Director, Hospitality Interior Design

The Society – Hybrid role in Seattle, WA or Portland, OR Lead a studio driven by story, craft, and culture. Shape what’s next for lifestyle hospitality. Are you energized by designing hotels, restaurants, resorts, and social spaces that feel rooted, layered, and alive? Do you know how to translate story, place, and brand into experiences guests remember long after they leave? The Society is seeking a Director to lead an established hospitality design collective and shape the next chapter of a brand known for curiosity, craft, and experience-driven design. ABOUT THE JOB As Director of The Society, you will guide the creative and business direction of our unique design collective. You will lead a highly engaged, collaborative, and creative team, building on a strong foundation of work spanning lifestyle hotels, boutique hotels, upper upscale and luxury hospitality, select-service and full-service hotels, resorts, and distinctive food and beverage experiences. The Society has built a respected body of work, a talented team, and a culture defined by story-driven design, thoughtful detail, and memorable guest experiences. This is an opportunity to step into real momentum and help evolve what comes next, strengthening the studio’s culture, deepening client relationships, elevating design quality, and expanding the reach of a hospitality brand with a distinct voice. This position requires an on-site presence of at least two days per week in one of our offices in Portland or Seattle. Introductions first! You – Bring an experienced perspective and know how to translate story, place, and brand into memorable guest experiences. Lead with curiosity, clarity, and accountability, creating trust with clients and confidence within teams. Know how to balance creative ambition with staffing, financial performance, deadlines, and studio operations. Are passionate about lifestyle hospitality and energized by the opportunity to evolve an already talented team and portfolio. Build relationships naturally and know how to open doors to the right projects, partners, and clients. Inspire others through your experience, your leadership, design acumen, and your ability to bring out the best in a team. Understand the relationship between owner, operator, and brand and know how to navigate that dynamic with confidence. Bring deep hospitality design experience including technical detailing and construction administration. Bring mentorship, generosity, and conviction to the work every day. Us – The Society is an independent hospitality interior design studio with its own identity, voice, and way of working. We are proud of the work we do and the recognition it has earned, including honors such as NEWH TopID, Hospitality Giants, and Gold Key finalist recognition. We create layered, narrative-driven environments that invite people in and leave a lasting impression. We believe the best designed spaces are shaped by story, brought to life through thoughtful detail, and designed to feel emotionally resonant and socially alive. Our team is engaged, collaborative, and deeply invested in craft. We value curiosity, authenticity, creativity, and a culture where leadership makes room for others to thrive. We are an unoffendable group with a no‑BS mantra who like to laugh together and share pet photos. WHAT WILL YOU DO IN THIS ROLE? You will… Set the creative direction for The Society’s work across hotels, restaurants, resorts, and amenity‑rich hospitality spaces, from ultra‑boutique destinations to branded select‑service and full‑service properties. Lead studio‑wide design reviews that sharpen concept, storytelling, materiality, guest experience, and execution. Guide the team through regular feedback, career conversations, mentorship, and clear expectations. Oversee resource planning to keep the brand healthy, focused, and set up to do its best work. Build and deepen relationships with clients, operators, ownership groups, and industry partners. Drive business development efforts, including market strategy, lead generation, proposals, interviews, and opportunity selection. Support designers in delivering beautifully executed work that performs for clients and for the studio. Monitor project and studio performance, including financial health, budgets, profitability, and long‑range planning. Represent The Society externally and help expand its visibility, relevance, and reputation in lifestyle hospitality. WHAT YOU BRING TO BE SUCCESSFUL: Bachelor’s degree in interior design; NCIDQ credentials are a plus. 15+ years of hospitality interior design experience. A portfolio that demonstrates concept strength, design depth, and realized work in lifestyle and boutique hospitality. Demonstrated understanding of and experience collaborating with major hospitality brands such as Marriott and Hilton IHG. Experience leading teams, mentoring designers, and building an engaged team culture. A track record of winning work, growing client relationships, and guiding projects with strong business judgment. Confidence with staffing decisions, studio metrics, and financial accountability. Fluency with contemporary design tools and communication platforms. WHAT WE OFFER: The opportunity to help lead and evolve a hospitality brand with a strong foundation and a distinct voice. A highly engaged team that cares deeply about design, growth, and one another. A creative studio culture rooted in collaboration, craft, and curiosity. Meaningful opportunities for professional growth, mentorship, and studio impact. Competitive compensation aligned with experience, location, and leadership experience. A robust benefits package and generous time‑off offerings. Compensation and Benefits The anticipated hiring range for this role is $130,000 to $165,000, depending on geographic location (Portland or Seattle), experience, qualifications, and internal equity considerations. Our benefits are designed to support your well being, empower your growth, and invest in your long‑term success. Highlights include: Comprehensive health coverage : including 100% employer paid employee medical, dental, vision, life, short term disability, and long term disability insurance. We also provide generous employer contributions for dependent coverage. Voluntary supplemental benefits are available as well, including pet insurance. A commitment to balance : Generous paid time off and flexible holidays that recognize the importance of rest and personal time. Recognition of tenure : A fully paid sabbatical after 10 years of service. Long‑term financial security : A robust retirement package featuring both a 401(k) plan and participation in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Relocation assistance is available for the ideal candidate relocating to Seattle, WA. We’re committed to building a team that reflects a broad range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We welcome applicants of all identities and believe that through diverse perspectives and a collective commitment to growth, our workplace and our work become better. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a protected veteran or status as a qualified individual with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law and provide accommodations upon request. City: Hybrid Role - Seattle, WA or Portland, OR #J-18808-Ljbffr