Workplace Design Lead
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) · New York, NY · 1 mo ago
Art & Creative$120k–$170k/yrFull-time
We need to output HTML fragment with headings for sections: About the role, Responsibilities, Requirements, Qualifications, Skills, Benefits, Pay, Schedule. Only include sections that have real specific content. We must not repeat job title as heading. No Job ID etc. Remove boilerplate. Must preserve all substantive info.
We need to parse the posting.
Content:
- Intro: "At SOM, we are a collective..." That's about the firm, maybe "About the role"? Actually "Position Overview" is description of role. Could be "About the role". We'll put that as
for sections: About the role, Responsibilities, Requirements, Qualifications, Skills, Benefits, Pay, Schedule. Only include sections that have real specific content. We must not repeat job title as heading. No Job ID etc. Remove boilerplate. Must preserve all substantive info.
We need to parse the posting.
Content:
- Intro: "At SOM, we are a collective..." That's about the firm, maybe "About the role"? Actually "Position Overview" is description of role. Could be "About the role". We'll put that as About the role
with paragraph(s) containing the Position Overview text.
- Then "Position Responsibilities": list of responsibilities. We'll put Responsibilities
with - each bullet.
- Then "Leadership Responsibilities": could be part of Responsibilities or separate? Could be under Responsibilities as well, but we can keep as part of Responsibilities (maybe separate heading "Leadership Responsibilities"? Not in allowed list; allowed headings are limited to those list. So we should incorporate leadership responsibilities under Responsibilities.
- Then "Minimum Qualifications": that's qualifications. We'll put
Qualifications
with list.
- Then after that there is "Are you ready..." that's a call to action, maybe not needed.
- Then "Compensation for this role is based upon experience, qualifications, location, and education and typically ranges from $120,000 to $170,000." That's Pay. So we need Pay
with paragraph.
- Benefits: Not mentioned explicitly. No benefits details. So we should not create Benefits section.
- Schedule: Not mentioned. So no Schedule section.
- Skills: Could be derived from qualifications? But we have Qualifications heading; Skills maybe separate but we can combine. The allowed headings include Skills. We could put skills under Skills, but we have qualifications covering many. However we need to decide: The posting includes "Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace. Familiarity with Revit and digital design...". Those are skills. Could put under Skills. But we also have qualifications like degree, experience, licensure. Might be better to have Qualifications for degree, experience, licensure; Skills for technical proficiencies. Let's split.
Thus sections:
- About the role (position overview)
- Responsibilities (including leadership responsibilities)
- Qualifications (degree, years experience, licensure, LEED preferred, demonstrated experience leading projects, knowledge of workplace planning etc.)
- Skills (proficiency in MS Office, Google Workspace, familiarity with Revit, Adobe Creative Suite, Rhino, Enscape, Navisworks, etc., experience with workplace data, benchmarking, surveys, visualization, strong portfolio, ability to support BIM/CAD standards)
- Pay (compensation range)
We must not include Benefits or Schedule.
We must preserve all substantive info. Ensure we don't lose any details.
Let's extract details.
About the role / Position Overview:
"At SOM, we are a collective committed to shaping a better future for our clients, communities, and planet. We pursue sustainable, impactful work through creative, interdisciplinary teams and are guided by a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusivity, and collaboration. Position Overview The Associate Principal – Workplace Interior Designer is a strategic design leader responsible for advancing workplace interiors projects from pursuit and conceptual design through documentation and construction administration. This role translates client aspirations, workplace research, organizational goals, and program requirements into compelling, high-performing interior environments. The Associate Principal brings a forward-looking perspective to workplace design, incorporating evolving models of work—including hybrid work, activity-based working (ABW), employee experience, and workplace wellness—into thoughtful and adaptable environments. The role leads project teams with limited oversight from a Principal or Partner, manages client relationships, guides design and technical development, and contributes to the continued growth of SOM’s workplace interiors practice. The ideal candidate brings strong expertise in workplace planning, interior architecture, materials, FF&E, technology integration, sustainable design, and interdisciplinary coordination. By balancing design leadership, client management, team leadership, and business development, the Associate Principal helps deliver innovative, future-focused workplace solutions while expanding SOM’s corporate interiors practice."
