DC Partners
Title:
Design Director Location:
Houston, TX or Austin, TX (Full time in Office) Employment Type:
Full-Time Reports to : Chief Development Officer
About DC Partners DC Partners is a real-estate investment and development firm based in Houston, Texas specializing in transformative and luxury high-rise residential, mixed use and hospitality projects. Founded in 2011, DC Partners has raised over $400M in investment and successfully completed 22 projects across Texas, New York, California, and Florida that total over 6 million square-feet. DC Partners brings iconic projects to life through strategic investment, thoughtful design, and high-quality execution.
About the Role The Design Director will serve as DC Partners creative and strategic design lead across its hospitality, residential, and mixed-use portfolio. This individual will oversee all phases of the design process
from concept creation and consultant selection to procurement strategy, FF&E/OS&E implementation, and final staging & turnover to asset management.
Key Responsibilities
Design Vision & Strategy oLead conceptual and schematic design visioning for all DC Partners projects. oDevelop and communicate design narratives and project vision documents that align with brand, market, and financial goals. oCreate and maintain company-wide design standards and guidelines. oCollaborate with leadership to align design direction with financial objectives and investor expectations.
Site Programming, Building Programming & Space Planning oLead site programming, building programming and space planning studies to optimize efficiency, revenue, and experience. oCollaborate with leasing, sales and operations teams to align design layouts with tenant or residential unit mix and operational flow. oCollaborate with leadership and investments team at major milestones to align design direction with financial objectives and investor expectations.
Brand, Experience, & Storytelling oTranslate project vision into compelling narratives that inform design and marketing. oPartner with branding and DC Partners marketing teams to create materials for investors and buyers.
Consultant Selection & Management oSource, evaluate, and recommend architecture, interior design, landscape, signage, and art consultants. oManage RFPs, proposal evaluations, and fee negotiations for all design disciplines. oLead multidisciplinary design coordination between consultants, ownership, operations, and construction teams.
Design Execution & Delivery oOversee design development, documentation, and construction administration. oCoordinate with project managers and contractors to ensure design intent through construction and turnover. oReview design documentation for constructability, compliance, and adherence to DC Partners standards.
FF&E / OS&E / Art / Procurement oDevelop and oversee FF&E and OS&E procurement strategies for hospitality, multifamily, and condo projects. oPartner with procurement agents and designers to maintain cost and quality control. oDirect furniture design, art curation, lighting, and staging programs across all developments.
Sales / Leasing Coordination oAct as liaison between development, sales, leasing and design teams to manage upgrade requests from sales/leasing. oReview and approve all sales/leasing space plans, custom finishes, layouts, and upgrade package requests. oEnsure modifications are tracked and integrated into construction schedules in partnership with construction manager.
Sustainability, Wellness & Innovation oIntegrate sustainability and wellness design principles (LEED, WELL, ESG) across projects. oChampion innovation in design technology, visualization, and smart-building systems.
Leadership, Mentorship & Organizational Development oGrow and manage an internal design and procurement team as the company grows. oMentor junior design staff and conduct design quality audits. oRepresent DC Partners design excellence in industry panels and events.
Preferred Qualifications o Bachelors or Masters degree in Architecture, Interior Design, or related field. o 615 years of progressive experience in design management within hospitality, multifamily, or mixed-use real estate. o Experience working on premier mixed use developments and with lifestyle and hospitality brands o Proven ability to manage multiple large-scale design projects from concept through delivery. o Deep understanding of FF&E/OS&E procurement and construction coordination.
Preferred Attributes o Refined aesthetic sensibility grounded in practicality and constructability. o Can mesh design styles to various market sectors within a development business plan o Strong network of design consultants, suppliers, and artists. o Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. o Experience leading cross-disciplinary teams from schematic design through project opening
Compensation Competitive base salary + performance bonus + comprehensive benefits. Compensation commensurate with experience and aligned with leading design leadership roles in Texas-based development firms.
