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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Interior Planner

💰 $50,000 - $95,000

Interior DesignSpace PlanningArchitectureWorkplace Strategy

🎯 Role Definition

The Interior Planner (Space Planner) is responsible for translating client workplace strategy and program requirements into efficient, code-compliant, and well-detailed interior space plans. This role leads schematic space planning, develops furniture layouts and FF&E strategies, produces construction and furniture documentation, coordinates with architecture, MEP and contractors, and supports procurement and installation phases. The Interior Planner ensures designs meet functional, budgetary, scheduling and accessibility goals while maintaining firm standards and design intent.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Junior Interior Designer or Interior Design Assistant with CAD experience
  • Architectural Technician or CAD/BIM Technician transitioning into interiors
  • Facilities Planner or Administrative Space Coordinator

Advancement To:

  • Senior Interior Planner / Senior Space Planner
  • Design Manager or Project Lead (Interiors)
  • Workplace Strategy Lead or Studio Principal

Lateral Moves:

  • FF&E Coordinator / Manager
  • Facilities/Workspace Manager
  • Project Manager (Construction/Interiors)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead and produce schematic and detailed space plans that translate client business programs into efficient, human-centered interior layouts, including room-by-room programming, circulation, adjacencies, and departmental relationships.
  • Develop and iterate furniture layouts and FF&E plans (including modular furniture systems) with specifications and furniture schedules, coordinating pricing, lead times, and procurement requirements.
  • Create, review and deliver comprehensive CAD/Revit construction documents and drawings for interiors (plans, elevations, reflected ceiling plans, and details) that meet project milestones and construction administration needs.
  • Build and maintain BIM/Revit interior models, incorporating architectural elements, furniture families, finishes, and MEP coordination to support clash detection and interdisciplinary coordination.
  • Conduct site surveys and existing conditions documentation, producing measured drawings, field verification reports, and photographic records to inform programming and design decisions.
  • Produce clear, persuasive client presentation materials including space plans, bubble diagrams, move maps, 3D visualizations, and mood boards to communicate design intent and secure client approvals.
  • Lead program development workshops and client interviews to capture functional requirements, head counts, adjacency priorities, and department-specific needs to create an accurate project brief.
  • Prepare and manage interior specifications and finish schedules (materials, wall finishes, floor finishes, acoustic treatments) that meet performance, maintenance, aesthetic and budget objectives.
  • Ensure all interior designs comply with local building codes, ADA accessibility standards, life safety regulations, and corporate security requirements; coordinate with code consultants as needed.
  • Coordinate closely with architects, structural and MEP engineers, IT, security and facilities teams to integrate interiors with building systems, ensuring efficient routing, power, data and mechanical requirements.
  • Produce accurate area calculations, occupancy loads, and space utilization metrics; support workplace analysis studies and space optimization initiatives using data-driven methodologies.
  • Prepare project budgets and cost estimates for interior scope including FF&E, millwork, finishes and installation, and work with procurement and vendors to obtain quotes and manage value engineering.
  • Manage multiple interior projects simultaneously, maintaining schedules, deliverables, and milestone reporting while escalating issues and risks to project leadership.
  • Oversee vendor and manufacturer relationships — solicit submittals, review shop drawings, evaluate product options, and coordinate sample approvals and mock-ups.
  • Provide construction administration for interiors: review RFI responses, shop drawing submittals, contractor coordination, field review/inspection, punch lists and final acceptance for interior finishes and furniture installation.
  • Develop and maintain interior standards, templates, and layout kits for repeatable workplace typologies to ensure design consistency and accelerate future projects.
  • Conduct post-occupancy evaluations and move management support to assess space performance, capture lessons learned and recommend continuous improvements to layouts and operational flows.
  • Prepare move plans and assist in change management for client relocations, including seat assignments, packing/installation logistics and coordination with moving contractors.
  • Perform quality control (QA/QC) on all interior drawings, schedules and specifications to ensure accuracy, completeness and compliance with firm standards prior to issuance.
  • Support sustainability goals by specifying low-VOC materials, recycled content products and by coordinating LEED/ WELL/other green building documentation where applicable.
  • Review and coordinate custom millwork design and details including joinery, casework elevations, and installation detailing to ensure constructability and budget alignment.
  • Manage project document control for interior deliverables — maintain drawing revisions, transmittals, submittals, and ensure timely distribution to clients and consultants.
  • Facilitate cross-functional design charrettes and internal reviews to align program goals with aesthetic, technical and operational constraints.
  • Analyze and recommend workplace technology and power/data strategies to support collaboration, flexible workstations and modern AV infrastructure.
  • Mentor junior designers and support staff in space planning best practices, software workflows (AutoCAD/Revit/SketchUp) and documentation standards to build team capacity.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist business development with proposals and scope definitions for interior and workplace projects, providing space planning samples, time estimates and resourcing inputs.
  • Participate in firm standards and resource libraries maintenance: update furniture families, finish palettes, and Revit templates based on new vendor information and project learnings.
  • Support ad-hoc client requests such as occupancy reporting, departmental move planning, and emergency egress evaluations.
  • Contribute to internal knowledge sharing — prepare case studies, post-occupancy reports and maintain a repository of successful layout typologies and lessons learned.
  • Coordinate with facilities and real estate teams to align workplace strategy initiatives with site constraints, lease renewals and long-term portfolio planning.
  • Engage in continuous professional development: attend manufacturer product trainings, trade shows and maintain awareness of emerging workplace trends and technologies.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Proficient in AutoCAD for 2D documentation and construction drawing production (layer management, blocks, annotation).
  • Strong Revit/BIM skills for interior modeling, furniture families, and coordinated documentation.
  • Space planning expertise: program development, adjacency diagrams, space standards, and area calculations.
  • FF&E specification and procurement experience, including furniture systems, acoustics, lighting coordination and finishes.
  • Proficiency with SketchUp, Rhino, or equivalent 3D visualization tools and basic rendering workflows.
  • Experience preparing construction administration deliverables: RFI reviews, submittal review, punch lists and site observation reports.
  • Knowledge of building codes, ADA accessibility requirements, egress and life-safety principles as they apply to interiors.
  • Ability to create finish schedules, material specifications and mock-up documentation for client approvals and contractor installation.
  • Familiarity with BIM coordination processes, clash detection workflows, and coordination with MEP/structural models.
  • Cost estimating and budget management skills for interiors, including take-offs and vendor quote comparison.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel for area schedules/budgets, PowerPoint for client presentations).
  • Experience with workplace strategy methodologies, occupancy planning, and post-occupancy evaluation metrics.
  • Familiarity with LEED, WELL, or other sustainability certification requirements for interior materials and documentation.
  • Basic knowledge of move management platforms and workplace management software (e.g., FM:Systems, Archibus) is a plus.

