Senior Design Director

The applicant must be a qualified architect/design director with at least 10 years post qualification experience. The role will focus on assisting with the management of the interior design delivery for a number of high-end residential projects for a private client.

• Establishing, defining and obtaining sign-off of the Client’s project briefs including design objectives, priorities, functionality, budgets and programme
• Work with the wider design team as appropriate to assess and establish the technical brief, constraints, opportunities and feasibility of the Client’s brief
• Develop a design, procurement and implementation programme establishing milestones and critical paths for Client sign off
• Agree budgets for each interior defining the extent of bespoke, custom and readymade items to ensure good value for money and obtain Client sign off
• Provide in-house design feasibility studies with budgets
• Ensuring throughout the design procurement and implementation process that guidelines of the project brief are monitored and met regarding quality, time and budget, reporting regularly to the Client on progress.
• Take responsibility of leading and coordinating the design managing interfaces with adjacent works and trades at all stages
• Liaise and coordinate with external consultants and architects to manage the production of high-quality designs
• Quality check on site, ensuring the delivery meets expectations
• Review, critique and enhance design proposals within the Client brief
• Provide critical review of space planning and design to add value
• Communicate, report, liaise and work effectively with the Family Office teams (Finance, Property)
• Manage resourcing, effective and efficient utilisation of existing staff
• Identify future skills sets required to create an exemplary interior design team and develop future recruitment strategy and programme to match the need of the Client projects and property portfolio
• Drafting employment contracts and job descriptions
• Manage day to day financial operation of the interiors team

Skills necessary:

• Experience of working on all RIBA job stages (Concept Design to delivery and implementation)
• Proven experience of delivering of high-end residential developments
• Excellent and extensive knowledge of suppliers, specialist trades companies, artisans, manufacturers and installers
• Excellent knowledge of design detailing, specification, and current legislation and design standards
• Ability to communicate design and spatial concepts through sketching, sketch up models, (managing of) CGIs, mood and sample boards etc
• Experience producing design packages from concept to construction,
• Understanding of design deliverables, production information and project programmes
• Understanding of manufacturing processes and techniques to enable practical details to be developed and procured, and detailed assembly / fabrication drawings to be reviewed
• Ability to engage with and monitor manufacture and delivery of design proposals to ensure excellent quality through supplier, factory and quarry visits as required
• Strong design and spatial planning skills
• Focussed, organised with confident client facing skills
• Someone who can communicate clearly, effectively and assertively with consultants and contractors
• Someone who is able to challenge, and problem solve
• The ability to propose and contribute strategies to ensure all opportunities are fully explored
• The willingness and flexibility to lead motivate and direct a dynamic team
• The ability to build and maintain relationships
• Proficient in Vectorworks
• This role would be for someone legally eligible to work in the UK
• The role would require flexibility in the candidates availability to meet the Client out of standard office hours including early mornings and weekends