Associate Director - Hospitality in London

Are you a dynamic designer with an innovative portfolio to match? Are you experienced in design and delivering hospitality projects? The Associate Director leads and inspires their team to ensure that innovative and thought-provoking hospitality projects achieve high-quality design standards and are delivered on time and on budget. They operate autonomously, requiring only minimal supervision from the Senior Associate/Director and are responsible for supporting junior colleagues to achieve their full potential. Not only do they support the delivery of corporate-level business development strategies, but they actively support the development of leads and generation of new business across existing and future sectors and markets. Additionally, the Associate Director brings a wealth of experience in collaborating with hotel operators, demonstrating a keen understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within the hospitality industry.

What we’re looking for:

• Proven experience in delivering hospitality projects (particularly luxury high-end) and collaborating with hotel operators.
• Experience of successfully leading and managing a team across projects.
• A proactive approach to client management, with a proven track record of engaging potential clients and partners.
• Commercially astute, demonstrated through effective decision-making, project resourcing and management.
• Strong organisational and people management skills, encouraging collaboration and innovation within the teams to maximise performance.
• Proven capability in hotel design and planning from hotel feasibility to detailed design stages.
• Proficiency in both Rhino and Revit as a minimum.
• Experience with parametric and computational design workflows, including basic scripting or automation of design processes.
• Proficiency with computer applications commonly used within the individual’s discipline such as Adobe Creative Suite.
• Degree in a related design field or equivalent certification or skill level.
• Professional registration or equivalent is preferred.

What we can offer you:

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience.
• Agile working with the option of three days in the studio and two working from home.
• Opportunities to learn and grow within a fast-paced, global company.
• A fun, inclusive and collaborative studio environment with an active calendar of social activities.
• 23 days annual leave with the option to buy more.
• A range of benefits, including private medical/life insurance and pension.

If this role interests you, read on for details about the role's responsibilities.

Project Management:

• Manages their team across hospitality projects to deliver design and technical excellence that meet high-quality standards.
• Plans, coordinates, and manages the project process, maintaining involvement throughout.
• Liaises with Senior Associate/Director to ensure that innovative and thought-provoking projects are delivered consistently.
• Leads project meetings and some client presentations, increasingly acting as the primary contact for client interaction and maintaining good relationships with clients to maximise opportunities for repeat business.

Leadership:

• Role models Benoy’s values and fosters a collaborative environment in which innovation is encouraged and best practice shared.
• Leads, guides, and provides training to junior talent, providing timely feedback that contributes to their continuing creative, technical and professional development.
• Initiates or participates in studio or group activities, leads brainstorming sessions, and manages conflicts effectively.

Client Relationships:

• Leads project meetings and some client presentations, increasingly acting as the primary contact for client interaction and maintaining good relationships with clients to maximise opportunities for repeat business.
• Engages with colleagues to support the development of new business, enhancing internal and external communication via functions, events, forums, and publications.
• Assists in the preparation of fee bids and undertakes fee proposals and fee negotiations for projects.

Budget Control:

• Demonstrates a sound understanding of cost control, fee charging and project finance, and ensures project fees are maximised and project targets are achieved through sensible management of time and allocated resources.