Head of Design
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Key skills for this role
About the Role
NAGA is seeking a highly experienced Head of Design to lead the creative direction and design delivery of interior design projects across hospitality, residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments.
Key Skills for This Role
Responsibilities
- Lead the overall creative and technical direction of interior design projects from concept through completion.
- Oversee the development of design concepts, mood boards, presentations, space planning, material palettes, and detailed design packages.
- Manage and mentor the interior design team, ensuring high standards of creativity, quality, coordination, and project delivery.
- Review and approve all interior design deliverables, ensuring alignment with project brief, brand requirements, budget, and programme.
- Act as the key client facing representative for the interior design function, leading presentations, design workshops, and stakeholder coordination.
- Collaborate closely with architecture, landscape, lighting, FF&E, signage, and engineering teams to ensure a cohesive and integrated design approach.
- Ensure all interior design solutions are technically sound, buildable, compliant with applicable codes and regulations, and aligned with operational requirements.
- Provide strategic input on project positioning, design vision, and overall user experience across hospitality and mixed use environments.
- Support business development efforts, including proposals, pitches, fee submissions, and client relationship management where required.
- Guide the selection of materials, finishes, furniture, fixtures, and accessories in line with project concept, budget, and quality standards.
- Oversee consultant coordination, design reviews, site visits, and design support during construction and fit out stages.
- Maintain awareness of design trends, hospitality standards, market benchmarks, and emerging technologies relevant to interior design.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design, Architecture, or a related design discipline
- 12–18+ years of relevant experience in interior design, with significant exposure to hospitality, luxury residential, mixed use, commercial, or high end projects
- Proven experience in a senior design leadership role such as Design Director, Head of Interior Design, Senior Design Manager, or Associate Director – Interior Design
- Strong consultancy background with experience leading projects in the UAE/GCC
- Demonstrated ability to lead concept design, detailed design, client presentations, and multidisciplinary project coordination
- Strong portfolio showcasing high quality interior design work across large scale and design led projects
- Experience managing teams, mentoring designers, and driving design quality across multiple concurrent projects
- Strong understanding of design detailing, materiality, space planning, project delivery, and coordination with technical teams
- Excellent communication, leadership, presentation, and stakeholder management skills
- Commercial awareness and the ability to balance creativity, functionality, budget, and programme requirements
Full Job Posting
Job Summary
- We are seeking a highly experienced and design driven Head of Design to lead the creative direction, design delivery, and overall quality of interior design projects across a diverse portfolio of hospitality, residential, commercial, mixed use, and high end developments. The ideal candidate will bri
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the overall creative and technical direction of interior design projects from concept through completion.
- Oversee the development of design concepts, mood boards, presentations, space planning, material palettes, and detailed design packages.
- Manage and mentor the interior design team, ensuring high standards of creativity, quality, coordination, and project delivery.
- Review and approve all interior design deliverables, ensuring alignment with project brief, brand requirements, budget, and programme.
- Act as the key client facing representative for the interior design function, leading presentations, design workshops, and stakeholder coordination.
- Collaborate closely with architecture, landscape, lighting, FF&E, signage, and engineering teams to ensure a cohesive and integrated design approach.
- Ensure all interior design solutions are technically sound, buildable, compliant with applicable codes and regulations, and aligned with operational requirements.
- Provide strategic input on project positioning, design vision, and overall user experience across hospitality and mixed use environments.
- Support business development efforts, including proposals, pitches, fee submissions, and client relationship management where required.
- Guide the selection of materials, finishes, furniture, fixtures, and accessories in line with project concept, budget, and quality standards.
- Oversee consultant coordination, design reviews, site visits, and design support during construction and fit out stages.
- Maintain awareness of design trends, hospitality standards, market benchmarks, and emerging technologies relevant to interior design.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design, Architecture, or a related design discipline.
- 12–18+ years of relevant experience in interior design, with significant exposure to hospitality, luxury residential, mixed use, commercial, or high end projects.
- Proven experience in a senior design leadership role such as Design Director, Head of Interior Design, Senior Design Manager, or Associate Director – Interior Design.
- Strong consultancy background with experience leading projects in the UAE/GCC.
- Demonstrated ability to lead concept design, detailed design, client presentations, and multidisciplinary project coordination.
- Strong portfolio showcasing high quality interior design work across large scale and design led projects.
- Experience managing teams, mentoring designers, and driving design quality across multiple concurrent projects.
- Strong understanding of design detailing, materiality, space planning, project delivery, and coordination with technical teams.
- Excellent communication, leadership, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Commercial awareness and the ability to balance creativity, functionality, budget, and programme requirements.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working on hospitality, F&B, branded residences, luxury residential, or mixed use developments.
- Familiarity with regional authority requirements, local codes, and international design standards.
- Experience working with high profile developers, operators, or hospitality brands in the GCC.
- Strong knowledge of FF&E coordination and design implementation during site execution and fit out phases.
Technical Skills
- AutoCAD
- Revit
- SketchUp
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator)
- 3D visualization tools such as Lumion, Enscape, 3ds Max, or equivalent
- MS Office Suite
Candidate Profile
- The ideal candidate is a creative and strategic design leader who combines strong design sensibility with commercial awareness, team leadership, and project delivery expertise. They should be capable of shaping design vision, leading client relationships, and elevating the quality of interior design
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