Lead Interior Designer at Luxury Design Firm

About Us

At Corinne Mathern Studio, we craft thoughtful, timeless interiors that reflect the lives and stories of our clients. Our projects span from high-end residences to boutique commercial spaces, and we approach each one with rigor, creativity, and a commitment to exceptional service. We are seeking a Lead Designer-a polished, organized, and inspiring leader who can bring structure, momentum, and clarity to our busy studio.

Role Overview

The Lead Designer will be the day-to-day driver of project execution, leading design development, managing client and vendor communication, and ensuring operational excellence across all active projects. This role requires a design leader who can translate the Principal’s vision into fully realized, buildable, and install-ready designs while managing a team with clarity, confidence, and accountability.

Key Responsibilities

Design Leadership; Execution

Drive daily execution of projects from concept to install, ensuring design intent and studio standards are upheld.

Translate the Creative Director’s conceptual vision into detailed, actionable design documentation.

Review all design development sets, drawings, and samples prior to Principal sign off.

Maintain quality control across all creative deliverables, ensuring consistency with the Corinne Mathern Studio aesthetic.

Project & Client Management

Own all project management: timelines, task assignments, meeting coordination, and execution tracking.

Serve as the primary client point-of-contact once the project is underway.

Manage site coordination with contractors, vendors, and consultants to ensure flawless execution.

Oversee procurement and installations, addressing any issues with urgency and professionalism.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

Lead weekly internal check-ins to align priorities across assistant designers, procurement, and operations.

Mentor junior team members in design execution, technical detailing, and client service.

Delegate effectively while maintaining oversight on all critical deliverables.

Operational & Financial Accountability

Track project profitability by monitoring time, deliverables, and workflow efficiency.

Anticipate potential challenges and develop proactive solutions to keep projects on schedule and on budget.

Qualifications

Required Experience:

o 8+ years in interior design, with at least 3 years in a senior or lead role within a high-end or luxury focused design firm.

o Proven track record managing full project cycles with limited principal oversight.

o Strong portfolio showcasing work aligned with luxury, bespoke residential and/or commercial interiors.

Skills & Competencies:

o Strong leadership, delegation, and proactive communication skills.

o Expert knowledge of design documentation, detailing, and specifications.

o Proficiency in AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, and Studio Designer (or similar).

o Exceptional client-facing presence with the ability to convey design intent clearly and persuasively.

o High level of organization and ability to manage multiple large-scale projects simultaneously.

What We’re Looking For

We need a design leader who:

Can fully embody and communicate the Corinne Mathern aesthetic.

Thrives in a creative, fast-paced, high-standard environment.

Excels at bridging conceptual vision and technical execution.

Inspires the team while maintaining accountability and precision.

Is committed to delivering exceptional design outcomes that meet the level of an AD100 firm.

Compensation

Competitive salary

Benefits package

Opportunity to work on nationally recognized, high-profile projects

This position is either full time in Santa Barbara, California or in Los Angeles with a few days a week at our design studio in Santa Barbara.

How to Apply

Please send your resume, a curated portfolio of relevant work, a brief cover letter describing your leadership and design experience, salary requirements, and 2–3 references to the email in this post with the subject line: Lead Designer Application – [Your Name].