Associate Director

Associate Director opportunity to help shape and grow a hospitality-led interiors team within an established multidisciplinary design studio.

Position

This position is for a Senior Associate / Associate Director to join an expanding Interiors team during an exciting period of growth. This is a newly created strategic hire, aimed at strengthening the studio’s presence within hospitality-led interiors and supporting the next chapter of the team’s evolution.

The role will focus primarily on hospitality environments, with exposure across F&B, lounges, retail and guest experience spaces, whilst also contributing to selected workplace projects where hospitality thinking and FF&E expertise can elevate the user experience.

The successful candidate will take an active role across project leadership, team development and client engagement, whilst helping shape the creative direction and future growth of the interiors offering. This opportunity would suit someone who enjoys balancing design leadership with mentoring, relationship building and contributing to the wider success of a studio.

Working closely with the leadership team, this appointment offers genuine influence across design, project delivery and future opportunities within the business.

Candidate

The ideal candidate will bring 10+ years of experience within interiors, combining a strong hospitality background with leadership capability, commercial awareness and a collaborative approach.

• Extensive experience designing hotel, hospitality and F&B environments, with a portfolio demonstrating exceptional design quality.
• Proven track record leading projects from concept through to delivery, with strong design and project leadership capabilities.
• Previous experience establishing, growing or leading a hospitality design division or team, ideally from inception.
• A portfolio demonstrating a refined, contemporary and architectural design aesthetic, with a strong understanding of materiality, craftsmanship, restrained detailing and timeless interiors.
• Experience gained within a design-led studio recognised for delivering thoughtfully curated hospitality environments of a similar calibre.
• Existing network of clients, consultants, suppliers and industry contacts, with the ability to leverage relationships and contribute to future opportunities (a strong "black book" would be highly advantageous).
• Previous experience managing clients and developing long-term relationships within the ind
• ustry.Demonstrated experience leading, mentoring and developing teams within a collaborative studio environment.
• Experience supporting resource planning, project allocation and team management across multiple projects.
• Strong commercial awareness with exposure to project budgeting, fee proposals, financial planning and project costing.
• Strong creative capability with excellent presentation and communication skills.
• Ability to build cohesive teams and positively contribute to studio culture.
• Exposure to business development, pitches and relationship-led opportunities.
• Comfortable contributing across workplace projects, particularly where FF&E and hospitality-led environments intersect.
• Strong cultural alignment with a collaborative, ego-free studio environment and a passion for creating design-led hospitality experiences.

Studio

This established multidisciplinary design practice has built a reputation for delivering thoughtful, design-led projects across architecture and interiors. The interiors team is entering an exciting phase of growth, with expanding its hospitality division.

The studio encourages leadership, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking, supported by a well-structured and collaborative environment.

ApplyApply via LinkedIn or email interiors@foliocareers.com. Applicants must have valid Right to Work (RTW) in the UK, as those without will not be eligible.

Due to the high volume of applications, we will only be able to respond to those shortlisted for the position. We thank you for your time and interest.

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FOLIO is a trusted specialist agency within the design community. We partner with top practices, boutique studios, and global design groups to connect talent with opportunity. Explore current vacancies and learn how we support design careers at www.foliocareers.com