Senior Interior Designer Location: Abu Dhabi, UAEIndustry: Real Estate Development
About The Role
We are seeking an experienced and highly creative Senior Interior Designer to lead the interior design development of high-end residential, mixed-use, hospitality, and commercial projects. The successful candidate will be responsible for driving the design vision from concept through project completion, managing external consultants, mentoring junior designers, and ensuring projects are delivered in line with the company's design standards, quality expectations, budget, and programme.
The Senior Interior Designer will work closely with the Development, Architecture, Projects, Procurement, and Sales & Marketing teams to create exceptional customer-focused environments that enhance the company's portfolio.
Key Responsibilities:
Design Leadership Lead the development of interior design concepts, space planning, mood boards, material palettes, and FF&E strategies for multiple projects. Ensure all designs align with the project's vision, brand positioning, customer experience, and commercial objectives. Review and approve concept, schematic, detailed design, tender, and construction documentation prepared by consultants. Drive design excellence while balancing functionality, sustainability, cost, and operational requirements. Stay informed on emerging design trends, materials, technologies, and industry best practices.
Consultant & Stakeholder Management Manage and coordinate external interior design consultants throughout all project phases. Lead design workshops, presentations, and review meetings with internal stakeholders and consultants. Provide technical guidance and design direction to consultants to ensure alignment with project objectives. Coordinate closely with Architecture, MEP, Landscape, Procurement, Sales & Marketing, and Project Delivery teams. Review consultant deliverables and ensure compliance with company standards and project requirements.
FF&E & Material Selection Lead the selection and specification of finishes, materials, furniture, fixtures, artwork, lighting, and accessories. Evaluate material samples, mock-ups, and prototypes for quality and suitability. Support procurement activities by reviewing supplier submissions and recommending products. Lead value engineering initiatives without compromising the overall design vision.
Project Delivery & Site Coordination Monitor design implementation throughout construction to ensure design intent is maintained. Conduct regular site inspections and resolve design-related issues during construction and fit-out. Review shop drawings, material submittals, mock-ups, and as-built documentation. Collaborate with contractors and consultants to ensure timely resolution of design challenges.
Quality & Design Governance Ensure consistency of design quality across multiple developments. Develop and maintain interior design standards, material libraries, and design guidelines. Review project documentation for completeness, coordination, and accuracy. Ensure compliance with UAE regulations, accessibility standards, and applicable building codes.
Leadership & Team Development Mentor and guide junior interior designers and design coordinators. Support workload planning and resource allocation across projects. Foster a collaborative, creative, and high-performance design culture. Share knowledge and promote continuous improvement within the design team.
Requirements Qualifications Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design, Architecture, or a related discipline. Professional memberships (e.g., IIDA, CID, RIBA, or equivalent) are advantageous.
Experience Minimum 15 years of interior design experience. Proven experience delivering luxury residential, hospitality, mixed-use, or commercial developments. Strong experience managing external consultants across multiple project phases. UAE/GCC project experience is highly preferred.
Technical Skills Advanced proficiency in Auto CAD, Revit, Sketch Up, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office. Strong understanding of FF&E specifications, space planning, and material selection. Knowledge of BIM processes and design coordination. Strong understanding of UAE building regulations, authority requirements, accessibility standards, and international design standards.
Competencies Excellent design leadership and creative vision. Strong project management and organizational skills. Outstanding presentation and communication abilities. Excellent stakeholder and consultant management skills. Strong commercial awareness and value engineering capability. High attention to detail and quality. Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously. Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills. Ability to mentor and develop team members.