Design Director (Hospitality Interiors) Hybrid/contract (MBJ0200)

Job Title: Design Director - Luxury Hospitality (London, Hybrid, Contract)

Location: London (Hybrid - mix of home working and inperson collaboration)

Contract: 12month consultancy contract (outside PAYE), with a view to transitioning to permanent employment once the London studio is fully set up

About the role

We are seeking a Design Director to lead highend hospitality design projects for a global luxury design studio, with a focus on hotels, resorts and branded residences. Based in London, you will act as a senior creative leader for EMEA projects, working closely with clients, internal teams and partner studios to deliver distinctive, narrativeled interiors and guest experiences.

This is an opportunity to help shape and grow a new Londonbased hub, working in a hybrid way while the permanent studio is being established.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the creative direction and design vision for multiple luxury hospitality projects (hotels, resorts, branded residences) from concept through to completion.
• Interpret client briefs and brand narratives, translating them into compelling design concepts, storyboards and presentations that capture the spirit of each place.
• Oversee and mentor project teams (interior designers, FF&E, visualisers) ensuring design output meets the highest standards of creativity, storytelling and technical rigour.
• Collaborate closely with clients, operators and consultants to align design intent with commercial, brand and operational requirements, representing the studio in key meetings and presentations.
• Guide projects through all stages - feasibility, concept, schematic, detail design, tender and site support - ensuring deliverables are on brief, on budget and on programme.
• Review and approve all major design deliverables (plans, elevations, details, mood boards, material palettes, FF&E selections) to ensure consistency with project vision and studio standards.
• Support business development by contributing to pitches, RFQ/RFP responses and client presentations, helping to secure new hospitality commissions in EMEA and the Middle East.
• Champion a collaborative, lowego culture where ideas lead over hierarchy and where teams across regions share knowledge and best practice.
• Help to establish workflows, processes and culture for the emerging London studio, working closely with global leadership to integrate London into the wider network.

Candidate profile

• 15+ years' experience in interior design, with a significant portion spent leading luxury hospitality projects for international brands (hotels, resorts, branded residences).
• Proven track record as Design Director, Head of Interiors or equivalent, within a respected design studio or operator/design consultancy environment.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating conceptdriven, culturally sensitive and highly crafted interiors, ideally with experience in the Middle East and Asia as well as Europe.
• Confident clientfacing leader, able to pitch ideas, tell a compelling design story and build longterm relationships with owners, operators and development partners.
• Experienced in leading and mentoring design teams, setting standards, giving clear feedback and developing talent.
• Comfortable working across time zones and collaborating with teams in other global offices using hybrid tools and workflows.
• Proficient in core design tools (AutoCAD, Revit/other BIM, SketchUp/3D, Adobe Creative Suite) and confident working with both handdrawn and digital presentations.
• Strong organisational and commercial awareness - able to balance design ambition with budget, programme, scope and fee considerations.

Contract and working structure

• Location:Londonbased role with a hybrid working pattern; regular inperson collaboration for client meetings, design workshops and internal crits.
• Contract type: 12month consultancy contract initially; the successful candidate must be set up to work on a self-employed/freelance basis and invoice monthly (no PAYE offered during this period).
• Future potential:Intention to transition this role to a permanent, PAYE position once the London studio and local entity are fully established, subject to mutual agreement and performance.