Interior Designer / Assistant Design Manager

Job Title: Interior Designer / Assistant Design Manager

Location: South Dublin (Hybrid / Site-Based as required)

Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent

About the Role

Our client are a well-established residential property developer delivering high-quality, design-led housing and apartment schemes across Ireland. They are seeking a commercially minded, detail-oriented Interior Designer / Assistant Design Manager to join their growing team.

This hybrid role bridges creative interior specification and technical design coordination. You will play a key part in shaping the internal aesthetic of our residential schemes—from showhomes and marketing suites to standard unit specifications and resident amenity spaces—while assisting the Design Manager in driving design packages through RIBA / RIAI work stages from planning to practical completion.

Key Responsibilities

Interior Design & Specification

• Develop cohesive, market-appropriate interior design concepts, mood boards, and FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment) schedules for residential units, communal lobbies, and resident amenity spaces.
• Oversee the design, procurement, and installation of show homes and marketing suites in collaboration with external interior stylists and sales/marketing teams.
• Select and specify internal finishes, sanitaryware, kitchen layouts, ironmongery, lighting, and joinery, balancing aesthetic appeal with durability, lifecycle maintenance, and buildability.
• Prepare high-quality client and stakeholder presentations, material sample boards, and buyer upgrade/customisation packages.

Design Management & Technical Coordination

• Assist in managing external consultant teams (architects, M&E engineers, structural engineers, and specialist sub-contractors) to ensure timely delivery of coordinated design information.
• Review and coordinate interior design packages against architectural, structural, and MEP drawings to identify and resolve clashes early.
• Monitor design deliverables against the project programme and procurement schedule, ensuring information is released on time to support construction milestones.
• Attend regular design team meetings, site progress meetings, and snagging/quality inspections across live sites in South Dublin.
• Ensure all interior specifications comply with current Irish Building Regulations (including Part B Fire Safety, Part M Access and Use, and Part L Conservation of Fuel and Energy) and BCAR requirements.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Education: Degree or higher diploma in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, Architectural Technology, or a related discipline.
• Experience: 2–5+ years of post-qualification experience working with a residential developer, design-and-build contractor, or residential-focused architecture/interior design practice in Ireland .
• Technical Proficiency: Strong working knowledge of AutoCAD and/or Revit, Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop), and Microsoft Office. Experience with BIM 360 / Procore or similar document control platforms is an advantage.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Solid understanding of Irish Building Regulations, BCAR processes, and residential space standards.
• Commercial Awareness: Proven ability to value-engineer specifications and work within strict commercial budgets without compromising design integrity.
• Soft Skills: Strong organisational, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to coordinate across internal construction, commercial, and sales teams as well as external suppliers.
• Mobility: Full clean driving licence and access to own transport to travel between head office and active development sites .

The Offer

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience, plus performance-related bonus.
• Pension contribution and private healthcare scheme.
• Company mileage/travel allowance for site visits.
• Clear career progression pathway toward a full Design Management role within a high-performing team.

Please share your CV and design portfolio with me in confidence via email to rhughes@macdonaldandcompany.com