student and teacher engagement, ensuring that learning is enhanced through design. We also understand the rapid pace of technological, social, and cultural change; our teams work with schools to navigate these challenges.
Position Summary
As Senior Interior Designer, you will be working as a part of our integrated design team and are responsible for collaborating on the design of projects from pre-design and programming through construction administration on projects ranging in size and complexity. This role is often responsible for leading project design efforts, client interactions, and presentations. As a Senior Interior Designer, you will mentor younger staff and foster a work environment that emphasizes mutual respect, integration, learning, communication, and collaboration.
If you are a collaborative thought leader with a strategic mindset this might be the position for you. DLR Group is 100% employee owned and as such you'll enjoy the opportunity to have ownership in the Firm. We rely on all our employee-owners to apply their financial acumen to grow the Firm profitably. Regional travel may be required as needed.
What You Will Do
Lead conceptual design, program development, and space planning within projects, utilizing expertise to guide the design process when appropriate
Demonstrate a refined design approach that integrates functionality, programmatic alignment, and spatial performance, addressing all aspects of three-dimensional space
Oversee and ensure quality in construction documents and design details for constructability, mentoring and developing junior staff in the process
Ensure design intent is realized through careful selection of materials, FF&E, and products that align with sustainable commitments, while reviewing graphic presentations to effectively communicate design vision
Attend site visits and construction administration meetings regularly, sharing lessons learned to support coordination within the integrated team
Provide mentorship and leadership, proactively contributing to project success and fostering team growth
Guide and mentor teams to produce high-quality deliverables, serving as a thought leader within your discipline and/or primary sector
Champion design excellence and innovation within the integrated team
Execute quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) to maintain design integrity throughout all project phases
Communicate design intent and thought leadership clearly and consistently with project managers and the Integrated Design Team at each project phase
Lead presentations and manage client expectations to build and maintain strong client relationships
Ensure project schedules, delivery timelines, and profitability are met, balancing design priorities with project budgets
This position assumes 60% of time spent leading clients and project teams,40% of time on business development efforts within the workplace market sector.
Required Qualifications
Undergraduate Degree in Interior Design Required
Minimum of 10+ years of professional experience
Professional licensure required; LEED AP or other green certifications preferred
Proficient in Revit and familiar with Bluebeam; strong proficiency in standard A/E/I/P software
Demonstrated leadership in applying design techniques, tools, and sustainable principles to create precise technical plans, drawings, reports, and models
Strong attention to detail with a proactive approach to process improvement, problem-solving, and high-quality decision-making
Excellent written, verbal, and graphic communication skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks effectively
Actively participates in professional organizations, presents at industry conferences, and contributes to business development and marketing by pursuing client leads and opportunities
Preferred Qualifications
Professional NCIDQ Certification
Industry involvement in relevant market sector organizations