Design Director Location:
Houston, TX or Austin, TX (Full time in Office) Employment Type:
Full-Time Reports to : Chief Development Officer
About DC Partners DC Partners is a real-estate investment and development firm based in Houston, Texas specializing in transformative and luxury high-rise residential, mixed use and hospitality projects. Founded in 2011, DC Partners has raised over $400M in investment and successfully completed 22 projects across Texas, New York, California, and Florida that total over 6 million square-feet. DC Partners brings iconic projects to life through strategic investment, thoughtful design, and high-quality execution.
About the Role The Design Director will serve as DC Partners creative and strategic design lead across its hospitality, residential, and mixed-use portfolio. This individual will oversee all phases of the design process
from concept creation and consultant selection to procurement strategy, FF&E/OS&E implementation, and final staging & turnover to asset management.
Key Responsibilities
Design Vision & Strategy oLead conceptual and schematic design visioning for all DC Partners projects. oDevelop and communicate design narratives and project vision documents that align with brand, market, and financial goals. oCreate and maintain company-wide design standards and guidelines. oCollaborate with leadership to align design direction with financial objectives and investor expectations.
Site Programming, Building Programming & Space Planning oLead site programming, building programming and space planning studies to optimize efficiency, revenue, and experience. oCollaborate with leasing, sales and operations teams to align design layouts with tenant or residential unit mix and operational flow. oCollaborate with leadership and investments team at major milestones to align design direction with financial objectives and investor expectations.
Brand, Experience, & Storytelling oTranslate project vision into compelling narratives that inform design and marketing. oPartner with branding and DC Partners marketing teams to create materials for investors and buyers.
Consultant Selection & Management oSource, evaluate, and recommend architecture, interior design, landscape, signage, and art consultants. oManage RFPs, proposal evaluations, and fee negotiations for all design disciplines. oLead multidisciplinary design coordination between consultants, ownership, operations, and construction teams.
Design Execution & Delivery oOversee design development, documentation, and construction administration. oCoordinate with project managers and contractors to ensure design intent through construction and turnover. oReview design documentation for constructability, compliance, and adherence to DC Partners standards.
FF&E / OS&E / Art / Procurement oDevelop and oversee FF&E and OS&E procurement strategies for hospitality, multifamily, and condo projects. oPartner with procurement agents and designers to maintain cost and quality control. oDirect furniture design, art curation, lighting, and staging programs across all developments.
Sales / Leasing Coordination oAct as liaison between development, sales, leasing and design teams to manage upgrade requests from sales/leasing. oReview and approve all sales/leasing space plans, custom finishes, layouts, and upgrade package requests. oEnsure modifications are tracked and integrated into construction schedules in partnership with construction manager.
Sustainability, Wellness & Innovation oIntegrate sustainability and wellness design principles (LEED, WELL, ESG) across projects. oChampion innovation in design technology, visualization, and smart-building systems.
Leadership, Mentorship & Organizational Development oGrow and manage an internal design and procurement team as the company grows. oMentor junior design staff and conduct design quality audits. oRepresent DC Partners design excellence in industry panels and events.
Preferred Qualifications o Bachelors or Masters degree in Architecture, Interior Design, or related field. o 615 years of progressive experience in design management within hospitality, multifamily, or mixed-use real estate. o Experience working on premier mixed use developments and with lifestyle and hospitality brands o Proven ability to manage multiple large-scale design projects from concept through delivery. o Deep understanding of FF&E/OS&E procurement and construction coordination.
Preferred Attributes o Refined aesthetic sensibility grounded in practicality and constructability. o Can mesh design styles to various market sectors within a development business plan o Strong network of design consultants, suppliers, and artists. o Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. o Experience leading cross-disciplinary teams from schematic design through project opening
Compensation Competitive base salary + performance bonus + comprehensive benefits. Compensation commensurate with experience and aligned with leading design leadership roles in Texas-based development firms.