Design Manager

Shaerp Next; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the fit-out industry is seeking a Design Manager to lead a creative team in Dubai. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in residential villa projects and a proven track record in both UAE and European markets, ensuring high-quality design standards and innovation across projects.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of design experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience in the fit-out sector, specifically residential villa projects.
• Strong portfolio showcasing leadership in interior and UX/UI design.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary design team across various disciplines.
• Oversee the design process from ideation to final delivery.
• Collaborate with project managers and engineers to deliver impactful design solutions.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Design Thinking

User-Centered Methodologies

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Interior Design, Architecture, or related field

Tools

AutoCAD

SketchUp

Revit

Adobe Creative Suite

Figma

Job description

Job Title: Design Manager Fit-Out Industry (UAE & European Markets)

Location: Dubai, UAE

Job Type: Full-Time

About the Role:

We are seeking a highly experienced and creative Design Manager to lead a multidisciplinary design team and elevate both the visual impact and strategic alignment of design across projects in the fit-out industry. The ideal candidate brings a proven track record of success in both the UAE and European markets, along with strong experience in residential villa fit-out projects. This is a hands-on leadership role that demands creativity, technical excellence, and the ability to manage design processes from concept through execution.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of designers across various disciplines, including interior, UX/UI, visual, and product design
• Oversee the entire design process, ensuring quality output from ideation to final delivery in line with client expectations and brand guidelines
• Develop and uphold design standards and guidelines that ensure consistency and innovation across all fit-out projects
• Collaborate closely with project managers, architects, engineers, and marketing teams to deliver unified and impactful design solutions
• Translate business and client objectives into creative strategies and actionable design directions
• Conduct design reviews, offering structured feedback to raise design quality and performance
• Stay abreast of trends, tools, materials, and innovations within the fit-out and design industry
• Manage design workflows, timelines, budgets, and resource allocation across multiple concurrent projects
• Promote and apply design thinking and user-centered methodologies throughout the organization

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Interior Design, Architecture, Design, or a related field
• Minimum of 10 years of design experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership or managerial role
• Demonstrated experience in the fit-out sector, specifically including residential villa projects
• Proven success delivering projects in both UAE and European markets
• Strong portfolio showcasing leadership in interior, UX/UI, and/or branded environments
• Proficiency in relevant design tools (e.g., AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit, Adobe Creative Suite, Figma)
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and lead teams in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments
• Experience working within Agile or iterative design/development frameworks