Interior Designer

Role overview

Cortland is seeking an Interior Designer to own and deliver the full design direction for acquisitions, renovations, and special initiatives across a large multifamily apartment portfolio. The role focuses on turning creative ideas into practical, buildable, and brand-consistent interiors that enhance resident experience and improve asset value.

What you will do

• Create renovation and space-reconfiguration concepts that improve unit layouts, usability, and circulation.
• Develop model units end to end, including furniture selection, purchasing, budget management, delivery coordination, installation supervision, and Care Binder preparation.
• Work closely with Investments, Cortland Build, Architecture, and outside vendors to keep the design direction aligned across interior and exterior elements.
• Evaluate shop drawings and submittals to confirm they match the approved design intent.
• Manage furniture selection, contracts, budget monitoring, and installation activities across projects.
• Coordinate with in-house landscape architects to define property-wide design direction and approve finish choices.
• Choose finishes and materials that reflect current and emerging design trends.
• Build and communicate a strong design story so spaces feel unified and on-brand.
• Partner with Marketing to ensure the design direction works with branding, signage, logos, and color palettes.
• Prepare interior drawings, millwork details, building guidelines, and MEP specifications.
• Collaborate with pool designers to establish the design direction and select finish materials.
• Develop a consistent vision for fitness centers, including layout review and coordination with equipment plans.
• Maintain and coordinate design documentation across different scopes of work.
• Work with Preconstruction so design intent fits cost, scope, and budget targets.
• Create and manage project schedules for construction, furniture delivery, and installation.
• Track budgets and progressive pricing to keep projects financially on track.
• Partner with Cortland Build and Architecture to produce complete construction documents.

Requirements

• At least 3 years of professional interior design experience, ideally in high-end residential or hospitality settings.
• Minimum 2 years of practical Revit experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Interior Design, Architecture, Decorative Arts, or a similar discipline.
• Established network of vendors, suppliers, and trade partners.
• Strong understanding of measurements and site-specific dimensions.
• Excellent written, spoken, and visual communication skills.
• Demonstrated project management and organizational strength.
• Comfort using Microsoft Office, Revit, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Bluebeam, plus the ability to hand sketch.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50%.

About Cortland

Founded in 2005, Cortland is an international multifamily real estate investment, development, and management firm with a resident-first approach to living experiences. As one of the leading multifamily owners and operators in the US, the company combines design, construction, and operations in-house to deliver innovation and long-term value across its portfolio.

Additional information

Cortland is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristic. Candidates who need an accommodation or help with the application process or website can contact [email protected].

The company operates as a drug-free workplace and participates in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility in the United States.

California Applicant Privacy Notice

Cortland collects applicant data such as identifiers, employment history, qualifications, and education details to support recruiting, interviews, evaluation, and hiring decisions. California residents may request access to or deletion of their personal information by contacting [email protected].

GDPR Statement

For applicants whose data is processed under GDPR, Cortland explains that personal information is collected to manage recruitment activities such as interviews, tests, evaluation, and hiring decisions. The data may be transferred to the United States with appropriate safeguards, and applicants may request access, correction, deletion, restriction, portability, or lodge a complaint with an EU supervisory authority.