Senior Interior Designer

Verhaal; Dubai; On-site; AED 360,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Verhaal is an award-winning interior architecture and design studio seeking a Senior Interior Designer specialising in Food & Beverage to join its Dubai studio. The role demands leadership of complex restaurant projects and a strong grasp of operations and guest experience.

The successful candidate will have 10+ years of dedicated F&B interior design experience, a proven portfolio, and the ability to mentor junior designers while collaborating with clients, consultants, and suppliers.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years’ experience specialising in Food & Beverage interior design.
• Portfolio of completed restaurant projects demonstrating involvement from concept through delivery.
• Strong knowledge of restaurant operations, kitchen planning, guest circulation, and service requirements.
• Experience leading design teams and mentoring junior designers.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead F&B projects from concept development through completion.
• Develop strong design concepts, layouts, material direction, FF&E selections, and presentations.
• Create designs that balance creative vision with operational excellence.
• Develop and review spatial layouts, guest journeys, seating strategies, and service flows.
• Collaborate with clients, consultants, contractors, and suppliers.
• Lead and mentor junior designers within the studio.
• Ensure the highest level of design quality and attention to detail across projects.
• Present concepts confidently to clients and stakeholders.

Skills

F&B interior design

Team leadership

Concept development

Presentation skills

Project management

Job description

Senior Interior Designer – Food & Beverage Designer

Verhaal is an award-winning interior architecture and design studio creating immersive hospitality and lifestyle spaces across the Middle East and beyond.

We believe exceptional design is created through a balance of storytelling, creativity, craftsmanship, and a deep understanding of how spaces are experienced and operated.

We are seeking aSenior Interior Designer specialising in Food & Beverage environmentsto join our Dubai studio.

This role requires someone who understands that successful restaurants are not only about beautiful interiors, but about creating spaces that function seamlessly — from guest arrival and dining experience through to kitchen operations and service flow.

About the Role

The ideal candidate will have10+ years of dedicated Food & Beverage design experience, with a portfolio demonstrating completed restaurant and dining projects.

Experience must extend beyond general hospitality design. We are looking for a designer with a strong understanding of the operational requirements of F&B environments, including planning, circulation, kitchen relationships, BOH functionality, and the commercial considerations behind successful restaurant design.

Responsibilities

Lead F&B projects from concept development through completion.

Develop strong design concepts, layouts, material direction, FF&E selections, and presentations.

Create designs that balance creative vision with operational excellence.

Develop and review spatial layouts, guest journeys, seating strategies, and service flows.

Collaborate with clients, consultants, contractors, and suppliers.

Lead and mentor junior designers within the studio.

Ensure the highest level of design quality and attention to detail across projects.

Present concepts confidently to clients and stakeholders.

Experience & Requirements

The successful candidate will have:

• Minimum10 years’ experience specialising in Food & Beverage interior design.
• A portfolio of completed restaurant projects demonstrating involvement from concept through delivery.
• Strong knowledge of restaurant operations, kitchen planning, guest circulation, and service requirements.
• Experience leading design teams and mentoring junior designers.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and project management skills.
• Professional references who can speak to your design capability, leadership, and project delivery experience.

Design Assessment

As part of our recruitment process, shortlisted candidates will complete a design assessment to demonstrate their approach to:

• Spatial planning
• Restaurant layout strategy
• Kitchen and operational flow
• Design presentation and communication

This is aDubai-based, full-time studio position.

Verhaal is a collaborative creative studio where designers work closely together throughout the design process. This role requires presence within our Dubai studio environment; remote working is not available.

Due to the specialist nature of this position, applications without significant Food & Beverage design experience will not progress.