Managing Director London, England
Job description
18 January 2022|Architecture, Interiors
We have partnered with a London-based, boutique, small/medium-sized, design-led Architecture/Interiors practice with a brilliant reputation for their design quality and delivered projects in both the UK and internationally.
They have a fantastic portfolio of high-end Residential, Hospitality, Retail and Office projects, with a particular focus on Interior Architecture.
The business is small and busy but is growing fast. As they go into 2022 they have a strong new business pipeline and foresee fast growth ahead. This will create a number of opportunities to improve structure and process so that growth is sustainable and well managed.
The Role
The Managing Director will lead the management team (currently a team of three), will encourage open collaboration and trusting relationships, and will establish clear objectives and accountability for 2022.
Responsibilities will include:
- Implement processes and structures to make the business operationally effective without compromising quality
- Ensure agreed commercial and operational processes are established and adhered to Enable the business to win and deliver exceptional projects
- Draw insight from a variety of sources to generate opportunities for the business and manage those opportunities to project win. Most leads are generated by the founder but the MD is expected to develop a strong commercial strategy
- Ensure the right financial and business systems and processes are in place to support profitable growth, overseeing key financial processes managed by the Finance and Operations Manager
- Take an objective and rigorous approach to assessing and managing risk
- Manage client relationships comfortably and diplomatically, resolving critical issues
- Write proposals, set and negotiate fees, write contracts and Ts and Cs
- Oversee/approve proposals and fees produced by other Directors
- Ensure smooth end to end process for projects - brief production, planning and scoping, ensuring correct resource levels, ensuring adherence to timesheet process, ensuring projects are profitably delivered by Director and project leads
- Attract, retain and develop the best people for the business
- Create a sense of collective responsibility while allowing individuals to grow
- Facilitate a culture of collaboration and creative inspiration
The Ideal candidate
The Managing Director will be a business leader who can add discipline around process, set boundaries where appropriate, align activity (e.g. ensuring resource levels and operations align with forthcoming project requirements) and establish clear decision-making pathways.
Requirements:
Proven experience of:
- Leadership in architecture or interior design business. Being a qualified architect is desirable
- Leading a team/small business of 15+
- Delivering commercial and high end residential projects (design fee value of £300,000+) architecture and/or interiors
- Successful client relationship development
- Scoping out new projects to client brief, proposal writing (fees, resource plans, Ts and Cs) and negotiating terms to successful outcomes
- Working with a management team/other directors to deliver against multiple goals
If you are interested in having a confidential chat about this position you can email Ryan on r.gorman@lofthousegroup for more information.
Candidates with notice periods up to 3 months will be considered however a January start can be offered if the candidate is available.
