Join our fast-growing company as a design manager leading a team of three playground designers. We are a German manufacturer of commercial play equipment dedicated to improving public spaces through better play experiences. Our US office located in Greenville, SC is currently in search of an experienced Design Manager for a full-time position. The ideal candidate will have 3–5 years of experience as a designer (3D, including renderings) as well as a leader. A Design Department Leader is both a visionary and a hands-on manager, capable of inspiring creative excellence while maintaining the operational efficiency of the design team. This role is crucial for maintaining a balance between creativity, client satisfaction, and business growth.
Responsibilities & Duties
- Define and communicate the overall design vision for the department, ensuring it aligns with the company’s mission, brand, and business goals.
- Manage, mentor, and inspire a team of designers, fostering a collaborative and productive environment that encourages creativity, growth, and professional development.
- Oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of design projects, ensuring that timelines, budgets, and quality standards are met.
- Work closely with cross-functional teams (marketing, product, engineering, etc.) to ensure seamless integration of design across various touchpoints.
- Stay ahead of design trends, tools, and technologies to bring fresh ideas and innovation to the department’s output.
- Ensure that design outputs are consistent, high-quality, and reflect the organization’s standards and brand guidelines.
- Engage with clients or stakeholders to understand their needs, provide design solutions, and present final designs in an impactful way.
Requirements
- Proven ability to lead, motivate, and manage a creative team while driving project success.
- Strong aesthetic sense and ability to conceptualize innovative, trend-forward design solutions.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills to articulate ideas, give feedback, and influence stakeholders.
- Expertise in managing multiple projects simultaneously, with strong organizational and time-management skills.
- Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills to create effective design solutions for complex challenges.
- Proficient in AutoCAD (2014 or newer), Adobe Photoshop, 3D Drawing and Design (Lumion, SketchUp, and 3D Studio Max).
- Recommended degree in Landscape Architecture or similar.
Company Description
The first steps towards the Berliner Seilfabrik were taken in 1865, when a company producing ropes for the Berliner elevator industries was founded. The quality of the Berliner ropes has gained a world-wide reputation. The first net structures as climbing equipment had been developed at the beginning of the 70s. Over the 50 years of dealing with play equipment, we gained competence in the field of rope production and our intensive development work adhering to all safety standards, including creative ideas of our competent development staff, we have created a variety of products, offering an interesting and recognizable design for playground landscapes.