Craig Douglas

Business Manager - Development & Construction

<p> </p><p><strong>Director of FF&amp;E Procurement</strong></p><p><em>Luxury Hotel Developer</em></p><p><strong>London  </strong>| Some International Travel </p><p> </p><p><strong>Do you know the luxury furniture market inside out? Do you have the contacts to prove it?</strong> </p><p> </p><p>We are delighted to be working exclusively with a privately-owned luxury hotel developer on a genuinely exciting appointment. Our client owns and operates a portfolio of wholly bespoke properties - each one a unique, considered world of its own - and with an ambitious pipeline of new builds and refurbishments ahead, they need a exceptional procurement professional to lead the FF&amp;E function at director level.</p><p>This is not a role for someone who works from catalogues. Our client operates at the very top of the market and sources furniture, lighting and objects that are as distinctive as the hotels themselves - bespoke commissions, artisan makers, pieces that cannot be found through conventional channels. The Director of FF&amp;E Procurement will own this process entirely, from brief to installation, across every project in the portfolio.</p><p> </p><p><strong>WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR</strong> </p><ul><li>Proven senior experience in FF&amp;E procurement within luxury hotel development or high-end residential development - new builds and refurbishments both.</li><li>Deep, current knowledge of the prime luxury furniture market - the key brands, the independent makers, the studios producing the most exciting work.</li><li>An established network of supplier contacts you can activate from day one.</li><li>A genuine eye for quality and an instinct for what makes a piece exceptional.</li><li>Strong commercial skills - you can manage significant budgets and negotiate with the best suppliers in the world.</li><li>The confidence and gravitas to operate at director level within a high-calibre development team.</li></ul><p> </p><p><strong>WHAT'S ON OFFER</strong> </p><ul><li>A director-level role with full ownership of the FF&amp;E function.</li><li>The opportunity to work on some of the most distinctive hotel projects being developed in the world right now.</li><li>A London base with international travel as the pipeline demands.</li></ul>

Global FF&E Procurement Director- Hotel Development 

<h1>Interior Design Director - Global Hotel Developer</h1><p><br /><strong>Location:</strong> London, UK (world travel involved)  <strong>Salary:</strong> £100,000+ (DOE, plus benefits package) <strong>Reports to:</strong> Chief Development Director </p><hr /><h2>The Role</h2><p><br />We are looking for a <strong>interior Design Director </strong> - or Global Design Director - to take full ownership of the interior design vision and execution across our international portfolio of luxury hotels. This is a rare opportunity for a proven creative leader to shape the aesthetic identity of a growing global hospitality brand, working across multiple markets, cultures, and property types. <br />You will be the driving creative force behind every hotel in the portfolio - from concept and brand storytelling through to final styling and guest experience. You'll sit at the intersection of design, brand, and operations, ensuring every property delivers a distinctive, best-in-class interior that reflects the highest standards of luxury hospitality. <br />This role demands a genuine industry powerhouse: someone with the taste, network, and authority to set direction - and the operational rigour to see it through, on time, on brand, on budget.</p><hr /><h2>Key Responsibilities</h2><p><br /><strong>Creative Leadership &amp; Vision</strong></p><ul><li>Define and own the global design vision and creative direction across all hotel properties, ensuring a cohesive yet locally-inspired identity for each destination.</li><li>Set and maintain design standards, brand guidelines, and quality benchmarks across the entire portfolio.</li><li>Lead concept development for new openings, renovations, and rebranding projects, from initial vision through to final sign-off.</li><li>Stay ahead of global design trends, luxury hospitality benchmarks, and emerging talent to keep the brand at the forefront of the industry.</li></ul><p><br /><strong>Team &amp; Studio Management</strong></p><ul><li>Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing global design team, including in-house designers and regional leads.</li><li>Manage relationships with external architects, interior design studios, FF&amp;E specialists, and artisans across multiple geographies.</li><li>Foster a culture of creative excellence, collaboration, and accountability across all design functions.</li></ul><p><br /><strong>Industry Network &amp; Relationships</strong></p><ul><li>Leverage an established black book of relationships with leading interior designers, architects, artisans, suppliers, and luxury brands to bring exceptional talent and craftsmanship to every project.</li><li>Represent the brand at industry events, design fairs, and press engagements as the face of the company's design identity.</li><li>Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with luxury brands, artists, and craftspeople for bespoke collaborations.</li></ul><p><br /><strong>Project &amp; Stakeholder Management</strong></p><ul><li>Oversee design delivery across multiple concurrent hotel projects worldwide, ensuring alignment with programme, budget, and brand standards.</li><li>Act as the senior creative point of contact for owners, operators, hotel brand representatives, and investors.</li><li>Work closely with development, construction, and operations teams to ensure design intent is preserved from concept through to completion.</li><li>Manage design budgets and procurement strategy, balancing creative ambition with commercial reality.</li></ul><p><br /><strong>Quality &amp; Brand Standards</strong></p><ul><li>Conduct design reviews and site visits across the global portfolio to ensure consistency and quality control.</li><li>Ensure all properties reflect the brand's positioning within the luxury market and respond sensitively to local culture and context.</li></ul><hr /><h2>What We're Looking For</h2><ul><li>10+ years' experience in luxury hospitality interior design, with a strong portfolio of high-end hotel projects delivered internationally.</li><li>A significant, well-established network ("little black book") of designers, architects, artisans, and suppliers within the luxury hospitality space.</li><li>Proven experience managing multidisciplinary teams and leading design delivery across multiple simultaneous international projects.</li><li>Deep knowledge of prime hotel design - from 5-star flagship properties to boutique luxury concepts - and an instinct for what defines a truly exceptional guest experience.</li><li>Strong commercial acumen: experience managing budgets, procurement, and supplier negotiations at scale.</li><li>Confident, credible presence with owners, operators, and brand stakeholders - someone who can command a room and hold their own with the most demanding clients.</li><li>A natural leader and decision-maker: someone who takes charge, sets direction, and drives projects to completion without losing sight of design integrity.</li><li>Willingness and ability to travel extensively and work across multiple time zones and cultures.</li><li>Degree or postgraduate qualification in Interior Design, Architecture, or related field preferred.</li></ul><hr /><h2>What We Offer</h2><ul><li>Base salary £100,000+ (dependent on experience)</li><li>Performance-related bonus</li><li>Extensive international travel</li><li>The opportunity to shape the creative identity of a growing global luxury hotel portfolio</li><li>A senior leadership role with genuine autonomy and influence</li></ul><hr /><p><br /><em>This is a high-visibility, high-impact leadership position for someone who wants to leave their mark on the global luxury hospitality landscape - a true powerhouse ready to take full ownership of design excellence across our portfolio.</em></p>

