Senior Interior Designer

About the job

THE OPPORTUNITY

SGA, an award-winning national architecture and design firm, is renowned for its innovative solutions across the workplace, multi-family, academic, Life Sciences and sustainability markets. We are seeking a Senior Interior Designer to lead and elevate the interior design discipline within our New York City studio. The ideal candidate will be a natural leader with a strong foundation in design excellence, business development, and team mentorship.

The position will be responsible for ensuring the overall health and success of SGA’s New York studio in

collaboration with office leadership, including the CEO, President of Interior Design, Principal of Architecture, and Senior Project Manager. This role will champion studio culture, drive project quality, and support strategic growth across the Interior Design practice

ESSENTIAL DUTIES + RESPONSIBILITIES

Business Development

Expand the firm’s portfolio and revenue through business development efforts, both independently and in collaboration with SGA leadership.

Engage past and potential new clients to introduce them to SGA, with the goal of cultivating relationships and securing business opportunities.

Increase the firm’s geographical presence within the tri-state area and expand into new markets.

Collaborate with firm leadership, Project Managers, and the marketing department to respond to RFPs, RFQs, and RFEIs by developing SGA qualifications, project budget worksheets, drafting scopes of work, creating schedules, and preparing other related documentation.

Actively participate in executive management meetings to drive business development initiatives and assess Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), ensuring alignment with the firm's strategic goals.

Interior Design

Provide design leadership and foster a collaborative environment that empowers the architecture and interior design teams in both the New York and Boston offices, positioning SGA as a leading design firm in the industry.

Establish departmental procedures and maintain design-control measures while managing technical and design guidelines.

Facilitate code reviews, design sessions, and architectural reviews to ensure design quality and alignment.

Serve as a subject matter expert and lead the interior design practice in the corporate interiors, multi-family residential, and research and academic markets, applying deep industry knowledge and best practices to guide projects, elevate design quality, and inform strategic decisions.

Project Management Oversight

Demonstrates strong business acumen with a focus on delivering profitable projects, ensuring financial performance aligns with business goals, and supporting actions to continuously improve SGA’s overall performance.

Marketing and Public Relations

Have a strong understanding of market dynamics and trends, as well as the needs of current and target clients, owners, and the competitive landscape.

Leverage industry expertise and project insights to collaborate with SGA’s marketing department and public relations consultants. Contribute to the creation of thought leadership content such as white papers, op-eds, press releases, e-blasts, social media posts, news jacking, video content, and features in industry publications.

Provide strategic guidance to elevate the firm’s brand presence through targeted communications, media outreach, and social media engagement. Ensure consistent and impactful messaging that reinforces SGA’s position as an innovative leader in the architecture and design industry.

Represent SGA at industry events by attending networking functions, leading public speaking engagements, and participating in promotional activities. Demonstrate thought leadership through active involvement in professional associations, conferences, and publishing, while positioning SGA’s brand as a changemaker and recognized authority in the architecture and design industry.

Human Resources

Mentor and develop team members by providing ongoing feedback, conducting skills assessments, supporting career planning, and managing performance.

The Successful Candidate Demonstrates:

• Healthy emotional intelligence: exhibits self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills; and mentors the same within their team.

• Employee engagement: fosters SGA’s culture through setting an example, advising committees and work groups, and directing talent recruitment and retention.

• Exceptional communication skills: listens with open-mindedness and respect. Communicates transparently with clarity, confidence, friendliness, and empathy, and engages the appropriate stakeholders at all levels.

Education and Experience

• Candidates must have experience leading office, workplace, and commercial repositioning projects in New York City.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in architecture, interior design, or a related field.

• Minimum 10 years of industry experience.

Certifications + Licenses | Associations

• NCIDQ Certification is required.

• LEED and/or WELL and FitWel accreditation is preferred.

• Active member in applicable professional organization(s).

Technology

• Must possess a strong working knowledge of Revit and other design software.

• Embrace and learn other software platforms, including Google business products and Ajera, as required to perform the role effectively.