We'll put that as paragraph(s). Could split into two paragraphs for readability but not required.
Responsibilities: list each bullet from "Position Responsibilities" and "Leadership Responsibilities". Let's extract.
Position Responsibilities bullets:
- Lead the design and development of workplace interiors projects across multiple phases, from pursuit and programming through construction administration.
- Translate client goals, workplace strategies, user needs, data, and program requirements into clear spatial concepts and compelling design narratives.
- Lead workplace planning, test fits, programming, adjacency studies, space standards, and conceptual design development.
- Establish and communicate design direction while integrating architectural, engineering, branding, technology, lighting, sustainability, and other interdisciplinary criteria.
- Plan, organize, direct, mentor, and coordinate project teams with limited oversight from a Principal or Partner.
- Build and maintain strong client, consultant, and stakeholder relationships through clear communication, responsiveness, and proactive problem solving.
- Lead the development of design deliverables, presentations, renderings, diagrams, material palettes, FF&E concepts, and project narratives.
- Oversee the selection and application of materials, finishes, furniture, fixtures, equipment, and building systems in alignment with design intent, performance, budget, and schedule.
- Guide teams through design development, construction documentation, permitting, bidding, and construction administration, as applicable.
- Coordinate with consulting engineers, contractors, vendors, and specialty consultants to support design quality and successful project execution.
- Lead project document reviews and quality-control processes in accordance with SOM standards and procedures.
- Resolve complex design, technical, operational, and coordination challenges through research, collaboration, and sound professional judgment.
- Participate in project planning, scheduling, staffing, fee development, scope definition, and financial coordination.
- Advance sustainable and resilient design strategies, including wellness, material health, accessibility, and carbon-conscious design principles.
- Maintain consistency, accuracy, and quality of project documentation across teams and project phases.
- Participate in marketing, business development, and proposal efforts supporting workplace interiors and workplace strategy services.
- Contribute to pitch materials, interviews, client presentations, conferences, and other external communications.
- Help develop and advance workplace interiors standards, tools, processes, and best practices across the office and firm.
- Perform other responsibilities as required.
Leadership Responsibilities bullets:
- Lead multiple projects, teams, and initiatives with a high degree of autonomy.
- Serve as an officewide and firmwide resource in workplace interiors, workplace planning, or a related area of expertise.
- Directly supervise, train, mentor, and develop team members while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
- Support recruiting and talent development through resume review, interviewing, professional networking, mentoring, and staff development.
- Advocate for design excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Identify and advance new ways of working, services, standards, and processes that strengthen SOM’s practice and support business and risk-management objectives.
- Share knowledge and contribute to professional discourse within SOM and the broader design community.
We'll combine all into one list.
Qualifications: from "Minimum Qualifications". Bullets:
- Professional degree in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, Architecture, or a related discipline.
- Minimum 10 years of professional experience, or equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities.
- Professional licensure in the state of practice or NCIDQ certification required; LEED accreditation preferred.
- Demonstrated experience leading corporate, commercial, institutional, or other complex workplace interiors projects.
- Thorough knowledge of workplace planning, interior architecture, programming, design development, construction documentation, construction administration, FF&E, materials, building systems, applicable codes, and construction practices.
- General understanding of sustainable design strategies and green building rating systems.
- Strong client-service, presentation, written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to lead interdisciplinary teams and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
- Familiarity with Revit and digital design, visualization, and documentation tools, including Adobe Creative Suite, Rhino, Enscape, Navisworks, and related applications.
- Experience with workplace data, benchmarking, surveys, visualization, or other research-based design methods preferred.
- Strong portfolio demonstrating design leadership, workplace expertise, visual communication, and persuasive storytelling.
- Ability to support and uphold SOM BIM/CAD standards, quality-control procedures, and project-delivery protocols.
