Project Director

Role OverviewWe are recruiting for an international interior design studio looking to appoint an experienced and commercially aware Project Director to strengthen the delivery leadership team. This will be working on mall expansion projects.The successful candidate will take responsibility for the management and delivery of large-scale, complex design projects where we are appointed as Lead Consultant. These projects typically involve Interior Design being delivered by our in-house team, with a wider multidisciplinary consultant team sitting beneath our Lead Consultant appointment, potentially including Architecture, AOR, MEP, Structural Engineering, Lighting Design, Façade, Landscape, Signage & Wayfinding and other specialist disciplines.This is not intended to be a traditional creative Design Director position. We are looking for someone with a strong design management, technical coordination and project leadership background who understands how to take a multidisciplinary design project from brief through design, approvals, tender and construction.The ideal candidate is likely to be currently working within an established Lead Consultancy or multidisciplinary design consultancy.The Person We Are Looking ForWe are looking for someone experienced, technically credible and confident enough to take control of a project when required.They should be a strong and authoritative project leader without being unnecessarily corporate or abrasive. They need to be comfortable chairing meetings with senior clients, contractors and consultants; challenging information when required; making decisions; holding consultants accountable; and escalating issues appropriately.They should have the presence and experience to “pull rank” when necessary, particularly where programme, quality, coordination or contractual responsibilities are at risk, while remaining personable, pragmatic and well-liked by clients and project teams.The right personality is important. We are looking for someone who is:Experienced, mature and credibleDirect and no-nonsense in their approachPersonable, approachable and collaborativeCalm and controlled under pressureConfident dealing with senior stakeholdersComfortable challenging clients, consultants and contractors constructivelyDecisive and prepared to take ownershipOrganised and able to see both the detail and the bigger pictureSolutions-focused rather than process-driven for the sake of processKey ResponsibilitiesThe Project Director will have overall responsibility for the successful delivery of a portfolio of major projects, working closely with the Director, Design Director and Senior Design Manager, as well as directly with key clients.Responsibilities will include:Project Leadership & DeliveryTake day-to-day leadership of major Lead Consultant commissions.Establish and maintain the overall project delivery strategy, responsibilities, programme and communication structure.Maintain oversight of multiple projects running in parallel, identifying risks and priorities before they become critical.Drive projects against agreed deliverables, milestones and client expectations.Take ownership of issues requiring senior intervention and ensure they are driven through to resolution.Lead Consultant & Multidisciplinary CoordinationManage and coordinate the wider consultant team appointed beneath us.Ensure Interior Design, Architecture, AOR, MEP, Structural, Lighting and other specialist disciplines are properly coordinated.Establish clear responsibilities and deliverables across the consultant team.Identify scope gaps, coordination issues and interface risks.Challenge consultants where information, quality or performance is not meeting project requirements.Ensure technical information is coordinated before being issued to the client, contractor or wider project team.Technical & Design ManagementBring sufficient technical knowledge and experience to interrogate design information rather than simply administer the process.Understand multidisciplinary design interfaces and identify potential technical issues.Oversee design reviews, technical workshops and coordination meetings.Ensure appropriate QA/QC and interdisciplinary reviews are undertaken.Maintain an understanding of design intent while balancing buildability, authority requirements, programme, budget and commercial considerations.Client LeadershipAct as a senior day-to-day point of contact for key clients.Chair client, consultant, contractor and technical coordination meetings.Communicate clearly and confidently with senior client stakeholders.Manage difficult conversations professionally when required.Build strong, long-term client relationships and become viewed as a trusted project leader.Team LeadershipWork closely with the Director and Design Director to ensure the creative ambition of projects is translated into coordinated and deliverable solutions.Provide leadership and direction to Senior Design Managers, Design Managers and project teams.Establish clear priorities and accountability.Support the development of less experienced team members.Create a project environment that is collaborative but maintains clear ownership and responsibility.Commercial & Contractual AwarenessUnderstand consultant appointments, scopes, deliverables and responsibilities.Recognise scope creep and potential additional services.Support the Director in managing project commercials, variations and changes in scope.Understand the implications of programme delays, consultant performance and late information.Maintain awareness of the company's contractual position as Lead Consultant.Technical ExperienceCandidates should demonstrate a strong working understanding of:Multidisciplinary design coordinationArchitecture and Interior ArchitectureMEP coordinationStructural interfacesAuthority/AOR requirementsDesign programmes and deliverable schedulesDesign responsibility matricesTechnical submittals and design reviewsRFIs and technical queriesTender and contractor interfacesShop drawing and material submittal processesConstruction-stage design supportConsultant appointments and scopes of serviceChange management and scope control