What are the responsibilities and job description for the Experienced Residential Designer position at Black Forest Design & Build?
About the Role:
We are looking for a skilled and self-directed Interior Designer with 5 years of experience to join our design team. In this role, you’ll be responsible for taking projects from early concept through design development and documentation, preparing them for a seamless handoff to our in-house production and construction teams.
This position is ideal for a designer who is passionate about the creative process, detail-oriented, and thrives in a collaborative studio environment. You’ll help shape the design vision and ensure all design intent and specifications are clearly communicated for execution—without managing construction oversight or team leadership responsibilities.
Key Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with the Principal Designer on initial design concepts, space plans, and FF&E palettes that reflect the client’s goals and brand identity.
- Create design presentations, material boards, and mood imagery to convey concepts effectively.
- Draft detailed floor plans, elevations, lighting layouts, and cabinet drawings suitable for internal production documentation.
- Prepare finish schedules, product specifications, and coordination notes for a smooth transition to the production team.
- Work closely with Principal Designer, Estimator, and Production Staff to align design intent with constructibility and budget.
- Attend vendor visits for material selections, active site visit checks, and occasional design reviews.
- Coordinate with vendors to source and select materials, finishes, and furnishings.
- Support client communication during the design phase and assist in presentation meetings as needed.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, or a related field.
- 5–10 years of professional experience, preferably in residential or design-build environments.
- Proficiency in AutoCAD or Chief Architect, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite; experience with Revit is a plus but not necessary
- Proficiency with Google Office Suite Products (Drive, Sheets, Gmail, etc.) required
- Strong knowledge of material applications, detailing, and space planning.
- Excellent visual communication, organization, and documentation skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced studio environment.
- Comfortable working independently and in close collaboration with Principal Designer and Project Managers.
- Ability to work directly with clients and guide them through the selection process
- Willingness to work in office with the our Design and Production team
Compensation and Benefits
- Benefits- Paid holidays, paid vacation, and fully covered health care.
- $65,000- $75000/ year plus benefits. Salary determined by the level of experience and training at the time of hire.
- Mileage reimbursement for work travel
- Holiday bonus
Other Requirements
- Available and willing to work in our office located in downtown Lancaster PA, in person, 5 days a week.
- As a salaried employee it is to be expected that your hours may flex between 35-45 hours per week.
- You will report to two department heads and you will not have any employees reporting to you.
- Weekend and evening work will not be expected
- Willingness to travel to project sites, up to 1.5 hours away 2-3 times a month
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $65,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Education:
- Bachelor's (Preferred)
Experience:
- CAD Drafting: 5 years (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Lancaster, PA 17602: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
Salary : $65,000 - $75,000