Design Director | Construction Documentation + Administration

DESIGN DIRECTOR | CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTATION + ADMINISTRATION REMOTE POSITION : Must live in NC or SC WHO WE ARE Level Five Designs is a multi-family interior design firm based in Raleigh, NC. Our goal is to bring property branding to life through our design, finishes and furniture selections for developers, multifamily property managers and asset management firms. OUR CORE VALUES We curate impactful and innovative designs. Always thinking outside the box. We don’t have one style. The client's aesthetic is our aesthetic. We connect people and places. Making every community feel like home. We guide the project from inspiration to installation. Our design bags hold samples and hard hats. We deliver the highest level of finish. Standing beside you and for you. BENEFITS Work from home/flexible hours Unlimited PTO Medical, dental, vision, short term and long term disability and life insurance Flexible benefit plan 401k employer match 12 weeks paid parental leave Office and telephone stipend Collaborative and supportive team environment with an emphasis on work-life balance POSITION OVERVIEW The Design Director | Construction Documentation + Administration leads with care, trust, and a genuine commitment to service, setting the standard for technical excellence, collaboration, and accountability across the firm. This role is responsible for overseeing the quality, accuracy, and coordination of all construction documentation and construction administration while continuously refining systems, processes, and standards to elevate both the work and the people behind it. GENERAL | LEADERSHIP + VALUES IN ACTION The Design Director is expected to: Lead with empathy, integrity, and trust, creating an environment where teams feel supported, challenged, empowered and accountable. Model and promote Level Five Designs' values, culture, design philosophy, and commitment to exceptional client service. Take initiative naturally, proactively identifying risks, inefficiencies, and opportunities and translating them into thoughtful, actionable solutions. Maintain a composed, positive, confident and inspiring presence, even during high-pressure project phases and complex client situations. Represent the company with a professional and polished executive presence during client meetings, site visits, industry events and other professional engagements Build strong, respectful relationships with clients, consultants, vendors, industry partners, and internal teams through transparency, communication and care. Foster a culture of curiosity, collaboration, creativity, technical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement. CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION + CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and refine firm-wide Construction Documentation and Administration standards, and support their ongoing implementation and maintenance. Uphold company-wide standards for construction documentation, administration, quality control, and technical execution. Lead with a mindset of continuous improvement, regularly evolving templates, workflows, systems, and best practices. Identify challenges and opportunities within construction processes and proactively implement solutions that benefit project outcomes and team efficiency. Partner with the leadership team to align documentation and administration strategy with the company’s creative vision, operational goals, and growth plans. Maintain current knowledge of applicable commercial building codes, ADA requirements, life safety standards, and regulatory requirements in the states where projects are performed. Partner with consultants, contractors, and internal technical teams to resolve design conflicts and constructability concerns. Lead value-engineering strategies that balance design integrity, project costs, client expectations, and construction requirements. Provide technical and design guidance during downstream project phases when necessary to support approved design intent. Champion innovation and original thinking while remaining grounded in strategy, constructability, and client needs. L5D DESIGN STANDARDS + DESIGN INNOVATION Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing refinement of Level Five Designs' company-wide design standards and creative frameworks. Establish clear design quality benchmarks that reinforce the firm's design philosophy, support consistent project delivery, and allow for thoughtful project-specific creativity. Ensure design standards consider aesthetic quality, commercial durability, functionality, constructability, maintenance, budget alignment, and procurement efficiency. Establish and maintain construction documentation and administration standards, quality control processes, SOPs, and reference resources. Continuously evaluate emerging design trends, materials, technologies, products, and industry innovations to evolve the firm's creative direction. Develop and share design trend forecasts, research, and inspiration to inform future projects and support team development. Champion continuous improvement in design methodologies, creative tools, technical coordination, and documentation practices. TEAM LEADERSHIP + MENTORSHIP Lead, mentor, and manage the Construction Documentation and Administration teams, fostering accountability, trust, and professional growth. Guide teams through complex coordination and technical challenges with clarity and confidence. Support career development through coaching, feedback, and hands-on guidance. Collaborate with senior leadership to build scalable workflows that support high-quality delivery across multiple active projects. PROJECT OVERSIGHT + TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE Oversee construction documentation and administration across multiple projects, ensuring accuracy, coordination, code compliance, and alignment with design intent. Review, redline, and approve Construction Documents, Pricing Plans and IFC sets with expert-level rigor. Maintain thorough and current knowledge of applicable building codes and regulatory requirements in all states where work is performed, ensuring full compliance across all projects and documentation. Lead coordination with architects, engineers, consultants, and vendors to ensure fully integrated documentation. Resolve complex technical challenges with clarity, forward-thinking, and sound judgment. Oversee documentation of client-driven changes and field revisions, ensuring accuracy and clear communication. Serve as a design authority during construction, protecting intent while navigating field conditions. Review submittals, shop drawings, RFIs, and change orders with a critical and informed eye, as needed Participate in key site visits, punch walks, and installation reviews to ensure design quality and compliance, as needed Act as a trusted design partner to clients and contractors through project closeout. CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS + INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT Collaborate with leadership teams to ensure pursuits and public-facing materials are cohesive, compelling, and brand-aligned. Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, collaborators, and industry partners Support identification of emerging market opportunities and service expansion strategies aligned with firm growth Represent the company at industry events, conferences, and professional forums as a design thought leader OPERATIONAL + ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP Manage team schedules, resources, and priorities to ensure the department's work remains aligned with the established project schedule and is delivered on time and at a high level of quality. Monitor team performance, utilization, and quality metrics Ensure compliance with firm systems, documentation standards, and policies. Contribute to annual planning related to staffing, workflow optimization, and overall strategy. QUALIFICATIONS 12+ years of professional interior design experience with deep expertise in construction documentation and technical design Minimum of 3+ years of multifamily or comparable complex project experience Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design or Interior Architecture preferred, or equivalent experience NCIDQ certification and RID license required Expert-level knowledge of design software, documentation tools, and industry standards. Strong technical knowledge of materials, detailing, coordination, and constructability. Advanced knowledge of building codes, regulations, and consultant coordination. Proven ability to lead, mentor, and inspire high-performing teams Strong client-facing communication and problem-solving skills grounded in clarity, empathy, and confidence Highly organized, detail-oriented, and solutions-driven High attention to detail and accuracy Creative problem solving skills Collaborative, adaptive and growth mindset Ability to work autonomously, make informed decisions, and manage competing priorities Flexible, resourceful, and committed to continuous improvement PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Ability to stand, walk, or remain on feet for extended periods Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50–60 lbs as needed Ability to bend, stoop, reach, and perform light physical tasks Comfortable working in active construction and installation environments, which may include dust, noise, varying temperatures, portable restroom facilities, and uneven surfaces TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS Annual required travel of approximately 30-50 days for project site visits, and other project-related activities, both in-state and out-of-state, currently throughout the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Southwest, plus approximately 7–15 days for company events and conferences, as needed Must live within one hour's drive of a major airport Must be comfortable traveling by air for projects located more than a 4 hour drive away Must have a valid driver's license and maintain appropriate auto insurance coverage in accordance with company guidelines Must have access to a reliable personal vehicle for travel to project sites and company-related events Ability to transport samples and project materials by vehicle as needed-