Interior Design Manager for homebuilder

Our client is a leading private residential real estate developer is seeking an experienced interior designer and design manager.

The Design Manager is responsible for the vision, design execution, furnishing, and merchandising of all model homes and move-in ready homes for a production home builder. This role blends creative direction with operational execution—overseeing interior and exterior design selections, sourcing and purchasing furniture and décor, managing vendor relationships, and ensuring homes are market-ready, on budget, and aligned with brand standards and buyer demographics.

The ideal candidate combines strong aesthetic leadership with purchasing expertise, budgeting discipline, and project management skills in a fast-paced residential construction environment.

• Develop cohesive interior and exterior design concepts for model homes that reflect target buyer profiles and community positioning.
• Select color palettes, finishes, fixtures, materials, flooring, cabinetry, lighting, hardware, and architectural details.
• Design and furnish model homes with furniture, art, window treatments, and accessories to maximize emotional impact and sales appeal.
• Curate design packages and upgrade features for move-in ready homes to enhance marketability and absorption rates.
• Ensure consistency with company brand standards across all communities.

• Source and purchase furniture, décor, artwork, and design elements within approved budgets.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and delivery schedules with vendors and suppliers.
• Track and manage design budgets for each model and spec home.
• Review invoices, approve payments, and maintain accurate purchasing records.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities while maintaining quality and design integrity.
• Build and maintain relationships with furniture suppliers, installers, stagers, and design vendors.
• Coordinate deliveries, installations, and on-site setup to meet community grand opening deadlines.
• Evaluate vendor performance and negotiate contracts as needed.

• Collaborate with Construction, Architecture, Sales, and Marketing teams to align design intent with build schedules and launch timelines.
• Oversee installation, styling, and final walkthroughs prior to community openings.
• Manage model home refresh cycles and resale/staging transitions when models close.

• Stay current on residential design trends, buyer preferences, and competitive model home merchandising.
• Conduct competitive community tours and research local market aesthetics.
• Recommend strategic design enhancements that drive traffic and sales velocity.

• Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, or related field preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in residential interior design, model home merchandising, or production homebuilding.
• Experience in purchasing, budgeting, and vendor negotiations.
• Background in high-volume production environments preferred.
• Proficiency in design software (AutoCAD, Sketch Up, Revit, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar).
• Excellent budgeting, negotiation, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple communities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Detail-oriented with a strong sense of urgency and accountability.

• On-time completion of model homes and spec home merchandising.
• Adherence to approved budgets.
• Sales team satisfaction and community traffic impact.
• Vendor performance and cost efficiency.
• Brand consistency across communities.
• Combination of office, design center, warehouse/vendor showrooms, and active construction sites.
• Regular travel to community locations as needed.

This role offers the opportunity to directly influence the visual identity and sales success of communities. The Design Manager plays a critical part in creating inspiring spaces that help buyers envision their future homes while maintaining operational excellence in a production-driven environment.