At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative interior design projects for Staycity and Wilde Aparthotels.
- Company: Join a fast-growing European hospitality group focused on exceptional guest experiences.
- Benefits: Flexible working, paid family leave, bonus schemes, and education support.
- Other info: Collaborative team culture with opportunities to mentor junior designers.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in hospitality design while growing your career.
- Qualifications: Degree in Interior Design and significant experience in hospitality design required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
At Staycity Group, we bring together two leading aparthotel brands — Staycity Aparthotels and Wilde Aparthotels — united by a shared commitment to modern, flexible hospitality. Across our properties and support teams, our goal is simple: to deliver exceptional experiences for our guests and create an environment where our people can do their best work.
Whether you’re joining our operations or head office teams, you’ll be part of a fast-growing European hospitality group built on our values of curiosity, drive, collaboration, kindness, and respect. We’re a diverse and inclusive team that encourages you to bring your unique self to work — because we believe great hospitality starts with people who feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow.
The role: Senior Interior Designer – Mat Cover (12 months FTC) to join our Design team in London. This role will lead the design and delivery of interior spaces across both Staycity Aparthotels and Wilde Aparthotels, ensuring every project reflects each brand's unique identity while delivering exceptional guest experiences.
Benefits:
- Paid family leave (>1 year of service)
- Flexible working patterns
- Bonus scheme that rewards high performers; based on our core values and tied to individual property goals
- Discounted rates for overnight stays for you, your family and friends
- Refer and earn scheme - earn up to £/€550
- Cycle to work scheme- to support a healthy lifestyle and our planet
- Education Support to help you foster new skills
- Volunteer days: 2 paid volunteer days per year
- Support for you and your family when you need it with our Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
We would love you to have:
- Degree in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, or a related discipline.
- Significant experience in hospitality, residential, or commercial interior design, with hotel or aparthotel experience Essential.
- Proven experience taking projects from layout and detailed design through to FF&E specification and on-site delivery.
- Strong understanding of spatial planning, detailed design development, materiality, finishes, lighting, and furniture specification.
- Excellent knowledge of FF&E sourcing, suppliers, procurement processes, and industry best practice.
- Hands‑on experience managing the delivery, installation, and dressing of interior spaces, including snagging and final styling.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and workstreams simultaneously.
- Commercial awareness with experience managing budgets and balancing design aspirations with operational requirements.
- Proficiency in AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, and other industry standard design software. Experience with Revit is advantageous.
- Excellent presentation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to mentor junior designers and contribute to a collaborative team culture.
- A creative mindset with exceptional attention to detail and a passion for delivering outstanding hospitality environments.
What you can do for us:
- Develop layouts and detailed design packages for new hotel and aparthotel developments, refurbishments, and brand enhancement projects across Staycity Aparthotels and Wilde Aparthotels.
- Progress design concepts into detailed design, producing layouts, specifications, drawings, schedules, and presentation materials.
- Specify and source FF&E (furniture, fixtures, and equipment), OS&E, and soft furnishings that align with brand standards and budget requirements.
- Manage FF&E procurement, including tendering, ordering, tracking, and liaison with suppliers to ensure timely delivery.
- Collaborate closely with Development, Operations, Marketing, Procurement, and external consultants throughout the design and delivery process.
- Coordinate with architects, MEP consultants, contractors, and suppliers to ensure design intent is maintained throughout project delivery.
- Manage project timelines, budgets, design quality, and stakeholder expectations across multiple concurrent projects.
- Conduct site visits during construction, installation, and delivery phases to review progress, resolve design issues, and ensure high quality execution.
- Lead the delivery and dressing of guest rooms, apartments, public spaces, and show suites ahead of openings and photography.
- Drive continuous improvement of Staycity and Wilde design standards, ensuring consistency while evolving both brands.
- Research emerging hospitality trends, sustainable materials, and innovative FF&E solutions to keep our portfolio contemporary and competitive.
- Mentor and support junior members of the London Design team, sharing knowledge and promoting design excellence across the department.
Start your Staycity Group journey — apply now!
Senior Interior Designer – Mat Cover in London employer: Staycity Group
Staycity is an exceptional employer that values its team members and fosters a vibrant work culture where hospitality and independence thrive. With flexible working patterns, generous benefits like paid family leave and volunteer days, and opportunities for personal growth through education support, we ensure our employees feel valued and empowered. Join us in creating memorable guest experiences in prime city locations, where your contributions are celebrated and rewarded.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Interior Designer – Mat Cover in London
✨Get your portfolio ready!
When applying for that temporary architecture gig, make sure your portfolio is top-notch. Showcase your best projects, even if they were just uni assignments or side hustles. Include visuals and a brief description to show your design process and creativity.
✨Tap into local architecture events
Check out local architecture exhibitions, talks, and meetups. These events are brilliant for networking and you never know who might be looking for temporary help or just has a contact that could lead you to the right opportunity. Plus, it's a great way to stay updated on trends in the field!
✨Leverage temporary recruitment agencies
Consider registering with recruitment agencies that specialise in architecture roles. They often have access to temporary positions that aren’t advertised elsewhere. It's an easy way to find that next role without much fuss, plus they can help you polish your approach!
✨Show up where the architects are
Join online architecture forums or social media groups where professionals share opportunities. Engaging with these communities not only boosts your visibility but can also lead to job leads and collaborations. Don't underestimate the power of a simple message introducing yourself!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Interior Designer – Mat Cover in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Aesthetics:In the architecture game, your portfolio is your best friend. Make sure it showcases a range of your projects, highlighting both your design skills and technical ability. Don't just list what you've done – tell a story behind your designs, and show us how you think spatially!
Emphasise Collaborative Projects:Since this is a temporary role, showing you can work well with others is key. Highlight any collaborative projects in your CV or cover letter. Let us see how you’ve contributed in team settings – we want to know that you can hit the ground running alongside our crew at Staycity Group.
Tailor Your Application for the Short Term:For temporary gigs, focus on your flexibility and how quickly you adapt to new environments. In your cover letter, mention your eagerness to learn and contribute immediately. We want to see that you’re ready to bring your skills to Staycity Group without needing a long onboarding process!
Stay Up-to-Date with Trends:Architecture is constantly evolving, so make sure your application reflects your awareness of current design trends, software tools, and sustainable practices. Mention any relevant certifications or courses you've taken recently – it shows that you're serious about staying on top of your game for that temporary role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Staycity Group
✨Showcase Your Creative Portfolio
When interviewing for a temporary role in architecture, it’s crucial that we bring along a strong portfolio that highlights our best projects. Make sure to include a variety of work that showcases your design skills, technical drawings, and even any 3D models or visualisations. This will help the interviewers at Staycity Group see your creative process and your ability to tackle different challenges in architectural design.
✨Brush Up on Software Skills
Be prepared to answer questions about architectural software like AutoCAD, Revit, or SketchUp, since many firms, including Staycity Group, heavily rely on these tools. If possible, brush up on your skills with quick tutorials beforehand, and be ready to discuss how you used these tools in past projects. This shows that you’re not just a pretty face but also technically savvy!
✨Emphasise Flexibility and Adaptability
Temporary roles often require us to jump into projects mid-flow, so highlight experiences where you've quickly adapted to new teams or changing project scopes. Talk about your problem-solving strategies and how you handle unexpected challenges — this will show Staycity Group that you can seamlessly integrate into their ongoing work without missing a beat.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions that test your critical thinking and design choices in real-time. Practice answers where you explain how you would approach specific architectural challenges or collaborate with different stakeholders. This will not only demonstrate our thought process but also show how we can contribute meaningfully to the team at Staycity Group from day one.
