this is itsu

We are the leading Asian-inspired quick-service retail and grocery brand with over 80 restaurants across the UK, Belgium, and a growing wholesale business across Europe and beyond. Our renowned delicious food made fresh in every restaurant, every day, has made itsu a top choice for healthy eating. 

In addition to our restaurants, itsu [grocery] offers a range of high-quality Asian-inspired foods available online and in supermarkets. We are excited to be one of the leading brands in this specific group and have ambitious plans for continued growth both domestically and globally. 

With its best-in-class-food, latest technology, innovation, and talented workforce, itsu is the future of fast food.

this is the job

As Retail & Fit-Out Designer, you will be responsible for delivering and evolving restaurant design across all itsu formats in the UK and Europe, leading new openings and refurbishments in collaboration with internal teams and external agencies to ensure consistent, high-quality execution. 

The role focuses on creating visually strong, distinctive designs that are practical, maintainable, and operationally simple, while owning restaurant aesthetics in line with the itsu brand. You will balance creativity with delivery, working closely with and reporting to the Property Director.

core responsibilities

• Act as the itsu brand design ambassador, ensuring a consistent, high-quality restaurant design across company-owned and franchise markets.
• Lead and evolve the look and feel of itsu restaurants, collaborating with internal teams, franchise partners, and external agencies to meet brand, operational, and commercial needs.
• Own and maintain design standards and guidelines, managing external design partners to deliver to agreed quality, timelines, and budgets.
• Drive cost-effective, scalable design solutions through standardisation, value engineering, and innovative thinking across new openings, refurbishments, and special projects.
• Manage design budgets and supplier relationships, negotiating commercial terms and ensuring compliance with internal processes.
• Stay ahead of retail design trends, continuously reviewing and improving restaurant aesthetics, materials, fixtures, and equipment to strengthen the itsu brand.

this is you

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain design intent clearly and work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to integrate well with wider teams, working collaboratively across Property, Operations, and Creative functions.
• A design-based diploma or degree is preferred.
• Highly creative and innovative, with the ability to inspire confidence in design solutions while remaining practical and delivery-focused.
• Strong grounding in core design principles, with experience applying them in a commercial retail environment.
• Up-to-date knowledge of drawing and presentation packages, ideally including Vectorworks and Adobe software.
• Strong freehand sketching and presentation skills to communicate ideas clearly and effectively.
• Proven retail design experience, with a good understanding of the commercial and operational realities of QSR environments.
• Experience managing both internal stakeholders and external design agencies to deliver projects to agreed standards.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, managing multiple priorities and deadlines.

perks and benefits

• A competitive salary 
• Flexible working, including 1 day a week from home, and up to 2 week a year working from abroad
• Generous tome off allowances [including bank holidays]
• Free breakfast and snacks available everyday 
• A free itsu lunch whenever you are in the office and 50% off in all stores, for when you are not
• We cover a variety of different benefits such as physical, mental, financial, environmental and social wellbeing
• An array of business events and socials throughout the year 

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