Director, Design Management

Equinox

• $150K — $170K *
Real Estate & Construction
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Interior Architecture, or Interior Design preferred.
  • 10+ years of professional experience in architecture, interior design, or project management, preferably within hospitality or retail sectors.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Procore, and other project management platforms.
  • Working knowledge of AutoCAD and Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator).
  • Strategic thinker with strong leadership and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

  • Lead design operations, ensuring project timelines and objectives are met.
  • Maintain project schedules and allocate team resources effectively.
  • Partner with designers to monitor project progress and resolve scheduling challenges.
  • Manage design outputs for meetings and executive presentations.
  • Oversee rendering processes and coordinate with external consultants.
  • Track FF&E procurement and installation schedules to align with projects.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional partners for seamless project execution.

Benefits

  • Competitive salary and industry-leading commission opportunities for employees.
  • Complimentary club membership for team members.
  • Perks and incentives for fitness and wellness services such as Personal Training and spa access.
Full Job Description
Job Description

The Director of Design Management partners closely with the Senior Vice President of Design to lead the operational, strategic, and business management of the Design department. This role is responsible for driving design operations, project planning, and team performance across the full portfolio of new clubs, renovations, and strategic initiatives.

Working alongside the design team, the Director ensures projects remain aligned with company objectives, milestones, and delivery schedules while optimizing team resources, workflows, and cross-functional collaboration. This role also oversees the design visualization process, FF&E implementation schedules, consultant management, and project reporting to support the successful execution of every project.

RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Lead day-to-day design operations, ensuring projects remain on schedule, within scope, and aligned with business priorities.
  • Maintain and oversee project schedules, resource planning, workload distribution, and team capacity across all active projects.
  • Drive accountability for design deliverables by partnering with each designer to establish milestones, monitor progress, identify risks, and proactively resolve scheduling challenges.
  • Manage design outputs and presentation materials for recurring design reviews, executive meetings, and leadership presentations.
  • Oversee the rendering and visualization process, coordinating consultants, review cycles, timelines, and final deliverables.
  • Track FF&E procurement milestones, furniture production, deliveries, and installation schedules to ensure alignment with overall project timelines.
  • Collaborate closely with Architecture & Planning, Operations, Marketing and other cross-functional partners to ensure seamless project execution.
  • Manage consultant relationships, including proposals, contracts, scopes of work, budgets, and invoicing.
  • Assist in tracking and reporting FF&E budgets for new clubs, renovations, and special initiatives.
  • Identify opportunities to improve design processes, workflows, documentation, and operational efficiencies within the team.
  • Develop reports, presentations, and project documentation to support executive decision-making.
  • Maintain and evolve design standards, project management tools, and department best practices.


Qualifications
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Interior Architecture or Interior Design preferred.
  • 10+ years of professional experience in architecture, interior design, or project management, preferably within hospitality, luxury residential, retail, or wellness environments.
  • Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel, Procore, and project management platforms.
  • Working knowledge of AutoCAD and Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator).
  • Strategic thinker with a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset and exceptional attention to detail.
  • Exceptional organizational, project management, and leadership skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
  • Strong understanding of project scheduling, resource planning, budgeting, and consultant management.
  • Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing project schedules.

Pay Transparency $150,000 - $170,000 annually

Additional Information

AS A MEMBER OF THE EQUINOX TEAM YOU WILL RECEIVE:
  • We offer competitive salary, benefits, and industry leading commission opportunities for club employees
  • Complimentary Club membership
  • Perks and incentives with our products and services including Personal Training, Pilates, Spa and Shop

This job description is intended to describe the general requirements for the position. It is not a complete statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Other duties not listed here may be assigned as necessary to ensure the proper operations of the department.

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