Senior Interior Designer/Project Manager

Your Opportunity

Stantec is looking for dynamic addition to our growing design team: an Interior Design Project Manager – someone with a passion for the creative, technical, and organizational who can connect with clients, mentor the staff, and loves to keep a schedule.

The Berkley, Michigan Buildings group provides interior design, architecture, and engineering services across education, workplace, healthcare, hospitality, multi-family housing, civic, and research and development sectors. Partnering with our team in Chicago, we are known for high-performance, award-winning buildings and interiors, creating timeless, intelligent, and sustainable design solutions through a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach.

The successful candidate will interpret client needs and architectural direction into cohesive interior design solutions; lead and mentor others; build client relationships and manage interiors projects. This role offers a strong career opportunity for an ambitious leader to work with energized, talented staff and an established client network.

Although based in Berkley, Michigan, this role involves working closely with our team in Chicago, Illinois.

Your Key Responsibilities

Be Organized and Creative

• Lead the development of innovative interior design solutions that respond to client goals, budget, program requirements, functional needs, and aesthetic objectives.
• Develop and communicate design concepts through sketches, visual presentations, narratives, models, and other design media.
• Lead programming, visioning, space planning, block planning, and adjacency studies to support project goals.
• Produce and oversee the development of design documentation, BIM models, construction documents, and project deliverables throughout all project phases.
• Evaluate and recommend interior systems, finishes, furnishings, fixtures, equipment, and materials.
• Apply accessibility requirements, building codes, and regulatory standards to project solutions.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver integrated design solutions.
• Drive design excellence, innovation, critical thinking, and continuous improvement within project teams.
• Explore and implement new technologies, tools, and processes that improve design quality and project delivery.

Guide and Mentor Designers

• Provide design leadership, mentorship, supervision, task delegation, and work review for interior design staff.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture that encourages creativity, accountability, and professional growth.
• Lead by example through coaching, knowledge sharing, and promoting design excellence.
• Support staff development, goal setting, performance reviews, and career progression initiatives.
• Mentor Assistant Project Managers and emerging design professionals.
• Encourage diverse perspectives, open communication, and continuous learning across the team.
• Collaborate with Interior Design teams across the region to strengthen technical expertise and broaden project experience.

Foster Strong Client Relationships

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with clients, consultants, contractors, and project stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with clients and project teams throughout all phases of work.
• Lead client meetings, presentations, workshops, and project discussions to facilitate decision-making and project alignment.
• Collaborate with the Principal in Charge and Design Principal to ensure project solutions meet client expectations, budgets, schedules, and program requirements.
• Represent Stantec within the professional community and industry organizations to strengthen client relationships and market presence.
• Support a client-focused culture that differentiates Stantec's interior design practice.
• Communicate project decisions, priorities, and direction clearly to internal and external stakeholders.

Manage Projects and Drive New Work

• Lead project planning, including scope, deliverables, schedules, staffing, fees, resources, and level of effort.
• Manage project performance against scope, budget, schedule, quality, and profitability goals.
• Direct project coordination among internal teams, consultants, vendors, contractors, and client stakeholders.
• Establish project communication protocols, meeting documentation, action tracking, and accountability measures.
• Lead quality control reviews and maintain documentation standards.
• Identify, evaluate, and manage project risks, scope changes, change orders, and additional service opportunities.
• Develop project budgets, staffing plans, work plans, and financial forecasts.
• Direct invoicing, collections, and overall project financial performance.
• Ensure compliance with Stantec project management processes and documentation requirements.
• Support business development activities, client relationship management, project pursuits, and proposal development.
• Develop proposal strategies, work plans, and consultant teams for RFP responses.
• Assist in negotiating project agreements and securing new opportunities.
• Partner with operations leadership to determine staffing needs and resource allocation.

Your Capabilities and Credentials

Design Skills and Communication

• Strong understanding of interior design principles, human-centered design, aesthetics, functionality, and user experience.
• Ability to communicate design ideas clearly through verbal, written, graphic, visual, and hand-sketching methods.
• Ability to interpret sketches, drawings, programs, client goals, and related materials and translate them into cohesive design direction.
• Exceptional interior design portfolio demonstrating creative, high-quality, fiscally responsible solutions.

Technical Tools and Documentation

• Advanced experience using Revit as a design and documentation tool.
• Proficiency with Enscape, AutoCAD, Microsoft Office Suite, Photoshop, InDesign, SketchUp, Newforma, Bluebeam, and current modeling software.
• Strong understanding of drawing development, construction documentation, documentation standards, and project phase deliverables.
• Excellent understanding of accessibility codes, life-safety codes, building construction systems, means and methods, materials, and industry associated standards.

Interior Systems and Materials

• Advanced knowledge of interior systems, materials, finishes, lighting, fixtures, FFE, and specifications.
• Working knowledge of accessibility requirements, building codes, and regulatory requirements applicable to interior design.

Professional Capabilities

• Strong creative and critical thinking skills, with the ability to evaluate design options and support sound decision-making.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills suited to multidisciplinary project environments.
• Ability to contribute to an inclusive, collaborative, and design-focused studio culture.
• Professional presence and credibility with clients, consultants, colleagues, and industry partners.
• Strong networking and relationship-building skills to lead to future opportunities.
• Extensive project experience and industry knowledge that contribute to successful pursuit and proposal efforts.
• Effectively manage multiple deadlines and priorities.
• Excellent negotiator and communicator.

Market Knowledge and Professional Engagement

• Strong understanding of client needs, market trends, and industry expectations related to interior design.
• Established or developing network of clients, consultants, industry partners, and professional contacts.
• Knowledge of pursuit strategy, client relationship development, and market positioning.
• Active involvement in local or national professional organizations or industry associations is preferred.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Interior Design or related field is required.
• CIDA accreditation is preferred. Interior Design Licensure is preferred; licensure not required.
• A minimum of seven years’ related experience is required.
• Well AP, LEED AP or LEED Green Associate preferred. 

Typical office environment working with computers and remaining sedentary for long periods of time. Field work may include exposure to the elements including inclement weather.

This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.

About Stantec

Stantec is a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting. The diverse perspectives of our partners and interested parties drive us to think beyond what’s previously been done on critical issues like climate change, digital transformation, and future-proofing our cities and infrastructure. We innovate at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships to advance communities everywhere, so that together we can redefine what’s possible.