Design Director

Retal; Saudi Arabia; On-site; SAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Retal is seeking an Interior Design Director to lead the Interior Design Department, ensuring design excellence, efficiency, profitability, and client satisfaction across projects. The role oversees the full design process from award to construction support while upholding creativity, technical quality, and commercial performance.

The Director will manage all Interior Design staff, coordinate with Architecture, Structure, MEP, Landscape, and Interior Design teams, and drive standardization,

Responsibilities

• Lead and maintain the Interior Design vision and quality standards.
• Direct and mentor the Interior Design Managers, Team Leaders, Designers, and Visualizers.
• Oversee projects from Concept through IFC to ensure scope, budget, and schedule adherence.
• Implement QC procedures, review drawings and documentation, and maintain BIM/Revit standards.
• Lead client presentations and maintain strong client relationships throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support business development, fee estimation, and project pitches to identify new opportunities.
• Drive innovation in AI, BIM, and digital design technologies.
• Monitor department profitability, man-hours, and resource utilization.
• Develop SOPs and enforce the approved design workflow across projects.

Job description

The Interior Design Director is responsible for leading the Interior Design Department, ensuring design excellence, operational efficiency, profitability, and client satisfaction across all projects. The role oversees the complete design process from project award through construction support while maintaining the highest standards of creativity, technical quality, and commercial performance.

Key Responsibilities

1. Design Leadership

• Establish and maintain the company's design vision and quality standards.
• Lead concept development and ensure innovative, market-leading design solutions.
• Review and approve all major design submissions before client issuance.
• Ensure every project reflects the client's brief while maintaining the company's design philosophy.
• Drive creativity and continuous improvement within the design team.

2. Department Management

• Lead and manage all Interior Design Managers, Team Leaders, Designers, and Visualizers.
• Allocate resources according to project priorities.
• Balance workload across teams.
• Monitor department productivity and utilization.
• Conduct weekly design review meetings.
• Develop departmental procedures and workflows.

3. Project Oversight

• Monitor all projects from Concept through IFC.
• Ensure projects meet scope, budget, and schedule.
• Review project risks and mitigation plans.
• Resolve technical and design challenges.
• Ensure design packages are complete before submission.
• Coordinate with Project Managers and Technical Teams.

4. Quality Assurance

• Implement Quality Control (QC) procedures.
• Approve design presentations.
• Review drawings, specifications, material selections, FF&E, and technical documentation.
• Ensure BIM/Revit standards are maintained.
• Eliminate design inconsistencies before construction.

5. Client Management

• Attend major client presentations.
• Lead high-level design discussions.
• Build strong client relationships.
• Resolve client concerns professionally.
• Maintain high client satisfaction throughout the project lifecycle.

6. Business Development

• Support proposal preparation.
• Participate in fee estimation.
• Assist with interviews and project pitches.
• Identify new business opportunities.
• Promote the company's design capabilities.

7. Technical Leadership

• Ensure compliance with international design standards.
• Ensure coordination between Architecture, Structure, MEP, Landscape, and Interior Design.
• Develop company design standards, specifications, and material libraries.
• Lead innovation in AI, BIM, and digital design technologies.

8. Financial Responsibility

• Monitor department profitability.
• Review project man-hours.
• Control design budgets.
• Optimize resource utilization.
• Reduce unnecessary redesign and rework.

9. Team Development

• Mentor Design Managers and Senior Designers.
• Identify training needs.
• Conduct performance evaluations.
• Develop succession plans.
• Foster a collaborative and high-performance culture.

10. Process & Governance

• Develop and enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Ensure all projects follow the approved design workflow.
• Monitor compliance with company procedures.
• Approve project milestones and internal stage gates.

Authority

The Interior Design Director has the authority to:

• Approve all design submissions.
• Assign project teams.
• Reallocate resources.
• Approve design concepts.
• Stop any submission that does not meet company standards.
• Escalate project risks to executive management.
• Recommend hiring, promotions, and disciplinary actions.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Project delivery on schedule.
• Design quality score.
• Client satisfaction rating.
• Number of design revisions due to internal errors.
• Team utilization rate.
• Department profitability.
• Revenue generated.
• Percentage of projects delivered without delays.
• Staff retention and development.
• Compliance with company design procedures.
• Reduction in RFIs and construction issues caused by design.
• Innovation and implementation of new design technologies.