Director of Programming & Design

Reports to: SVP of Programming & Design, Technical Services · Exempt position · Salary range: $130,000–$165,000 · Travel: Moderate

About the role

Aparium Hotel Group is a leading hotel company founded and led by experienced professionals in hotel development, management, and marketing. The company’s defining belief is that great hotels should be destinations sought out by travelers and favorite gathering places for locals — a philosophy called Trans-local Hospitality. Aparium’s passion centers on independent hotels, resorts, and restaurants in distinct cities and unique resort destinations, where every property is a brand in its own right. Since 2011, Aparium’s Programming + Design, Technical Services team has brought more than two dozen award-winning hotels to market across the United States.

The Director, Programming + Design supports the Senior Vice President of Programming + Design, Technical Services. This role manages programming and design reviews, FF&E and OS&E specification reviews, and procurement activities for new developments and property refurbishments. Working across internal teams and with designers, architects, consultants, art curators, procurement agents, ownership groups, and other project stakeholders, the Director ensures specifications and design details align with Aparium’s programming standards, operating procedures, budgets, schedules, and design intent.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with Aparium leadership, ownership and project stakeholders, interior designers, and external development teams to advance guestroom and public-space designs through every phase of development.
• Review design documentation, specifications, shop drawings, submittals, samples, and product data for consistency with design intent and Aparium standards.
• Guide FF&E and OS&E estimating, budgeting, value engineering, cash-flow planning, bidding, vendor negotiations, purchasing, warehousing, installation, and closeout.
• Advise project teams on design and procurement schedules, drawing-package submissions, review periods, and project risks.
• Partner with Brand & Lifestyle, HQ Operations, property leaders, Facilities, and other stakeholders to support product delivery, accessories, warranty management, and operational readiness.
• Develop coordinated guestroom matrices and analyze FF&E layouts.
• Collaborate with art curators on hotel art programs, including scope, delivery, and takeoffs.
• Prepare specifications for model rooms and corridors; support furniture setting, staging, reviews, and punch-list activities.
• Help confirm building systems, IT infrastructure, and property-wide specifications meet project requirements.
• Establish strong vendor relationships and maintain delivery controls and documentation that minimize risk.
• Participate in — and at times lead — project coordination meetings, turn-page reviews, approvals, and value-engineering discussions.
• Maintain and continuously improve Aparium’s programming standards and standard operating procedures.
• Travel to project sites as needed for research, orientation, reviews, staging, punch lists, and project closeout.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design, Architecture, Project Management, Construction, or a related field preferred.
• At least five years of hospitality experience, with direct experience in hotel and/or food-and-beverage programming and design, or project management.
• Strong working knowledge of FF&E and OS&E specifications, procurement, budgets, schedules, and project delivery.
• A creative, imaginative, and highly collaborative approach to problem-solving.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate an artistic vision to varied audiences.
• Professional fluency in English.
• Adaptable interpersonal skills and the ability to represent Aparium with ownership groups, local stakeholders, business executives, consultants, and employees.
• Comfort working independently, navigating ambiguity, and balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution.

Leadership

• Build rapport quickly and adapt communication style to engage different audiences and stakeholders.
• Approach discovery and problem-solving collaboratively, valuing others’ experience and input.
• Make decisions with integrity and sound judgment while maintaining appropriate confidentiality and discretion.
• Bring an analytical, fact-based point of view without letting ego get in the way.
• Demonstrate business and financial acumen, ensuring plans support operational goals and budgets.

Benefits

Aparium offers an entrepreneurial team that values creativity, collaboration, curiosity, and thoughtful execution. Every team member helps shape a culture that continues to evolve, and every role contributes to creating hotels and experiences that feel genuinely connected to their communities.

Pay

Salary range: $130,000–$165,000

Schedule

Exempt position with moderate travel required to project sites for research, orientation, reviews, staging, punch lists, and project closeout.