Senior Designer Kitchen & Bath, Furniture

SURTECO specializes in the production and sale of laminates, foils and vinyl-coated fabrics used in a variety of decorative surfaces. Our technologies, products and services deliver distinctive performance features, thus helping to support our Customers’ reputations for trusted brands around the globe and in an array of markets.

We are currently seeking an experienced Senior Designer for Kitchen & Bath to join our team in Monroe, NC!

The Senior Designer, Kitchen & Bath, Furniture creates innovative designs and leads implementation of SURTECO surface materials from ideation to execution. The position is responsible for researching and understanding the market to create and deliver engaging and inspired trend presentations to customers. This role manages new design scaleups from inception through print development to first time production by working with marketing, sales, and operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Research trends, market direction, and gather competitive intelligence to generate new product designs. Interface with customers to deliver engaging new design and trend presentations.
• Execute new design presentation and launch dates into Kitchen & Bath and Furniture markets and to key customers.
• Create designs and color lines using graphic color software and working with color match technicians.
• Work in partnership with Gravure team to develop design for print products including décor paper, 3D and 2D film, LBW paper and specialty films.
• Approve all first production print, color and surface of new designs for Surteco stock line and harmony collections.
• Resource new design copy both internally and with strategic design studios as needed.
• Support and execute scale up of 3D partnerships with Thermofused Laminate (TFL) companies.
• Work in coordination with Sales to visit top customers and present new designs for surface materials.
• Travel, domestic and international, to customers, manufacturing locations and suppliers, and industry exhibitions as needed for design development.
• Occasional weekend days when attending Industry Exhibitions, Trade Shows or Events

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Knowledge of current fashion, color, product, and design trends
• Strong analytical skills to validate trend research and lead design direction.
• Effective communication skills and excellent organizational capabilities.
• Must be able to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Project management of design development from inception to scale up and delivery
• Advance understanding or aptitude to learn computers for business correspondence and graphic design.
• Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Textile, Industrial, Furniture, Architectural, or interior Design or Fine Arts, ideally with print focus
• 3-5 years of experience in design development, customer interface experience, or manufacturing interface experience
• Knowledge of current fashion, color, product and design trends
• Strong communication skills and excellent organizational capabilities
• Must be able to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines
• Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, and the aptitude to learn computers for business correspondence and graphic design

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to lift 50 pounds as needed
• Frequently positions self to use/maintain personal protective equipment
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Comfortable with working in a manufacturing environment alongside machines, equipment, etc.
• Ability to detect, distinguish, or determine the source of a smell
• Exposure or works around chemical processing, unregulated temperature, dusty conditions
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus. Must pass Munsell Hue Test.

Desired Qualifications:

• Gravure print separations/color layer knowledge
• AVA knowledge

Travel Requirements:

Time spent away from home or typical office location.

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Company Statement:

SURTECO is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to providing equal access to employment. We value diversity and inclusion and encourage all applicants to apply. In addition, the health and safety of those who contribute to business development is a priority. Open dialogue with our employees is a matter of course, and the further development of their knowledge is a special concern. We enable them to find the right balance between personal and professional life.