Interior Design Associate Director

Role Overview

Interior Design Associate Director at TGP International, based in the Covent Garden studio in London.

Company Overview

TGP International is a global hospitality consultancy with offices in London, Dubai, and Cairo. The firm partners with ambitious brands, clients, and entrepreneurs to develop successful hospitality experiences through concept development, interior design, branding and graphic design, advisory, franchising, operations, and project management. The multidisciplinary team comprises interior designers, brand designers, strategists, advisors, chefs, and hospitality operators, combining creative and commercial expertise to create memorable guest experiences.

Role Purpose

To lead the creative and commercial delivery of world-class hospitality design projects across multiple geographies, mentor junior team members, manage client relationships, and contribute to studio culture while maintaining TGP's quality standards and entrepreneurial spirit.

Key Responsibilities

Design Expertise

• Deliver world-class creative solutions across multiple small, medium, and large-scale projects simultaneously, spanning UK, Europe, Asia, and Middle East geographies.
• Lead projects and the creative process from concept to delivery with proven track record of strong design narrative where storytelling remains at the heart of project development.
• Lead and contribute hands-on to concept development and design presentations, test fits, spatial planning, and 3D models, with strong focus on guest experience and operational functionality.
• Review detailed drawing packages, finishes, and FF&E specifications, ensuring technical requirements and design intent are successfully coordinated with clients, consultants, contractors, and suppliers throughout design and delivery.
• Demonstrate deep knowledge of design detailing, materials, finishes, fixtures and furniture, including fabrication and construction processes.
• Build and maintain strong professional relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, makers, and other industry partners.

Project Leadership & Management

• Take accountability for successful creative and commercial delivery of projects to TGP's quality standards.
• Maintain oversight and remain actively involved and hands-on throughout the entire project process, from initial concept through design development, documentation, and delivery.
• Make informed decisions regarding project resourcing, priorities, workflows, and allocation of responsibilities across internal teams, including weekly resource tracking and coordination of project scheduling.
• Manage projects effectively against agreed programmes, budgets, contractual scope of services, and commercial requirements.
• Identify project risks and challenges early and work proactively with the leadership team to resolve them.
• Provide clear and timely reporting to the leadership team on project progress, resourcing, and key issues.

Team Development & Management

• Foster a collaborative and supportive environment in which knowledge and best practice are openly shared.
• Lead, mentor, and train junior team members to support their professional and creative development and maximise team performance and quality design output.
• Support department resource planning, forecasting, project allocation, and ad-hoc department administration.
• Manage workloads and workflows across multiple concurrent projects, ensuring teams are appropriately supported.
• Contribute positively to TGP's studio culture and help maintain an environment that encourages collaboration and creativity.

Client Engagement

• Proactively manage existing client relationships, ensuring that opportunities for repeat work are maximised.
• Present creative concepts and design thinking clearly, confidently, and persuasively to senior client stakeholders.
• Actively engage with opportunities to develop new business, enhancing internal and external communications via events, forums, and publications.
• Support the preparation of fee bids, RFPs, and fee negotiations on projects.

Qualifications & Experience

• 10+ years' professional experience in interior design or interior architecture, with significant experience in hospitality and F&B environments.
• Bachelor's degree in interior design, interior architecture, or a related discipline from an accredited institution, or equivalent professional qualification.
• Outstanding portfolio demonstrating exceptional creative quality across restaurants, food halls, bars, and other hospitality and commercial environments, having worked through RIBA stages 1–6.
• Proven ability to develop emotive, narrative-driven, and design-led concepts and experiences across projects of varying scales and geographies.
• Strong creative leadership with the ability to take projects from initial concept and storytelling through design development and delivery, including technical and construction expertise.
• Confidence and experience to operate autonomously with minimal supervision from the leadership team.
• Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities with experience developing and managing design teams.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of project programmes, budgets, value engineering, contracts, fees, and resourcing.
• Right to work in the UK.

Skills & Competencies

• Adobe Suite
• AutoCAD
• SketchUp
• PowerPoint
• Microsoft Office
• Experience with Miro and Asana advantageous.
• Excellent client-facing, presentation, and communication skills.
• Collaborative, adaptable approach with no-ego attitude and commitment to contributing positively to studio culture.

Additional Information

• Hybrid working model: three days per week in the Covent Garden studio, two days working remotely from home.
• One additional week per year to work remotely from your home country, which can be combined with up to two consecutive weeks of annual leave.
• Company incentive scheme offering up to 5 to 10 per cent for introductions and 5 per cent for successful closures.
• Structured professional development through a dedicated coaching and mentoring programme.
• Annual company gathering: a global team event bringing together employees from all offices.
• Employee recognition programme: regular recognition initiatives celebrating outstanding performance and contributions.