Senior Designer (Interior Fit-out)

About the role

We are seeking a senior designer to lead interior fit‑out and workplace projects across our Dubai studio. Reporting to the Managing Director and, on a project basis, to the Projects Director, you will own the design process from concept sketch through to as‑built documentation, while building and mentoring a growing design team.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and personally produce design across concept, schematic, detail and construction documentation for interior fit‑out projects.
• Manage the client design relationship from brief to handover, presenting, defending and adapting designs as needed.
• Translate briefs into commercially viable schemes, design to budget and value‑engineer without compromising ideas.
• Oversee FF&E and material procurement: specification, sourcing, supplier negotiation, sampling and lead‑time management.
• Direct contractors and subcontractors on design intent, review shop drawings, resolve site queries and protect design quality during construction.
• Prepare design packages for landlord and authority approvals in Dubai, ensuring compliance with sustainability frameworks such as LEED.
• Develop studio systems including design standards, material libraries, templates and quality‑review processes.
• Hire, mentor and develop designers as the studio expands.

Required profile

• 10+ years of interior design and fit‑out experience, predominantly in the UAE, with a portfolio of completed projects.
• Proven experience in a design‑and‑build environment where design decisions have direct cost implications.
• Direct client‑facing experience at decision‑maker level.
• Hands‑on procurement experience, including specification, sourcing, negotiation and follow‑up.
• Fluency in Dubai authority and landlord approval processes.

Required skills

• AutoCAD
• SketchUp
• 3ds Max or Revit
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Bill of Quantities (BOQ) literacy
• Enscape or V‑Ray (desirable)