Lead Floral Designer

The Shy Flower; Wilmette (IL); On-site; USD 52,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The Shy Flower is a bespoke luxury floral studio serving the Chicagoland area, with showrooms in Winnetka and Northfield. We seek a dynamic Lead Floral Designer to oversee day-to-day design operations and retail management, blending hands-on artistry with leadership to elevate every project from everyday bouquets to large-scale brand activations.

Join a growing team where you mentor designers, manage inventory and ordering, collaborate on weddings and events, and help run design classes while

Qualifications

• 4-5+ years of professional floral design experience.
• Experience running a retail floral operation with ordering and inventory.
• Strong leadership and client-facing service skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and create high-quality floral arrangements for deliveries, events, and brand collaborations.
• Lead and mentor the design team, ensuring craftsmanship and consistency.
• Manage floral inventory and ordering with wholesalers and vendors.
• Oversee daily retail operations, stock organization, and studio presentation.
• Collaborate with clients and events team for weddings and brand launches.
• Lead floral design classes and workshops as needed.
• Ensure studio safety, cleanliness, and efficiency.
• Uphold quality and luxury design standards.

Skills

Leadership

Client-facing

Floral design

Inventory management

Communication

Mentorship

Job description

The Shy Floweris a bespoke luxury floral studio serving the Chicagoland area, with locations in Winnetka and Northfield. We specialize in everything from daily floral deliveries and gift arrangements to design classes, high-end weddings and events, and brand collaborations and product launches. We're looking for a talented and experienced Lead Floral Designer to help guide our growing team and elevate our creative offerings.

Job Overview

We're seeking a dynamic, creative, detail-oriented Lead Floral Designer to oversee day-to-day design operations and retail management while bringing creative vision to every project from an everyday bouquet to a large-scale brand activation. This role blends hands-on floral artistry with operational leadership, including managing inventory and ordering. It's an exciting opportunity for an experienced designer who wants to shape a growing luxury floral brand.

Responsibilities

• Design and create high-quality floral arrangements across our full range of offerings: daily deliveries, subscriptions, events, weddings, and brand collaborations
• Lead and mentor the design team, providing guidance and ensuring consistent, exceptional craftsmanship
• Manage floral inventory and ordering, including relationships with wholesalers and vendors, to ensure quality and cost efficiency
• Oversee day-to-day retail operations, including stock organization, workflow, and studio presentation
• Collaborate with clients and the events team to bring custom floral visions to life for weddings, celebrations, and brand launches
• Help lead floral design classes and workshops as needed
• Ensure the design studio is clean, organized, and run efficiently
• Uphold safety standards for flower handling, tools, and equipment

Requirements

• 4-5+ years of professional floral design experience, with a strong portfolio showcasing diverse, high-end work
• Prior experience running or managing a retail floral operation, including ordering and inventory management
• Experience with high-end weddings, events, or luxury brand work strongly preferred
• Strong leadership and mentorship skills
• Excellent communication and client-facing customer service skills
• Strong organizational skills to manage stock, workflow, and studio operations
• Must be able to lift 40+ pounds, stand for extended periods, and use a ladder as needed
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation
• Job Type:Full-time
• Schedule:Flexible full-time schedule; some weekend work required on a rotating basis among the team
• Pay:Competitive, commensurate with experience
• Join The Shy Flower and bring your floral artistry to a brand built on creativity, craftsmanship, and luxury design.