FF&E Design Assistant

[FF&E] Design Assistant

Final date to receive applications: 31 January 2026

Department: Design Team (FF&E)

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: San Francisco, CA

Reporting To: Senior Designer

Compensation: $32.00 - $45.00 / hour

NICOLEHOLLIS, an award-winning, large‑size Interior Design firm seeks a talented and motivated Design Assistant to assist our Residential Design Team.

The Design Assistant contributes to the success of NICOLEHOLLIS by assisting in general office and design duties, drafting, sourcing, coordinating, filing library and images. The ideal candidate will have 2‑3 years of experience in residential interior design, focusing on high‑end residential design.

• Develop interior designs and furniture design using knowledge of the principles of interior design and theories of human behavior; appropriately convey conceptual, functional, life‑cycle performance, environmental, and safety requirements
• Assist Design Team in development of preliminary space planning, design concept studies and sketches, design presentations, mood boards, 3D models & visualization, rendered floor plans & elevations, specifications packages (finishes, interior architecture, FF&E), custom furniture design, and furniture package
• Assist in preparation of specifications and schedules packages for all furniture, lighting, finishes, art and accessories
• Assist in facilitating pricing, procurement and installation of furniture;
  Prepare documents, consisting of floor plans, furniture plans, elevations, details and studies, to illustrate layouts; designs; materials and finishes; adhering to regulations and guidelines applicable to the interior space
• Work with Senior Designer to update schedules, budgets, meeting agendas, meeting notes, purchase orders, specifications, folders and files, archiving, project materials and submittals, resource library, vendor contacts and more;
  Coordination and correspondence with various consultants, vendors, manufacturers, fabricators, installers and contractors
• Assist in overall maintenance of materials library under supervision of Librarian (sorting fabrics samples, organizing finish samples, updating labels and catalogs, and more)
• Attend and represent the Company at industrial events, trade shows, and networking events
• Run errands to showrooms, act as liaison between the Company and vendors
• Efficiently work with a team of designers and interns; demonstrating strong collaborative and communication skills

SKILLS

• Degree in Interior Design
• Minimum of 1 - 2 years Interior Design experience
• Comprehensive knowledge of FF&E scopes in residential and hospitality design standards
• Excellent presentation skills, including space planning and drawing
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Adobe InDesign and Photoshop, MS Suite, Sketchup (or similar 3D modeling software)
• Experience with purchasing and budgets (Studio Designer preferred)
• Strong knowledge in construction drawing sets, detailing, materials, methods, fabrication, interior finishes, programming, and codes
• Experience selecting and specifying furniture, fixtures, equipment, cabinetry, appliances, hardware, materials, and interior finishes
• Must have excellent customer service skills and be comfortable in interfacing with clients, consultants, vendors and internal staff
• Ability to interact effectively with the design team on multiple projects

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Task Focus:
  Delivers legendary service to clients and vendors that meets and exceeds expectations
• Ethics & Integrity:
  Adheres to the Company values, beliefs, and principles of innovation and excellence in design
• Composure:
  Remains calm, maintains perspective, and responds in a professional manner when faced with tough situations
• Personal Learning:
  Takes personal responsibility for the continuous learning of new knowledge, skills, and experiences
• Dealing with Ambiguity:
  Able to successfully function during times of uncertainty and changing priorities
• Decision-Making:
  Makes keen, timely decisions based on a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience and judgment
• Interpersonal Savvy:
  Builds effective relationships with all people up, down and sideways,…