Interior Design Associate Director

Required Skills

Nice to have:

The ideal candidate is an accomplished hospitality designer and creative leader with exceptional design ability, strong project, team, and client leadership skills. Requires 10+ years of experience in interior design or architecture within hospitality and F&B, an outstanding portfolio, and proven ability to develop narrative-driven concepts. Must possess strong creative and leadership capabilities, commercial awareness, excellent client-facing and communication skills, and a collaborative attitude. A bachelor's degree in interior design, interior architecture, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional qualification is required, along with the right to work in the UK.

Job description / Role Job Type Full Time Job Location Dubai, UAE Nationality Any Nationality Salary Not Specified Gender Not Specified Arabic Fluency Not Specified Job Function Architecture Company Industry Travel, Hotel & Tourism About the company TGP International is looking for an experienced and highly creative senior associate / associate director to join its studio. TGP International is a global hospitality consultancy based in London, Dubai, and Cairo. We partner with ambitious brands, clients, and entrepreneurs to turn their visions into successful hospitality experiences through concept development, interior design, branding and graphic design, advisory, franchising, operations, and project management. Our multidisciplinary team brings together interior designers, brand designers, strategists, advisors, chefs, and hospitality operators. This combination of creative and commercial expertise makes TGP an exciting environment for people who are passionate about food, hospitality and creating memorable guest experiences. We are looking for someone who shares that passion. Someone inspired by the opportunity to create world-class restaurants, bars, food halls, and hospitality destinations, and who understands how exceptional design can transform the guest experience. While TGP is an established international consultancy, we retain a strong entrepreneurial spirit. This is a senior role within our interior design team, offering significant studio responsibility, client exposure, and the opportunity to contribute directly to exciting hospitality projects. Key responsibilities Design expertise Deliver world class creative solutions across multiple small, medium, and large-scale projects simultaneously, and across multiple geographies (UK, Europe, Asia and Middle East) Lead projects and the creative process from concept to delivery; with proven track record of strong design narrative where storytelling remains at the heart of the project throughout its development Lead and contribute hands-on to concept development and design presentations, test fits, spatial planning, and 3D models, with a strong focus on guest experience and operational functionality Review detailed drawing packages, finishes and FF&E specifications ensuring technical requirements and design intent are successfully coordinated, including liaising effectively with clients, consultants, contractors and suppliers throughout the design and delivery process Demonstrate deep knowledge of design detailing, materials, finishes, fixtures and furniture, including fabrication and construction processes Build and maintain strong professional relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, makers, and other industry partners Project leadership & management Take accountability for the successful creative and commercial delivery of projects to TGP’s quality standards Maintain oversight and remain actively involved and hands-on throughout the entire project process, from initial concept through to design development, documentation, and delivery Make informed decisions regarding project resourcing, priorities, workflows, and allocation of responsibilities across internal teams including weekly resource tracking and coordination of project scheduling Manage projects effectively against agreed programmes, budgets, contractual scope of services, and commercial requirements Identify project risks and challenges early and work proactively with leadership team to resolve them Provide clear and timely reporting to the leadership team on project progress, resourcing, and key issues Team development & management Foster a collaborative and supportive environment in which knowledge and best practice are openly shared Lead, mentor and train junior team members to support their professional and creative development, and maximise team performance and quality design output Support department resource planning, forecasting, project allocation and ad-hoc department admin Manage workloads and workflows across multiple concurrent projects, ensuring teams are appropriately supported Contribute positively to TGP’s studio culture and help maintain an environment that encourages collaboration and creativity Client engagement Proactively manage existing client relationships, ensuring that opportunities for repeat work are maximised Present creative concepts and design thinking clearly, confidently, and persuasively to senior client stakeholders Actively engage with opportunities to develop new business, enhancing internal and external communications via events, forums, and publications Support the preparation of fee bids, RFPs, and fee negotiations on projects Software proficiency Adobe Suite AutoCAD SketchUp PowerPoint Microsoft Office Experience with the following would be advantageous: Miro Asana Location and working model The role is based in our Covent Garden studio in London, with a hybrid working model of three days per week in the studio, and two days working remotely from home. Requirements We are looking for an accomplished hospitality designer and creative leader who combines exceptional design ability with strong project, team, and client leadership. The successful candidate will have: 10+ years' professional experience in interior design or interior architecture, with significant experience in hospitality and F&B environments An outstanding portfolio demonstrating exceptional creative quality across restaurants, food halls, bars, and other hospitality and commercial environments having worked through RIBA stages 1-6 A proven ability to develop emotive, narrative-driven, and design-led concepts and experiences, across projects of varying scales and geographies Strong creative leadership, with the ability to take projects from initial concept and storytelling through design development and delivery, including technical and construction expertise The confidence and experience to operate autonomously, with minimal supervision from leadership team Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities, with experience developing and managing design teams Commercial awareness and an understanding of project programmes, budgets/value engineering, contracts, fees, and resourcing Excellent client-facing, presentation, and communication skills A collaborative, adaptable, no-ego approach, and a commitment to contributing positively to studio culture A bachelor’s degree in interior design, interior architecture or a related discipline from an accredited institution, or equivalent professional qualification The right to work in the UK Benefits TGP International employee benefits: Hybrid work arrangement: three days in the office and two days working remotely Company incentive scheme offering up to 5 to 10 per cent for introductions and 5 per cent for successful closures Remote work flexibility: one additional week per year to work remotely from your home country, which can be combined with up to two consecutive weeks of annual leave Structured professional development through a dedicated coaching and mentoring program Annual company gathering: a global team event bringing together employees from all offices An employee recognition program: regular recognition initiatives celebrating outstanding performance and contributions Apply Now