Job Details

About the Team

In Product Development and Design, we drive and manage sample development from concept through to production, working hand-in-hand with Design, Merchants, Sourcing team members and QA.

About the Role

As a Design Assistant in the finish department, you will support new product lines and product development processes for each season within specific furnishing departments that reflect mood, market trends and the needs of the business.

You will work closely with Senior Management and Designers to ensure new developments are communicated to our global offices and vendors overseas. You will support senior design team with day-to-day tasks in design/ development process and assure all deadlines and key calendar dates are met.

With your strong organizational skills and attention to detail, you'll help keep projects on track, contribute to seasonal timelines, and ensure all finish materials are accurately documented and delivered on time.

Responsibilities

Seasonal Engagement

• Proactively maintain and organize the finish library/ finish display spaces by keeping swatches stored in a manner that fosters a safe environment to conduct business.
• Assist shipping, managing and tracking all incoming and outgoing shipments of swatches/samples between our Global offices and factories that are part of the Finish Product Development Cycle.
• Assisting Designers to ensure finish samples are on track to arrive for milestone meetings and deadlines.
• Assist the design and color studio team, and senior management finish library/panel needs.
• Assist with seasonal product presentations between the Finish department, and Designers / Senior Management.
• Update internal systems in place of the finish department ensuring all finish materials are accurately kept and documented.
• Help coordinate finish development projects from the initial concept to final approval, ensuring each finish meets brand quality standards and seasonal deadlines.
• Assisting with communication between designers, cross-functional partners, and overseas offices.
• Assist with the upkeep of projects; color matching review records, documentation of developments, QA and product life cycle key milestones.
• Support the Design team to ensure that all seasonal finishes meet established timelines and brand standards for quality and consistency.
• Attend team meetings and cross-functional checkpoints to provide status updates and help drive projects forward.

Team Collaboration

Product Development Strategy

• Communicate clearly and professionally with your team, global office team members and / or vendors.
• Collaborate in an environment where timelines, feedback, and teamwork matter
• Curious and eager to learn especially about wood finishes, color, texture, and materials.
• Care deeply about the small details others might overlook.

Criteria

Competencies

• Ability to work independently as well as with a team in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to prioritize, and adapt to change and multitask.
• Understand calendar and deliverables, sense of urgency for deadlines
• High aptitude and agility to direction and guidance provided
• Proactive when given a task; engage in the process
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and teamwork through each season
• Problem solving skills to identify existing product issues that may arise.

Design Experience

• 1 to 2 years of experience in a design-related field (internships, assistant roles welcome)
• (A plus) Experience in identifying and contributing trends and inspiration based on the given concept direction.
• Familiarity with furniture, furniture furnishing, fabrication, understanding of color and materials is a plus.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, especially in managing physical samples and timelines.
• Proficiency with Excel, word, power point.
• Bonus: Experience with Photoshop, or PLM platforms.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit or stand for prolonged periods of time
• Ability to type on a keyboard and operate a PC
• Ability to converse over a telephone as well as virtual meetings
• Ability to transport materials or equipment or lifting, moving, carrying objects up to 50 pounds on a limited basis
• Ability to work in office and perform in corporate environment
• This role requires being onsite in the San Francisco office 5 days per week

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, or other applicable state or local laws and ordinances.

The expected starting pay range for this position is $60,000 - $65,000. Applicable pay ranges may differ across markets. Actual pay will be determined based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law. In addition to competitive pay, compensation may include a variety of other components like benefits, paid time off, merit, and bonus opportunities.