Design Associate Jobs in Westminster, MD (NOW HIRING)

Who we are:

Visual Comfort & Co. is the premier resource for decorative and architectural lighting, ceiling fans, system controls and automated shading solutions from the most influential designers in the world. We are proud to offer a market-leading range of premium products across categories, styles and price points, remaining committed to beautiful design and, above all, a world-class customer experience.

As our organization continues its global expansion, we are seeking driven professionals with a proven track record of delivering exceptional client service and consistently meeting sales objectives across both lighting and systems product categories. This position combines showroom sales with technical project design responsibilities. The successful candidate will collaborate with trade and consumer clients to provide comprehensive lighting and shading solutions, supporting projects from inception through to completion.

Visual Comfort Offers:

• Work-Life Balance: Showrooms operate Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; closed on Sundays. Team Members follow a five-day rotating schedule, including two Saturdays per month. 
• Training & Development: A comprehensive and structured training program, complemented by ongoing education and opportunities for career advancement.
• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation accrual and paid time off policies.
• Holidays: 7 paid holidays per year, in addition to 2 floating holidays.
• Compensation: Competitive base salary plus monthly variable
• Health Benefits: Visual Comfort covers the majority of employee medical premiums, and offers competitive vision and dental coverage available starting the first day of the month following your start date.
• Insurance: Company-provided life insurance and short-term disability coverage.
• Retirement: 401(k) plan with company matching up to 4%, available beginning the first of the month following

How success is defined:

Sales and Client Experience

• Achieve and consistently surpass both individual and showroom sales objectives.
• Oversee all phases of the sales process from opportunity to invoice, prioritizing exceptional customer service.
• Effectively manage sales pipeline to maximize success by ensuring consistent follow-up and follow-through utilizing order entry software and various communication methods.
• Deliver expert design consultation and product recommendations to trade and retail clients.
• Provide guidance on lighting selections that foster enduring client relationships.
• Present compelling sales demonstrations featuring lighting, controls, and shading solutions.
• Utilize collaborative, design-driven sales strategies to secure client commitment.

New business development and account management:

• Independently and through collaboration with the Business Development Specialist, develop and sustain relationships with architects, builders, interior designers, and homeowners.
• Identify client objectives and explain how our systems support their design goals.
• Work with project management to align deliverables with approved designs.

Project Design & Technical Support

• Collaborate with Visual Comfort & Co Design Studio in the preparation of comprehensive documentation for design and engineering teams to facilitate the creation of construction documents and bills of materials (BOMs).
• Respond to client inquiries, ensuring thorough understanding of proposed lighting and shading solutions.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of advancements in lighting technologies, control systems, and automated shading.

Showroom Operations:

• Ensure the showroom consistently meets brand standards by being clean, well-presented, and organized to support sales objectives.
• Develop proficiency in utilizing the company’s order entry and operating systems.
• Independently manage showroom opening and closing procedures, including participation in a rotating Saturday schedule. The showroom remains closed on Sundays.
• Works effectively with others in a team environment to accomplish organizational goals and to identify and resolve problems.
• Exhibits and adheres to the established Visual Comfort Company Values.
• Must demonstrate commitment, dependability, punctuality, and adherence to agreed-upon schedule, while maintaining a consistent presence in the workplace to effectively collaborate and communicate with coworkers and teams.

What you will bring:

• 3+ years of retail or showroom sales experience required, ideally in luxury home furnishings, lighting, or building materials.
• Prior experience within the design or building products industry required, including interior design, custom home construction, luxury furnishings, or lighting.
• Lighting experience is a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred; High School diploma required.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite; D365 knowledge preferred.
• Experienced with CRM/ERP systems for client management and project tracking.
• Project management skills, able to manage client expectations and timelines efficiently.
• Strong knowledge of product design, including interpreting floor plans and lighting layouts.
• Technical understanding of lighting specs (color temperature, CRI, lumens, dimming) and control systems (e.g., Lutron, Control4).
• Able to build relationships with architects, builders, and designers; represent the brand at industry events.
• Proficient in preparing proposals, BOMs, and technical documentation.
• Excellent communication, emotional intelligence, and professionalism in client interactions.
• Organized, detail-oriented, able to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Stays up to date on lighting technologies and participates in ongoing training.
• Consistently represents Visual Comfort’s brand values and commitment to service.

Compensation Range: $68,000 - $73,000 

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