Upscale Interior Designer II

Choice Hotels - North Bethesda, MD

Full-time - Mid Level

North Bethesda, MD

10,001+ employees

Accommodation

About the position

Choice Hotels, one of the world's largest lodging franchisors, is seeking an Upscale Interior Designer II to join our Architecture and Design - Upscale team. This team is crucial for the successful implementation of design across our upscale and upper upscale brands, which include Radisson Hotels, Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, Radisson Individuals, Radisson Collection, Park Plaza, Cambria, and Ascend Hotels. As a key member of this team, you will play a vital role in shaping the aesthetic and functional standards of our upscale brands, ensuring that every design element contributes to a cohesive and distinguished guest experience. This position is essential for the development of new hotels within Choice Hotels' upscale portfolio. In this role, you will be responsible for reviewing all drawings, Furniture, Fixtures, & Equipment (FF&E), and finish specifications for our Upscale Brands. You will lead design efforts in collaboration with the Brand team to maintain Brand Prototypes, directing design initiatives to launch new brands and uphold existing prototypes. Additionally, you will support the development and maintenance of Brand Hallmark items, which includes creating shop drawings for guestroom items and managing vendor programs and pricing. Your responsibilities will also include sourcing FF&E and finish specifications, working with interior design consulting firms to evaluate products for cost savings, and leading the scheduling of interior design projects. You will be tasked with reviewing model rooms for compliance with Brand Standards and quality, as well as leading project review efforts with licensees and communicating professionally with franchisees regarding their inquiries. This position requires a collaborative spirit, strategic thinking, and creativity. If you are driven by these qualities and are looking to make a significant impact in the hospitality industry, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.

Responsibilities

• Review all drawings, Furniture, Fixtures, & Equipment (FF&E), and finish specifications for Upscale Brands including concept boards, 30%, 60%, and 90% submittals.
• Lead design efforts with Brand team to maintain Brand Prototypes, including directing design efforts to launch brands and maintain existing prototypes.
• Support the development and maintenance of the Brand Hallmark items for drawings, FF&E specifications, Finish specifications, and brand standards.
• Develop shop drawings for Brand Hallmark guestroom items including case goods, soft seating, barn doors, and lighting.
• Maintain programs and pricing with vendors for Brand Hallmark guestroom items.
• Work with vendors to source FF&E & Finish specifications and samples of products for interior design packages.
• Work with Interior Design consulting firms, vendors and the Design team to value engineer or evaluate products for cost savings.
• Lead scheduling of interior design projects and balancing of project workload.
• Lead updates and maintenance of specifications manuals and drawing sets for prototype.
• Review model rooms for all custom or semi-custom projects for functionality, compliance with Brand Standards, quality and operational functionality.
• Lead interior design project review effort with licensees, including professional communication with franchisees regarding their inquiries as related to products and specifications.
• Support Architecture + Design with prototypical cost modeling, specifically relating to FF&E and Finishes.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Interior Design, or related field.
• Minimum 5-10 years relevant work experience, experience in the hotel or hospitality industry is preferred.
• Minimum 2-5 years of project management experience is preferred.
• Strong knowledge and proficiency of computer software including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Excel; Photoshop, Revit and AutoCAD a plus.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Capable knowledge of construction and prototype plans; furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) specifications; and interior design cost module.
• Strong competency skills in customer service, decision-making, analysis and problem solving, priority setting and time management.
• Must be flexible and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
• Detail oriented and strong organizational ability.
• High integrity and ability to work independently.
• Ability to travel up to 20% of time.