Architecture & Design Specialist - Cambridge, MA

Are you passionate about creating spaces that inspire creativity and innovative thinking, and infuse people with energy and the spirit of collaboration? Do you want to create the workplace of the future? CIC's in-house Design Team creates a variety of engaging and creative spaces for the communities we grow and support.

CIC is looking for an individual with expertise in design of commercial interior spaces to join our Design and Construction team as Interior Architecture & Design Specialist based in CIC’s Cambridge headquarters.. If optimizing the layout, flow, and circulation of dynamic innovation spaces to foster collaboration and creativity excites you, this role is for you. We seek to create spaces with elements that are multi-purpose, interactive, and aesthetically pleasing – places you would want to take a picture of and that are a pleasure to work in. This is an excellent opportunity for a Designer with at least two years of relevant work experience.

ABOUT CIC

CIC is a global leader in building and operating innovation communities. Founded in 1999 in Cambridge, MA, CIC is one of the first companies to offer flexible office space and coworking options, providing a platform for the world’s most impactful entrepreneurs to innovate better and faster.

We have current locations across North America, Europe and Asia and are always expanding our programming to new locations across the globe. CIC has supported over 6,000 startups, growth companies, and branches of larger organizations, representing for-profit, mission-driven, and non-profit sectors across a wide array of industries. 

CIC co-founded a number of mission-aligned organizations including Venture Café, CIC’s primary non-profit programming partner, and CIC Health, offering COVID-19 testing services to companies and the public.

We invite you to explore all our openings and learn more about our teams here.

ABOUT THE CIC DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION TEAM

CIC's Design & Construction Team members are closely involved across the full lifecycle of each construction project, from concept design and test fits through design development, construction details, bidding, permitting, construction administration, and project opening. As CIC is expanding across the globe, Design & Construction Team members will be involved in various projects that are completed in a relatively short time frame. 

As part of a small, highly collaborative team, you will quickly take on meaningful responsibilities. After building a strong foundation in CIC’s design standards and principles, you will have the opportunity to lead and help shape entire projects. This role offers an opportunity to make an impact, gain broad exposure across all phases of design and construction, and take on greater design ownership earlier in your career than is typical at many firms. 

YOUR DAY-TO-DAY WORK

CIC’s Interior Architecture & Design Specialist will be able to create spaces with a strong architectural base and overall style and finesse, finding the small touches/elements that holistically and strategically create a memorable space and experience for our clients. This person will assist with multi-floor interior architectural projects, capital improvement projects, major renovation projects in existing CIC buildings, and advise external partners on space design and enhancements that enable and strengthen the innovation ecosystems they are activating. The individual in this position, often in concert with other members of the team, will:

• Create, from scratch, schematic level floor plans ranging from 1,000 to 100,000 square feet, elevations, details, reflected ceiling plans, millwork design, furniture layouts, finish plans, color plans, and schedules (Architect of record documents and details are executed by outside firms)

• Absorb and contribute to CIC’s culture and execute designs that demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the larger design aesthetics across expansion sites 

• Simultaneously resource multiple projects of varying levels with different timelines and in different locations across the globe, and offer support and consultation for other design team members' projects

• Perform site analysis, including surveying existing conditions and obtaining field measurements

• Meet with external parties to gather their objectives and vision for a new project and execute a design that balances those project-specific interests with CIC’s proven best practices and internal stakeholder input. 

