Senior Designer

Role overview

Unispace is seeking a Senior Designer to join its Christchurch studio and contribute to workplace projects for major brands, fast-growing companies, and market leaders across New Zealand. This position is suited to a designer who wants to do more than produce drawings and enjoys guiding conversations, shaping ideas, and taking projects from strategy all the way through to completion.

As part of a globally recognised design-and-build organisation with 48 studios around the world, you will operate in an environment where creative quality, commercial awareness, and client outcomes are all equally important.

Why this opportunity stands out

This role gives you the chance to lead projects, influence design direction, and develop strong client partnerships while working with experienced designers, strategists, and delivery professionals. You will have input from the first client conversation through to the finished workplace, helping create spaces people want to use and work in.

It is ideal for someone who enjoys pitching ambitious concepts, navigating complex design problems, and seeing their ideas realised in built form.

What you will do

• Guide workplace and commercial interior assignments from early concept stages through to construction.
• Create clear design stories and workplace strategies that respond to client needs.
• Deliver imaginative, practical, and commercially viable design outcomes.
• Confidently communicate concepts to clients and senior decision-makers.
• Develop strong client relationships and remain a key contact throughout the project journey.
• Lead workshops, presentations, and design reviews.
• Work closely with Design, Construction, Delivery, and Business Development teams.
• Coordinate with external consultants such as MEP, lighting, AV, landscape, and structural specialists.
• Protect design intent as projects move into delivery.
• Support and mentor junior designers.
• Encourage innovation, creativity, and design quality within the studio.
• Contribute to a collaborative, high-performing team culture.

What we are looking for

The ideal candidate will likely bring hands-on experience delivering workplace, commercial, or corporate interior projects, along with strong client-facing and design leadership abilities. You should be confident developing concepts, planning spaces, and using storytelling to communicate design ideas.

Experience preparing and reviewing detailed construction documentation is important, as is advanced capability with Revit and related design software. Strong presentation and communication skills are essential, along with a genuine interest in creating workplaces that are visually engaging and commercially effective.

About Unispace

Unispace combines strategy, design, and delivery within a single model, giving designers significant influence and ownership over projects. The business works quickly, delivers tangible results, and offers exposure to a broad range of teams across design, construction, and workplace strategy. It also places strong emphasis on developing its people and supporting ambitious career growth.

Who should apply

This role is suited to experienced designers who are ready to take ownership of projects, guide clients with confidence, and create workplaces that inspire the people who use them.