Soft Skills

  • Strong client-facing communication and presentation skills; able to translate technical information into clear client deliverables.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills for coordinating cross-discipline teams and managing vendor relationships.
  • Strong organizational skills with demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and multiple projects to deadline.
  • Critical thinking and problem solving to develop creative layout solutions within budget and technical constraints.
  • Attention to detail and high standards for quality control in drawings and specifications.
  • Collaborative mindset; able to lead design conversations while incorporating stakeholder feedback.
  • Time management and task prioritization; comfortable working in fast-paced project environments.
  • Coaching and mentoring skills to develop junior staff and instill best practices.
  • Negotiation skills to balance client requirements, vendor capabilities and budget realities.
  • Adaptability and continuous learning orientation to stay current with new materials, systems and workplace trends.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Interior Design, Architecture, Environmental Design, or closely related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Interior Design or Architecture from an accredited program.
  • Professional certification such as NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification), LEED AP, WELL AP or equivalent is a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Interior Design
  • Architecture
  • Interior Architecture
  • Environmental Design
  • Industrial Design

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of progressive experience in interior space planning, workplace design, or interior architecture roles.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years with documented experience in commercial workplace projects, tenant improvements, or corporate relocations.
  • Demonstrated experience with BIM/Revit for interior documentation, FF&E procurement, and construction administration.
  • Portfolio that shows a range of space planning, furniture layouts, finish specifications and construction deliverables.
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