Design Studio Manager - Commercial Interior

Frontline Retail; Sydney; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Senior leadership role

Ownership of design function

Growth opportunities

Established business infrastructure

Job summary

Frontline Retail in Sydney is seeking a Design Studio Manager to lead the in-house design function for commercial interiors. Take ownership from brief to delivery, mentoring a team and aligning design with client needs and business goals.

You will balance creative concept work with client engagements, budgeting and project timelines, partnering with sales and operations to drive growth and profitability for the studio.

Qualifications

• 8+ years' experience in commercial interior design or workplace design
• Formal qualifications in Interior Design/Interior Architecture
• Experience leading a design team and managing client relationships
• Strong experience delivering projects from concept through to documentation and delivery
• Ability to present to clients and manage senior stakeholder relationships
• Understanding of project budgets, design hours and commercial performance
• Proficiency in design software (Revit, AutoCAD, Adobe) and project ownership

Responsibilities

• Lead commercial workplace design projects from initial brief through final delivery
• Meet with clients to understand requirements and design objectives
• Develop creative design concepts, layouts, finishes and presentation packages
• Present design concepts and recommendations to clients
• Promote and sell design packages and opportunities to grow project value
• Lead, mentor and develop the in-house design team
• Oversee design documentation for quality and consistency
• Manage project budgets, hours, timelines, and studio efficiency
• Collaborate with sales, project and operations teams for successful delivery
• Contribute to ongoing growth and profitability of the design studio

Skills

Team leadership

Client engagement

Design leadership

Budget management

Commercial awareness

Education

Degree in Interior Design or Interior Architecture

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Design Studio Manager - Commercial Interior

Sydney | Permanent Full-Time
An exciting opportunity for an experienced Commercial Interior Designer to take ownership of a growing design studio within an established Australian workplace and commercial furniture business.

Our client works with businesses across Australia to create functional, considered and visually engaging workplace environments. With a strong offering across commercial furniture, workplace solutions and interior design, they are looking for a Design Studio Manager to lead their in-house design function.

This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys the creative side of interior design but is equally confident managing clients, leading people and understanding the commercial side of a design business.

The Opportunity
Reporting into senior leadership, you will take ownership of workplace design projects from the initial client brief through to concept development, documentation and final delivery.

You'll lead and mentor an in-house team of designers, establish strong client relationships and help drive the growth and profitability of the design studio.
This is a hands-on leadership role, combining design delivery with client engagement, team development and commercial accountability.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead commercial workplace design projects from initial brief through to final delivery.
• Meet with clients to understand their requirements, workplace needs and design objectives.
• Develop creative design concepts, layouts, furniture selections, finishes and presentation packages.
• Present design concepts and recommendations confidently to clients.
• Promote and sell design packages, identifying opportunities to grow project value.
• Lead, mentor and develop the in-house design team.
• Oversee design documentation, ensuring quality, accuracy and consistency.
• Manage project budgets, design hours, timelines and overall studio efficiency.
• Work closely with internal sales, project and operational teams to ensure successful project delivery.
• Contribute to the ongoing development, growth and profitability of the design studio.

About You
You are an experienced Commercial Interior Designer or Workplace Design professional who is ready to take the next step in your career.
You bring a balance of creative thinking, technical design capability, leadership experience and commercial awareness.

Ideally, you will have:

• 8+ years' experience in commercial interior design, workplace design or office fit-outs.
• Formal qualifications in Interior Design, Interior Architecture or a related discipline.
• Experience leading, mentoring or managing a team of designers.
• Strong experience managing projects from concept through to documentation and delivery.
• Confidence presenting to clients and managing senior stakeholder relationships.
• An understanding of project budgets, design hours and commercial performance.
• Strong technical capability across relevant design software, ideally Revit, AutoCAD and Adobe Creative Suite.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving, communication and project ownership.

What's on Offer?

• A senior leadership opportunity with genuine ownership of the design function.
• The opportunity to shape design direction and influence how the studio operates.
• A supporting leadership team and established business infrastructure.
• A balance of creative design, client engagement and people leadership.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• A business that values quality outcomes and sustainable working practices.

If you are ready to take ownership of a design studio and bring your creative and commercial capabilities together, we'd love to hear from you.