: HEAD – KITCHEN DESIGN (PROJECTS)

Location: Mumbai / Bengaluru, India

Reporting To: Director – Projects

Position Summary

We are seeking a senior leader to head our Kitchen Design (Projects) function. This role combines technical authority, regulatory expertise, team leadership, design governance, client-facing representation, and commercial ownership to ensure the delivery of safe, compliant, and operationally effective commercial kitchens.

Key Responsibilities

- Leadership & Team Management: Lead, manage, and mentor a team of kitchen designers, building a high-performing department with consistent output and low escalations.

- Design Governance & Quality Control: Establish and enforce design governance, peer review, QA/QC, and approval protocols for all kitchen design deliverables. Perform independent technical validations of kitchen designs (including third-party consultants/contractors) when appointed by clients.

- Client Representation & Technical Advisory: Act as a client-facing kitchen operations expert, representing the organization in design reviews, coordination meetings, and senior client presentations. Manage client expectations during scope changes, late menu revisions, and operational constraints.

- Technical Approval: Approve final kitchen layouts, Bill of Quantities (BOQs), and technical submissions prior to issue. Serve as the final technical escalation point, enforcing uncompromised life-safety standards.

- Regulatory & Code Compliance: Ensure full project compliance across all deliverables:
- FSSAI: Operational food safety and hygiene workflow requirements.

- Fire Safety: Local Fire Authority norms, fire suppression systems, and life-safety protocols.

- MEP & HVAC: Exhaust, fresh air, filtration, grease capture, and heat-load balance regulations.

- Gas & Energy: Gas safety standards and National Building Code (NBC) requirements.

- End-to-End Project Execution:



Oversee projects from initial concept design through MEP/vendor coordination, food trials, and final handover.

- Stakeholder Coordination: Lead cross-functional alignment with clients, executive chefs, architects, PMCs, MEP/fire consultants, and equipment vendors.

- Commercial Ownership: Own billing milestones, variation tracking, scope management, and commercial alignment for the kitchen design scope.

Qualifications & Key Requirements

- Experience: 8–15 years of progressive experience in commercial kitchen design, MEP coordination, and project execution.

- Leadership Track Record: Proven background in leading design teams, governing design quality, and driving project deliverables.

- Regulatory Expertise: Strong hands-on experience navigating FSSAI standards, Fire Department approval workflows, NBC guidelines, and commercial HVAC/exhaust regulations.

- Software & Technical Proficiency:
- AutoCAD: Advanced layout review, detailing, and MEP coordination.

- MS PowerPoint: High-impact client presentations, design narratives, and technical proposals.

- MS Excel: Advanced BOQ creation, cost analysis, billing tracking, and project metrics.

- Soft Skills: Excellent client-facing presentation, technical negotiation, conflict resolution, and decision-making capabilities.

Authority

- Final approval authority on kitchen design intent, operational layouts, and technical outputs.

Key Performance & Success Indicators (KPIs)

- Zero Regulatory Failures: Maintain a 100% compliance record with zero Fire, Gas, FSSAI, or HVAC safety audit failures.

- Design Accuracy: Achieve first-time-right kitchen designs with minimal rework or post-handover alterations.

- Client Trust: Serve as a trusted technical advisor, driving high client satisfaction and repeat business.

- Commercial Performance: Maintain strict billing discipline, proactive scope control, and high fee recovery.

- Team Development: Build a reliable, cohesive design team capable of handling complex commercial projects.

📌 HEAD -Commercial kitchen Designer (Karnataka)
🏢 Skywings Advisors
📍 Karnataka