Fit-Out & Design Manager

Nationwide Middle East Properties LLC; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 300,000 - 540,000; Full time

Job summary

Nationwide Middle East Properties LLC seeks an experienced Fit-Out Design Manager to lead design development, coordination, and delivery of interior fit-outs across commercial, residential, retail, and mixed-use properties in Abu Dhabi. You will coordinate multidisciplinary teams, ensure buildability, and manage technical interfaces through to handover.

Responsibilities include reviewing drawings, resolving clashes, securing approvals, and aligning with project specs, BOQ reviews, and value

Qualifications

• 5+ years in interior fit-out design, technical coordination, or design management.
• Experience coordinating architectural, interior, structural, civil, and MEP drawings.
• Ability to review and coordinate shop drawings and specifications.
• Strong understanding of Abu Dhabi fit-out approvals and guidelines.
• Fluent reading/marking architectural, MEP & joinery drawings and specs.

Responsibilities

• Lead fit-out design development, space planning, and technical detailing, ensuring design intent, functionality and buildability.
• Review and coordinate drawings across architectural, interior, structural, civil and MEP, identifying clashes.
• Oversee preparation, technical review, and approval of construction drawings, shop drawings, and joinery details.
• Drive multidisciplinary coordination with consultants, contractors, suppliers and stakeholders to resolve RFIs and manage revisions.
• Evaluate materials, finishes, construction methodologies, and site conditions for compliance and constructability.
• Support cost optimization and value engineering through BOQ reviews and design variation control.
• Manage design deliverables, submission schedules, quality compliance, and interfaces to meet contract standards.
• Oversee inspections, testing coordination and project handover to ensure design intent is achieved.

Skills

Design coordination

Technical detailing

Quality control

Cross-discipline collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Interior Design, or related discipline

Tools

AutoCAD

MS Project

Primavera

SketchUp

Bluebeam

InDesign

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and technically proficient Fit-Out Design Manager to lead the design development, technical coordination, and delivery of interior fit-out projects across commercial, residential, retail, and mixed-use properties.

Key Responsibilities :

• Lead fit-out design development, space planning, and technical detailing, ensuring design intent, functionality, and buildability are maintained throughout project delivery.
• Review and coordinate architectural, interior, structural, civil, and MEP drawings, identifying design clashes, resolving technical constraints, and ensuring seamless integration of all building services.
• Oversee the preparation, technical review, and approval of construction drawings, shop drawings, reflected ceiling plans, joinery details, material submittals, and project specifications.
• Drive multidisciplinary coordination with consultants, contractors, suppliers, and project stakeholders to resolve RFIs, manage design revisions, and secure statutory approvals, NOCs, and building management clearances.
• Evaluate materials, finishes, construction methodologies, and site conditions to ensure compliance, durability, constructability, and alignment with project requirements.
• Support cost optimization and value engineering through BOQ reviews, specification assessments, and design variation control, while mitigating technical and commercial risks.
• Manage design deliverables, submission schedules, quality compliance, and technical interfaces to ensure timely execution in accordance with contractual obligations and project standards.
• Oversee technical inspections, testing coordination, and project handover, ensuring completed fit-out works meet approved design intent, quality benchmarks, and operational requirements.

Requirements :

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Interior Design, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in interior fit-out design, technical coordination, or design management, preferably within a fit-out contractor or design-and-build environment.
• Fluent reading/marking ID, architectural, MEP & joinery drawings, spec governance experience (spec books/spec sections, submittal workflows).
• Proficiency in AutoCAD (must), MS Project/Primavera, SketchUp/Bluebeam/InDesign... and any relevant tools.
• Proven experience managing fit-out design packages from concept development through technical documentation and site implementation.
• Good understanding of Abu Dhabi fit-out approval procedures, authority requirements, and building management guidelines.