• Provide color/finish/material research and use selection boards and other presentation materials to sell design vision to multiple stakeholders

• Manipulate advanced design elements such as proportion, color, light, texture, and scale

• Coordinate with consultants to ensure material and furniture selections comply with local code requirements and CIC’s operational standards

• Provide design oversight for the finished plans, specifications, and material selections required for construction

• Provide construction administration services for projects on behalf of CIC, including answering and reviewing RFIs, review of submittals, finish samples, and shop drawings

• Research and participate in FF+E selection, creation of specifications, and procurement while being sensitive to the confines of project budget and schedule

• Act as design liaison between CIC internal teams such as construction, finance, operations, labs, and sales, as well as external teams such as local architects, engineers, and partner companies for specific projects

• Coordinate with consultants related to HVAC, electrical, low voltage, plumbing, fire protection and safety

• Problem solve innovative solutions to issues that arise throughout the design and construction process in order to maintain CIC’s goals

ABOUT YOU

You are a highly capable, creative, and self-directed individual who employs a high level of autonomy in their work. If you are the kind of person who not only thinks critically about problems, but also likes to take the initiative to pursue new ideas, you would enjoy working here. 

As our ideal candidate you will:

• Have the technical and design skills to create, from scratch, floor plans ranging from 1,000 to 100,000 square feet that will become the final layout of constructed spaces

• Be organized, detail oriented, and have excellent time management skills

• Thrive in a project and team-oriented environment while also being able to work independently

• Be flexible, understanding of change, and willing to share information and decisions outside of the CIC Design & Construction Team 

• Be a true team player with the capacity to foster and maintain positive working relationships with clients, colleagues, building management, and vendors, while treating everyone as your equal

• Have experience working on commercial building projects and knowledge of related codes

• Be comfortable synthesizing data and using it to drive design 

• Be imaginative and willing to develop innovative solutions to challenges

• Be confident in delivering well-organized and clear presentations

• Have experience working on projects with short timelines and/or budget constraints, and be able to offer unique and creative ways to address both

YOU HAVE

• A minimum 2 years experience working (not including internships) in the field of design or architecture, preferably with a focus on commercial projects

• Fluency in AutoCad, Revit, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and Indesign, Bluebeam, Sketchup, Google Suite, Microsoft Suite, and rendering software 

• A degree in interior design or architecture

• Experience producing layouts and space plans from scratch

• Advanced knowledge of furnishings, materials, and unique fixtures and features; experience with branding, signage design, and wayfinding is a plus

• Strong 3D modeling, graphic design and presentation skills

• The ability to travel (up to 20% of the time, depending on the specific project) to sites in new and existing locations around the world

• The ability to participate in business meetings outside of normal business hours in your time zone (estimated to be less than 20% of the time, but does happen due to the global nature of the role)

Applicants should submit a portfolio in PDF format, showing work samples and personal projects. Samples of work completed from educational and prior work experience strongly preferred. 

If you don't meet all the requirements or qualifications but bring some other unique skills and experience that would be valuable in this role, please apply and highlight those attributes for us in your cover letter.

OUR OFFER

•  $80–85k, depending on the candidate’s experience and alignment with the role requirements.

• 100% company paid premium healthcare and dental benefits.

• 100% company paid long and short-term disability, and life insurance.

• 401k (must be 21+).

• Three weeks vacation from the start (more with seniority), plus thirteen paid holidays.

ATTRACTIONS OF THE JOB

In addition to helping our clients achieve great things, we work to ensure that our employees are healthy and supported. Some of the benefits of being here include:

• Fun people in a dynamic space. We pride ourselves on finding driven and bright collaborators who are eager to lend their own unique skills to the team, as well as to our inspiring clientele. The number one reason CICers say they like working here is because of their colleagues!

• Personal growth. This is a great opportunity to learn and develop skills within the epicenter of the innovation community at a growing company.

• Access to amenities such as a nursing room, secure bicycle parking, a game room, shower rooms with towels, and great health benefits.

• Central location. CIC Cambridge is a stone’s throw from the Kendall Square MBTA Red Line stop. CIC Boston is centrally located in downtown Boston and is within walking distance to the Blue, Green, Orange, and Red line.

                    NOTE: We will start reviewing applications at the beginning of May.

CIC is committed to building teams that reflect the fabric of the cities we support. We welcome all candidates regardless of race, color, ancestry, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, Veteran status, or any other legally protected status. Any other human expressions and experiences not mentioned here are equally welcome. If you require an accommodation please let us know. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.