Senior Interior Designer – 5-Star Hospitality

We are looking for a Senior Interior Designer with at least 10 years' experience and a proven international track record on five-star hotel projects, including the GCC.

The candidate will be responsible for the interior design of guest rooms, suites, lobbies, banquet spaces, restaurants, F&B outlets, spas and public areas. The work must meet luxury brand standards and the expectations of discerning guests.

Key Responsibilities

1. Concept and Design Development

• Establish the overall design theme and narrative for the hotel, rooted in its brand, location, culture and target guest, and carry it consistently through every space.
• Develop interior concepts, mood boards and material palettes that express the design theme.
• Produce high-quality 3D renders and visualisations to present the design theme and concepts to owners and operators.
• Produce space plans and layouts for guest rooms, suites, lobbies, restaurants, bars, ballrooms, meeting rooms, spa, fitness, back-of-house interfaces and all hotel spaces.
• Take designs from concept through schematic design, design development and construction documentation.
• Apply operator brand standards (e.g. Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, Jumeirah or similar) to every design decision.

2. Documentation and Specification

• Prepare detailed drawings: plans, reflected ceiling plans, elevations, sections, joinery and millwork details.
• Write FF&E (furniture, fixtures and equipment) and OS&E specifications, schedules and finish books.
• Specify materials, lighting, sanitaryware, fabrics, wall coverings, flooring and artwork to luxury, durability and fire-safety standards.

3. Procurement and Vendor Coordination

• Source and select suppliers, artisans and manufacturers; review samples, shop drawings and prototypes.
• Support FF&E tendering, value engineering and cost control within the approved budget.
• Oversee mock-up rooms and secure sign-off from the owner and operator.

4. Coordination and Site Supervision

• Conduct BIM coordination and clash detection of the interior model against architectural, structural and MEP models (Navisworks, Autodesk ACC), and resolve clashes with architects, MEP engineers, lighting designers, contractors, the operator's technical services team and the owner's representative.
• Conduct site visits to check installation quality and conformity with design intent.
• Prepare snag lists and support handover, practical completion and pre-opening.

5. Client and Project Management

• Present design proposals to owners, operators and stakeholders, and incorporate their feedback.
• Track deliverables against the project schedule and report progress weekly.
• Keep design records, revisions and approvals organised and auditable.

Required Experience and Qualifications

Candidates must show completed five-star hotel interiors in their portfolio; general residential or commercial experience alone is not enough.

• Bachelor's degree (or higher) in Interior Design, Interior Architecture or Architecture.
• Minimum 10 years of professional interior design experience, with at least 8 years in luxury hospitality.
• Proven delivery of at least 2–3 five-star hotel projects (new-build) from concept to opening, with your role on each clearly stated.
• Proficiency in Revit, Autodesk ACC, Navisworks and rendering software is required. Clash detection and coordination are a must.
• International experience, including five-star hotel projects in the GCC, working to the brand standards of international luxury operators.
• Experience designing the full range of hotel spaces: guest rooms and suites, lobby and arrival, F&B outlets, spa and wellness, meeting and event spaces.
• Strong command of FF&E and OS&E specification, procurement and budgeting for hotel projects.
• Working knowledge of building codes, fire-safety ratings for hospitality materials, accessibility requirements and health and safety on site.
• Must have: proven clash detection and BIM coordination experience with multidisciplinary consultants, contractors and owner/operator teams.
• Site supervision experience, including mock-up rooms, snagging and handover.
• A portfolio of five-star hotel work, available at application.
• Excellent written and spoken English; Arabic is an advantage.

Key Competencies

• A refined eye for detail, proportion and luxury materials.
• Able to work independently and deliver quickly within a short-term engagement.
• Clear, confident presenter to owners and senior operator teams.
• Highly organised, with strong time and budget management.
• Collaborative and calm under deadline pressure.

Application Requirements

Interested candidates must submit an updated CV and a portfolio demonstrating completed five-star hotel interior design projects.

Important: Applicants must have proven experience delivering international five-star hotel projects, including projects in the GCC. General residential or commercial interior design experience alone will not meet the requirements.

Application Question(s):

• Do you have hands-on experience with Revit, Autodesk ACC, Navisworks, BIM coordination and clash detection?

Experience:

• professional interior design: 10 years (Required)
• luxury hospitality interior design: 8 years (Required)

Work Location: In person