Job Description

Interior Designer

Location - Chardon,OH

Compensation - $70,000-$110,000 + competitive benefits

Are you a creative and technically skilled Interior Designer who loves turning ideas into beautiful, buildable spaces? Do you enjoy guiding clients through important design decisions while balancing aesthetics, functionality, and construction realities? Are you ready to design high-end residential spaces while being part of a collaborative team that truly cares about getting it right?

If you're an Interior Designer with 3+ years of residential design experience, a strong eye for design, technical drawing skills, and the confidence to guide clients through the design process, we want to meet you!

Payne & Tompkins has been transforming homes and lives in Greater Cleveland since we combined our expertise over two decades ago. As a premier design-build remodeling company, we specialize in high-touch custom remodeling that helps families invest in themselves and their lifestyles, not just their homes.

Our culture is rooted in working together to get it right—values that guide everything we do. We practice open-book management with profit sharing because we believe everyone should share in our success. We're "a little weird" in the best way possible, with monthly team events, community service through Olivia's Dream nonprofit, Make-A-Wish partnerships, and even office Olympics.

With 55+ dedicated employees and a strong track record of growth from $3M to $22M in seven years, we're not just a company—we're a team building something special together.

Summary of Responsibilities

Own the design process for high-end residential remodeling projects, including kitchens, bathrooms, finished basements, porch additions, and other custom renovations. You'll transform client ideas into thoughtful, beautiful, and buildable designs while keeping aesthetics, budget, and constructability in mind.

You'll work closely with clients throughout the design process while collaborating with Project Managers, estimators, trade partners, and fellow designers to ensure every detail comes together.

You'll manage multiple projects at different stages, from early feasibility and active design through construction. Your role will combine creative design, technical drawings, material and finish selections, client meetings, site visits, and ongoing collaboration with the construction team.

Essential Functions

• Create Exceptional Designs — Develop thoughtful design concepts, layouts, drawings, materials, finishes, and selections that reflect each client's vision while meeting the realities of construction.
• Guide Client Decisions — Lead clients confidently through the design process, helping them navigate selections and important decisions without becoming overwhelmed.
• Produce Technical Drawings — Create accurate, detailed, and buildable drawings that clearly communicate design intent to Project Managers and trade partners.
• Coordinate & Collaborate — Work closely with Project Managers, estimators, designers, trade partners, and vendors to solve problems and ensure designs can be successfully executed.
• Stay Connected Through Construction — Participate in site visits, trade walks, and construction discussions to answer questions, review work against drawings, and help navigate changes.
• Manage Multiple Projects — Balance projects across feasibility, active design, and construction while keeping priorities, deadlines, and client expectations organized.
• Maintain Systems — Keep Chief Architect, Buildertrend, and project documentation current while participating in team meetings, Scrum planning, and company processes.
• Manage Selections & Vendor Coordination — Make furniture, plumbing, lighting, material, cabinet, and finish selections while maintaining budget, and obtain necessary vendor quotes to keep projects moving forward.

Education, Experience, and Skills Required

• Experience: 3+ years of interior design experience preferred, ideally within residential remodeling, design-build, kitchen and bath, or high-end residential environments.
• Design Expertise: Strong eye for design, proportion, materials, finishes, and overall aesthetics with the ability to adapt to different client styles.
• Technical Drawing Skills: Ability to translate creative ideas into accurate, executable drawings that can be clearly understood by the construction team.
• Client Communication: Confident and personable communicator who can build trust, lead meetings, and guide clients through complex design decisions.
• Technical Skills: Experience with Chief Architect preferred; proficiency in CAD, Revit, or similar design software is transferable. Comfortable learning Buildertrend and other shared company systems.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Interior Design, Architecture, or a related discipline is preferred; equivalent demonstrated experience and a strong portfolio may also be considered.
• Certifications: NKBA, NCIDQ, kitchen and bath, or similar certifications are a plus but not required.
• Personal Attributes: Creative, kind, organized, curious, collaborative, accountable, detail-oriented, and open to feedback and new ways of doing things.

Compensation

• Competitive Salary: $70,000–$110,000, based on experience and capability
• Profit Sharing: Approximately 8–15% additional compensation, based on company performance
• Retirement Benefits: Company 401(k) contribution plus cash balance retirement plan
• Comprehensive Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability
• Hybrid Flexibility: Opportunity to transition to a hybrid schedule after onboarding, with three days per week in the office
• Equipment: Laptop, company phone or phone stipend, and company apparel
• Mileage Reimbursement: Reimbursement for business-related travel to client homes, jobsites, and vendors
• Time Off: Flexible PTO and paid holidays
• Professional Development: Comprehensive onboarding, design and software training, coaching, and clear advancement opportunities
• Additional Perks: Monthly team events, open-book financials, and a strong culture of employee recognition

Personal characteristics needed to be successful in this role

• Creative & Technically Minded — Has great design instincts but also understands that beautiful ideas need to translate into accurate, buildable plans.
• Confident Client Guide — Builds trust quickly and can confidently help clients make decisions while listening carefully to their needs, tastes, and concerns.
• Kind & Collaborative — Works respectfully with designers, Project Managers, trades, and clients and understands that the best outcome comes from working together.
• Organized & Accountable — Manages multiple projects, selections, drawings, meetings, and deadlines while consistently following through on commitments.
• Curious & Adaptable — Excited to learn new tools, processes, and approaches rather than being attached to "the way I've always done it."
• Detail-Oriented — Notices the small things that make the difference between a good design and an exceptional one while maintaining accuracy in drawings and documentation.
• Humble & Coachable — Comfortable giving and receiving feedback and focused more on getting the right outcome than being right.

How to Apply

• Submit an updated resume and portfolio highlighting your residential interior design experience and examples of your best work.

We have a formal recruiting process and have a relationship with Zephyr Connects LLC, whom we use for the screening and hiring process. If you are selected for the next step you will get instructions from Ben within 3 days of your submission. Everyone will be contacted.

Payne & Tompkins Design-Renovations provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Payne & Tompkins Design-Renovations complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

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