Interior Design Director
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Key skills for this role
About the Role
NAGA, an award-winning multidisciplinary design firm in Dubai, seeks an Interior Design Director to lead creative direction and design delivery for hospitality, residential, and mixed-use projects.
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, signage, FF&E, 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, particularly 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 Interior Design Director, Head of Interior Design, Design Director, or Associate Director – Interior Design
- Strong consultancy background with experience leading projects in the UAE/GCC
- Demonstrated experience in hospitality design, including hotels, resorts, branded residences, F&B, or luxury guest environments
- 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
About NAGA
- NAGA is an award winning multidisciplinary design and consultancy firm with a strong regional presence.
- Delivers projects across architecture, interior design, master planning, landscape, infrastructure, project management, and BIM.
- Portfolio spans hospitality, residential, mixed use, commercial, and large scale developments.
Job Summary
- We are seeking an experienced and design led Interior Design Director to lead the creative direction, design delivery, and overall quality of interior design projects across a diverse portfolio.
- The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in hospitality interior design, design leadership, client management, and multidisciplinary coordination.
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, signage, FF&E, 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, particularly 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 Interior Design Director, Head of Interior Design, Design Director, or Associate Director – Interior Design.
- Strong consultancy background with experience leading projects in the UAE/GCC.
- Demonstrated experience in hospitality design, including hotels, resorts, branded residences, F&B, or luxury guest environments.
- 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 with international hospitality brands, luxury developers, or high profile mixed use developments.
- Familiarity with regional authority requirements, local codes, and international design standards.
- Experience leading design through both concept and detailed design stages, including site support and fit out coordination.
- Strong understanding of FF&E coordination and design implementation during construction.
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
- Creative and strategic interior design leader who combines strong design sensibility with commercial awareness, team leadership, and project delivery expertise.
- Capable of shaping design vision, leading client relationships, and elevating the quality of interior design output across the business.
- Particular strength in hospitality environments and experience led design.
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