Design Manager - Interiors | Real Estate | Hotels & Residential

Job Requisition ID: 181056

About Al-Futtaim
Established in the 1930s, Al-Futtaim is one of the most diversified and progressive privately held regional businesses, headquartered in Dubai. Operating across more than 20 countries, the Group spans automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and health. With more than 40,000 employees, Al-Futtaim represents over 200 of the world’s most recognised brands, including Toyota, Lexus, IKEA, ACE and Marks & Spencer. Driven by its purpose to enrich lives and elevate communities, Al-Futtaim focuses on digital innovation, AI, sustainable growth and strategic partnerships, creating long-term value for customers, communities and partners while building a responsible legacy for future generations.

Overview Of The Role:

The Design Manager - Interiors focuses on managing interior design for hospitality and retail projects within the Development & Design department. This role involves the oversight of design quality, consultant coordination, and stakeholder management, ensuring that all design aspects meet brand standards, operational requirements, and customer experience expectations. The manager is responsible for guiding projects through all stages from concept to construction, conducting thorough reviews, and preparing presentations for executive stakeholders. The position also involves research on interior design trends and development of design management systems. The role contributes to market research, strategy development, and financial performance assessment to ensure project success.

What You Will Do:

Interior Design Management

• Define the Design Brief to include project context, brand positioning, guest and customer experience expectations, and technical criteria.
• Guide interior design projects from concept vision through schematic design and tender documentation, offering advisory to Project Management throughout delivery.
• Lead reviews of hospitality and retail interior projects for design quality, compliance, brand alignment, and operational functionality.
• Conduct comprehensive technical review of interior design elements, including FF&E, lighting, MEP coordination, and fire-life-safety.
• Prepare detailed commentary on interior design deliverables for executive presentations, including concept narratives and material palettes.
• Resolve issues from conflicting feedback, maintaining company interest and explaining rationale to stakeholders.
• Secure necessary statutory approvals with consultants and direct coordination.
• Support development of marketing and leasing collateral, including plans and presentation packages.

Research and Development

• Conduct research on hospitality and retail interior trends focusing on guest experience, operational efficiency, and material innovation.
• Develop and refine project resources and templates, including design guidelines and review processes.

Business Strategy and Financial Management

• Support market research and development strategy, advising on design potential and brand positioning.
• Define interior design briefs and budgets, conducting cost analysis and advising on procurement strategies.
• Prepare summary presentations on interior design decisions to enable executive decision-making.

General Management and Administration

• Manage project schedules, defining milestones and progress reporting for interior design phases.
• Support contract and commercial management, advising on consultant requirements, scope of services, and deliverables.
• Define procurement strategy for FF&E packages and design services, preparing RFP documents and technical analysis.

Required Skills To Be Successful:

• Proficiency in interior design management and understanding of industry-specific requirements.
• Capability to create compelling presentations for executive management.
• Effective stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to conduct in-depth research on design trends and operational efficiencies.

What Qualifies You For The Role:

• Master's or bachelor's degree in Interior Design, Architecture, or related discipline.
• 10+ years experience in interior design and management roles, preferably with experience in hospitality and retail projects.
• Strong understanding of technical requirements including MEP, fire-life-safety, and FF&E coordination.
• Proficient in MS Office; skills in Adobe Suite and planning software like Primavera are a plus.

About Al-Futtaim Real Estate

With a legacy of more than six decades in real estate and asset management, Al-Futtaim Real Estate – part of Al-Futtaim – creates real impact on the communities it serves through long-term investment and growth. As one of the region’s leading private developers, the company plans, creates and manages developments across the MENA region.

Al-Futtaim Real Estate has a diversified, multi-billion-dollar portfolio across the real estate value chain and asset types such as residential, commercial, malls and industries including hospitality, healthcare, infrastructure and education. Flagship mixed-use urban communities include Dubai Festival City and Cairo Festival City.

Al-Futtaim Real Estate is also responsible for Al-Futtaim Contracting, a fully integrated, end-to-end specialist division operating across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt. The business has delivered industry-leading construction, engineering, technology and FM solutions for more than 50 years.