Senior Project Designer

About Watg

Watg is the world’s preeminent destination and hospitality design firm. Employee‑owned, with over 500 professionals globally in offices including Atlantic City, California, Dallas, New York, Honolulu, London, Singapore, and Shanghai. Founded in Honolulu in 1945, the firm applies a hospitality ethos to all projects, emphasizing community strength, self‑reliance, sustainability, culture, heritage, and long‑term value while respecting and enhancing the natural magic of surroundings.

About the role

The Senior Project Designer is responsible for establishing overall design direction, developing architectural designs, and overseeing documentation for mid‑size to large‑scale projects. This role provides leadership throughout the design phases, ensuring continuity from concept through design development while managing project financial performance and team communication in partnership with the Project Manager and Project Architect. The Senior Project Designer leads teams, proposes design solutions, monitors project progress, maintains positive client relationships, mentors the team, supports marketing efforts, and upholds quality control standards while meeting project timelines and budgets.

Responsibilities

• Project‑focused, leads design execution on specific projects, ensuring they meet client expectations, design intent through all phases, budgets and schedules
• Leads multiple design teams on specific projects and ensures quality control and consistency
• Works directly with clients to meet project‑specific goals
• Deeply involved in project management and delivery
• Confirms that the design follows the contractual agreement with the client and that the project is on schedule and within budget
• Oversees the design team in ensuring that documentation for all phases of design conforms to quality assurance, quality control, and best practice standards
• Proposes and develops effective design solutions to design problems to meet project goals
• Verifies that project needs and design intent are met by effectively managing design staff and ensuring the efficient utilization of resources
• Monitors design concepts through the design development phases
• Works with the design team in prioritizing, planning and executing several projects efficiently
• Understands and implements processes that reduce risks and exposure
• Establishes and fosters a commitment to ongoing, positive and productive internal and external client relationships and service
• Regularly communicates with internal team and client representatives to verify design requirements and specifications, progress reviews, and design delivery are on target
• Supports the marketing and business development activities of the studio when needed
• Mentors and develops team members, providing ongoing performance feedback to enhance team performance and contributions

Requirements

• Professional degree from an appropriate accredited institution
• 15+ years of experience in the hospitality design of mid‑size to large architectural projects, including urban and resort hotels
• Licensure and/or professional certification as appropriate
• Proficiency in software skills, including Revit, Rhino, Grasshopper, and Sketch‑Up
• Sketching skills required
• Experienced in client management, project management, and negotiations
• Ability to