Senior Manager, Design, Europe / UK

About the Company:

Industrious is the largest premium workplace-as-a-service provider and home to the highest-rated workplaces in the industry. Everything we do comes down to creating great days for teams of all sizes and stages, including our own. We believe that what makes a great day at work is the people on your team and the problems you get to solve together. We’re looking for people who love thinking outside the box and thrive in a truly collaborative setting. As teammates, we encourage new ideas and toast every win. We’re excited about having a meaningful impact on people’s workplace experience.

About the Role:

As a Senior Design Manager at Industrious, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our design direction across the UK and Europe. You will lead the design of projects from concept through construction and launch, ensuring each space reflects our brand, delivers operational excellence, and provides a best-in-class workplace experience.

You will manage multiple concurrent projects, oversee external consultants, and partner closely with internal teams including Real Estate, Pre-Construction, Construction, Facilities, and Operations. The role combines hands-on design leadership with strategic oversight—balancing creativity, functionality, and financial rigour.

You will also help refine and evolve our design standards, mentor designers and consultants, and contribute to the continuous improvement of our design processes.

This position is ideal for an experienced Design Manager looking to step up into a broader leadership role-one that spans multiple countries, increases strategic influence, and provides the opportunity to shape Industrious’ European workplace design strategy.

The role reports to the Director of Design & Construction and will be based in London, with some travel required across Europe and the UK.

Design Leadership

• Lead the design of multiple projects across the UK and Europe from initial concept through detailed design, documentation, construction, and launch.

• Define and communicate the design vision for each project, ensuring alignment with Industrious’ product standards, operational goals, and brand experience.

• Oversee the specification of finishes, furniture, accessories, artwork, and greenery to deliver cohesive, hospitality-driven environments.

• Review base-building documentation, identify design implications, and ensure compliance with guidelines, programme, and budget requirements.

• Collaborate with Construction to ensure design feasibility, buildability, and cost efficiency through proactive value engineering.

• Prepare and present design proposals to the internal Investment Committee, articulating design strategy, cost implications, and key risks.

• Ensure consultant deliverables and construction documentation reflect the design intent, technical quality, and operational performance required.

Team & Process Management

• Grow, support and mentor a team of designers, providing direction, feedback, and professional development to support individual and team growth.

• Coordinate design scope and workflows with internal partners (Real Estate, Construction, Facilities, Operations, etc.) to deliver projects on time, on budget, and on brand.

• Establish consistent design processes, templates, and review checkpoints to improve efficiency, accuracy, and collaboration across projects and regions.

• Contribute to the ongoing refinement of Industrious’ design standards, providing feedback and identifying areas for innovation and improvement.

• Identify new design ideas, materials, and product trends that enhance the Industrious workplace experience and drive continuous evolution of our product.

Strategic & Financial Oversight

• Collaborate with Pre-Construction and Finance teams to develop project budgets, cost plans, and design-to-budget strategies.

• Maintain financial awareness throughout all project phases, proactively managing design decisions that impact cost, schedule, and delivery.

• Support Facilities and Operations teams with capital expenditure (CapEx) improvement projects, applying design thinking to optimise existing spaces.

• Partner with leadership to align design output with broader business goals, contributing to long-term design and development strategy across Europe.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture or Interior Design, with substantial experience designing office, hospitality, or mixed-use environments.

• Minimum 8–10 years of professional experience, including at least 3 years in a senior or lead design management role overseeing multiple projects.

• Proven track record leading design from concept through construction on high-end commercial interiors across multiple regions.

• Strong knowledge of local building regulations, accessibility standards, and permitting processes across the UK and Europe.

• Familiarity with Revit is essential; with AutoCAD and Adobe Creative Suite preferred.

• Ability to read and mark up architectural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing drawings to ensure design intent and technical coordination.

• Demonstrated strength in managing design budgets, schedules, and consultant scopes to maintain control across all project phases.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly articulate design concepts to both creative and non-design audiences.

• Experience managing cross-functional design teams and external consultant networks.

• Highly organised, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

• Comfortable working in a virtual, distributed team environment and travelling within Europe for site visits and project launches.

• Commitment to modelling Industrious’ values of integrity, teamwork, and ownership day to day.