DIRECTOR OF DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE
WASHINGTON, DC
THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.
THE BEST-ISH BAGELS IN THE WORLD.
OUTTA THIS WORLD OPPORTUNITY.
DEEPER THAN BAGELS
Call Your Mother is the Jew-ish deli where Boca meets Brooklyn, grandma-level hospitality meets seriously good bagel sandwiches, and hard work meets face-melting vibes.
Husband-and-wife team Andrew and Chef Dani built Call Your Mother around a simple idea: make scrumptious, nostalgic food and unforgettable experiences without being bougie or taking ourselves too seriously. From our first little farmer’s market stand in 2018, to shops across the DMV, Colorado, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Miami in 2026, we’re spreading carb love all over the map and our ovens are just getting warmed up! We’ll take bagels to mars if the locals are hungry up there.
WE’RE HIRING A DIRECTOR OF DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE, BASED IN WASHINGTON, DC!
The Director of Design and Architecture leads the creative and technical development of Call Your Mother shops from early site evaluation through opening, translating CYM’s brand vision into thoughtful, functional and executable physical spaces.
Working in close partnership with our Marketing team, this role brings CYM’s established brand standards and creative direction to life in each shop while developing new design ideas and solutions for review and approval. The Director owns the development and continuous improvement of CYM’s architectural and design standards, prototype, specifications and repeatable design tools.
This is a hands-on design leadership role responsible for early site planning, shop and kitchen layouts, interior and exterior design development, design visualization and architectural coordination. This role will partner with Real Estate, Brand, Operations, Construction, IT, Supply Chain and external architects/consultants to drive timely design decisions, improve documentation and protect design intent through opening
If you’re picking up what we’re laying down, keep reading!
YOU'LL CRUSH THIS ROLE IF YOU...
Have 5+ years experience leading restaurant or hospitality design projects from early planning through construction and opening.
Understand how kitchen equipment, team workflow, guest experience, and the realities of construction shape a great shop.
Can turn a brand vision into compelling plans, materials, elevations, and renderings—and explain the thinking behind your choices.
Know how to direct architects, engineers, and other consultants while keeping design decisions and documentation moving.
Balance creativity with durability, cost, schedule, and the needs of the people who use the space every day.
Catch site constraints and coordination issues early, bring practical solutions, and follow through in the field.
Can build useful design standards while leaving room for each shop’s personality.
Are digging our BIG V.I.B.E.S. (Vibrancy, Integrity, Belonging, Energy, and Seize the Moment).
Shall we proceed? If you blurted out an audible “YES INDEED!” then please keep reading.
WHAT YOU’LL REALLY BE DOING
Lead early fit plans and space planning for potential and approved sites, including kitchen layouts, front- and back-of-house flow, guest experience, and exterior and signage opportunities.
Lead the design portion of site investigations, coordinating field verification and technical input from architects and consultants so constraints are understood early.
Develop preliminary shop design packages with plans, elevations, finishes, sketches, and visualizations. Partner with Brand on site-specific ideas and secure approvals before architectural documentation advances.
Bring Operations, Construction, IT, Supply Chain, and New Shop Openings into design decisions at the right time so each shop works as well as it looks.
Direct external architects, engineers, and design consultants from approved design through construction documents. Review their work for design intent, completeness, and coordination.
Partner with Construction on…