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
o Lead conceptual and schematic design visioning for all DC Partners projects.
o Develop and communicate design narratives and project vision documents that align with brand, market, and financial goals.
o Create and maintain company-wide design standards and guidelines.
o Collaborate with leadership to align design direction with financial objectives and investor expectations.
· Site Programming, Building Programming & Space Planning
o Lead site programming, building programming and space planning studies to optimize efficiency, revenue, and experience.
o Collaborate with leasing, sales and operations teams to align design layouts with tenant or residential unit mix and operational flow.
o Collaborate with leadership and investments team at major milestones to align design direction with financial objectives and investor expectations.
· Brand, Experience, & Storytelling
o Translate project vision into compelling narratives that inform design and marketing.
o Partner with branding and DC Partners marketing teams to create materials for investors and buyers.
· Consultant Selection & Management
o Source, evaluate, and recommend architecture, interior design, landscape, signage, and art consultants.
o Manage RFPs, proposal evaluations, and fee negotiations for all design disciplines.
o Lead multidisciplinary design coordination between consultants, ownership, operations, and construction teams.
· Design Execution & Delivery
o Oversee design development, documentation, and construction administration.
o Coordinate with project managers and contractors to ensure design intent through construction and turnover.
o Review design documentation for constructability, compliance, and adherence to DC Partners’ standards.
· FF&E / OS&E / Art / Procurement
o Develop and oversee FF&E and OS&E procurement strategies for hospitality, multifamily, and condo projects.
o Partner with procurement agents and designers to maintain cost and quality control.
o Direct furniture design, art curation, lighting, and staging programs across all developments.
· Sales / Leasing Coordination
o Act as liaison between development, sales, leasing and design teams to manage upgrade requests from sales/leasing.
o Review and approve all sales/leasing space plans, custom finishes, layouts, and upgrade package requests.
o Ensure modifications are tracked and integrated into construction schedules in partnership with construction manager.
· Sustainability, Wellness & Innovation
o Integrate sustainability and wellness design principles (LEED, WELL, ESG) across projects.
o Champion innovation in design technology, visualization, and smart-building systems.
· Leadership, Mentorship & Organizational Development
o Grow and manage an internal design and procurement team as the company grows.
o Mentor junior design staff and conduct design quality audits.
o Represent DC Partners’ design excellence in industry panels and events.
Preferred Qualifications
o Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture, Interior Design, or related field.
o 6–15 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.