Head of Design Operations

Our client is an established architecture and design firm specialising in large-scale workplace projects across France and wider Europe. As the business enters its next phase of growth, they are seeking a Head of Design Operations to take operational ownership of the design function which includes leading a team of designers and technical staff, managing budgets and workload, and ensuring every concept and technical output meets the standard their international clients expect.

Responsibilities

Provide hands-on operational leadership to design professionals and external freelance resources, across concept development and technical design phases; Manage workload allocation, resourcing and scheduling so the team delivers reliably and to deadline; Own budget oversight and cost control across the design function; Review, challenge and quality-check technical plans and design outputs before they go to clients, ensuring they meet required technical, accessibility and regulatory standards; Act as a key client-facing point of contact on design quality and delivery for international clients on large-scale workplace projects; Strategically deploy freelance and external resources for technical or lower-value tasks to support the team's ability to scale; Coach, mentor and develop a team of creative and technical professionals, building a stable, high-performing team culture; Partner closely with the pre-construction and delivery teams to ensure a seamless handover of projects from concept through to completion; Report to senior leadership on team performance, project status and resourcing needs

Requirements

Significant experience in an operational leadership role within architecture, interior design, workplace fit-out or construction, gained in a design, delivery or technical management capacity; Proven track record managing and developing teams of design or technical professionals, including workload planning and resourcing; Demonstrated experience overseeing project budgets and cost control; Strong technical literacy, with the ability to read, review and challenge technical and design plans, even without personally producing creative concepts; Client-facing experience, with the ability to build trust with international clients; Professional working proficiency in French; Eligibility to work in France, or to obtain the relevant right to work

Nice to have

Background as an architect, interior designer, or in a related technical/design discipline; Working knowledge of Revit; Fluency in English; Experience developing creative concepts and pitching to clients; Experience in workplace design, fit-out, or large-scale commercial interior projects

Benefits

Variable incentive (to be confirmed and discussed with shortlisted candidates); Hybrid working pattern with 2 days of remote work per week; Travel approximately 5% of time across European project sites; French statutory annual leave entitlement (minimum 25 working days); Any additional leave or benefits to be confirmed with shortlisted candidates