Head of Design

Brandon James; London Borough of Islington; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Brandon James is seeking an experienced Head of Design to lead the design function for high‑quality commercial interior and bespoke fit-out projects in London. You will manage a talented team, drive design strategy, and ensure technical robustness while coordinating with clients, architects, and suppliers to deliver outstanding interiors.

The role offers senior leadership responsibility, cross‑functional collaboration, and an opportunity to shape design processes across a growing specialist

Qualifications

• Senior design management or design leadership experience.
• Experience in commercial interiors and bespoke joinery.
• Strong technical design and detailing knowledge.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and develop the internal design team.
• Oversee design development and technical detailing across multiple projects.
• Manage design programmes, resources and technical deliverables.
• Ensure designs are practical, buildable and aligned with project requirements.
• Coordinate design information with manufacturing, commercial and project delivery teams.
• Work closely with architects, contractors, clients and specialist suppliers.
• Review technical drawings and design information.
• Resolve technical interfaces and design issues throughout project delivery.
• Ensure design quality and consistency across all projects.
• Support value engineering and design optimisation.
• Improve design processes, standards and workflows.
• Provide senior technical and design leadership across the business.

Skills

Team leadership

Technical design

Complex interior projects

Manufacturing knowledge

Coordination & buildability

Stakeholder management

Multitasking

Commercial awareness

Process improvement

Job description

A leading specialist interiors business is seeking an experienced Head of Design to take responsibility for its design function and lead a talented team delivering high-quality commercial interior and bespoke fit-out projects.

The business specialises in the design, manufacture and installation of bespoke interior solutions, working across commercial workplaces and residential developments. This is a senior position offering the opportunity to have a genuine influence on the design strategy, processes and continued growth of the business.

The Role

As Head of Design, you will lead the internal design team and oversee the design process from initial development through technical design, manufacturing and installation.

You will work closely with clients, architects, contractors, suppliers and internal project teams to ensure designs are technically robust, commercially viable and capable of being delivered to a high standard.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead, manage and develop the internal design team.
• Oversee design development and technical detailing across multiple projects.
• Manage design programmes, resources and technical deliverables.
• Ensure designs are practical, buildable and aligned with project requirements.
• Coordinate design information with manufacturing, commercial and project delivery teams.
• Work closely with architects, contractors, clients and specialist suppliers.
• Review technical drawings and design information.
• Resolve technical interfaces and design issues throughout project delivery.
• Ensure design quality and consistency across all projects.
• Support value engineering and design optimisation.
• Improve design processes, standards and workflows.
• Provide senior technical and design leadership across the business.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will have significant experience within a senior design management or design leadership position, ideally gained within:

• Commercial interior fit-out
• Bespoke joinery
• Specialist interiors
• Architectural joinery
• Workplace interiors
• Shopfitting or specialist construction

You will ideally have:

• Proven experience managing and developing a design team.
• Strong technical design and detailing knowledge.
• Experience working on complex interior or specialist construction projects.
• An understanding of manufacturing, production and installation processes.
• Strong knowledge of design coordination and buildability.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• The ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Strong commercial awareness.
• A proactive approach to improving design processes and delivery.

This role would suit an experienced Design Manager, Senior Design Manager, Design Director or Head of Design looking to take ownership of a design function within a growing specialist interiors business.

What's on Offer

• Salary up to 85,000.
• Senior leadership position with responsibility for the design function.
• Opportunity to shape and develop the design team.
• Exposure to bespoke, high-quality interior projects.
• Opportunity to work across design, manufacturing and project delivery.
• Long-term opportunity within an established specialist business.

If you are an experienced design professional with a background in commercial interiors, fit-out, bespoke joinery or specialist interior construction, we'd be keen to hear from you.