Job Overview
Al-Futtaim Real Estate is offering an exciting career opportunity for an experienced Design Manager – Interiors in Dubai, UAE, within its Development & Design department. This role is ideal for interior design and architecture professionals with extensive experience managing hospitality, retail, hotel, and residential development projects.
The Design Manager – Interiors will oversee interior design development from concept creation and schematic design through tender documentation and construction delivery. The successful candidate will ensure design quality, brand consistency, technical compliance, and an exceptional customer and guest experience across development projects.
The position also involves consultant coordination, stakeholder management, design reviews, budget planning, procurement strategy, and research into emerging interior design trends. Candidates with strong technical knowledge, commercial awareness, and leadership capabilities are encouraged to apply.
Key Responsibilities
1. Interior Design Management
- Develop comprehensive interior design briefs covering project objectives, brand positioning, customer and guest experience, and technical requirements.
- Manage interior design projects from concept development and schematic design through detailed design and tender documentation.
- Review hospitality and retail interior design proposals to ensure quality, brand alignment, operational functionality, and compliance with project requirements.
- Coordinate technical reviews of furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E), lighting, mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems, and fire and life safety requirements.
- Provide detailed feedback on design submissions, material selections, colour palettes, and concept presentations.
- Prepare design narratives, technical comments, and executive presentations to support project reviews and management decisions.
- Resolve conflicting stakeholder feedback while protecting project objectives, design quality, and company interests.
- Coordinate with consultants and relevant authorities to secure required statutory approvals.
- Support the preparation of marketing, leasing, and sales materials, including design presentations, plans, and project documentation.
2. Design Research and Development
- Research emerging interior design trends across hospitality, retail, hotels, and residential developments.
- Evaluate innovative materials, design solutions, and technologies that improve customer experience and operational efficiency.
- Develop and maintain interior design guidelines, templates, review procedures, and project management resources.
- Identify opportunities to improve design quality, consistency, sustainability, and project delivery processes.
- Share relevant industry insights to support design innovation and long-term development objectives.
3. Business Strategy and Financial Management
- Support market research and development planning by evaluating design opportunities, market trends, and brand positioning.
- Establish interior design briefs, project budgets, and cost parameters in line with development objectives.
- Conduct design cost analysis and provide recommendations on material selections, procurement approaches, and value optimisation.
- Prepare executive-level presentations summarising design concepts, technical considerations, budgets, and key decisions.
- Collaborate with project and commercial teams to align design solutions with financial targets and business requirements.
4. Project Planning and Consultant Coordination
- Establish project schedules, design milestones, deliverables, and progress reporting requirements.
- Monitor interior design progress to ensure submissions and approvals are completed within agreed timelines.
- Coordinate with project managers, architects, interior design consultants, engineers, contractors, and other stakeholders.
- Support contract and commercial management by reviewing consultant scopes of services, technical requirements, and deliverables.
- Identify and resolve design coordination issues that may affect project quality, costs, or programme delivery.
5. Procurement and FF&E Management
- Develop procurement strategies for furniture, fixtures, equipment, interior finishes, and professional design services.
- Prepare requests for proposals (RFPs), technical evaluation criteria, and procurement documentation.
- Review consultant proposals and technical submissions to ensure alignment with design standards and project requirements.
- Provide technical recommendations to support supplier selection, cost management, and procurement decisions.
- Coordinate design requirements with procurement and project delivery teams to maintain quality and consistency.
Required Skills and Competencies
Candidates applying for Design Manager – Interiors jobs in Dubai should demonstrate:
- Strong expertise in interior design management and project coordination.
- Knowledge of hospitality, retail, hotel, and residential interior design requirements.
- Understanding of FF&E specifications, lighting design, MEP coordination, and fire and life safety standards.
- Experience managing design consultants, contractors, and multiple stakeholders.
- Excellent presentation, communication, negotiation, and decision-making skills.
- Strong research, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
- Knowledge of design budgets, cost analysis, procurement strategies, and project schedules.
- Ability to prepare executive presentations and communicate complex design concepts clearly.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with Adobe Creative Suite and Primavera or similar planning software is an advantage.
Education and Experience Requirements
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Interior Design, Architecture, or a related discipline.
- More than 10 years of professional experience in interior design and design management.
- Previous experience managing hospitality and retail interior design projects is preferred.
- Proven ability to oversee design development, consultant coordination, technical reviews, and project documentation.
- Experience with FF&E procurement, design budgets, statutory approvals, and multidisciplinary project teams.
- Strong understanding of industry standards, technical compliance, and brand design requirements.
About Al-Futtaim Real Estate
Al-Futtaim Real Estate is part of the Al-Futtaim Group and has more than six decades of experience in real estate development and asset management. The business develops and manages projects across the Middle East, North Africa, and other regional markets.
Job Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
How to Apply
Interested candidates should review the official Al-Futtaim Real Estate vacancy details and prepare an updated CV highlighting their interior design management experience, hospitality or retail projects, technical coordination skills, consultant management, and budget and procurement expertise.