Sr Interior Designer - Design Guardianship Dubai

The Senior Interior Designer – Design Guardianship role will be responsible for overseeing and delivering interior design projects on-site, with a particular focus on high-end hospitality, especially five-star hotel projects in the UAE. This role requires strong design expertise, exceptional project management skills, and a proven ability to safeguard the design intent during construction. This role ensures that the approved concept, aesthetics, and brand standards are consistently maintained throughout the project lifecycle, particularly during site execution. **Roles & Responsibilities** * Report directly to the Resident Engineer and liaise with the Interior Design Consultant based in Los Angeles [LA] to ensure ID design compliance. * Act as the guardian of the design intent, ensuring the highest standards of quality, detailing, and execution. * Safeguard and enforce the design vision, concept, and brand narrative from concept through to project completion * Collaborate with architects, engineers, contractors, and stakeholders to achieve seamless project coordination and delivery. * Lead and provide direction for all ID works, ensuring alignment with project goals, IFC drawings, specifications, and timelines. * Review design documentation, including layouts, material specifications, and detailed drawings. * Review and respond to contractor submittals (shop drawings, material samples, fixtures, etc.), ensuring compliance with IFC design, project specifications, and Authority requirements. * Respond to RFIs related to interior design in a timely manner. * Lead design audits and inspections on-site to ensure adherence to approved design * Provide design clarifications and direction to contractor and site teams without compromising intent. Align with the ID design firm in LA for any missing design information’s, gaps etc. * Coordinate closely with client, operator (hospitality brand), and consultant teams on all design-related matters * Ensure compliance with Estidama / sustainability / brand standards where applicable * Support authority submissions from a design compliance perspective * Conduct site inspections, oversee quality control, and resolve design or execution issues to prevent project delays. * Attend and contribute to technical and design coordination meetings, providing practical solutions without deviating from the intended design. * Evaluate and provide recommendations on alternative proposals, including value engineering, while maintaining design integrity. * Prepare and present interior design concepts, mock-up room reviews, finishing quality benchmarks, and FF&E selections to the client and project team. * Attend client meetings, capture discussions in minutes, and provide regular updates. * Prepare monthly progress/design compliance reports. * Maintain extensive knowledge of finishes, FF&E, and the UAE local market supply chain. Evaluate value engineering proposals to ensure no compromise on design quality **Minimum Requirements** The minimum qualifications for this role are: * Bachelor’s degree in architecture, Interior Design, or a related field from an accredited institution. * Minimum **12-15 years of experience** in interior design, with at least **5 years in a senior role** delivering high-end hospitality projects in the UAE. * Proven track record in delivering **five-star hotel projects** . * Strong understanding of UAE local codes, regulations, and authority requirements. * Demonstrated experience with large-scale hospitality projects, including hotels and restaurants. * Expertise in detailing joinery, casework, millwork, and built-in elements. * Familiarity with premium global brands in FF&E, plumbing fixtures, appliances, architectural hardware, and sanitary ware. * Strong site presence with the ability to represent and defend the design vision. * Excellent organizational and project management skills, capable of managing multiple workstreams. * Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to coordinate across multidisciplinary teams in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Los Angeles. * Proficiency in design software: AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite. * Fluent in English (written and spoken). * Successful candidate may have to travel to Interior Design office located in Los Angeles for a minimum of 6 weeks for project orientation. * Bachelor’s degree in architecture, Interior Design, or a related field from an accredited institution. * Minimum **12-15 years of experience** in interior design, with at least **5 years in a senior role** delivering high-end hospitality projects in the UAE. * Proven track record in delivering **five-star hotel projects** . * Strong understanding of UAE local codes, regulations, and authority requirements. * Demonstrated experience with large-scale hospitality projects, including hotels and restaurants. * Expertise in detailing joinery, casework, millwork, and built-in elements. * Familiarity with premium global brands in FF&E, plumbin