A new in‑house design studio, formed by a UK family office with a strong emphasis on privacy, discretion and design excellence, seeks an FF&E & Procurement Lead to head up all aspects of sourcing, procurement, and supplier management for a landmark heritage restoration converting a listed estate in the West of England into a luxury, highly curated hospitality destination.
You will be part of a small, high‑calibre internal design team, working closely with the client’s vision from design development through to installation. This is a rare opportunity to help shape a pioneering hotel property, where heritage meets contemporary luxury, and where attention to the detail of furniture, fixtures, finishes, lighting, and custom elements will define the guest experience.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead the full FF&E procurement lifecycle: specification, sourcing, tender/RFQ process, vendor selection, negotiation, ordering, delivery, quality checks, installation and handover
* Translate design intent into detailed procurement documentation, ensuring accurate drawings, materials, finishes, custom furniture specs etc.
* Develop and manage procurement schedules that align with design & construction programmes; identify long lead‑time items, monitor supplier lead times.
* Manage & negotiate with suppliers, artisans, fabricators (both UK and international), covering price, quality, lead times, contracts and terms.
* Maintain and manage budgets, cost tracking, forecasting, and value engineering where appropriate to balance cost‑quality trade‑offs.
* Oversee logistics: shipping, customs, warehousing, installation, ensuring timing and condition of FF&E items.
* Conduct quality assurance: sample approvals, inspecting materials and finishes, handling defects, reworks, returns.
* Maintain procurement documentation: purchase orders, contracts, specifications, drawings, supplier/subcontractor data, delivery schedules.
* Liaise with internal stakeholders (designers, architects, project managers), site teams, logistics/installation partners.
* Support sustainability, heritage compliance, and ethical sourcing requirements where relevant.
Required Skills & Experience
* At least 5 years’ experience in FF&E procurement or related procurement / sourcing roles, preferably within luxury hospitality, boutique hotel, high‑end residential or heritage restoration contexts
* Strong knowledge of furniture, lighting, finishes, fabrics, custom furniture/fittings and fabrication processes
* Demonstrated ability to manage complex procurement packages from concept through to installation
* Proficient in reading technical/design/architectural drawings; understanding layout, finish schedules, shop drawings etc.
* Excellent negotiation skills and strong supplier relationship management
* Highly organised, with ability to track multiple items, timelines, budgets concurrently, with excellent attention to detail
* Strong communication skills, both written and verbal; comfortable liaising with clients, internal teams, external suppliers
* Competence in procurement / project tracking tools; strong skills in MS Office (especially Excel); familiarity with specification software / procurement platforms advantageous
* Experience in logistics, import/export/customs, shipping, warehousing and handling installation snagging etc.
Desirable
* Experience working on listed / heritage buildings, with understanding of heritage regulatory constraints
* Previous experience in luxury hospitality/hotel FF&E projects
* Experience in sustainable / ethical sourcing
* Flexibility to travel to site in West England as required