Library Associate Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

About the Team

The Rejuvenation product development team consists of highly creative, collaborative, and technical thinkers. As a key member of the team, you will bring your design skills to the table to support the Textile team by bringing high quality home textiles to market.

About the Role
As the Assistant Designer for Textiles, you will support design for textiles across the home. Categories include rugs, bedding, throw pillows, blankets, quilts, bath textiles, outdoor textiles, and more. In this role, you will be a key designer on the design team from concept to launch. Our Assistant Designer for Textiles will help inspire, innovate, and translate seasonal concepts and market trends into design solutions that meet business needs.

Specific Responsibilities

- Lead the creation of spec packs for vendor communication, maintaining quality and standards and production, print and pattern alterations, color comments, sample comments, labdips, and cost engineering - from predevelopment through TOP samples to produce designs on time each quarter. 

-Maintain textile sample library including swatches, development samples, and rugs.

-Assist in requesting market vendor samples for pre-development.

- Manage current and past season communications with internal and external overseas partners and vendors for product development.

-Track samples through the design process and participate in weekly Product Development meetings. Maintain records in PLM and trackers.

- Convene with Sourcing and Merchandising partners regularly to trouble-shoot costing, sampling, and production issues

- Maintain quality standards and consistent color stories for textiles with all key vendors through lab dips and pom selection. 

- Participate in virtual vendor meetings to ensure designs and sampling are being produced on time. 

- Prepare and maintaining Power Point Sketch decks for Quarterly design presentations. Present to Designers weekly. 

- Participate in a creative culture that inspires others through curated design inspiration, historical design research, and knowledge of materials and techniques.

-Participate in design presentations to internal partners and Leadership.

- Partner with our Senior Designer and Associate Designer to develop a cohesive look and feel for bedrooms and living rooms each quarter, aligning with the brand's quarterly concepts. 

-Based on our brand pillar aesthetics, identify white space opportunities for new products and colorways to build off existing core products by partnering with Designers.

-Bring Home Market and comp shop knowledge and strategies.

-Support Designers to create cohesive color palettes per collection, building off the brand's existing core assortment and quarterly concepts each season.  

- Bring forward new techniques and materials that align with quality expectations, price points, and market trends. 

-Assist in set-up for Quarterly Omni Presentations and design presentations.

- Identify key priorities weekly and manage timelines to drive results. 

- Lead with accountability within the design team to ensure deliverables are delivered efficiently and on time.

- Ensure sustainable goals and are being met by making intentional design choices that align with the brand's sustainable initiatives. 

Qualifications

- Minimum of 1-2 years product design experience with a focus in textiles for a retail brand in home textiles or fashion.

-Experience in rug product development, working with hand-knotted, flatwoven, and hand-loomed constructions a plus. 

- Proven proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud applications: Photoshop, Illustrator and Microsoft Platforms: PowerPoint, Word, Excel.

- Proven track record of building seasonal textile assortments for a retail brand on a quarterly launch timeline. Ability to work on multiple seasons at once.

- Highly detail-oriented, excellent time management skills, and highly collaborative.

- Ability to inspire cross functional partners by presenting thoughtful concepts inspired by market trends, fashion, and interior designers. 

- Knowledgeable in all aspects of textile design and manufacturing for home products, including weave structures, dyeing techniques, print and pattern styles, trim details, and production standards. 

- Ability to work collaboratively with Senior and Associate Textile Designer.

- Strong acumen for designing with color.

- Ability to create custom illustrative artwork in-house that will be applied across bedding, throw pillows, wallpaper, and more.

- Excellent communication skills with the ability to present ideas and design strategies. 

- Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to work collaboratively and independently.

- Experience employing design strategies to achieve business goals. 

- High standards to quality, integrity and design.

- Ability to lift and move 25 lbs., move samples, rugs and textile library stock for Seasonal setup and day-to-day work.

Our Culture & Values

We believe that taking care of our people is vital to our success and we strive to offer equitable and transparent practices for all. We prioritize connection, growth, and wellbeing.

People First

Putting People First means investing in overall well-being and opportunities to grow and advance within the organization. Depending on the position and location, here are a few highlights of what benefits may be available:

Benefits

• A generous discount on all WSI brands
• A 401(k) plan and other investment opportunities
• Paid vacations, holidays, and time off to volunteer
• Health benefits, 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
• Advisor (Mentor) program
• Career development workshops, learning programs, and speaker series  

 

WSI will not now or in the future commence an immigration case or "sponsor" an individual for this position (for example, H-1B or other employment-based immigration).

This role is not eligible for relocation assistance.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, or other applicable state or local laws and ordinances.

Our Company
Founded in 1956, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the premier specialty retailer of high-quality products for the kitchen and home in the United States. Our family of brands are Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, Rejuvenation, West Elm, Mark & Graham, Outward, and GreenRow. These brands are among the best known and most respected in the industry. We offer beautifully-designed, stylish and functional products for every area of the home, including the kitchen, living room, bedroom, home office, closet, laundry room and even outdoor spaces. We've seen some big changes since our first brick-and-mortar store opened more than half of a century ago. What hasn't changed is our passion for high-quality products, functional design, outstanding customer service, and enhancing the lives of our customers and the communities where we operate. Today, we're a multi-brand, multi-channel, global enterprise supported by state-of-the-art technology and some of the most talented teams in retailing - and we're always looking for new energy and ideas.