Senior Design Manager (Interior Design)

About the Role

The portfolio comprises projects directly managed by the client team or delivered by leading third‑party developers under the client’s leadership, covering new construction, master planning schemes, and executive fit‑out works. The senior design manager (interior design) will be seconded from Mace into the client office, operating at the portfolio level to represent the client’s interests while leveraging Mace’s consultancy expertise. The role leads the delivery of interior design packages across assigned projects, ensuring design quality, compliance, constructability, and alignment with strategic objectives. Acting as a trusted advisor, the manager will work closely with internal client stakeholders, external consultants, and delivery teams to ensure design outcomes support programme goals, budget, schedule, and operational requirements. • Lead safe, compliant, high-quality interior design delivery per Abu Dhabi regulations and client governance. • Manage the full interior design lifecycle from concept through detailed design and construction support. • Act as primary design focal point, overseeing design reviews, approvals, change control, and technical compliance. • Represent client interests in interior design matters, providing advice and recommendations to senior stakeholders. • Coordinate with external designers, consultants, specialist contractors, and PMO functions. • Support collaboration between design, commercial, planning, and construction teams. • Apply client and Mace design management processes, standards, and reporting requirements. • Contribute to continuous improvement, lessons learned, and best‑practice application across the portfolio. • Provide technical input on interior design quality, constructability, materials, finishes, FF&E, and interface management. • Support project planning, risk management, and programme reporting from a design perspective. • Safety first: champion a safe, diverse, and inclusive working environment. • Create opportunity: foster continuous improvement and inspire people and teams to develop.

Key Responsibilities

• ▸design delivery
• ▸design reviews
• ▸client liaison
• ▸coordination
• ▸technical input
• ▸risk management

What You Bring

Mace combines construction expertise with consultancy to unlock potential in every person or project and redefine the boundaries of ambition. Our values shape the way we consult and define the people we want to join us on our journey. • Hold a degree in interior design, architecture, or related discipline with professional accreditation. • Possess strong experience managing interior design on complex commercial, mixed‑use, retail, or executive fit‑out projects. • Demonstrate proven capability in client‑side, PMC, or design consultant roles providing independent oversight and assurance. • Exhibit excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, comfortable engaging senior client and consultant levels. • Understand design governance, building safety, sustainability principles, and Abu Dhabi regulatory requirements. • Client focus: own quality of deliverables, strategic outcomes, and build long‑term client relationships.

Requirements

• ▸accredited degree
• ▸design management
• ▸stakeholder mgmt
• ▸regulatory
• ▸sustainability
• ▸client focus

Benefits

Mace promotes a safe, inclusive workplace and values client focus, integrity, and creating opportunities for people to excel. The company welcomes diverse candidates and offers flexible, part‑time, and hybrid working options where suitable.

Work Environment

Office Full-Time