Lead Interior Designer

Ignite Search and Selection; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 300,000 - 540,000; Full time

Job summary

Ignite Search and Selection is seeking a Lead Interior Designer for Luxury Hospitality. The role demands a strong creative leader capable of driving projects from concept to construction documentation and final delivery.

You will lead design teams, coordinate with clients, architects and engineers across disciplines, ensuring high-quality outcomes. Ideal candidates have 12 years in luxury hospitality, with a robust portfolio of large-scale projects, and a solid knowledge of FF&E, finishes and

Qualifications

• 12 years of interior design experience in luxury hospitality
• Strong portfolio of large-scale high-end projects
• Excellent knowledge of FF&E, finishes, sanitaryware, hardware and material specs
• Proven ability to lead design teams and manage senior client relationships
• Proficiency in Revit and design documentation standards

Responsibilities

• Lead large-scale hospitality projects from concept through delivery
• Develop design concepts, narratives, mood boards and material palettes
• Lead and mentor interior design teams while maintaining high creative and technical output
• Oversee drawings, FF&E, finishes and specifications
• Manage client presentations and relationships, and support project scope and commercial matters
• Coordinate with architects, engineers, contractors and consultants across disciplines
• Support site delivery through shop drawings reviews, site inspections and snagging

Skills

Leadership

Client management

Presentation

Sketching / drawing

Design storytelling

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Interior Design/Interior Architecture

Tools

Revit

Job description

Lead Interior Designer – Luxury Hospitality

The role will suit a designer who combines strong creative ability with proven project leadership, client management, and technical delivery experience. The successful candidate will work closely with senior design leadership and take responsibility for driving projects from initial concept and design development through documentation, construction and final delivery.

The Role

The Lead Interior Designer will take a leading role across significant hospitality projects, driving the creative vision while ensuring the design is successfully developed and delivered. You will lead design teams, work closely with clients and coordinate with the wider project team throughout the project lifecycle.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Leading large-scale hospitality projects or multiple smaller projects from concept through to delivery.
• Developing design concepts, narratives and storytelling, including presentations, mood boards and material palettes.
• Leading, mentoring and motivating interior design teams while maintaining a high standard of creative and technical output.
• Overseeing drawings, FF&E, finishes and specifications.
• Managing client presentations and relationships, while supporting project scope, variations and commercial matters.
• Coordinating with architects, engineers, contractors and specialist consultants across disciplines including lighting, art and signage.
• Supporting site delivery through review of shop drawings, samples and mock-ups, site inspections and snagging.

The Candidate

The ideal candidate will have 12 years of interior design experience, with a strong portfolio of luxury hospitality and large-scale high-end projects.

We are looking for someone with:

• A Bachelor's or master's degree in interior design, Interior Architecture or a related discipline.
• Proven experience delivering luxury hospitality projects and a strong understanding of international luxury hotel brands.
• Excellent knowledge of FF&E, finishes, sanitaryware, hardware and material specification.
• Strong creative, presentation, freehand sketching and design storytelling skills.
• Experience leading design teams and managing senior client relationships.
• Proficiency in Revit.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced hospitality interior designer to join an established international design environment and take a leading role on significant luxury projects across the region and international markets.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work alongside senior design leadership, influence major projects, and play a key role in shaping the creative direction and delivery of high-profile hospitality work.