*THIS JOB DESCRIPTION HAS BEEN SUMMARIZED*
We strongly encourage all applicants to read through the entirety of this job description to fully understand what our requirements are, found on our website here: https://studioridge.com/Career
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Studio Ridge | Calgary, Alberta
Full-Time | In-Studio
Starting Salary: TBD - Competitive base salary plus performance-based bonus, commensurate with relevant experience, demonstrated capability, and the level of responsibility the successful candidate is prepared to assume.
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Anticipated Start: November 2026 | Flexible
*This position requires a minimum of 5-7 years of relevant interior design and furnishings industry experience, preferably within Western Canada.Starting salary within the range will be commensurate with demonstrated experience, capability and readiness to assume the responsibilities of the role.
This position will develop quickly into a senior design leadership role, including a complete bonus structure with performance. The successful candidate will be expected to take ownership of the design direction, standards, execution, and ongoing evolution of our showhomes, rather than simply completing individual design assignments.
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*Studio Culture & How We Work*
At Studio Ridge, we value professionalism, accountability, humility, reliability, sound judgment and work ethic as highly as design and technical ability.
We work in a fast-moving environment with high expectations. We therefore value people who take ownership, maintain high standards for their own work, make decisions, solve problems and keep things moving - even when circumstances are changing or the pressure is high.
At the same time, drive is not the same as ego, and confidence is not the same as being the loudest voice in the room.
This role requires someone who can be decisive while remaining thoughtful about how they communicate; who can have difficult conversations with diplomacy and tact; and who understands that being candid does not remove the responsibility to consider the impact of their words on clients, colleagues, vendors and project partners.
We want people who care deeply about the result and take personal accountability for their contribution to it. That includes recognizing when something has gone wrong, helping solve it and learning from it - not becoming defensive, assigning blame or protecting individual territory.
Our strongest projects are the result of shared accountability, mutual respect and disciplined execution. Different people bring different expertise, responsibilities and working styles to that process. We expect the Showhome Design Lead to work effectively across those differences while helping maintain momentum and standards.
There is significant opportunity here for someone who wants ownership and responsibility. But leadership at Studio Ridge is not measured by personal recognition or how much control someone has. It is demonstrated through judgment, follow-through, consistency, trust and the ability to help the people around you succeed together.
If you take pride in your work, hold yourself to a high standard, remain composed under pressure, build strong relationships and naturally take responsibility for moving things forward, we encourage you to apply.
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Position Overview
Studio Ridge is a boutique interior design studio seeking an experienced Showhome Design Lead to take increasing ownership of our growing showhome furnishings and interior decoration portfolio.
This is a hands-on design, client relationship and project leadership role. You will personally take showhome projects from initial concept through sourcing, presentation, procurement coordination, installation and final styling, while developing into a primary day-to-day relationship for our builder clients.
This is not a junior position, and it is not a position for someone who wants to design from the sidelines.
We are looking for someone who combines design ability with drive, organization, sound judgment and strong people skills - someone who takes personal accountability for results and naturally keeps things moving, without making the work about themselves.
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Responsibilities
Quickly grow to lead the creative direction and overall design strategy for the showhome portfolio, ensuring each home is distinctive, market-relevant, and aligned with the builder’s brand and business objectives. Manage projects from initial concept through completion, coordinating with internal teams, suppliers, trades, and other stakeholders to ensure a high-quality result delivered on time and within budget.
The role will require sound judgment, initiative, strong organization, and the ability to make decisions independently. The successful candidate will be trusted to identify opportunities, solve problems, manage competing priorities, enhance existing processes, and establish new processes and standards that can support the increasing volume of showhome work anticipated in 2027 and beyond.
Design & Sourcing
- Personally develop original showhome furnishing and décor concepts from initial direction through installation.
- Establish themes, palettes, furniture, lighting, artwork, accessories, window coverings and decorative details appropriate to the home, buyer profile, builder brand and project budget.
- Prepare clear client presentations, furniture plans, straightforward elevations and supporting design documentation.
- Source extensively and creatively while maintaining constant awareness of budget, availability, lead times and installation realities.
- Understand that showhome design is not a high-end product environment. Strong design comes from knowing where to invest, where to economize and how to create an elevated overall result without relying on expensive product.
- Manage individual selections against the total project budget rather than treating each decision in isolation.
- Work with established and new vendors, workrooms, fabricators and artisans while remaining grounded in what can realistically be purchased, produced and delivered.
- Participate actively in installations, styling and final completion.
- Take pride in the quality and completeness of your own work and follow details through rather than assuming someone else will catch them.
Client Relationships
A significant accountability of this position is developing and maintaining strong relationships with our builder clients.
You will:
- Become a trusted day-to-day design contact as your knowledge of our clients and processes develops.
- Understand each builder's brand, buyer, product, internal structure and business objectives.
- Build productive relationships throughout the client's organization, including interior and architectural designers, operations and sales teams, construction coordinators, site foremen and other stakeholders.
- Present recommendations with confidence while remaining receptive to questions, feedback and different points of view.
- Navigate difficult conversations with professionalism, diplomacy and tact.
- Communicate proactively when priorities, schedules or circumstances change.
- Follow through on commitments and make sure people know what they need to know.
Strong client relationships require more than good design. They require trust, judgment, responsiveness, reliability and an ability to communicate effectively with different personalities and working styles.
Project & Delivery Leadership
Showhomes move quickly, and construction schedules are not always predictable.
You will:
- Maintain visibility over multiple showhomes and competing deadlines simultaneously.
- Work closely with our Procurement Coordinator and warehouse team from sourcing and purchasing through receiving, delivery and installation.
- Participate meaningfully in logistical planning, scheduling and installation sequencing.
- Provide higher-level guidance around priorities and scheduling when required.
- Work directly with vendors, workrooms, fabricators, artisans and installers.
- Anticipate issues rather than simply reporting them after they occur.
- Make appropriate decisions within your responsibility and recognize when something requires consultation or escalation.
- Reprioritize quickly without losing control of the details.
- Take accountability when something within your responsibility does not go as planned, help resolve it and apply what was learned going forward.
- Maintain awareness of the larger showhome pipeline and how decisions or delays on one project may affect others.
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Experience and Technical Requirements
Demonstrated capability matters more to us than credentials or years of experience alone.
You should be able to demonstrate work that you have personally helped take from concept through execution and speak clearly about what you were actually responsible forwithin those projects.
Strong working proficiency with the following is required and non-negotiable:
- AutoCAD
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Google Sheets and Google Workspace
You do not need to be an advanced architectural CAD technician. You must, however, be able to independently use AutoCAD to create accurate furniture plans, straightforward elevations and other basic drawings required to communicate and execute your work.
Experience with showhomes/model homes, high-volume furnishings sourcing, procurement, builder clients, installation coordination, custom furnishings, workrooms and vendor relationships is particularly valuable.
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Transportation Requirement
Showhome work does not happen exclusively behind a desk.
This position requires regular travel between our studio, showhome sites, client meetings, vendors, workrooms, warehouses and other project locations throughout Calgary and surrounding communities.
A valid driver's licence and reliable access to a personal vehicle are required.
Site visits, installations, vendor visits and time in the field are integral parts of this position.
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HOW TO APPLY
Visit our website for the full application requirements and role expectations, here: https://studioridge.com/Career
