Senior Manager Interior Design Maternity Cover

Job description / Role

Company overview

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Group’s entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organization to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.

By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity; Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day.

Overview of the role

To provide design management for interior design of allocated private properties. Work closely with the family on design moods and directions. Work with international consultants to design to the family’s taste and requirements, and exceed the standards of what would be expected in such luxury projects. To effectively drive the interior design process with the help of design consultants. To oversee and make successful the entire design process from pre-concept design stage through final design and for construction documentation (including selection of designers). Help the family with material and FF&E selections, and support on the final styling of the project where required.

For smaller projects, develop interior design concepts in-house, formulate design presentation strategies, and provide creative guidance.

What you will do

Responsible for:

• Brief and selection of consultants
  Assess the interior design brief, define and assess specific requirements, define qualification/evaluation criteria, review and suggest candidate consultants, meet consultants where required, assess and compare presentations, make recommendations for selection of designers.
• Defining design scope and control of design costs
  Define client requirements, style and preferences based on discussions. Create a mood board if required to reach a confirmed brief.
  Specify design scope and detailed deliverables for the project for interior design, FF&E, art and accessories. Manage the relevant design consultants throughout the design process ensuring high quality designs that meet approval of the client.
• Design management
  Manage interior design projects from layouts to detailed drawings and FF&E specifications. Check and review if standards and requirements are integrated into one unified scheme according to the program.
  Maintain current knowledge of trends and materials, techniques, and other developments in interior design. Identify trends in the market concerning interior design.
  Assess the market, define and assess specific requirements, define qualification/evaluation criteria, review available candidate consultants, develop relevant interview process and questionnaires, assess and compare presentations, make recommendations for selection of designers.
• Project budget and program
  Ensure that the designs are within the budget, and where it isn’t highlight to the project lead. Monitor the progress of the interior design scope to ensure completion within the described timeframe keeping stakeholders always informed of the progress.
• Management of design change
  Identify potential design changes before they occur.
• Contribute to development of design management procedures
  Review/comment design management procedures in respect of relevance, usability, and clarity. Provide feedback in respect of procedures in use.

Job context

This position is directly related to development of private assets/high-end projects based in UAE and Europe. The candidate will collaborate and work closely with other departments within Private Properties for the successful completion of the projects. He/she will be dealing directly with the client and senior leadership and able to work with minimum supervision.

Required skills to be successful

Job-specific skills

• Prequalification of consultants
• Definition of design scope, deliverables, etc.
• Coordination with designers - clarity and accuracy of communicating client’s requirements
• Review of design packages
• Identification of cost/time/quality implication of any design change and recommendation thereof

Essential skills

• Demonstrate an ability to manage and deliver the above responsibilities
• Provide evidence of a good understanding of design and delivery issues, i.e. have a good design portfolio and examples of delivering multiple projects simultaneously
• Demonstrate good interpersonal skills and the ability to manage in a team under pressure
• Demonstrate an ability to use a variety of appropriate media in the development of and review of design documents
• Have a flexible and open attitude towards new ways of working

Desirable skills

• Demonstrate strong drive and initiative in response to direction or instruction
• Demonstrate the ability to understand and manage design decisions
• Demonstrate the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines efficiently and within key design parameters
• Ability to use to an appropriate level some of the following:
  SketchUp / 3D Max / Rhino
  AutoCAD
  InDesign
  Photoshop / Illustrator
  BIM (optional)

What equips you for the role

Minimum qualifications and knowledge

Degree in architecture or other related disciplines.

Minimum experience

10 to 15 years hands-on experience in design and construction.
Familiarity with design standards, codes and practices.

About Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate

The real estate development and operations arm of Al-Futtaim, Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate is responsible for a multi-billion-dollar portfolio across MENA. With high-quality residential, business, retail, tourism, educational and healthcare developments, the master developer caters to the diverse needs of cities and communities in the region. From origination, conception, development, sales, procurement and construction of mega-projects and the leasing, operation and management of these projects after completion, Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate (AFGRE) has been developing and managing owned landbanks, unlocking the economic potential of the region and contributing to future development for more than 40 years.

Our focus is to enable and invest in meaningful relationships to make our properties the best places to live and work, build additional products and services and enable partnerships to create true value to our customers throughout their entire experience with us.

AFGRE is responsible for master planning of all projects in its portfolio, including two large scale mixed use destinations: Dubai Festival City and Cairo Festival City.

About the Company

Established in the 1930's, the Al-Futtaim Group initially operated as a trading enterprise. Rapid development throughout the 1940's and 50's saw it establish itself regionally as an integrated commercial, industrial and services organisation, positioning itself one of the leading business houses in the lower Gulf region. Today, it operates collectively over 40 companies bearing the Al-Futtaim name, dominates many market segments in the UAE, and has expanded its sphere of operation to include Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Egypt.

The Group comprises a diverse range of strategically positioned operating subsidiaries and associate companies, structured to give the Al-Futtaim Group the flexibility and versatility to keep ahead of local competition while keeping pace with the ever-evolving global business scenario. The Groups continued investment in world-class systems technology is clear evidence of its commitment to maintain leading edge performance and service delivery.

The success of the Al-Futtaim Group can be attributed to a business approach that combines the ability to change with the traditional values of integrity, service and social responsibility that define its core business philosophy. This, linked with the Groups belief in decentralisation, gives the heads of the operating companies a high degree of functional autonomy and authority, providing the Group with essential flexibility, and individual employees a clearly defined work culture and sense of responsibility.