Interior Design Director - Global Hospitality Director

<p><strong>Architectural Technician/Design Manager </strong><br />London, UK  *  Full-Time, Permanent  <br />BTR / Residential Development  *  Client-Side  *  RIBA Stages 3-5</p><div> </div><h1>The Opportunity</h1><p>Our client is a London-based real estate developer and investor with an active pipeline of residential-led schemes, including Build-to-Rent, office-to-hotel conversions, and emerging pipeline projects. They are seeking an experienced Technician / Architectural Technologist to take on a central technical delivery role within their growing in-house development team.<br />This is a hands-on, client-side position working directly with the Development Director. You will act as the key interface between the external design team, consultants, and construction delivery - ensuring design information is coordinated, buildable, compliant, and aligned with programme and commercial requirements.</p><h2>At a Glance</h2><ul><li>Client-side role reporting directly to the Development Director</li><li>Lead technical coordination across BTR and mixed-use residential schemes</li><li>RIBA Stages 3-5 through to construction, handover, and close-out</li><li>Involvement in early-stage feasibility, massing studies, and development appraisal</li><li>Office-based, 5 days per week, with regular site attendance</li><li>Competitive salary based on experience</li></ul><div> </div><h1>Key Responsibilities</h1><h2>Technical Design &amp; Coordination</h2><ul><li>Review, prepare, and coordinate architectural drawing packages, technical details, schedules, and specifications across tender, construction, and as-built stages</li><li>Translate concept and planning-stage information into coordinated, construction-ready packages</li><li>Manage and review consultant information across architectural, structural, MEP, fire, façade, interior, and landscape workstreams to ensure integration and eliminate clashes</li><li>Coordinate design information in line with the project brief, planning conditions, Building Regulations, warranty requirements, and employer standards</li><li>Identify and resolve coordination conflicts between architectural, structural, and MEP information using BIM workflows and drawing coordination processes</li></ul><h2>Planning &amp; Statutory Compliance</h2><ul><li>Assist in discharging planning conditions and ensuring technical submissions remain aligned with approved consents</li><li>Review accessibility, space planning, and apartment layouts against UK residential standards, including London Plan, NDSS, and M4 requirements where applicable</li><li>Contribute to design risk reviews and support CDM compliance at design stage</li></ul><h2>Construction &amp; Site</h2><ul><li>Liaise with contractors, subcontractors, statutory authorities, approved inspectors, and utility providers throughout delivery</li><li>Conduct site inspections, monitor construction progress against drawings and specifications, and identify non-conformances and coordination gaps</li><li>Respond to RFIs and technical queries in a timely, commercially aware manner</li><li>Support quality assurance processes, including benchmark reviews, sample apartments, façade interfaces, and finishing standards</li></ul><h2>Early-Stage &amp; Feasibility</h2><ul><li>Prepare and coordinate feasibility layouts, massing studies, and technical assessments to support acquisition, planning, and development appraisal activities</li><li>Assess site constraints, efficiency metrics, unit mix, circulation, servicing, and buildability at concept stage</li></ul><h2>Handover &amp; Closeout</h2><ul><li>Support handover documentation, O&amp;M information coordination, snagging close-out, and production of as-built records</li><li>Maintain document control standards, revision management, drawing registers, and audit trails across all technical information</li></ul><div> </div><h1>Candidate Profile</h1><h2>Experience</h2><ul><li>4-8+ years in a technical delivery role on UK residential projects</li><li>Strong track record coordinating external architects and consultant teams during technical design and construction phases</li><li>Proven experience on medium to large-scale residential developments - apartment-led or mixed-use schemes in London or major UK urban locations</li><li>Prior experience on BTR, private sale residential, student accommodation, or high-density housing schemes is highly advantageous</li><li>Solid grounding in RIBA Stages 3-5 from developed design through to practical completion</li><li>Experience preparing residential feasibility studies, test fits, and massing exercises</li></ul><h2>Skills &amp; Knowledge</h2><ul><li>Proficiency in AutoCAD is essential; Revit and BIM-based coordination experience is strongly preferred</li><li>Sound knowledge of UK Building Regulations and technical standards relevant to residential design</li><li>Good understanding of planning compliance, statutory approvals, and technical submission processes</li><li>Practical understanding of construction sequencing, site logistics, and buildability</li><li>Strong space planning and residential layout capability</li><li>Commercial awareness - able to balance design quality, compliance, cost, and programme</li><li>Excellent organisational skills, document control discipline, and attention to detail</li><li>Competence in Microsoft Office and common document management platforms</li></ul><h2>Qualifications</h2><ul><li>Degree, diploma, HNC/HND, or equivalent in Architectural Technology, Architecture, Building Studies, or a related built environment discipline</li><li>Demonstrated right to work in the UK</li><li>CIAT membership (ACIAT or MCIAT) is advantageous but not essential</li></ul><h2>Personal Attributes</h2><ul><li>Detail-oriented and technically rigorous, with a solutions-led mindset</li><li>Delivery-focused and comfortable in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial development environment</li><li>Confident challenging inconsistencies and driving coordinated outcomes</li><li>Collaborative and professional in dealings with consultants, contractors, and internal stakeholders</li></ul>

