Assistant Designer, Furniture Storage - West Elm

West Elm; New York (NY); On-site; USD 3,836,616 - 4,316,020; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discount on WSI brands

401(k) plan

Paid vacations and holidays

Health, dental, vision insurance

Tax-free commuter benefits

Wellness program

Learning opportunities

Job summary

Williams‑Sonoma, Inc. in New York is seeking a Design Assistant to support new product lines and development processes for each season, collaborating with Design, Technical Design, Merchants, and Sourcing teams. This onsite role requires being in the office Monday through Friday.

You will assist with organizing specs, concept boards, and product presentations, while tracking samples and ensuring deadlines. You will work with senior management and vendors to communicate developments.

Qualifications

• Assist Designers to organize and prepare for the weekly Product Development meetings and Work Sessions.
• Assist and support seasonal product presentations to the team and senior management.
• Assist Designers with developing specs and concept boards.

Responsibilities

• Provide insights that align with team objectives.
• Understand effective processes and procedures to align workflow and results.
• Proactively support the calendar to recognize milestones and key dates.
• Recognize key fashion trends and understand what the competition is doing.
• Maintain and organize development samples both physically and digitally.
• Track department samples and ensure all samples are approved in a timely manner.
• Utilize Product Lifecycle Management shared with cross‑functional teams to review the status of development processes.
• Maintain strong cross‑functional partnership with Williams Sonoma Global Operations country partners, merchants, sourcing, engineering, and color team.
• Communicate the needs with vendor partners and sourcing to execute design vision.
• Support department business needs and bring new ideas for specs and concept boards.
• Apply problem‑solving skills to identify existing product issues that may arise.

Job description

As a collaborative team member at Williams‑Sonoma, Inc., you will drive and manage sample development from concept through production, working with Design, Technical Design, Merchants, and Sourcing teams.

Role Overview

As a Design Assistant, you will support new product lines and product development processes for each season, understanding mood, market trends, and business needs. You will collaborate closely with Senior Management and Designers to ensure new developments are communicated to vendors overseas and that all deadlines and key calendar dates are met. This role requires being onsite in our office Monday through Friday.

Responsibilities

Seasonal Engagement

• Assist Designers to organize and prepare for the weekly Product Development meetings and Work Sessions
• Assist and support seasonal product presentations to the team and senior management
• Assist Designers with developing specs and concept boards

Product Development Strategy

• Provide insights that align with team objectives
• Understand effective processes and procedures to align workflow and results
• Proactively support the calendar to recognize milestones and key dates
• Recognize key fashion trends and understand what the competition is doing
• Maintain and organize development samples both physically and digitally
• Track department samples and ensure all samples are approved in a timely manner

Team Collaboration

• Utilize Product Lifecycle Management shared with cross‑functional teams to review the status of development processes
• Maintain strong cross‑functional partnership with Williams Sonoma Global Operations country partners, merchants, sourcing, engineering, and color team
• Communicate the needs with vendor partners and sourcing to execute design vision
• Support department business needs and bring new ideas for specs and concept boards
• Apply problem‑solving skills to identify existing product issues that may arise

Benefits

• A generous discount on all WSI brands
• A 401(k) plan with investment opportunities
• Paid vacations, holidays, and time off to volunteer
• Health, dental, and vision insurance, including same‑sex domestic partner benefits
• Tax‑free commuter benefits
• A wellness program that supports your physical, financial, and emotional health

Continued Learning

• In‑person and online learning opportunities through WSI University
• Cross‑brand and cross‑function career opportunities
• Resources for self‑development
• Mentor program
• Career development workshops, learning programs, and speaker series

WSI will not sponsor an immigrant for this position. This role is not eligible for relocation assistance. Williams‑Sonoma, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The starting pay range is $27.85–31.33 per hour.

About Us

Founded in 1956, Williams‑Sonoma, Inc. is a premier specialty retailer of high‑quality products for the kitchen and home in the United States. Our family of brands includes Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, Rejuvenation, West Elm, Mark & Graham, Outward, and GreenRow. We pride ourselves on functional design, outstanding customer service, and enhancing the lives of our customers and communities.