Director of Design

We are looking for a skilled and passionate Design Manager to be the newest addition of our team as Director of Design. TC Shadowlight is the nation’s leading media production studio who specializes in Video, Photography, CGI and Animation. We are a team of creative thinkers that work hard and play hard. We value team work and going above and beyond for each other and our clients. We pride ourselves on an excellent company culture and work life balance and allowing our creativity shine through our work to create a rewarding environment. TC Shadowlight has a great company culture that offers monthly and quarterly events for employees, and most of us consider TC Shadowlight to be our “home” when speaking about our career. TC is a very unique place to work that is considered to be a hidden gem here in Lancaster County. We work with large name clients all over the world and we have a passion on what we do and love showing our creativity through our work with our clients.

The Director of Design we are looking for will use their experience and knowledge of current trends to create aspirational, catalog-worthy room scenes for residential and commercial product imagery along with having a strong management background. They will work in conjunction with producers, set stylists, photographers, and carpenters to see their vision through from concept to completed build and oversee the design department.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Manage and oversee the design department such as approving time off, team evaluation, departments short-term and long-term goals, compensation review, promotions, disciplinary actions; create standards, guidelines and protocols for department
• Oversees day-to-day operations for the design department. Prioritizes, assigns, and reviews work to maintain departmental efficiency and meet productivity, timeliness and quality goals. Creates all job assignments based on client needs and individual talent; provides guidance and final decision-making regarding design projects; review and approve all cabinet layouts and orders
• Assisting subordinates in troubleshooting technical issues for clients.
• Work closely and communicate with Carpentry Managers and other departments as needed to ensure the smooth transition of projects; Communicates accurately all necessary information to all departments
• Attends weekly and daily meetings as necessary in relation to jobs and management; holds weekly meetings with design department
• Creative oversite, mentoring and monitoring team for best results. Lend advice as required. Make sure deliverables are meeting expectations and are of sound and thoughtful design.
• Selects sets to be reworked or new builds to send as set options; creates set direction including concept sketches
• Reviews studio layout with other departmental heads for new builds/layout reworks of the studio
• Help develop timelines/due dates for stages throughout project
• Sets creative course and forecasts trends to be used throughout the studio. Mainly in design.
• Use of exceptional interpersonal skills to resolve conflict, offer solution, convey feedback, manage schedules as needed, and raise morale; elevate any issues to HR as needed
• Create and manage/update set tracker sheet
• Finds balance between organization needs, personal needs, and team needs
• Cultivates new and emerging talent to our team; Helps develop and grow the skills of each team member in the Design department. This includes managing, leading and mentoring the design team. Have regular check ins to ensure team members are working effectively, getting tasks done
• Create unique interior and exterior residential and commercial design concepts for studio sets by collaborating with clients, agencies, and internal departments to create compelling, story rich visual solutions that engage shoppers across a multi-platform strategy which includes print, E-commerce platforms, mobile platforms, social media and broadcast platforms
• Communicate with the client and the production team including photographers, videographers to ensure proper look and feel to make sure product is represented accurately and correctly.
• Produce concept sketches, material boards, and full sets of construction drawings using SketchUp, 2020 Design, and PowerPoint as well as spec sheets in Excel detailing all information needed for the Carpentry department to build
• Supervise design projects from concept through to construction completion, conducting construction meetings with Carpentry to begin set construction and continually checking in on progress and accuracy of installations throughout the build process
• Use 20/20 Design to generate cabinet plans, elevations, and orders
• Source and purchase all finish materials for each design, ensuring products will work in context within the design, are within budget, and will arrive in time for the shoot schedule
• Track project material expenses to ensure budget is not gone over, notify Producer and Sales person if over budget by providing cost estimates for a change order.
• Update appropriate trackers in Smartsheets including the Set Tracker to reserve studio sets, the Co-op Tracker to coordinate co-op materials for applicable jobs, and the Design Calendar with tasks status and completion updates
• Must be aware of and stay current with interior design trends
• Maintain office and studio cleanliness outlined in the departmental guidelines
• Maintain a team player and positive attitude and help out other departments as needed
• Complete additional training as needed
• Submit receipts and complete Expensify reports, detailing all monthly department spending.
• Work with and maintain project management software as needed.
• Make recommendations for capital expenditures that will improve quality, creativity, efficiency, and profitability of our deliverables.
• Practices self-development and department management; Demonstrates ongoing learning and self-development; Offer growth opportunities and insight to not only help team members, but the design department and Company as a whole.
• Attentive to detail, take initiative, and demonstrate flexibility.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

COMPETENCIES

• Ability to lead and manage a team effectively
• Ability to identify internal department issues, and create/offer solutions for department and company
• Ability to continuously engage in department needs while maintaining productivity
• Requires ability to communicate a creative vision and conceptual elements. Effective interpretation of creative decks and style guides is essential
• Ability to stay organized, attention to detail, and maintain the upmost professionalism while face to face with our customers
• Knowledge of correct English usage, spelling, and punctuation
• Ability to skillfully operate computers; possess skilled typing ability and accuracy as well as knowledge of personal computers, hardware, software, and related applications and systems
• Ability to follow complex instructions
• Ability to maintain composure during stressful situations occurring due to workloads and/or deadlines
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to determine work priorities
• Ability to work well in a team environment as well as independently
• Ability to work in a low-light setting at times

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum education: Bachelors of Fine Art or Science in Interior Design/Architecture
• Professional experience related to department: 5-7 years
• Management experience: 3-5 years
• Knowledge and expertise in professional studio setting preferred
• Knowledge with Smartsheets is ideal
• Must have outstanding verbal and written communication skills
• Conscientious work habits and superior attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Excellent project/time management skills

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described below must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Dexterity is mandatory as this job requires frequent use of hands and fingers
• Will be required to walk, reach with hands and arms, push items overhead, occasionally stoop, kneel, or crouch.
• Will be required to talk, hear, and see
• Ability to lift and move up to 15lbs independently
• Ability to climb stairs/ladders as needed
• Ability to lift items weighing approximately 50lbs independently or with assistance
• Ability to perform basic math calculations
• Ability to work under pressure to meet strict deadlines
• Ability to differentiate between colors
• Ability to operate general office equipment (fax machine, photocopier, computer printer) stationed between 3 & 4 feet high
• Ability to sit or stand for long periods of time
• Ability to comprehend and apply complex information
• Maintain attendance according to company policy

The position is Monday through Friday with hours of 8:00am to 5:00pm. We offer competitive wages and our total rewards program consists of benefits such as health, dental, vision, paid time off, 401K and 401K Employer matching and more.

TC Shadowlight