Principal Interior Designer

Principal Interior Designer

Why This Role Matters:

As a Principal Interior Designer, you'll lead the vision and growth of CPL's K-12 Interiors practice, creating innovative learning environments that inspire students, educators, and communities. You'll shape the design direction for transformative education projects while partnering with clients to deliver spaces that support the evolving needs of today's schools and tomorrow's learners.

You'll serve as a trusted design leader, mentor, and collaborator, guiding multidisciplinary teams through complex projects while advancing design excellence across the firm. This is an opportunity for you to influence the future of K-12 design, strengthen client relationships, and help grow one of CPL's most impactful practice areas.

What You'll Do:

• Lead the design and delivery of complex K-12 interior environments, ensuring design excellence from programming through construction and furnishings.
• Build trusted client relationships, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and help grow CPL's K-12 practice through thought leadership and business development.
• Mentor and develop interior designers while driving quality, innovation, and a collaborative, high-performing team culture.

What You Bring:

• Professional degree in Interior Design, 15+ years of experience (including 5+ years leading complex projects), and NCIDQ certification.
• Proven expertise designing K-12 learning environments, with a strong understanding of educational design trends, project delivery, and client relationship management.
• A collaborative leadership style with exceptional communication skills, business acumen, and a passion for mentoring others while advancing design excellence.

What We Offer:

Benefits for Regular Full-Time & Part-Time Employees Working 30+ Hours/Week

• Healthcare for you and your family: Medical, Dental & Vision insurance
• Single HDHP Medical plan with 100% paid premium
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer match
• Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• FREE Life Insurance and AD&D Insurance
• Voluntary Life Insurance for you and your family
• FREE Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• PTO + Sick Time + 8 Holidays per year
• Retirement Savings Plan with contribution from CPL to grow your retirement funds
• Internal Mobility & Career Advancement
• Licensure Assistance

Additional benefits available to FT Employees Working 40+ Hours/Week 

• Tuition Assistance: You may be eligible for continuing education assistance
• Student Loan Assistance Program: CPL will contribute up to $100/month for 5 years ($6,000 total) toward student loan debt

What Does It Look Like Working Here?

We believe that building a strong community is about establishing a prevailing sense of fellowship among our team members, friends, and neighbors. 

• Collaboration – working with others towards the best solution, placing great emphasis on the collective wisdom of our internal teams.
• Family – celebrating others’ successes, genuinely caring about the happiness and well-being of our team members and recognizing their own families as extensions of the CPL family.
• Fun – not taking oneself too seriously, fully understanding that fun at work is conducive to productivity.
• Inspiration – contributing to an uplifting workplace that facilitates growth a positive, upbeat attitude.
• Integrity – doing what is ethically right and providing reliable follow-through on commitments.
• Ingenuity – seeking new opportunities and consistently identifying unexpected and practical ways to solve problems.

The rate for this position generally ranges between $109,000 to $137,000 annually. This range is a good faith estimate provided pursuant to the New York Pay Transparency Law. It is based on what a successful New York applicant might be paid and assumes that the successful candidate will be in New York or perform the position from New York. Similar positions located outside of New York will not necessarily receive the same compensation. Actual pay rates may vary from the range, as permitted by New York Equal Pay Transparency Law. Compensation offers will be based on various factors, including operational needs, individual education, qualifications and experience, work location and comparison to employees already in the role, as well as other considerations permitted by law. A potential new employee's pay history will not be used in compensation decisions.

CPL does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiting professionals or agencies, nor do we accept resumes from any source that does not reference a specific, open position. CPL will not be responsible for any fees arising from the use of resumes submitted by recruiting professionals or agencies that do not have a current placement fee agreement with CPL.  All initial communication with recruiting professionals or agencies must go through our Talent Acquisition Team.

CPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as such affirms the right of every person to participate in all aspects of employment without regard to gender, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, citizenship, military or veteran status, gender expression and/or identity, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.