Design Operations Head

Bonito Designs; Mumbai; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 7,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Bonito Designs in Mumbai is seeking a visionary Head of Design to own the design vision across projects and locations, elevating quality standards and establishing scalable processes.

You will lead Design Managers, mentor senior leaders, and partner with Sales, Execution, and Procurement to ensure feasibility, cost optimization, and strong design-led conversions. A strong portfolio and leadership track record are essential.

Qualifications

• 12–18 years of experience in interior design or design-led organizations.
• Experience leading large, multi-level design teams at scale.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Interior Design, Architecture or related discipline from a reputed institution.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating strategic design leadership.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive the overall design vision, philosophy, and quality standards.
• Lead Design Managers and senior leaders; build a scalable design organization.
• Oversee design operations including capacity planning and timelines.
• Act as escalation authority for design, customer, or delivery challenges.
• Own Design NPS and customer experience metrics.
• Collaborate with Sales to strengthen design-led conversions and scope clarity.
• Work with Execution and Procurement for feasibility and cost optimization.
• Drive design innovation and process improvements balancing creativity and execution.
• Protect the Bonito Designs brand through governance and forums.

Skills

Design leadership

People management

Stakeholder mgmt

Brand governance

Design operations

Strategic thinking

Cost optimization

Education

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

Job description

Your Key Responsibilities:

• Own and drive the overall design vision, philosophy, and quality standards across all Bonito Design projects and locations.
• Ensure consistent, high-quality design delivery at scale by setting clear benchmarks and reviewing performance through Design Managers.
• Lead, mentor, and performance-manage Design Managers and senior design leaders, building a strong, future-ready design organization.
• Oversee design operations, including capacity planning, timelines, productivity, and reduction of rework and inefficiencies.
• Act as the final escalation authority for critical design, customer, or delivery challenges, ensuring timely and effective resolution.
• Own Design NPS and customer experience metrics, driving continuous improvement in the end-to-end design journey.
• Partner closely with Sales leadership to strengthen design-led conversions, pitch quality, and scope clarity.
• Collaborate with Execution and Procurement teams to ensure design feasibility, cost optimization, and smooth handovers.
• Drive design innovation and process improvement, balancing creativity with scalability and execution practicality.
• Represent and safeguard the Bonito Designs brand through consistent design narratives, internal governance, and external forums.

Experience & Education

• 1218 years of experience in interior design, architecture, or design-led organizations.
• Proven experience leading large, multi-level design teams at scale.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Interior Design, Architecture, or related discipline from a reputed institution.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating strategic design leadership and executed projects.
• Experience working in high-growth, consumer-focused businesses is strongly preferred.

Key Skills and Attributes:

• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to scale design operations.
• Deep understanding of residential interior design, customer behavior, and execution realities.
• Exceptional people leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Business acumen with the ability to link design decisions to revenue, margins, and customer satisfaction.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead through ambiguity.
• Passion for innovation, quality, and building category-leading design experiences.