We could split some into Skills: proficiency in MS Office, Google Workspace, familiarity with Revit, Adobe Creative Suite, Rhino, Enscape, Navisworks, experience with workplace data, benchmarking, surveys, visualization, ability to support BIM/CAD standards. Also strong portfolio maybe under Skills or Qualifications. But we need to keep all info.
Let's decide: Qualifications: degree, years experience, licensure, LEED preferred, demonstrated experience leading projects, thorough knowledge..., general understanding sustainable design, strong client-service skills, ability to lead interdisciplinary teams.
Skills: proficiency in MS Office and Google Workspace, familiarity with Revit and digital design tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Rhino, Enscape, Navisworks), experience with workplace data, benchmarking, surveys, visualization, strong portfolio demonstrating design leadership..., ability to support SOM BIM/CAD standards.
We'll keep both sections.
Pay: "Compensation for this role is based upon experience, qualifications, location, and education and typically ranges from $120,000 to $170,000."
We'll put that as paragraph.
We must not include boilerplate like "Are you ready to join..." etc. Also remove "For more about SOM: www.som.com" and portfolio instructions (those are application instructions, which we must remove). Also remove "Portfolios must be submitted..." etc.
Thus final HTML fragment:
About the role
...
Responsibilities
- ...
...
Qualifications
- ...
...
Skills
- ...
...
Pay
Compensation for this role is based upon experience, qualifications, location, and education and typically ranges from $120,000 to $170,000.
Make sure no extra headings.
Let's craft the text precisely.
About the role paragraph: combine the two sentences? We'll keep as one paragraph maybe two.
I'll write:
At SOM, we are a collective committed to shaping a better future for our clients, communities, and planet. We pursue sustainable, impactful work through creative, interdisciplinary teams and are guided by a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusivity, and collaboration.
The Associate Principal – Workplace Interior Designer is a strategic design leader responsible for advancing workplace interiors projects from pursuit and conceptual design through documentation and construction administration. This role translates client aspirations, workplace research, organizational goals, and program requirements into compelling, high‑performing interior environments. The Associate Principal brings a forward‑looking perspective to workplace design, incorporating evolving models of work—including hybrid work, activity‑based working (ABW), employee experience, and workplace wellness—into thoughtful and adaptable environments. The role leads project teams with limited oversight from a Principal or Partner, manages client relationships, guides design and technical development, and contributes to the continued growth of SOM’s workplace interiors practice. The ideal candidate brings strong expertise in workplace planning, interior architecture, materials, FF&E, technology integration, sustainable design, and interdisciplinary coordination. By balancing design leadership, client management, team leadership, and business development, the Associate Principal helps deliver innovative, future‑focused workplace solutions while expanding SOM’s corporate interiors practice.
That preserves all.
Responsibilities list: include all bullets.
We'll need to ensure we keep the exact phrasing.
Let's list them exactly as in text.
