Technical Director - Interior Design

About the Role

The Technical Director – Interior Design leads the firm's technical interior design practice, ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality interior design documentation. This role establishes firmwide technical standards, quality assurance and quality control procedures, and best practices for project documentation, specifications, detailing, and construction administration. The Technical Director serves as the firm's primary technical resource for interior design, providing leadership in code compliance, accessibility, constructability, detailing, material applications, FF&E integration, and project execution while mentoring interior design staff and supporting project teams throughout all phases of design and construction.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain firmwide interior design technical standards, documentation requirements, and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures.
• Lead technical reviews at key project milestones, including Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, permit submissions, and issued-for-construction packages.
• Provide expertise in accessibility requirements, life safety codes, interior detailing, constructability, material applications, finish transitions, millwork, custom furniture, and coordination with architectural and engineering disciplines.
• Oversee interior design QA/QC reviews to ensure consistency, completeness, coordination, and compliance with firm standards, brand requirements, and project objectives.
• Develop, review, and manage the firm's interior design specification standards, finish documentation, and technical content, ensuring consistency and alignment with project requirements, operational needs, and industry best practices.
• Collaborate with Project Directors and Design Leadership to balance design intent, technical excellence, project budgets, and schedules.
• Support project teams during Construction Administration by providing technical guidance related to RFIs, submittals, shop drawings, mock-ups, substitutions, field conditions, punch lists, and change management.
• Mentor Interior Designers and Project Managers through technical reviews, training, and professional development initiatives.
• Collaborate with the BIM Manager to develop, implement, and maintain Revit standards, templates, libraries, and documentation workflows for interior design, ensuring alignment between technical practice standards and BIM processes.
• Establish and oversee firmwide standards for interdisciplinary technical coordination, ensuring seamless integration between interior design, architecture, lighting, graphics, branding, procurement, engineering, and specialty consultants through structured coordination processes, milestone reviews, and quality control procedures.
• Provide technical leadership in resolving complex coordination issues to improve constructability and reduce conflicts during construction.
• Promote continuous improvement by capturing lessons learned and implementing best practices across the firm's interior design portfolio.
• Research and evaluate emerging materials, finishes, furnishings, building products, and construction methods to enhance project quality, durability, maintainability, and technical performance.
• Provide technical leadership in the coordination of hospitality-specific environments, including gaming areas, food and beverage venues, hotel guestrooms, back-of-house operations, public spaces, and amenity areas to ensure operational functionality, durability, guest experience, and compliance with owner and brand standards.

Benefits

• Competitive salaries
• Comprehensive benefits package including sponsored medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401K plan with matching benefits
• Two-week vacation plus birthday and floating holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• In-house training

About the Company

Steelman Partners connects architecture, interior design, lighting, branding, and 3D visualization under one roof, fostering an interdisciplinary approach to creating unique and compelling work environments. The firm specializes in designing restaurants, entertainment spaces, casinos, and theme parks, emphasizing out-of-the-box thinking and innovative design. With projects worldwide, Steelman Partners is dedicated to an inclusive culture and forward-looking vision.