Studio Director

An established luxury wellness consultancy is seeking an experienced Studio Director to lead and develop its sister interior design business. The studio is in its start-up phase, offering an opportunity to establish the structure, processes and design standards that will support its long-term growth.

Working closely with the Founder, you will take ownership of the studio’s day-to-day running, combining creative oversight, team leadership and project delivery. You will translate the Founder’s vision into clear briefs, guide and challenge design proposals, review presentations and oversee projects from concept through completion. Alongside managing programmes, resources, budgets and client relationships, you will introduce effective quality controls and ensure work is delivered accurately and on time.

This is a hands-on role within an entrepreneurial, founder-led business. It requires the confidence to contribute ideas, constructively challenge decisions and introduce clear working practices while responding to immediate project demands. You must be comfortable working in a busy, evolving environment where priorities can shift and established systems are still being developed.

The pace and commitment extend beyond a conventional nine-to-five role, with flexibility required around project deadlines and business demands. In return, this is an opportunity to help create something special, shaping the studio’s culture and direction and playing a significant part in its next chapter.

• At least 20 years of professional experience, including 10 or more years at Studio Director level within the luxury sector
• A strong background in luxury interior design, ideally encompassing hospitality and wellness projects
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing multiple projects simultaneously at different stages, balancing resources, deadlines, budgets and client expectations while maintaining design quality
• Strong creative judgment, with the ability to develop concepts, critically review proposals and maintain consistently high design standards
• A thorough understanding of consultant appointments, design contracts, scopes of service, deliverables and contractual responsibilities, including identifying risks and recognising when specialist legal advice is required
• Experience reviewing RFPs, preparing fee proposals and defining scope, exclusions, resources and programmes before committing to new work
• Confidence overseeing RFI processes, coordinating timely responses with designers and consultants, and assessing implications for scope, cost and programme
• Strong commercial awareness, including managing project budgets, fee expenditure, scope changes, additional services and invoicing milestones
• Experience establishing studio processes for resource planning, project reporting, document control, design reviews and approval before issue
• An assured communicator who can independently lead client presentations, internal meetings and discussions with consultants and contractors
• A willingness to remain hands-on, including producing, reviewing and refining presentations, imagery and written content when needed
• Experience working closely with a Founder, translating their vision into practical delivery while offering clear, constructive advice
• The adaptability, initiative and commitment to help build a studio within a demanding start-up environment