Associate Director, Interior Design

SJ Group; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SJ Group is seeking an accomplished Design Development & Project Leadership professional to drive interior design concepts across Hospitality, Retail, Workplace and Public Space projects in Singapore. You will lead design development, coordinate with FF&E and architectural teams, mentor designers, and manage timelines and budgets while ensuring the Design Director's vision is realized on multiple projects.

This role requires strong presentation skills, client liaison, and a track record of

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in interior design, Interior Architecture, or Architecture.
• 10+ years of professional interiors design experience on medium to large-scale Hospitality, Retail, Workplace or Public Space projects.
• Professional certification (or registered architect license) preferred but not required.
• Mastery of AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite and visualization tools.
• Extensive experience developing FF&E specifications, budgets and schedules.
• Excellent verbal, written, and visual communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead design development and documentation, realizing the Design Director's vision.
• Develop mood boards, material palettes, furniture plans and 3D visuals for client reviews.
• Help generate construction documents, FF&E specifications, and custom millwork drawings.
• Resolve design and technical challenges with architects, consultants and vendors.
• Manage timelines, deliverables and budgets with the Project Manager.
• Be the primary day-to-day client contact, building relationships and professional communication.
• Lead internal project meetings and present design rationale to clients.
• Mentor junior designers and review their work to support growth.
• Collaborate with FF&E, branding and architectural teams for integrated design.
• Oversee FF&E process: sourcing, specification, procurement and installation logistics.
• Conduct site visits, review submittals, and address RFIs to protect design intent.
• Uphold studio standards for documentation, detailing and materials innovation.
• Maintain knowledge of materials, products, codes and sustainability.

Skills

Leadership

Verbal communication

Written communication

Visual communication

Education

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

Tools

AutoCAD

SketchUp

Adobe Creative Suite

Visualization tools

Job description

Design Development & Project Leadership

• Lead the design development and documentation phases for multiple projects, ensuring the Design Director's vision is realized.
• Develop and produce compelling presentations, including mood boards, material palettes, furniture plans, and 3D visualizations for client reviews.
• Help to generate comprehensive construction documents, detailed FF&E specifications, and custom millwork drawings and detailing.
• Resolve complex design and technical challenges proactively, collaborating with architects, consultants, and vendors.
• Manage project timelines, deliverables, and budgets in coordination with the Project Manager.

Client & Team Collaboration

• Serve as a primary day-to-day client contact, building strong relationships and managing communication with professionalism and clarity.
• Lead internal project meetings and actively participate in client presentations, articulating design rationale.
• Mentor and provide clear direction to intermediate and junior designers, reviewing their work and fostering their professional growth.
• Collaborate effectively with FF&E, branding, and architectural teams to ensure a fully integrated design.

Technical Execution & Quality Control

• Oversee the FF&E process: sourcing, specification, procurement, and installation logistics.
• Conduct site visits, review submittals, and address RFI's, ensuring adherence to design intent throughout construction.
• Uphold and advance studio standards for documentation, detailing, and materials innovation.
• Maintain current knowledge of materials, products, codes, and sustainability standards.

Pre-requisites And Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in interior design, Interior Architecture, or Architecture.
• At least 10 years of professional interiors design experience, with a proven track record on medium to large-scale projects in Hospitality, Retail, Workplace, Public Space design.
• Professional certification (or registered architect license) is strongly preferred but not required.
• Mastery of design software (AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite and visualization tools.
• Extensive experience developing FF&E specifications, budget, and schedules.
• Excellent verbal, written, and visual communication skills.

Real Impact, Made Together

SAA is a member of the Surbana Jurong (SJ) Group, a diverse and collaborative collective of problem solvers for the built environment, continually reimagining ways to create a smart and sustainable future.

As one of SJ's 10 member companies, SAA is part of a global network of professionals in more than 120 offices in over 40 countries.

To find out more about SAA, please visit our website at https://saaarchitects.com.sg

At Surbana Jurong, we put talent, hard work, teamwork and a fun workplace together to approach problems and solve them creatively and collaboratively. Join us in making a positive impact on the world!