Lead Designer

Overview

Cedar Brook Property is seeking a Lead Designer to play a pivotal role in shaping our brand, elevating our product, and maximizing the value of every renovation. As a residential real estate investment company focused on buying, renovating, and reselling homes, our mission is to revitalize existing properties and deliver thoughtfully designed, affordable homes to new homeowners. The Lead Designer ensures our renovations don’t just look good—feel like home, remain cost-effective, and resonate with today’s buyers.

The Lead Designer partners closely with senior leadership, project management, and acquisitions to define and execute our renovation and design strategy across multiple markets. This role blends creative vision with operational discipline—balancing style, efficiency, and scalability. Our culture is rooted in empowerment, quality, productivity, and employee satisfaction, and this role is instrumental in advancing those values through design leadership.

This position offers a base salary in the range of $90,000 to $115,000 with performance-based year-end bonus and medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and paid time off benefits. This is a remote role requiring a home office.

• Driving results & value creation:
  Collaborate with project management teams to enhance property value across multiple markets and regions through intentional, market-driven design.
• Own and continuously evolve a comprehensive design standards & style guide that ensures consistency while allowing for regional nuance.
• Identify cost-effective design solutions that elevate finishes, layouts, and buyer appeal while remaining within established budgets.
• Collaborate with leadership to oversee design strategies set forth by the design team.
• Champion design decisions that directly support resale velocity and margin optimization.
• Strategic design leadership:
  Stay ahead of residential design trends, materials, and industry standards, translating them into scalable, affordable renovation solutions.
• Balance aesthetics with affordability to deliver a consistent, recognizable product that appeals to the mass consumer.
• Audit existing inventory and completed projects to identify opportunities for continuous design optimization.
• Establish and manage preferred purchasing channels, vendor relationships, and bulk pricing agreements to improve cost efficiency and consistency.
• Technology & innovation:
  Leverage emerging technologies and tools within the real estate and design industries to improve workflows, visualization, and outcomes.
• Evaluate available technology and generative AI to find any efficiencies.
• Use CAD and related tools to develop, refine, and communicate floor plans, layouts, and design concepts that improve functionality and livability.
• Support data-driven decision-making by integrating technology into design and planning processes.
• Collaboration, influence & cross‑functional impact:
  Serve as a trusted design partner to senior management and project management teams through strong communication, listening, and influence.
• Provide supervision and guidance to subordinate members of the design team.
• Support the acquisitions team by providing design insight and preliminary cost assumptions during deal evaluation and underwriting.
• Build and maintain relationships with external design professionals, vendors, and industry partners to inform best practices and strengthen our design baseline.
• Act as a design ambassador for the company, reinforcing brand standards and expectations across teams and markets.

• Experience:
  
  3+ years of experience in residential or real estate design, preferably across multiple markets or regions.
• Communication:
  Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Problem Solving:
  Exceptional critical thinking and analytical skills, with a practical, solutions‑oriented mindset.
• Organization:
  Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize effectively, and thrive in a fast‑paced environment.
• Technical
  
  Skills:
  
  Proficiency in CAD, Cubi Casa, and familiarity with emerging design technologies and tools.
• Education:
  
  Bachel…