Experienced Kitchen Designer

Wackrow's Joinery; Cambridge; On-site; NZD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bespoke kitchens

Client relationships ownership

High-end projects

Supportive team

Work-life balance

Job summary

Wackrow's Joinery in Cambridge, North Island, is seeking an experienced Kitchen Designer to lead the client journey from enquiry through to confirmed project. You’ll craft beautiful, functional kitchen spaces, guide clients through materials and finishes, and build lasting relationships with valued clients and designers.

The role combines design, sales and project leadership, with an emphasis on bespoke solutions and exceptional client experience.

Qualifications

• Experience in kitchen design or related interior design role.
• Strong kitchen planning and spatial design skills.
• Proficiency in kitchen design/CAD software.
• Good understanding of cabinetry, materials, finishes and hardware.
• Strong creative and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Confidence preparing quotes and discussing pricing.
• Strong sales skills and ability to convert enquiries into projects.
• Ability to develop long-term relationships with key and repeat clients.

Responsibilities

• Manage the client journey from initial enquiry through to confirmed project.
• Meet with clients to understand needs, lifestyle, style and budget.
• Develop creative and functional kitchen layouts and design concepts.
• Apply spatial planning and ergonomic principles to designs.
• Guide clients through materials, finishes, hardware and other design choices.
• Conduct site visits and measurements where required.
• Prepare and present design proposals, quotes and cost estimates.
• Follow up enquiries and convert opportunities into confirmed projects.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key and repeat clients.
• Work closely with Factory Manager to ensure smooth handover.

Skills

Kitchen design

Interior design

CAD software

Materials & finishes

Sales skills

Client relations

Attention to detail

Tools

CAD software

Job description

Wackrow's Joinery – Cambridge, North Island

Create beautiful kitchens, build lasting client relationships and take your designs from first conversation through to confirmed project.

Wackrows Joinery has been crafting premium custom cabinetry and timber joinery for more than 50 years. Based in Cambridge, we’re known for exceptional craftsmanship, attention to detail and producing work we’re proud to put our name to.

We’re active members of Master Joiners and the NKBA, and our reputation has been built on quality, reliability and great people.

We’re looking for an experienced Kitchen Designer to join our team.

This is a client-facing design and sales role where you’ll own the client journey from initial enquiry through design, quoting and confirmation of the project.

You’ll understand what your clients need, develop creative and functional solutions, guide them through materials and finishes, and present designs and proposals they’re excited to proceed with.

Relationships are a big part of this role. As well as working with individual clients, you’ll develop and maintain strong relationships with Wackrows’ key clients, becoming someone they trust and want to work with again.

What you’ll be doing

• Managing the client journey from initial enquiry through to confirmed project.
• Meeting with clients to understand their needs, lifestyle, style and budget.
• Developing creative and functional kitchen layouts and design concepts.
• Applying strong spatial planning and ergonomic principles to your designs.
• Guiding clients through materials, finishes, hardware and other design choices.
• Conducting site visits and measurements where required.
• Preparing and presenting design proposals, quotes and cost estimates.
• Following up enquiries and converting opportunities into confirmed, profitable projects.
• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with Wackrows’ key and repeat clients.
• Identifying opportunities to strengthen existing relationships and generate further work.
• Working closely with our Factory Manager to ensure a smooth handover once a project is confirmed.
• Managing multiple clients, designs and sales opportunities at the same time.
• Keeping clients informed and providing an exceptional experience throughout the process.

What we’re looking for

You’re a creative designer who understands that a great kitchen needs to work just as beautifully as it looks.

You enjoy getting to know your clients, asking the right questions and translating their ideas into thoughtful design solutions. You’re confident presenting your ideas, comfortable talking about budgets and pricing, and know how to guide a client from “we’re thinking about a new kitchen” through to “let’s go ahead.”

You’ll also bring:

• Experience in kitchen design or a closely related interior design role.
• Strong kitchen planning and spatial design skills.
• Proficiency in relevant kitchen design/CAD software.
• A good understanding of cabinetry, materials, finishes and hardware.
• Strong creative and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent communication, presentation and relationship-building skills.
• Confidence preparing and presenting quotes and discussing pricing.
• Strong sales skills and the ability to convert enquiries into confirmed projects.
• The ability to develop long-term relationships with key and repeat clients.
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of securing profitable work.
• Strong organisation skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• The ability to work collaboratively with detailers, production staff and installers.

You’ll be joining a well-established business that genuinely cares about quality, craftsmanship and its people.

We offer:

• The opportunity to design beautiful, genuinely bespoke kitchens.
• Ownership of your client relationships from initial conversation through to confirmed project.
• The opportunity to build long-term relationships with valued Wackrows clients.
• The satisfaction of seeing your designs brought to life by our own skilled team.
• Interesting, high-end projects with plenty of design variety.
• Competitive remuneration based on experience.
• A supportive, experienced team and a workplace that values family, balance and enjoying work.