Senior FF&E Designer in Southampton

The Senior FF&E Designer is accountable for managing multiple FF&E projects, liaising with the Project Director and Project Manager to ensure that they are delivered on time, on budget and to an exceptional standard. This includes managing both the internal studio team and external suppliers to ensure every project is completed to the highest standards, in line with RWD’s vision to be the most inspiring yacht design studio in the world. This will involve visiting our global client base and shipyards; being willing and able to travel internationally is an essential part of this role. The Senior FF&E Designer is a specialist in their field with considerable project and industry experience. They contribute to the wider development of the interior department by working with the Head of Interiors and other senior members of the team to improve and challenge the way we do things. They are responsible for supporting the junior and midweight department members as a role model and mentor.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & TASKS

• Develop strong design concepts which are unique to every project & client
• Liaising and coordinating with other departments to ensure a holistic design approach and language throughout each project
• Selecting furniture, materials and finishes and creating engaging and outstanding client presentations
• Liaising with the client and shipyard to ensure materials selected are compliant, fit for purpose and meet the client’s brief
• Working collaboratively with Interior Designers, Project Managers and Procurement Managers to ensure the project quality and team morale are at the highest standard
• Overseeing and managing the production of bespoke items
• Working with the Head of Department, the FF&E Team Leader and other team members to inspire and develop the interior department and design processes
• Working with the Head of Department and other senior team members to ensure the FF&E team is kept up to date with industry trends and supplier and material developments
• Working closely with the Procurement Manager to understand the owner’s supply schedule for the project and have a clear understanding of the budget position of the project at any point in time
• Working closely with the Project Manager to ensure the work relating to FF&E is produced on time, schedules are met, and all stakeholders are kept up to date with progress
• Ensuring the owner’s supply specification is complete and up to date, and all information required for purchasing is successfully handed over to the procurement manager in a timely manner
• Represent RWD at project meetings, holding client meetings with or without a Director or Project Principal present, and confidently communicate and translate designs to the client
• To manage quality control and sign-off for all FF&E items in conjunction with other departments
• Working with the full project team and shipyard to ensure the successful on-board implementation and installation of all FF&E items
• Overseeing maintenance documentation for all FF&E supplied items and ensuring this is shared with all relevant stakeholders
• Develop and role model best practice in sustainable design by understanding suppliers and their supply chains to ensure compliance with our code of conduct
• Responsible for mentoring and guiding junior and mid-weight members of the FF&E team and managing junior FF&E resource on projects
• Being proactive in spotting and highlighting opportunities for development within the team whilst maintaining general staff wellbeing and a happy and positive work environment
• Constantly working to minimize our social and environmental impact, providing options that make this an easy choice for the client, and being a champion for this within the department
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, shipyards and client teams
• Keep current with industry trends and developments from leading artists, craftsmen and fabric houses
• Attend industry fairs to source new suppliers and expand the FF&E Library
• Seek continued professional development

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Proven FF&E designer with experience in luxury yacht interiors or other high-end sectors such as aviation or residential design
• Extensive experience of the FF&E design & curation process from concept to completion
• Exceptional, creative, passionate and innovative FF&E design skills
• A broad range of FF&E design skills from a highly tuned knowledge of furniture, art and materiality, through to the fine detail of implementation and execution on board
• Keen interest in sustainable design practices and materials that result in a positive social and environmental impact
• Extensive knowledge of unique suppliers, both in the UK and overseas
• Extensive knowledge of materials and finishes
• The ability to lead and manage a project team brilliantly
• Demonstrates strategic foresight, anticipating challenges and resolving issues ahead of project impact
• Excellent communication skills and eloquence to convey ideas with curated presentations, themes and schemes etc
• Ability to think on one’s feet, making project decisions to ensure client expectations are met
• Ability to spot ahead and manage risk on complex projects, knowing at what point to escalate to the Project Principal or Head of Interiors for support
• Proactive approach to projects and challenges
• Excellent attention to detail, whilst also being able to maintain a good overview of a project
• Strong IT skills: InDesign, Photoshop, AutoCAD, MS Office, Excel
• Excellent time management skills

Applications require a CV and a high-level portfolio to demonstrate your experience. Please attach them as one document.