Senior Lead Designer – Interior Design (Hotels) (MBJ0214)

Senior Lead Designer - Interior Design

Department: Interior Design

Reports to: Director, Interior Design

Role Summary

Our client believes in uncovering the innate poetry of each destination and transforming it into extraordinary experiences that celebrate a specific sense of place.

As a Senior Lead Designer - Interior Design, you will lead and inspire design teams to develop creative and technically sound interior environments across a diverse range of project types. You will be responsible for concept development, project execution, client engagement and design-team leadership.

This role demands a strong design vision, project-management skills and the ability to translate complex ideas into exceptional spatial experiences that align with client goals and our client's standards.

What You'll Do

Client Engagement

• Serve as the primary point of contact for design-related discussions with clients and operators.
• Cultivate strong, long-term relationships with clients based on trust, transparency and mutual respect.
• Actively engage with clients to understand their goals, preferences and feedback, ensuring these are reflected in the design process and outcomes.
• Maintain open and consistent communication throughout the project to manage expectations and ensure client satisfaction.
• Clearly communicate the design intent and its implications on project budgets, offering informed recommendations that balance vision with financial feasibility.

Project Finance

• Own project financial progress and results, ensuring budgets are tracked and design stays within financial parameters.
• Monitor and review project financial reports in coordination with the project-management and finance team.
• Identify scope changes or additional workload requirements and support preparation of variation orders.
• Ensure efficient use of design hours and accurate time reporting across the team.

Resource Management

• Plan and allocate internal design resources across multiple projects in collaboration with senior management.
• Report resourcing needs or constraints to the Design Director and project-management team as required.
• Maintain up-to-date internal schedules for team tasks and coordination.
• Identify resource needs early and communicate potential gaps to senior leadership.
• Support onboarding and integration of team members into projects and our client's culture.

Project Management

• Lead multiple interior-design projects of medium to large scale, across both local and international markets. Have a detailed, in-depth understanding of the project scope, timeline and deliverables, as per the signed contract with the client.
• Review project contracts to identify scope, timelines, deliverables and budget constraints.
• Lead internal planning, scheduling and project setup in collaboration with the project-management team.
• Oversee delivery timelines and maintain accountability for meeting key project milestones.
• Address design risks proactively and ensure full alignment across consultants and stakeholders.
• Lead coordination efforts with all project consultants-including architecture, structural, MEP, FLS, kitchen, lighting, signage and art-ensuring full integration of drawings and specifications, and resolution of design clashes prior to submission.
• Ensure timely delivery of all necessary design information to support the cost consultant in preparing accurate budget estimates throughout the design process.

Team Leadership

• Manage and inspire multiple design teams across several projects.
• Delegate responsibilities and provide mentorship, support and feedback to ensure individual and team success.
• Encourage collaboration and problem-solving while fostering a positive and innovative work culture.
• Conduct regular check-ins and design reviews to ensure alignment and efficiency.
• Foster open communication by actively engaging with team members, encouraging feedback, sharing insights and promoting collective problem-solving.
• Support professional growth by assigning responsibility and development opportunities to team members.
• Assist in tracking progress, sharing updates and integrating initiative outcomes into day-to-day studio operations.

Team Development

• Mentor and coach team members by providing consistent guidance, constructive feedback and opportunities for professional growth.
• Share knowledge, expertise and project insights to empower the team and support high-quality performance and delivery.
• Foster a supportive and trusting environment by building confidence across the team throughout the project lifecycle.
• Monitor both individual and team performance to identify strengths and areas for development, implementing targeted strategies to improve effectiveness, collaboration and overall output.
• Encourage a culture of continuous learning and shared growth within the team.

Design Excellence

• Support the implementation of design-excellence initiatives that elevate project quality and reinforce our client's design values.
• Develop and implement design strategies that reflect and strengthen our client's brand identity, ensuring each project is driven by a compelling and culturally relevant design narrative.
• Lead the development of design concepts and strategies, ensuring innovation, functionality and alignment with client vision and budget.
• Lead the development and refinement of the project's design narrative and storytelling.
• Set the design direction and visual identity for each project in collaboration with the team.
• Guide designers through all phases of the project-concept, schematic, detail design and construction.
• Conduct design reviews, critiques and charrettes to uphold our client's design-excellence and storytelling principles.
• Ensure the design narrative is consistently carried through all areas and phases of the project.
• Provide design solutions to challenges that arise, maintaining a high standard of service and innovation.
• Oversee coordination with sub-consultants such as artwork, signage and lighting to ensure alignment with the overall design intent.

