Director of Interior Design / Interior Design Manager
hace 6 días
Costa Mesa
Job Description Hybrid – Orange County, CA Agathus Studios is seeking a strategic and self-driven Director of Interior Design (or Interior Design Manager, depending on experience) to lead our design department, supervise a growing team of designers, help refine the operational infrastructure of the studio, and oversee our gallery/showroom operations.This is a senior leadership position suited for someone who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced design environment and understands how to balance creative refinement with operational discipline. We’re looking for a leader who is: • Proactive, resourceful, and solutions-oriented, • Extremely organized with a natural ability to see both the details and the big picture, • Positive and steady under pressure, modeling calm leadership for the team, • Self-motivated and comfortable owning and being accountable for entire processes, • A critical thinker who anticipates challenges before they become problems, • Collaborative, yet confident enough to guide and direct We strongly prefer candidates who live locally or within close proximity to Costa Mesa, as this role requires regular in-person collaboration. Key Responsibilities: 1. Client Intake & Onboarding • Triage incoming design client inquiries, • Conduct design consultation calls, • Prepare and follow-up on investment proposals and design agreements, • Collect and organize client onboarding and discovery materials 2. Team Leadership & Management • Lead, mentor, supervise, and hold accountable a team of designers, coordinators, and interns., • Model a positive, solutions-oriented attitude that sets the tone for the department., • Provide clear direction, constructive feedback, and structured coaching to elevate the team’s output., • Lead weekly team meetings and ensure alignment on priorities, standards, and milestones., • Serve as the point of escalation for issues and maintain steady leadership under pressure. 3. Project Oversight, Scheduling & Resourcing • Maintain a bird’s-eye view of all interior design projects—timelines, milestones, designer allocation needs, and dependencies., • Build, manage, and enforce project schedules., • Ensure designers stay on track with deadlines and deliverables through proactive check-ins., • Anticipate risks or bottlenecks early and propose solutions before they impact timelines., • Coordinate with leadership on project pipeline planning and workload balance. 4. Design Direction & Quality Control • Work closely with leadership to supervise design development from early concepts through final presentations., • Review drawings, FF&E, renderings, and client-facing deliverables with an eye for detail and brand consistency., • Maintain high standards of presentation, file organization, and documentation. 5. Systems, Processes & Infrastructure • Develop, refine, and document SOPs, workflows, templates, and departmental processes., • Improve the flow of information across different teams and partners., • Implement project management tools and improve internal communication systems., • Create documentation, checklists, and onboarding materials that scale with the department., • Identify inefficiencies and propose thoughtful improvements that streamline workflow. 6. Client & Presentation Support • Support and occasionally lead client presentations and key discussions., • Ensure that all decks, materials, boards, and samples are refined, organized, and on-brand., • Communicate design intent, project status, and deliverable expectations with clarity, confidence, and professionalism. 7. Gallery / Showroom Management • Oversee gallery operations, layouts, vignettes, and merchandising to maintain an elevated, on-brand environment., • Support client appointments and walk-throughs. 8. Cross-Department CollaborationWork closely with: • Principals, • Project Managers, • Executive Assistant, • Operations & Logistics Teams, • Trade partners, including vendors, fabricators, and contractors Strong communication, follow-through, and collaboration are essential. This job description highlights the primary duties of the role but is not an exhaustive list. Additional responsibilities may be assigned based on studio needs.Qualifications: Required • 3–5+ years of managerial experience at a Senior Manager or Director level within an interior design environment (high-end residential preferred)., • Proven experience supervising teams, enforcing standards, and managing performance., • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, develop schedules, and maintain a global view of priorities., • Extremely organized with strong systems thinking and documentation skills., • Emotionally intelligent and respectful communicator., • Strong design eye and ability to guide design direction., • Comfortable with giving and receiving constructive feedback and handling tough conversations., • Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills., • Proficiency in AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit, or Adobe Creative Suite., • Tech-savvy with ability to adopt new systems quickly., • Showroom or gallery management experience, • Experience developing SOPs, processes, and departmental workflows, • Luxury residential design or architecture background, • Familiarity with content creation or photography direction, • Interior design certification or architecture license, • Preference for candidates living near or within commuting distance of Costa Mesa, • Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, • Ability to navigate office, gallery, and occasional jobsite environments, • Competitive salary commensurate with experience, • Health insurance, • Paid time off (holidays, sick leave, accrued vacation), • 401(k) with employer match, • Discretionary bonuses, • Significant growth opportunities as the department expands, • Mileage reimbursement How to Apply: Please send your resume, portfolio, and two professional references (including at least one former direct supervisor) to with the subject line: “Interior Design Director/Manager – [Your Name]”.