Design Leader I - Interiors

CannonDesign•Saint Louis, MO

About The Position

CannonDesign is seeking a creative leader for its interior design practice. The role contributes to office leadership, develops people and culture, and champions design excellence with colleagues, clients, and the broader community. The Design Leader guides design throughout projects, particularly during early-phase development, and helps create innovative, integrated solutions responsive to clients, people, communities, society, and the environment. The position also contributes to the firm’s design culture through mentorship, talent development, recruitment, team building, and constructive critique. It develops and maintains client relationships, identifies new opportunities with business development and marketing teams, and collaborates to win work. The role has a contributory goal of $1 million in net signed fees. Travel is required. Applicants should provide a resume and portfolio when applying.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Interior Architecture, or a relevant field.
At least 12 years of experience in related roles.
A portfolio of built and unbuilt work in which the candidate served as both a primary and contributing designer.
Portfolio must include at least three fully constructed building designs demonstrating a high level of design excellence.
Strong communication and presentation skills.
Ability to understand and execute business strategy.
Professional acumen and maturity, including the ability to communicate authentically and respectfully.
Ability to travel.
Applicants must provide a resume and portfolio.
Employees must complete mandatory training, including compliance training, within required timeframes and adhere to internal policies and the Code of Conduct.

Nice To Haves

Current licensure or NCIDQ certification.
Interior project experience.
Current U.S. architectural registration.
Relevant additional accreditations or training, including LEED.
Third-party recognition such as awards or publications.

Responsibilities

Lead design efforts throughout projects, communicating design goals to clients and project teams, particularly during early-phase development.
Partner with team members to co-lead visioning and establish conceptual direction.
Collaborate across project phases to maintain design quality.
Support Senior Design Leaders on significant strategic pursuits.
Create design concepts that synthesize client culture, goals, and aspirations with the needs of people, communities, society, and the environment.
Prepare and direct client presentation materials, including design visualizations.
Co-lead design presentations, using storytelling to help clients understand the design.
Capture and communicate client goals and metrics and explain how design solutions add value to client success.
Collaborate with technical leaders, subject matter experts, and others to develop holistic design solutions.
Integrate performance-based and sustainable design strategies into projects.
Advance decarbonization of the built environment and the AIA 2030 Commitment.
Promote the firm’s brand locally, regionally, and nationally, and identify publication and award opportunities and contribute to submissions.
Help create a strong design culture in the office and region.
Mentor and develop emerging professionals toward future creative leadership.
Help foster collaboration, experimentation, innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.
Recruit and retain design talent.
Create an environment that supports design excellence across the firm.
Empower staff, delegate effectively, and build high-performing teams through innovation and continuous improvement.
Encourage critical thinking and critique of the firm’s work.
Lead by example and contribute to project pursuits that advance the firm’s Living-Centered Design philosophy.
Develop and maintain client relationships, build client trust and loyalty, and collaborate in bringing in work.
Build on CannonDesign’s legacy client relationships and the candidate’s own existing relationships.
Identify new client opportunities with business development and marketing teams.
Contribute toward a goal of $1 million in net signed fees in collaboration with office practice and market leaders.