I'll copy
Qualifications
with list. - Then after that there is "Are you ready..." that's a call to action, maybe not needed. - Then "Compensation for this role is based upon experience, qualifications, location, and education and typically ranges from $120,000 to $170,000." That's Pay. So we needPay
with paragraph. - Benefits: Not mentioned explicitly. No benefits details. So we should not create Benefits section. - Schedule: Not mentioned. So no Schedule section. - Skills: Could be derived from qualifications? But we have Qualifications heading; Skills maybe separate but we can combine. The allowed headings include Skills. We could put skills under Skills, but we have qualifications covering many. However we need to decide: The posting includes "Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace. Familiarity with Revit and digital design...". Those are skills. Could put under Skills. But we also have qualifications like degree, experience, licensure. Might be better to have Qualifications for degree, experience, licensure; Skills for technical proficiencies. Let's split. Thus sections: - About the role (position overview) - Responsibilities (including leadership responsibilities) - Qualifications (degree, years experience, licensure, LEED preferred, demonstrated experience leading projects, knowledge of workplace planning etc.) - Skills (proficiency in MS Office, Google Workspace, familiarity with Revit, Adobe Creative Suite, Rhino, Enscape, Navisworks, etc., experience with workplace data, benchmarking, surveys, visualization, strong portfolio, ability to support BIM/CAD standards) - Pay (compensation range) We must not include Benefits or Schedule. We must preserve all substantive info. Ensure we don't lose any details. Let's extract details. About the role / Position Overview: "At SOM, we are a collective committed to shaping a better future for our clients, communities, and planet. We pursue sustainable, impactful work through creative, interdisciplinary teams and are guided by a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusivity, and collaboration. Position Overview The Associate Principal – Workplace Interior Designer is a strategic design leader responsible for advancing workplace interiors projects from pursuit and conceptual design through documentation and construction administration. This role translates client aspirations, workplace research, organizational goals, and program requirements into compelling, high-performing interior environments. The Associate Principal brings a forward-looking perspective to workplace design, incorporating evolving models of work—including hybrid work, activity-based working (ABW), employee experience, and workplace wellness—into thoughtful and adaptable environments. The role leads project teams with limited oversight from a Principal or Partner, manages client relationships, guides design and technical development, and contributes to the continued growth of SOM’s workplace interiors practice. The ideal candidate brings strong expertise in workplace planning, interior architecture, materials, FF&E, technology integration, sustainable design, and interdisciplinary coordination. By balancing design leadership, client management, team leadership, and business development, the Associate Principal helps deliver innovative, future-focused workplace solutions while expanding SOM’s corporate interiors practice." We'll put that as paragraph(s). Could split into two paragraphs for readability but not required. Responsibilities: list each bullet from "Position Responsibilities" and "Leadership Responsibilities". Let's extract. Position Responsibilities bullets: - Lead the design and development of workplace interiors projects across multiple phases, from pursuit and programming through construction administration. - Translate client goals, workplace strategies, user needs, data, and program requirements into clear spatial concepts and compelling design narratives. - Lead workplace planning, test fits, programming, adjacency studies, space standards, and conceptual design development. - Establish and communicate design direction while integrating architectural, engineering, branding, technology, lighting, sustainability, and other interdisciplinary criteria. - Plan, organize, direct, mentor, and coordinate project teams with limited oversight from a Principal or Partner. - Build and maintain strong client, consultant, and stakeholder relationships through clear communication, responsiveness, and proactive problem solving. - Lead the development of design deliverables, presentations, renderings, diagrams, material palettes, FF&E concepts, and project narratives. - Oversee the selection and application of materials, finishes, furniture, fixtures, equipment, and building systems in alignment with design intent, performance, budget, and schedule. - Guide teams through design development, construction documentation, permitting, bidding, and construction administration, as applicable. - Coordinate with consulting engineers, contractors, vendors, and specialty consultants to support design quality and successful project execution. - Lead project document reviews and quality-control processes in accordance with SOM standards and procedures. - Resolve complex design, technical, operational, and coordination challenges through research, collaboration, and sound professional judgment. - Participate in project planning, scheduling, staffing, fee development, scope definition, and financial coordination. - Advance sustainable and resilient design strategies, including wellness, material health, accessibility, and carbon-conscious design principles. - Maintain consistency, accuracy, and quality of project documentation across teams and project phases. - Participate in marketing, business development, and proposal efforts supporting workplace interiors and workplace strategy services. - Contribute to pitch materials, interviews, client presentations, conferences, and other external communications. - Help develop and advance workplace interiors standards, tools, processes, and best practices across the office and firm. - Perform other responsibilities as required. Leadership Responsibilities bullets: - Lead multiple projects, teams, and initiatives with a high degree of autonomy. - Serve as an officewide and firmwide resource in workplace interiors, workplace planning, or a related area of expertise. - Directly supervise, train, mentor, and develop team members while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and professional growth. - Support recruiting and talent development through resume review, interviewing, professional networking, mentoring, and staff development. - Advocate for design excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and continuous improvement. - Identify and advance new ways of working, services, standards, and processes that strengthen SOM’s practice and support business and risk-management objectives. - Share knowledge and contribute to professional discourse within SOM and the broader design community. We'll combine all into one- list.
