Experience Design Manager

About the role

Porter Hospitality is seeking a design professional who bridges hospitality operations, concept development, and the architecture and interior design process. This person will partner closely with internal teams and external A&D firms to ensure our concepts translate into thoughtfully executed physical environments. This is not a traditional interior designer role. Instead, this person is the steward of our design vision — carrying operational requirements, guest experience, brand identity, and design intent through every phase of a project. The right candidate is equally comfortable developing early concepts, collaborating with architects and designers, coordinating project execution, and rolling up their sleeves to produce deliverables themselves.

Responsibilities

• Lead concept development for hospitality environments, translating business goals and brand strategy into compelling spatial concepts.
• Develop mood boards and presentation materials that communicate conceptual intent.
• Represent Porter Hospitality in meetings with architects, interior designers, consultants, and clients — keeping functional and experiential priorities central throughout the design process.
• Partner with Operations, Culinary, Brand, Retail, and Project Management to integrate their requirements into the built environment.
• Review plans, finish selections, furniture specifications, and design documentation to ensure alignment with Porter Hospitality's vision and operational needs.
• Manage design-related workstreams across multiple projects, coordinating timelines, decisions, and consultant deliverables.
• Liaise with Porter Interiors on FF&E sourcing and specification, alongside internal teams and vendor partners.
• Contribute to the evolution of Porter Hospitality's design standards, concept library, and presentation materials.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of experience in hospitality, workplace, retail, restaurant, or mixed-use interior design.
• Degree in Interior Design or a related field.
• Strong grasp of the architectural and interior design process, from concept through construction.
• Direct experience collaborating with architecture and design firms.
• Exceptional visual communication skills — mood boards, presentations, concept development.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Highly collaborative, with excellent communication skills and confidence presenting to clients and consultants.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and PowerPoint/Keynote; familiarity with Revit, AutoCAD, or similar documentation tools.

Ideal candidate

• Design-forward, with a strong point of view and exceptional taste.
• Strategic enough to think conceptually, but hands-on enough to produce the work themselves.
• Comfortable influencing without owning every discipline.
• Passionate about hospitality and creating memorable guest experiences.
• Equally energized by big ideas and the details required to bring them to life.

Pay

$110,000–$125,000/year

Schedule

Full-Time

Benefits

• 15 days of PTO
• 8 Paid holidays
• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
• 401k + Employer Match
• Wellness App with reimbursement of up to $500/year
• Profit Sharing