Head of Design

We are seeking a highly creative and strategic Head of Design to lead and elevate the end to end design, architectural, and aesthetic standards for our growing QSR business. This role is critical in ensuring that our physical environments and brand touchpoints are innovative, functional, and consistent across all restaurant locations, directly impacting the customer experience and brand identity.

• Develop and execute design and architectural strategies aligned with business growth plans and brand evolution.
• Oversee the conceptualization and technical design of all new store builds, renovations, and prototype developments.
• Understand and comply with building codes, local council regulations, and authority approvals for all physical site developments.
• Oversee the selection and specification of materials, furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E).
• Oversee design integration for Capex heavy kitchen layouts, customer facing interiors, and exterior signage.
• Ensure timely and cost effective delivery of design packages to construction and project teams to minimize downtime.
• Build and manage relationships with external architects, interior designers, and specialist design consultants.
• Drive design KPIs and standards to improve spatial efficiency, reduce build costs, and enhance the "look and feel".
• Ensure compliance with health and safety, accessibility, and brand specific quality standards.
• Set up a fit for purpose, lean design team. Lead, coach, mentor, and develop in house design talent.
• Collaborate closely with operations, procurement, finance and expansion teams to ensure designs are operationally viable.
• Support new store openings and network expansion with scalable, modular, and localised design solutions.

• 10-15+ years of design experience, with significant exposure to QSR, FMCG, or high volume retail environments.
• Expert software proficiency: Master level knowledge of Autodesk Revit for Building Information Modeling (BIM) and AutoCAD for precise 2D drafting and technical documentation.
• Technical Leadership: Ability to establish and oversee standardized Revit templates, families and CAD standards to ensure consistency across multi location rollouts.
• Experience and exposure to design and construction standards in African countries outside South Africa.
• Proven leadership experience managing multi disciplinary design teams and large scale store networks.
• Strong knowledge of spatial planning, material durability and cost optimization within a retail context.
• Excellent analytical, presentation and stakeholder management skills to sell design visions to executive leadership.
• Ability to work in a fast paced, high growth environment where speed to market is a priority.

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Interior Design or a related creative field (Post graduate degree or professional registration preferred).