Federal government facilities have come a long way since Benham, a Haskell Company, performed its first design work for the U.S. Department of War more than 80 years ago. Now, as the company searches for an experienced and certified Interior Designer, it offers varied and challenging projects focused on sustainable and occupant-friendly environments.
“I just got a proposal and one of the biggest surprises to me was that they wanted their rest and relaxation areas to be ‘Google-esque,’ so they're looking at the health and welfare of the employees a lot more than we used to consider,” said Kelley Hayes, Benham Lead Interior Designer. “You’re given the leeway to incorporate creative elements, which to me is very important. That's very exciting when I see those words coming into my statement of work. In in my work.”
The ideal candidate will have at least five years of experience and National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) certification. LEED and WELL AP certifications are preferred but not required.
“It's just automatic that we design toward sustainability and the LEED principles, so that's kind of a given,” Hayes said. “And more and more, we're seeing government projects incorporate those WELL principles in their statement of work, too.”
Benham is one of the nation’s longest-standing and pioneering professional design firms and draws on a 110-year legacy of providing innovative solutions in architecture, engineering, and design-build project delivery across a broad spectrum of project and facility types worldwide. Providing comprehensive planning, architecture, and engineering services for the challenging and evolving requirements of federal and defense agencies throughout the United States and around the world is a high priority.
The work is as varied as the locales and ranges from mission-critical/secure facilities to headquarters to training ranges to aviation, healthcare, maintenance and infrastructure projects.
“When you say government, sometimes that scares people off, but it's a very diverse design field,” Hayes said. “People sometimes think that the government title excludes those other areas of design, but it doesn't. It incorporates them. I guarantee the projects will differ. There are no cookie cutters in this business. Every project brings something different.”
The Interior Designer will develop design concepts, recommend finishes and furnishings, produce pricing and proposal documents, and outline specifications. Benham has offices in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the designer will report to Hayes, who is OKC-based. The position offers the possibility of remote work, depending upon qualifications.
In addition to providing a highly collaborative and fast-paced environment, Haskell operates with the direction of six strategic pillars, the first of which is to “Provide Team Members the BEST Job of Their Lives.” It offers a robust benefits package that includes a 401k match and an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), which creates stock ownership for every full-time team member.
“I think it’s always important to mention that there is always room for growth in our organization,” Hayes said. “There are opportunities to grow in your career and to grow into other areas. “
Click here to view the complete job description and apply.
