Shanghai, China
Design principal
at Wilson Associates
Wilson Associates is looking for a design principal to join its team in Shanghai, China.
Department: design
Amount of travel required: 25-40%
Reports to: managing director, regional managing director
Position summary
Responsible for leading the design activities of the office. Demonstrate design and innovation expertise in working with client-focused teams who are empowered to drive the strongest design solution for our clients. The role requires in-depth expertise in one or all areas of hospitality, food and beverage, and retail design. Strong team-building and client relationship skills are a must.
Essential functions:
- play a major leadership role by orchestrating the work of project team focused on design, development, and delivery of outstanding solutions for all phases on a client project
- actively engage in business development and be responsible for identifying and securing projects
- responsibility for understand and implementing client’s design vision, program and budget, while incorporating operators’ standards. Act as client manager with respect to design direction
- confer with client to determine factors affecting planning interior environments, such as budgets, architectural preferences, and purpose and function
- recommend interior space planning solution in relationship to the architecture shell
- establish overall design concepts and maintain continuity of those concepts through design development, construction documentation and construction administration
- render design ideas in form of paste-ups or drawings
- liaise with client frequently on interior design, including space and area planning, functionality, theme, layout, FF&E. Determine the quality level of finishes
- develop with the design manager or director of operations, staff utilisation/work plan and scheduling
- review and detail shop drawings and coordinate with other professionals, such as project managers, architects, engineers-mechanical, electrical, to ensure job success
- coordinate with FF&E designers to ensure installation of carpeting, fixtures, accessories, draperies, paint and wall coverings, artwork, furniture, and related items
- select or design furnishings, artworks, and accessories
- participate in development of presentation material and help maintain graphic quality and content
- lead client meetings through design development, then as required throughout the documentation phases
- provide strong organisational, communication and relationship management skills
- review cost estimates and value engineering solutions with project team in order to meet project budgets
- represent the firm at industry events and participate in speaking opportunities
- actively teach and share knowledge with design team members at all levels
Background and skills
Education: bachelor’s degree in architecture, or interior design
Experience: ten plus years of experience in high-end hospitality interior design. Experience in Chinese hotel design is necessary.
Technical skills: use of complex three-dimensional design techniques, including hand sketches, computer-aided drafting (CAD), Adobe Photoshop, Revit, Microsoft Office and related software to produce design drawings and construction document.
Please submit applications using the ‘apply’ link below.