Melissa Colgan Interiors is seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented, and enthusiastic Design Assistant to join our Georgetown studio.

This is an entry-level, support-oriented position for someone eager to learn the inner workings of a high-end residential interior design firm. Working closely with the Principal, Designers, and Project Managers, the Design Assistant helps keep projects organized and moving forward from sourcing and sampling through procurement, installation, and photography.

This is an assistant position, not a Junior Designer role. While there are opportunities to participate in the creative process, primary responsibilities include:

Supporting the Principal and Project Managers across multiple residential projects at various stages of design and implementation.
Requesting samples, quotes, pricing, availability, and product information.
Assisting with proposals, purchase orders, and project documentation.
Maintaining project records and tracking orders through production, receiving, and delivery.
Following up with vendors and flagging delays, damages, or discrepancies.
Assisting with presentations, client meetings, installations, styling, and photo shoots.
Coordinating deliveries, installers, workrooms, and trades.
Maintaining the design library and assisting with scheduling, correspondence, packages, errands, and general studio administration.

This is a full-time, in-person position based in our Georgetown studio. Typical office hours are 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. We work hard during office hours but value maintaining boundaries around work, with minimal work expected outside normal hours aside from occasional project needs.

As a small studio, everyone’s contribution matters. We’re looking for someone who approaches everything—from preparing a beautiful client presentation to tracking shipments, organizing samples, or repeatedly following up with a vendor—with the same level of care.

It is important to understand that this is an assistant position, not a Junior Designer role. While there are opportunities to participate in the creative process, the primary responsibilities are project support, procurement and order tracking, vendor communication, sample management, and studio administration.

The ideal candidate is professional, personable, hardworking, and highly organized. You are someone who likes making things happen—you follow up without being reminded, take initiative, and don’t consider a task complete until it has been resolved.

We are especially interested in candidates who:

Have exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Are proactive and comfortable following up repeatedly, including picking up the phone to get an answer.
Can manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Are resourceful problem-solvers who look for solutions.
Are receptive to direction, feedback, and learning.
Enjoy working collaboratively and pitching in wherever needed.
Have a genuine interest in high-end residential interior design.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or relevant coursework/experience preferred.
Previous professional or internship experience preferred. Prior full-time interior design experience is not required.
Proficiency with Google Workspace; particularly Google Sheets and Gmail
Familiarity with Studio Designer or design software is a plus.
Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, AutoCAD is a plus.
Strong computer skills and ability to learn new software.
Ability to work full-time, in person at our Georgetown studio.
Valid driver’s license, personal vehicle, and ability to travel throughout the Washington, DC Metro area are required.

To apply: Please submit a resume and brief cover letter explaining your interest in interior design, why you are specifically interested in an assistant-level position, and why you would like to work with Melissa Colgan Interiors.

Melissa Colgan Interiors is a residential design firmed based in Washington DC, with projects up and down the East Coast. Our office is in historic Georgetown. Our clients seek us out for our ability to distill their ideas and style into highly individual designs, creating interiors that are engaging, spirited and layered with purposeful details.

Additional details:
Hours: 40 hours per week
9am-5pm
Every-other-Friday is a work-from-home day but employees must still be available locally to do site visits, project related errands, or client meetings as needed.

Benefits:
- We provide healthcare and dental through DC HealthLink / Blue Cross Blue Shield
- We have a 401K Program
- We can provide parking

Holidays/Vacation/Sick
- 3 sick days per year
- 10 Vacation days
- We have off the following federal holidays: New Years Day, MLK Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day.
- We take off the days between Christmas and New Years Day (an additional 4-5 days depending on how the days fall in any given calendar year)

https://melissacolganinteriors.com/