Project Manager, Interior Design

Key Responsibilities

• Project Planning & Delivery

• Lead the planning, coordination, and delivery of multiple interior design projects across hospitality, retail, workplace, public space, or mixed-use sectors.

• Develop and maintain project work plans, milestones, schedules, resource allocations, and delivery timelines from concept stage through construction completion.

• Coordinate project activities across internal design, FF&E, branding, and documentation teams, ensuring clear ownership of deliverables and deadlines.

• Identify risks, constraints, dependencies, and potential delays early; develop and implement practical mitigation plans.

• Support project mobilization, design development, tendering, procurement, construction, installation, snagging, and closeout.

• Budget, Procurement & Commercial Control

• Develop, monitor, and control project budgets, including design fees, FF&E, materials, consultant fees, procurement, logistics, and contingency.

• Prepare and maintain cost plans, procurement trackers, purchase orders, budget forecasts, and financial reporting.

• Obtain, evaluate, and negotiate quotations from suppliers, manufacturers, contractors, and specialist vendors.

• Manage FF&E procurement, lead times, delivery schedules, storage, installation sequencing, and site logistics.

• Assess scope changes, variations, and design revisions for cost, schedule, and contractual impact; obtain necessary approvals before proceeding.

• Monitor project profitability, cash flow, invoicing, and financial performance in collaboration with senior leadership.

• Client & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as a primary day-to-day point of contact for clients, ensuring clear, timely, and professional communication.

• Lead internal coordination meetings, client meetings, progress updates, design reviews, and project reporting.

• Manage expectations around scope, budget, programme, approvals, and decision-making.

• Build trusted relationships with clients, architects, consultants, contractors, suppliers, and end users.

• Represent the studio professionally in presentations, site meetings, and stakeholder discussions.

• Design Coordination & Technical Execution

• Coordinate closely with the Design Director and design team to ensure that creative intent, quality standards, and technical requirements are maintained throughout delivery.

• Review drawings, specifications, FF&E schedules, finish schedules, millwork details, submittals, shop drawings, samples, and mock-ups.

• Coordinate with architects, MEP consultants, structural consultants, lighting designers, acousticians, AV/IT consultants, and specialist vendors.

• Resolve design, coordination, and technical issues proactively, balancing aesthetic intent, buildability, cost, programme, and compliance.

• Conduct site visits, inspect installed work, review progress against drawings and specifications, and manage RFI and defect resolution.

• Ensure that materials, workmanship, finishes, and installations meet the approved design intent and project quality standards.

• Team Leadership & Studio Standards

• Provide clear direction, delegation, and day-to-day support to project coordinators, junior designers, and project team members.

• Mentor team members on project management processes, documentation, coordination, client communication, and problem-solving.

• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and high-performance working environment.

• Uphold and improve studio standards for project documentation, templates, reporting, quality control, and knowledge sharing.

• Maintain awareness of current materials, products, construction methods, codes, regulations, and sustainability practices relevant to interior projects.

• Pre-requisites and Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design, Interior Architecture, Architecture, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related discipline.

• At least 8 years of professional experience in interior design project management, interior fit-out, construction management, architecture, or a closely related field.

• Demonstrated experience delivering medium to large-scale projects in hospitality, retail, workplace, public space, or comparable sectors.

• Strong understanding of the full project lifecycle: briefing, concept development, documentation, tendering, procurement, construction, installation, and handover.

• Proven ability to manage budgets, schedules, procurement, contractor coordination, variations, and project risks.

• Experience reviewing and coordinating construction documents, FF&E specifications, millwork packages, submittals, shop drawings, and site installations.

• Excellent verbal, written, and visual communication skills, with confidence presenting to clients and senior stakeholders.

• Highly organized, commercially aware, solution-oriented, and able to manage competing priorities across multiple projects.

• Proficiency in project management tools and Microsoft Office; familiarity with AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, and project management or procurement platforms is advantageous.

• Experience in Singapore or the broader Asia-Pacific region is desirable, with familiarity in local authority submissions, procurement practices, and contractor coordination.

• Real Impact, Made Together

• SAA is a member of the Surbana Jurong (SJ) Group, a diverse and collaborative collective of problem solvers for the built environment, continually reimagining ways to create a smart and sustainable future.

• As one of SJ’s 10 member companies, SAA is part of a global network of professionals in more than 120 offices in over 40 countries.