Workplace Design Lead

At SOM, we are a collective committed to shaping a better future for our clients, communities, and planet. We pursue sustainable, impactful work through creative, interdisciplinary teams and are guided by a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusivity, and collaboration.

The Associate Principal – Workplace Interior Designer is a strategic design leader responsible for advancing workplace interiors projects from pursuit and conceptual design through documentation and construction administration. This role translates client aspirations, workplace research, organizational goals, and program requirements into compelling, high-performing interior environments. The Associate Principal brings a forward-looking perspective to workplace design, incorporating evolving models of work—including hybrid work, activity-based working (ABW), employee experience, and workplace wellness—into thoughtful and adaptable environments.

The role leads project teams with limited oversight from a Principal or Partner, manages client relationships, guides design and technical development, and contributes to the continued growth of SOM’s workplace interiors practice. The ideal candidate brings strong expertise in workplace planning, interior architecture, materials, FF&E, technology integration, sustainable design, and interdisciplinary coordination. By balancing design leadership, client management, team leadership, and business development, the Associate Principal helps deliver innovative, future-focused workplace solutions while expanding SOM’s corporate interiors practice.

• Lead the design and development of workplace interiors projects across multiple phases, from pursuit and programming through construction administration.
• Translate client goals, workplace strategies, user needs, data, and program requirements into clear spatial concepts and compelling design narratives.
• Lead workplace planning, test fits, programming, adjacency studies, space standards, and conceptual design development.
• Establish and communicate design direction while integrating architectural, engineering, branding, technology, lighting, sustainability, and other interdisciplinary criteria.
• Plan, organize, direct, mentor, and coordinate project teams with limited oversight from a Principal or Partner.
• Build and maintain strong client, consultant, and stakeholder relationships through clear communication, responsiveness, and proactive problem solving.
• Lead the development of design deliverables, presentations, renderings, diagrams, material palettes, FF&E concepts, and project narratives.
• Oversee the selection and application of materials, finishes, furniture, fixtures, equipment, and building systems in alignment with design intent, performance, budget, and schedule.
• Guide teams through design development, construction documentation, permitting, bidding, and construction administration, as applicable.
• Coordinate with consulting engineers, contractors, vendors, and specialty consultants to support design quality and successful project execution.
• Lead project document reviews and quality-control processes in accordance with SOM standards and procedures.
• Resolve complex design, technical, operational, and coordination challenges through research, collaboration, and sound professional judgment.
• Participate in project planning, scheduling, staffing, fee development, scope definition, and financial coordination.
• Advance sustainable and resilient design strategies, including wellness, material health, accessibility, and carbon-conscious design principles.
• Maintain consistency, accuracy, and quality of project documentation across teams and project phases.
• Participate in marketing, business…