Interior Design Associate Director

TGP International; United Arab Emirates; Hybrid; AED 360,000 - 600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule

Incentive scheme

Remote work flexibility

Coaching & mentoring

Annual company gathering

Recognition program

Job summary

TGP International is seeking a senior-level interior design leader to join its hospitality studio. You will drive concept development, design narratives, and client engagement across multiple projects in the UK, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

The role offers significant studio responsibility, mentorship of junior staff, and direct contribution to high-profile hospitality destinations, with a hybrid schedule in Covent Garden.

Qualifications

• 10+ years' professional experience in interior design or interior architecture, with hospitality and F&B focus.
• Strong portfolio across restaurants, food halls, bars, and hospitality environments.
• Ability to lead projects from concept through delivery, with design storytelling.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver world-class interior design solutions across multiple projects and geographies.
• Oversee concept development, design presentations, test fits, spatial planning and 3D modeling.
• Review drawings, finishes, FF&E and coordinate with clients, consultants, and contractors.
• Mentor junior team members and manage workload across concurrent projects.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Client engagement

Team mentoring

Hospitality design

Education

Bachelor’s degree in interior design

RIBA stages 1-6 experience

Tools

Adobe Suite

AutoCAD

SketchUp

PowerPoint

Microsoft Office

Miro

Asana

Job description

TGP International is looking for an experienced and highly creative Senior Associate / Associate Director to join its studio.

TGP International is a global hospitality consultancy based in London, Dubai, and Cairo.

We partner with ambitious brands, clients, and entrepreneurs to turn their visions into successful hospitality experiences through concept development, interior design, branding and graphic design, advisory, franchising, operations, and project management.

Our multidisciplinary team brings together interior designers, brand designers, strategists, advisors, chefs, and hospitality operators.

This combination of creative and commercial expertise makes TGP an exciting environment for people who are passionate about food, hospitality and creating memorable guest experiences.

We are looking for someone who shares that passion.

Someone inspired by the opportunity to create world-class restaurants, bars, food halls, and hospitality destinations, and who understands how exceptional design can transform the guest experience.

While TGP is an established international consultancy, we retain a strong entrepreneurial spirit.

This is a senior role within our Interior Design team, offering significant studio responsibility, client exposure, and the opportunity to contribute directly to exciting hospitality projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Design Expertise Deliver world class creative solutions across multiple small, medium, and large-scale projects simultaneously, and across multiple geographies (UK, Europe, Asia and Middle East)
• Lead projects and the creative process from concept to delivery; with proven track record of strong design narrative where storytelling remains at the heart of the project throughout its development
• Lead and contribute hands‑on to concept development and design presentations, test fits, spatial planning, and 3D models, with a strong focus on guest experience and operational functionality
• Review detailed drawing packages, finishes and FF&E specifications ensuring technical requirements and design intent are successfully co‑ordinated, including liaising effectively with clients, consultants, contractors and suppliers throughout the design and delivery process
• Demonstrate deep knowledge of design detailing, materials, finishes, fixtures and furniture, including fabrication and construction processes
• Build and maintain strong professional relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, makers, and other industry partners

Project Leadership & Management

• Take accountability for the successful creative and commercial delivery of projects to TGP’s quality standards
• Maintain oversight and remain actively involved and hands‑on throughout the entire project process, from initial concept through to design development, documentation, and delivery
• Make informed decisions regarding project resourcing, priorities, workflows, and allocation of responsibilities across internal teams including weekly resource tracking and coordination of project scheduling
• Manage projects effectively against agreed programmes, budgets, contractual scope of services, and commercial requirements
• Identify project risks and challenges early and work proactively with leadership team to resolve them
• Provide clear and timely reporting to the leadership team on project progress, resourcing, and key issues

Team Development & Management

• Foster a collaborative and supportive environment in which knowledge and best practice are openly shared
• Lead, mentor and train junior team members to support their professional and creative development, and maximise team performance and quality design output
• Support department resource planning, forecasting, project allocation and ad‑hoc department admin
• Manage workloads and workflows across multiple concurrent projects, ensuring teams are appropriately supported
• Contribute positively to TGP’s studio culture and help maintain an environment that encourages collaboration and creativity

Client Engagement

• Proactively manage existing client relationships, ensuring that opportunities for repeat work are maximised
• Present creative concepts and design thinking clearly, confidently, and persuasively to senior client stakeholders
• Actively engage with opportunities to develop new business, enhancing internal and external communications via events, forums, and publications
• Support the preparation of fee bids, RFPs, and fee negotiations on projects

Software Proficiency

• Adobe Suite
• AutoCAD
• SketchUp
• PowerPoint
• Microsoft Office
• Experience with the following would be advantageous: Miro Asana

The role is based in our Covent Garden studio in London, with a hybrid working model of three days per week in the studio, and two days working remotely from home.

TGP International employee benefits

• Hybrid work arrangement: three days in the office and two days working remotely
• Company incentive scheme offering up to 5 to 10 per cent for introductions and 5 per cent for successful closures
• Remote work flexibility: one additional week per year to work remotely from your home country, which can be combined with up to two consecutive weeks of annual leave
• Structured professional development through a dedicated coaching and mentoring program
• Annual company gathering: a global team event bringing together employees from all offices
• An employee recognition program: regular recognition initiatives celebrating outstanding performance and contributions

What we are looking for

We are looking for an accomplished hospitality designer and creative leader who combines exceptional design ability with strong project, team, and client leadership.

The successful candidate will have:

• 10+ years' professional experience in interior design or interior architecture, with significant experience in hospitality and F&B environments
• An outstanding portfolio demonstrating exceptional creative quality across restaurants, food halls, bars, and other hospitality and commercial environments having worked through Riba stages 1-6
• A proven ability to develop emotive, narrative-driven, and design-led concepts and experiences, across projects of varying scales and geographies
• Strong creative leadership, with the ability to take projects from initial concept and storytelling through design development and delivery, including technical and construction expertise
• The confidence and experience to operate autonomously, with minimal supervision from leadership team
• Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities, with experience developing and managing design teams
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of project programmes, budgets/value engineering, contracts, fees, and resourcing
• Excellent client-facing, presentation, and communication skills
• A collaborative, adaptable, no-ego approach, and a commitment to contributing positively to studio culture
• A bachelor’s degree in interior design, Interior Architecture or a related discipline from an accredited institution, or equivalent professional qualification
• The right to work in the UK