Vice President of Interior Design

Description Why this role exists The Vice President of Interior Design exists to define, elevate, and operationalize Blue Heron’s interior design vision across both architectural interiors and furnishings. This role ensures that design intent is not only conceptually exceptional but also executed with precision, consistency, and scalability across every project. Equally, this role is accountable for building a best-in-class furnishings platform that enhances the client experience, drives incremental revenue, and reinforces Blue Heron’s position as a fully integrated, design-led firm. The VP ensures that interior design is not a downstream service, but a central driver of value, differentiation, and brand identity. Core Accountabilities Design Leadership & Creative Direction Establish and continuously refine Blue Heron’s interior design philosophy, standards, and visual languageEnsure cohesive integration between architecture, interiors, and furnishings across all projectsLead concept development on flagship and high-visibility projectsUphold design integrity from concept through installation Furnishings Business Leadership Build, scale, and lead a high-performing furnishings (FF&E) divisionDevelop a curated product and vendor ecosystem aligned with Blue Heron’s design standardsOwn pricing strategy, margin performance, and revenue growth for furnishingsEstablish standardized processes for selection, procurement, tracking, and installation Operational Integration Integrate interior design workflows into the broader design-build processPartner with Procurement and Construction to ensure feasibility, budget alignment, and execution accuracyDrive early involvement of interior design in project lifecycle to maximize impactEliminate silos between architecture, interiors, and field execution Team Leadership & Development Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing interior design and furnishings teamDefine clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectationsDevelop design talent capable of operating at a luxury, client-facing levelFoster a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement Client Experience & Brand Elevation Elevate the interior design client journey from inspiration through final installEnsure furnishings enhances emotional connection, not just aesthetic completionParticipate in key client presentations and milestone decisionsReinforce Blue Heron’s brand as design-led, highly curated, and execution-driven What Success Looks Like Interior design is consistently recognized as a defining differentiator of the Blue Heron productFurnishings operates as a profitable, scalable business with strong client adoptionProjects demonstrate seamless integration between architecture, interiors, and constructionDesign intent is preserved through execution with minimal compromiseThe interior design team operates with clarity, accountability, and high performanceClients experience a cohesive, elevated journey from concept through final installationVendor and product ecosystem reflects a curated, world-class standard Who This Role Serves & Sets Up for Success Primary Stakeholders Architecture Construction & Project ManagementProcurement & PurchasingSales & Client Experience TeamsExecutive Leadership What “Setting Others Up For Success” Means Providing clear, buildable design direction that reduces rework and ambiguityAligning selections with budget, schedule, and constructability constraintsEnsuring Procurement has vetted, standardized, and accessible product pipelinesEnabling Construction teams to execute interiors without interpretation gapsEquipping Sales with a compelling, differentiated design narrativeCreating systems that allow teams to move faster without sacrificing quality How Performance Is Measured Primary: Client NPS, schedule adherence, margin, furnishings revenueDesign quality and consistency across completed projectsReduction in design-related change orders and field conflictsClient adoption rates for furnishingsProject alignment between design intent and final executionTeam performance, retention, and developmentEfficiency and scalability of FF&E processes and operations Requirements Capabilities Required Technical & Functional Acumen Deep expertise in luxury residential interior design and FF&EStrong understanding of materials, detailing, and constructabilityExperience building or scaling a furnishings or procurement-driven business Proficiency in design documentation, specifications, and vendor management Business & Integration Mindset Ability to operate at both creative and operational levelsStrong financial acumen, including margin management and revenue modelingSystems thinker who can integrate design into broader business processesExperience working within or alongside design-build environments Communication & Leadership Executive-level communication and presentation skillsAbility to influence cross-functional partners and drive alignmentStrong leadership presence with the ability to inspire and hold teams accountableSkilled in client-facing interactions at a luxury level Character & Professionalism High ownership mentality with a bias toward actionCommitment to excellence and continuous improvementDisciplined decision-making grounded in both design and business impactIntegrity in representing the brand, clients, and internal teams How The Individual Shows Up (Blue Heron Expectations) Design-Led Thinking – Champion design as a strategic driver, not a downstream functionAccountability Without Excuse – Own outcomes fully, from concept through executionIntegration Over Silos – Proactively connect teams, decisions, and workflowsClient-Centric Mindset – Prioritize experience, not just deliverablesOperational Discipline – Build systems that scale excellence, not chaosContinuous Elevation – Push the standard forward in both design and execution