SVP, Head of Spatial Design, CRESA

About the role

DBS is looking for a Senior Vice President, Head of Spatial Design within its corporate services unit CRESA, based in DBS Asia Central. The role sets the group's design vision for workplaces, wealth centres, branches and specialised client environments, combining behavioural insight, digital intelligence and sustainability to deliver consistent, human-centred spaces across a regional portfolio.

Key responsibilities

• Set the global design vision and create distinctive standards for DBS workplaces, wealth centres and retail environments.
• Elevate design quality by leading critiques and design reviews, balancing aesthetics, experience, functionality, risk, cost and delivery.
• Direct leading architects, interior designers and specialist agencies and build an effective design ecosystem.
• Codify global playbooks, approval frameworks and design principles, and represent CRESA on the Group Design Council and chair a Spatial Design Council.
• Review concepts, detailed drawings and buildability, and give the final CRESA design recommendation before proposals go to implementation.
• Apply inclusive design, behavioural insight and sustainable material choices, including compliance with the DBS Sustainable Fit-out and Operations Guide and green-building standards.
• Shape standards for retail, wealth and workplace formats and partner with business, brand and service teams on service design and the integration of media, wayfinding and signage.
• Lead a small Group team covering design governance, branch programmes and behavioural design.

Required profile

• Degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Environmental Design or a related discipline; a master's degree is advantageous.
• At least 15 years of relevant spatial or interior design experience, including senior leadership in corporate real estate, a leading design consultancy or a complex global organisation.
• Experience across the full lifecycle, from concept and detailed design through construction, completion and post-occupancy learning.
• Enterprise-level leadership, confident communication and presentation, and agency leadership and vendor management skills.
• A portfolio of executed, preferably award-recognised work.

Required skills

• Deep expertise in branded retail, wealth formats and corporate workplaces, with proven ownership of design standards and multi-market roll-outs.
• Fluency in AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Sustainable, inclusive and evidence-led design.