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Hospitality Design Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Gensler

Designer - Retail & Hospitality - Senior

Oakland, CA · On-site

$107K - $140K/yr

Your portfolio should show a deep bench of hospitality and/or custom retail design experience. You ... Collaborate with Design Manager and Interior Design Director to ensure Client and project needs are ...

Ishita Interiors

Operations Coordinator

Arden, NC

$70K/yr

... hospitality design firm. In this role, you'll work closely with leadership to keep projects moving ... Direct mentorship from company leadership * A collaborative team with the opportunity to make a ...

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How much do hospitality design director jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for hospitality design director in the United States is $135,763.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $109,500.00 and $163,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Hospitality Design Director do?

A Hospitality Design Director oversees the creative vision and execution of interior and architectural design for hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other hospitality spaces. They collaborate with clients, architects, and designers to ensure projects align with brand identity, guest experience goals, and industry trends. Their role includes managing design teams, selecting materials and finishes, and ensuring projects meet budget and timeline requirements while maintaining high aesthetic and functional standards.

What are the typical day-to-day responsibilities of a Hospitality Design Director?

A Hospitality Design Director oversees multiple design projects from concept through completion, guiding teams of designers and consultants to ensure creative vision aligns with client expectations and brand standards. Key tasks include meeting with clients, reviewing design proposals, managing budgets and timelines, and coordinating with contractors and vendors. The role often involves mentoring junior team members, presenting design concepts to stakeholders, and making site visits to monitor project progress. Directors frequently collaborate with other departments such as marketing, operations, and procurement, making strong communication and organizational skills essential for success.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Hospitality Design Director position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Hospitality Design Director, you need expertise in interior design, project management, and a thorough understanding of hospitality industry standards, often supported by a degree in architecture or interior design. Familiarity with tools such as AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite, along with relevant certifications like NCIDQ, is typically expected. Exceptional leadership, creative vision, and strong client communication skills are crucial soft skills that set candidates apart. These abilities are vital for successfully leading projects, fostering innovation, and delivering outstanding guest experiences in competitive hospitality environments.

More about Hospitality Design Director jobs
What cities are hiring for Hospitality Design Director jobs? Cities with the most Hospitality Design Director job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Hospitality Design jobs? The most popular types of Hospitality Design jobs are:
What states have the most Hospitality Design Director jobs? States with the most job openings for Hospitality Design Director jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Hospitality Design Director jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Hospitality Design Director jobs are:
Hospitality Design Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Hospitality Design Director job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $135,763 per year, or $65.3 per hour.
Designer - Retail & Hospitality - Senior

Designer - Retail & Hospitality - Senior

Gensler

Oakland, CA • On-site

$107K - $140K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired 2 days ago. Applications are no longer accepted.

Gensler rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 22 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Gensler is one of the world's leading architecture, design and planning firms. We have a highly creative, collaborative team around the world dedicated to innovative problem solving and design excellence. Our Bay Area Lifestyle Studio operates as a boutique practice within the firm, focusing on iconic hospitality and retail projects. As our diverse client base and project work continue to grow, we are seeking a Senior Designer with 10-15 years of experience to join our team.
Your Role
As a Senior Designer, your job is to lead interior design projects from programming through construction administration. You should have a sophisticated understanding of storytelling, guest experience, spatial design, and materiality, built over a background in architecture with a strong focus on Interiors or Interior Design. Your portfolio should show a deep bench of hospitality and/or custom retail design experience. You must be an integral part of your teams and actively foster a respectful, creative, and inspiring design environment. You must have a passion for design and a great reputation in the design community at large.
What You Will Do
  • Lead interior design efforts through all phases of design and construction
  • Collaborate with Design Manager and Interior Design Director to ensure Client and project needs are heard and exceeded
  • Create compelling story boards and generate conceptual design options including reference imagery, look and feel palettes, furniture, decorative lighting, and millwork
  • Develop design and selection of furniture, fabrics, equipment (FF&E), interior finishes, and decorative lighting
  • Create FF&E budgets and matrices
  • Prepare design presentations with guidance from Interior Design Director and be open to a change in direction when neede
  • Lead design presentations with clarity to effectively communicate design intent and technical solutions
  • Mentor junior and mid-level designers during the design and implementation process and ensure adherence to approved design intent
  • Ensure seamless technical application of selected finish and material palette
  • Generate 3D views to communicate design concepts by utilizing modeling software (Revit, Sketchup, Enscape or other) and post-production software (Photoshop or similar)
  • Review and contribute when needed to reflected ceiling plans, elevations, details, specifications, and material selections needed for construction
  • Work with external consultants, product representatives, procurement agents, and fabricators
  • Conduct site visits, field verification, punch walks, and installation oversight as needed
  • Manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining design quality, schedules, and budgets
  • Contribute to and lead office activities, initiatives, and learning programs

Your Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited school of design or architecture
  • 10+ years of Interior Design experience in hospitality and/or retail practice areas required
  • High level of industry knowledge and proven commitment to community and industry organizations
  • NCIDQ certification, LEED accreditation, and/ or WELL AP preferred
  • Experience delivering highly sustainable design solutions
  • Ability to work independently or while leading collaborative teams
  • Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship management skills
  • Proficiency in Revit and other computer design programs
  • Must have a strong portfolio demonstrating significant hospitality and/or retail projects. Ideally the project portfolio will show a range of projects.

To be considered for this opportunity, you must UPLOAD A RESUME & SAMPLE DESIGN PORTFOLIO to the attachments section of your application.
Learn more about our Oakland , CA team
This is not a remote role; we look forward to working with our new Interior Designer in our incredible Oakland, CA. office.
**The base salary will be estimated between $107,000 - $140,000, plus bonuses and benefits and is contingent on relevant experience.
Life at Gensler
At Gensler, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From curated art exhibits to internal design competitions to "Well-being Week," our offices reflect our people's diverse interests.
We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401K, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and twice annual bonus opportunities. Our annual base salary range has been established based on local markets.
As part of the firm's commitment to licensure and professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees. In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programs or classes. We view our professional development programs as strategic investments in our future.
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