Technical Quality

• Leverage design expertise and technical proficiency to develop innovative solutions that meet functional, aesthetic and budgetary requirements, while ensuring alignment with client objectives and project needs.
• Lead and guide the team in developing technical drawings and documentation that align with the approved design direction and maintain the integrity of the concept.
• Provide design input and oversight throughout the development process to support the production of high-quality, buildable drawings and specifications.
• Review and ensure that all project drawings and specifications are accurate, coordinated and compliant with our client's design and documentation standards.
• Lead the preparation and coordination of specifications, ensuring alignment with performance, sustainability and cost requirements.
• Oversee and support the team's use of online specification platforms and drawing protocols.

Quality Assurance

• Review and refine presentation materials to uphold graphic quality and content accuracy, ensuring alignment with design intent.
• Lead QA/QC reviews of all design deliverables to ensure they meet our client's standards and client expectations.
• Review and ensure drawing accuracy and coordination with technical and consultant packages.
• Identify quality gaps and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Provide clear and actionable feedback to the project team, identifying areas for improvement and supporting the implementation of corrective actions to enhance design performance and output.
• Lead the implementation of feedback from QA/QC reviews.

Industry Engagement

• Stay informed on emerging trends, materials and innovations to ensure design solutions remain current and forward-thinking.
• Contribute to thought leadership by writing or supporting industry-related articles, publications or internal knowledge-sharing content.
• Conduct ongoing research and design reviews to incorporate global best practices and insights into project work.
• Represent our client at industry events such as conferences, design forums, panel discussions and trade fairs.
• Engage with peers and professionals within the industry, sharing relevant insights and forwarding potential business-development leads to senior management and the business-development team.

Strategic Leadership

• Provide strategic guidance by supporting the execution of annual design initiatives that align with our client's broader creative and business objectives.
• Collaborate closely with senior management to align creative direction with operational and financial goals, supporting studio growth and performance.
• Contribute to the studio's visibility and influence by participating in design competitions, high-profile projects and other initiatives that elevate our client's reputation within the industry.

Site Supervision

• Review shop drawings, material submittals, finish samples, mock-ups and prototypes submitted by project contractors to ensure alignment with design intent and our client's quality standards.
• Develop practical and design-driven solutions to resolve site-related issues as they arise during construction, maintaining consistency with the overall design intent.
• Respond to contractor queries during the tender and construction phases, including design variations, in coordination with the project-management team.
• Engage in site inspections during construction to ensure compliance with our client's design intent.
• Support the preparation and review of the final snagging report, ensuring that completed works meet design and quality expectations.

Personal Development

• Commit to annual growth by attending workshops, pursuing certifications or engaging in knowledge-sharing activities.
• Share learnings with the wider team and mentor junior team members.

Who You Are

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Interior Architecture or Interior Design from an accredited institution.
• 12-15 years of experience in interior design, with a proven track record of leading design projects and managing client relationships.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Basic navigation skills in design software and tools, such as Autodesk AutoCAD and Revit.
• Proficiency in 3D modelling software programmes, including SketchUp and Rhino.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.
• Exceptional proficiency and mastery in freehand drawing and sketching techniques, enabling highly skilled and intricate visual representations of design concepts.
• Thorough understanding of luxury hotel brands and luxury large-scale projects.
• Extensive and comprehensive understanding of FF&E selection and specification, enabling expert guidance and decision-making for interior-space requirements.
• Extensive and comprehensive understanding of interior finishes, sanitaryware and hardware selection and specification, enabling expert guidance and decision-making for interior-space requirements.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams to achieve excellence.
• Excellent client-management abilities, with a demonstrated ability to build and maintain long-term relationships.
• Exceptional leadership abilities, including experience managing multidisciplinary teams and meeting scope, schedule and budget requirements.
• Strong graphic skills and storytelling abilities, with the capacity to communicate complex design concepts clearly and persuasively.
• Knowledge of industry best practices, design trends and emerging technologies.
• Knowledge of local building codes and regulations, and ADA guidelines.
• Knowledge of sustainable and environmentally friendly design principles.
• Detail-oriented, with a passion for design and a commitment to delivering high-quality work.
• Ability to maintain allocated project planning, budgeting and scheduling to ensure time- and cost-effective project delivery.
• A passion for design excellence and a commitment to delivering exceptional results on every project.