Kaplan Thompson Architects is a Portland, Maine architecture firm seeking an Interior architectural designer with a minimum of 3 years of professional experience who is looking to escape from the corporate interiors pigeonhole. You will work on a wide variety of projects, all with a creative design and deep sustainability focus.

This is a unique opportunity to get in the door with a growing, award-winning firm named to the 2018 Architect 50: Top 50 Firms in Sustainability in the U.S. We’re looking for an affable individual with emerging design vision, ambition and motivation. You must have the ability to push boundaries, think unconventionally, and be interested in growing an interior design department inside an existing architecture studio. Exceptional creativity, strong communication, writing and editing skills are vital. You will get the opportunity to work on Living Building Challenge and Passive House projects, with all the rigors and joys they entail.

We maintain an open, collaborative team approach and a collegial studio atmosphere in our offices centrally located in Downtown Portland.

To Whom the Position Reports

Principals, Project Managers, Director of Operations

General Responsibilities

Work in a collaborative team structure with architects, primarily supporting single-family and multi-family residential projects, restaurants, and schools; provide Building Information Modeling, research, renderings, presentation boards, or other project-specific assistance as required; select interior finishes, fixtures, paint colors, window treatments, furniture and artwork; coordinate selections with electrical and mechanical requirements; provide graphic support for design and marketing projects; provide space planning, including interior construction applications.

Frequent & Ongoing Design Responsibilities

• Design and layout spaces for a variety of project types
• Select finishes, fixtures, and materials for various projects, input data into finish schedules
• Produce interior elevations, renderings, furniture, floor and ceiling pattern plans
• Create project material finish boards
• Maintain materials library
• Communicate with and assist Architectural Designers
• Contribute to the development of space planning concepts
• Generate program documents
• Have the ability to hand sketch concepts
• Assist with field measuring and documentation of existing structures
• Determine and implement interior construction requirements to meet current codes

Qualifications, Skills & Knowledge Requirements

• Education & experience – and passion – in the field of sustainable design
• BS or BA degree in Interior Design, Architecture or related field from a FIDER/CIDA accredited institution
• Minimum 3 years of professional design experience and working towards or have passed NCIDQ Certification
• 3D Drafting with BIM modeling experience required
• Although not required, preference will be given to candidates who have photo or video, Mac, and Adobe Creative Suite experience
• Experience with GreenGuard, CARB Complaint, DECLARE Products and Red2Green materials database a plus
• Current and ongoing knowledge of healthy design products, and strong vendor relationships

Compensation, Timing and (Excellent!) Benefits

• Full-time position, salary varies depending on experience

Benefits: This offer includes 2 weeks of vacation and 5 days of personal/sick time. Our benefits package also includes 100% medical coverage on Health Insurance and 50% coverage on Disability Insurance.  Additionally, KTA offers a SIMPLE IRA benefit plan that allows you to save for retirement. With this plan, KTA will match your contributions up to 3% of your salary. There is no waiting period to receive this benefit; you are eligible to join the SIMPLE IRA plan upon hire.

We also offer 10 paid holidays. A commuting stipend of $60/mo. will be provided, and may be either spent towards a parking space, bus pass or kept by you if an alternate form of transportation is used. Bonuses will be distributed in accordance with hours worked and success of the office. Annually, every employee has the opportunity to spend up to $500 and two days pursuing professional development, which might include attending a conference, taking a class, or participating in another approved activity. 

Possible Career Path Options

• Could develop into a Leadership Sector position.

To view some of our work and our philosophy, please view www.kaplanthompson.com. Please send a resume, brief cover letter, and examples of work to info@kaplanthompson.com. No calls please.