Associate Manager-Interior Designer

Robinson & Co (Singapore) Pte Ltd; Dubai; On-site; AED 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading diversified regional business in Dubai seeks a Design Coordinator to deliver high-quality design outcomes for luxury private family projects. Responsibilities include managing external design consultancies, ensuring projects align with client expectations, and leading an in-house design team. The ideal candidate has proven experience in luxury hospitality, technical proficiency in design tools, and exceptional communication skills. This role offers an opportunity to work on prestigious projects within a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in luxury hospitality and high-end residential interior design, particularly in the Middle East.
• Strong expertise in consultant management and the design coordination process.
• Familiarity with project delivery tools and presentation workflows.

Responsibilities

• Manage external design consultancies to meet client expectations and ensure technical feasibility.
• Build trust with clients through effective communication and timely design delivery.
• Align multiple design firms with different standards and manage project timelines.

Skills

Exceptional communication and negotiation skills

Design Vision Guardian skill

Problem-solving abilities under pressure

Technical proficiency in project delivery tools

Education

Experience in luxury hospitality and high-end residential interior design

Strong expertise in consultant management

Tools

Revit

CAD

SketchUp

Photoshop

InDesign

Job description

Job Requisition ID: 173627

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world’s most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Group’s entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organization to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.

Overview Of The Role

The Design Coordinator role is centered around delivering high-quality design outcomes for private family projects. This involves managing and steering external design consultancies to meet client expectations, ensuring that all design work is technically feasible and aspirational. The role requires safeguarding the family’s design vision by providing structured design briefs and overseeing execution from concept to completion. It demands quick decision‑making and preparation of alternative solutions when external inputs are inadequate. The role also focuses on maximizing resource efficiency and building trust with the family through transparent communication and timely project delivery. The coordinator operates with a lean in‑house team, balancing luxury design aspirations with budget and delivery timelines, while handling the unique challenges of working with a high‑profile client.

What You Will Do

Design Management

• Manage and steer external design consultancies to meet client expectations, ensuring concepts are both aspirational and technically feasible.
• Provide clear, well‑structured design briefs and monitor execution from concept through to IFC, maintaining consistency across all properties.
• Prepare alternative in‑house design solutions when consultant work falls short, ensuring projects stay on programme.
• Maximise efficiency by balancing external consultancy scopes with internal team capabilities and leveraging freelance specialists when necessary.
• Lead the in‑house design team for projects, fostering collaboration and accountability across the team.

Client Relationship Management

• Build trust and credibility with the Family through transparent communication, timely delivery, and high‑quality design.
• Navigate unique expectations of a high‑profile family client, maintaining discretion and aligning with their taste and privacy requirements.

Project Coordination

• Align multiple external design firms with differing standards, workflows, and creative approaches.
• Manage compressed timelines and shifting priorities, requiring quick alternatives or rescue packages.
• Balance luxury design aspirations with budget constraints, constructability, and fast‑track delivery requirements.

Required Skills To Be Successful

• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills to align family representatives, consultants, and contractors.
• Design Vision Guardian skill to interpret the family’s taste and preserve it through structured briefs and execution.
• Problem‑solving abilities under pressure to rapidly generate alternative design solutions.
• Technical proficiency in project delivery tools and design quality control processes.

What Qualifies You For The Role

• Proven experience in luxury hospitality and high‑end residential interior design, particularly in the Middle East.
• Strong expertise in consultant management and the design coordination process, from briefing stages to IFC.
• Proficiency in design quality control, ensuring flawless drawing packages, details, and specifications.
• Familiarity with project delivery tools (Revit/CAD, SketchUp, Photoshop, InDesign) and presentation workflows.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a small in‑house ID team effectively and foster collaboration.

About Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate
The real estate development and operations arm of Al-Futtaim, Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate is responsible for a multi‑billion‑dollar portfolio across MENA. With high‑quality residential, business, retail, tourism, educational and healthcare developments, the master developer caters to the diverse needs of cities and communities in the region. From origination, conception, development, sales, procurement and construction of mega‑projects and the leasing, operation and management of these projects after completion, Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate (AFGRE) has been developing and managing owned landbanks, unlocking the economic potential of the region and contributing to future development for more than 40 years.
Our focus is to enable and invest in meaningful relationships to make our properties the best places to live and work, build additional products and services and enable partnerships to create true value to our customers throughout their entire experience with us.
AFGRE is responsible for master planning of all projects in its portfolio, including two large scale mixed use destinations: Dubai Festival City and Cairo Festival City.