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.

Key Responsibilities

● 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

   localized design solutions.

Key Requirements

● 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 of 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.
 

Qualification

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