Qualifications: from "Minimum Qualifications". Bullets:
- Professional degree in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, Architecture, or a related discipline.
- Minimum 10 years of professional experience, or equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities.
- Professional licensure in the state of practice or NCIDQ certification required; LEED accreditation preferred.
- Demonstrated experience leading corporate, commercial, institutional, or other complex workplace interiors projects.
- Thorough knowledge of workplace planning, interior architecture, programming, design development, construction documentation, construction administration, FF&E, materials, building systems, applicable codes, and construction practices.
- General understanding of sustainable design strategies and green building rating systems.
- Strong client-service, presentation, written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to lead interdisciplinary teams and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
- Familiarity with Revit and digital design, visualization, and documentation tools, including Adobe Creative Suite, Rhino, Enscape, Navisworks, and related applications.
- Experience with workplace data, benchmarking, surveys, visualization, or other research-based design methods preferred.
- Strong portfolio demonstrating design leadership, workplace expertise, visual communication, and persuasive storytelling.
- Ability to support and uphold SOM BIM/CAD standards, quality-control procedures, and project-delivery protocols.
We could split some into Skills: proficiency in MS Office, Google Workspace, familiarity with Revit, Adobe Creative Suite, Rhino, Enscape, Navisworks, experience with workplace data, benchmarking, surveys, visualization, ability to support BIM/CAD standards. Also strong portfolio maybe under Skills or Qualifications. But we need to keep all info.
Let's decide: Qualifications: degree, years experience, licensure, LEED preferred, demonstrated experience leading projects, thorough knowledge..., general understanding sustainable design, strong client-service skills, ability to lead interdisciplinary teams.
Skills: proficiency in MS Office and Google Workspace, familiarity with Revit and digital design tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Rhino, Enscape, Navisworks), experience with workplace data, benchmarking, surveys, visualization, strong portfolio demonstrating design leadership..., ability to support SOM BIM/CAD standards.
We'll keep both sections.
Pay: "Compensation for this role is based upon experience, qualifications, location, and education and typically ranges from $120,000 to $170,000."
We'll put that as paragraph.
We must not include boilerplate like "Are you ready to join..." etc. Also remove "For more about SOM: www.som.com" and portfolio instructions (those are application instructions, which we must remove). Also remove "Portfolios must be submitted..." etc.
Thus final HTML fragment:
- ... ...
- ... ...
- ... ...
About the role
...
Responsibilities
Qualifications
Skills
Pay
Compensation for this role is based upon experience, qualifications, location, and education and typically ranges from $120,000 to $170,000.
Make sure no extra headings. Let's craft the text precisely. About the role paragraph: combine the two sentences? We'll keep as one paragraph maybe two. I'll write:At SOM, we are a collective committed to shaping a better future for our clients, communities, and planet. We pursue sustainable, impactful work through creative, interdisciplinary teams and are guided by a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusivity, and collaboration.
The Associate Principal – Workplace Interior Designer is a strategic design leader responsible for advancing workplace interiors projects from pursuit and conceptual design through documentation and construction administration. This role translates client aspirations, workplace research, organizational goals, and program requirements into compelling, high‑performing interior environments. The Associate Principal brings a forward‑looking perspective to workplace design, incorporating evolving models of work—including hybrid work, activity‑based working (ABW), employee experience, and workplace wellness—into thoughtful and adaptable environments. The role leads project teams with limited oversight from a Principal or Partner, manages client relationships, guides design and technical development, and contributes to the continued growth of SOM’s workplace interiors practice. The ideal candidate brings strong expertise in workplace planning, interior architecture, materials, FF&E, technology integration, sustainable design, and interdisciplinary coordination. By balancing design leadership, client management, team leadership, and business development, the Associate Principal helps deliver innovative, future‑focused workplace solutions while expanding SOM’s corporate interiors practice.
That preserves all. Responsibilities list: include all bullets. We'll need to ensure we keep the exact phrasing. Let's list them exactly as in text. I'll copy