Technical Design Manager- Residential developer

<p> </p><h2 dir="ltr">Job Description: Commercial Manager</h2><p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal" dir="ltr"><strong>Salary:</strong> Up to £90,000 + benefits<br /> <strong>Location: </strong>Hammersmith office but role covers south region</p><p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal" dir="ltr">Must be able to drive</p><h3 dir="ltr">The Company</h3><p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal" dir="ltr">Our client is a residential property developer operating across four connected areas of the business:</p><ul dir="ltr"><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"><strong>Development</strong> - buying land, securing planning consent, and delivering schemes</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"><strong>In-house contracting</strong> - a relatively young arm (4-5 years old) that is growing steadily</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"><strong>Asset management</strong></li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2"><strong>Property management</strong> - including security/void management of around 20 empty buildings on behalf of insolvency administrators</li></ul><p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal" dir="ltr">Schemes typically range from single units up to c. 100-unit developments, with land deals ongoing at any given time. The team is small and close-knit - hardworking but sociable, with regular team lunches and drinks.</p><h3 dir="ltr">About the Role</h3><p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal" dir="ltr">We are looking for someone commercial and hands-on - someone who understands how to package work out to subcontractors and is comfortable managing the contracting process directly, not just advising on it from the sidelines.</p><p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal" dir="ltr">You will work alongside an in-house QS and draw on third-party building surveyors and cost consultants as needed. Over time, there is a clear opportunity to help build out a professional services offering within the business - such as cost consultancy or contract administration - potentially run semi-independently within the company.</p><p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal" dir="ltr">This role will involve travel across the client's site network, which currently spans Epsom, Bristol, Worthing, Hammersmith, Wandsworth, Chiswick, Bromley, Haslemere, and Prime London.</p><h3 dir="ltr">Key Responsibilities</h3><p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal" dir="ltr"><strong>Pre-construction</strong></p><ul dir="ltr"><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Cost new developments and contractor opportunities</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Prepare budgets and development appraisals</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Produce tender submissions</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Obtain and analyse subcontractor quotations</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Value landowner proposals from a build-cost perspective</li></ul><p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal" dir="ltr"><strong>Contractual</strong></p><ul dir="ltr"><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Prepare contract documentation using standard forms such as JCT Design and Build Contract and JCT Minor Works Contract where appropriate</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Manage appointments of subcontractors</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Liaise with solicitors on amendments and special conditions</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Ensure contracts are properly executed and administered</li></ul><p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal" dir="ltr"><strong>Commercial Management</strong></p><ul dir="ltr"><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Produce monthly cost reports</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Monitor project profitability</li></ul><h3 dir="ltr">Person Specification</h3><p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal" dir="ltr"><strong>Essential:</strong></p><ul dir="ltr"><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Proven experience in a Commercial Manager or Senior Quantity Surveyor role, ideally within residential development and/or contracting</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Strong working knowledge of JCT contracts (Design and Build, Minor Works)</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Hands-on experience managing subcontractor packages and the tendering process</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Confident preparing budgets, cost reports, and development appraisals</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Commercially minded with strong attention to detail</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Comfortable working across multiple live sites and travelling as required</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Comfortable working in a small, close-knit team environment</li></ul><p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal" dir="ltr"><strong>Desirable:</strong></p><ul dir="ltr"><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">MRICS or working towards chartership</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Experience or interest in helping build a professional services function (cost consultancy / contract administration)</li></ul><p> </p>

Commercial Manager - Developer 

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Craig Douglas

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