Our client a leading lighting design specialist is seeking a talented Associate Lighting Designer to join their Dubai team.
The Associate will lead a portfolio of projects and the teams delivering them, with responsibility for creative and technical quality, client satisfaction, project delivery and commercial performance. This is a hands-on leadership role, combining design direction, team management, client engagement and commercial oversight.
Working closely with the Studio Lead and Directors, the successful candidate will help maintain high design standards while developing the studio's people, processes and client relationships.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Development
- Manage and develop designers through regular one-to-ones, feedback, mentoring and appraisals.
- Delegate effectively, providing clear expectations while maintaining oversight of quality and programme.
- Monitor team workloads, resource requirements and pressure points, escalating issues where required.
- Mentor designers at all levels and contribute to a collaborative, design-led studio culture.
Creative & Technical Leadership
- Lead concept development, delivering innovative lighting solutions that respond to the brief and establish a strong design narrative.
- Facilitate design workshops, brainstorms and critiques.
- Introduce new products, technologies, techniques and tools to the studio.
- Review key deliverables against design, technical, QA/QC, regulatory and sustainability standards.
- Provide senior technical lighting advice to clients and design teams.
- Liaise with manufacturers on product selection, specifications and technical queries.
Project Delivery & Resource Planning
- Oversee projects delegated by the Studio Lead and Directors, personally leading key projects.
- Plan team workload and project programmes through Wrike within the studio resource plan.
- Identify capacity gaps early, including the need for external Revit resources.
- Take responsibility for client satisfaction across the portfolio and resolve issues promptly.
- Provide senior direction when projects encounter technical, programme or delivery challenges.
- Ensure teams comply with company health and safety procedures when working on site.
Commercial Performance
- Take accountability for the profitability of the assigned portfolio, aligning fee, scope, programme and resource requirements.
- Monitor project performance and identify commercial risks at an early stage.
- Identify invoicing milestones and provide information for the studio invoice plan.
- Agree fees for changes in scope and additional services before work is undertaken.
- Manage cost and liability risks without compromising design quality.
Business Development & Client Relationships
- Build strong relationships with clients, architects, interior designers, MEP consultants and developers across the region.
- Identify new opportunities through existing relationships and professional networks.
- Support fee proposals and bids with input on scope, resource and programme.
- Maintain relevant opportunities within the CRM.
- Represent the business at industry events, trade shows, networking events and award ceremonies.
Studio Development
- Work with the Studio Lead to develop studio procedures, design standards, workflows and presentation materials.
- Contribute to training, knowledge sharing and lessons-learned sessions.
- Support continuous improvement of design processes, project delivery and technical capability.
Candidate Requirements
- Degree or equivalent qualification in Lighting Design, Architecture, Interior Design, Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.
- Significant experience in architectural lighting design, ideally within a specialist lighting consultancy, design studio or lighting supplier.
- Strong portfolio across sectors such as luxury hospitality, residential, commercial, retail and mixed-use.
- Proven experience delivering projects from concept through detailed design, specification and site implementation.
- Strong technical understanding of lighting, controls, equipment and current lighting technologies.
- Good knowledge of lighting manufacturers and product specification.
- Experience working with architects, interior designers, MEP consultants, developers and contractors.
- Previous experience managing, mentoring or leading designers.
- Strong client-facing, organisational and commercial skills.
- Proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD and relevant lighting/design software; strong Revit skills are advantageous.
- Knowledge of UAE regulations and regional project delivery is preferred.
- Previous UAE or GCC experience is highly desirable.
Personal Attributes
The successful candidate will be a creative, commercially aware and technically strong lighting professional with proven leadership capability. They will be confident working directly with clients, able to balance creative ambition with technical and commercial requirements, and motivated to contribute to the growth of a boutique, design-led business.
