Design Studio Manager Jobs in Toronto, ON (NOW HIRING)

CHIL is a boutique interior design studio specializing in hospitality, food & beverage, and multi-family residential projects.

With studios in Vancouver, Toronto, and Hong Kong, CHIL delivers luxury design for global brands like Accor, Shangri-La, Fairmont, Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and Four Seasons, as well as residential developments across North America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

We are part of the SJ Group, which is a diverse collective of problem solvers for the built environment, continually reimagining ways to create a smart and sustainable future.

Headquartered in Singapore, the group has a global talent pool of 16,000 in its member companies AETOS, Atelier Ten, B+H, CHIL, KTP, Prostruct, Robert Bird Group, SAA, SMEC and Surbana Jurong, based in more than 120 offices in over 40 countries.

Its technical experts deliver sustainable solutions that cover the entire project life cycle from planning and design, through to delivery and management, as well as a full suite of multidisciplinary consultancy services across a diverse range of sectors including transportation, water, aviation, healthcare, hospitality and renewables.

A global urban, infrastructure and managed services consulting firm with over 70 years of track record in successful project delivery, SJ has built more than a million homes in Singapore, created master plans in more than 60 countries and developed over 100 industrial parks globally.

Please visit our website: www.surbanajurong.com

Role Summary

The Interior Design Director of Practice will lead our Toronto studio with the delivery of highquality hospitality and multifamily residential interior environments, combining creative excellence, technical expertise, and strong client-facing capabilities. The role involves guiding the design process from concept through construction, ensuring that all work is executed to high standards of functionality, aesthetics, and regulatory compliance within the Canadian context.

Working within a multidisciplinary team, the Director of Practice will provide leadership for activities in our Toronto CHIL studio including, but not limited to, all business, staff and financial operations, project profitability, marketing/business development, client satisfaction and employee growth and development.

This position is ideal for a designer with strong experience in the Canadian built environment and a passion for creating refined, usercentred spaces.

Key Responsibilities

Design Leadership

• Lead concept development, space planning, material selection, FF&E direction, and overall design narrative for hospitality and multifamily residential projects.
• Deliver compelling client presentations, design packages, and visual storytelling materials.
• Develop highquality documentation that supports accurate pricing, tendering, and construction.
• Present design concepts to clients, consultants, and senior stakeholders confidently and professionally.

Project Management & Technical Delivery

• Produce and oversee interior design deliverables across all phases including concept, schematic design, design development, tender, and construction documentation.
• Coordinate closely with architectural, MEP, lighting, and sustainability teams to ensure cohesive project delivery.
• Review and approve detailed drawings, millwork/joinery packages, finish schedules, and specifications.
• Conduct site visits, review shop drawings, and support contract administration to maintain design integrity during construction.
• Manage project timelines, workflow, and deliverables to meet client and studio expectations.
• Monitor financial health of all projects, oversee billings and support accounts receivable activities

Business Development & Marketing

• Serve as a key client contact and maintain strong, trustbased relationships throughout the design and delivery process.
• Market and develop new business on a consistent basis;
• Work closely with our Marketing department to ensure business development reporting, lead generation, fee development, project marketing and proposal writing
• Proactively position and network CHIL in the market locally and globally
• Support proposal writing, interviews, and business development efforts where required.

Team Leadership & Development

• Mentor and guide intermediate and junior interior designers, providing feedback on design quality and technical output.
• Encourage collaboration, knowledgesharing, and best practices within the interior design team.
• Contribute to internal design reviews and studio initiatives.

Quality, Compliance & Standards

• Ensure all interior design work complies with Canadian building codes, fire and life safety requirements, and accessibility standards (e.g., AODA, provincial codes).
• Maintain consistency, accuracy, and quality across all documentation and design outputs.
• Promote sustainable design strategies, responsible material selection, and wellnessdriven design solutions.

Qualifications

• Degree or Diploma from a CIDA-accredited Interior Design program (or equivalent Canadian-recognised institution).
• A minimum of 15 years of professional experience in interior design, ideally within hospitality, multifamily residential, or mixeduse sectors
• Top notch client relationships in the local market is a plus in our consideration
• High emotional intelligence (EQ) with exceptional interpersonal, stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills, combined with proven leadership, business development and client management experience. Able to inspire teams, develop trusted client relationships and drive sustainable business growth.
• A design professional with proven leadership skills, including business development
• Participation and presence in industry organizations and professional affiliations
• BIM Project Lifecycle - Familiarity with the BIM project lifecycle through design, construction and operational phases
• BIM Contracts - Understanding of BIM deliverables and terminology in contracts
• Solid understanding of/or Proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, and 3D visualisation tools (SketchUp, Enscape, Rhino, etc.).
• Solid understanding of Canadian building codes, accessibility standards, and local permitting processes.
• Experience in preparing detailed design documentation, FF&E packages, and construction drawings to Canadian industry standards.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams as well as help grow and mentor a dynamic studio with engaged team members

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible recruitment process for all candidates. If you require any reasonable adjustments or additional support-such as receiving the application form in an alternative format-please don't hesitate to contact our recruitment team.

Your experience throughout the application process is important to us. We welcome feedback on how we can improve and are happy to provide any further information you may need to help you make an informed decision about joining us.

If there's anything more we can do to support you, please let us know, we're here to help.

Agency

Please note that any unsolicited resumes or CVs submitted through our website or directly to SJ Group employees' personal email accounts will be considered the property of Robert Bird Group. As such, we will not be liable for any agency fees associated with these submissions.

To be recognized as an authorized recruitment agency or search firm for SJ Group, a formal written agreement must be in place. Additionally, agencies must be invited by our Recruitment Team to submit candidates for specific roles.