Designer, Furniture Application Specialist

It takes a lot of work to transform 10,000 empty square feet into a beautiful office. And while it's great to see the finished product, it all starts with the right design: the perfect layout that gives everyone enough space; the right fabrics and textures that make people feel welcome and comfortable. If you're ready to turn your ideas into functional, inspiring designs for major projects, we've got an opportunity for you. Since 1975, Holmes + Brakel (http://www.holmesbrakel.com/) has been delivering unparalleled value in the furniture industry. Specializing in innovative workplaces for corporate, healthcare and education vertical markets, we offer a full suite of services that encompasses design, sourcing, and installation. Our success would be impossible without our unwavering customer focus; as a family business, we've been able to maintain that since we first started out. Thanks to our success, we're expanding our design team. We're looking for top design professionals with strong technical design skills and an eye for detail. Designer, Furniture Applications Specialist: As our new Designer, you'll be spending most of your time generating product/space plans for our sales team. Using client specifications, you'll compose custom designs that account for a wide range of requirements: everything from looks to functionality and cost. Our designs aren't just collections of furniture that fill a space: they're solutions that solve specific client needs. Computer generated plans/3D's and renderings will be critical in this role, as this will allow you to make your ideas a reality, and create unique designs that work. Thriving in this role requires creativity, but also takes precision: whether you're picking out the best chair for a lawyers' office downtown, or auditing the bill of materials for accuracy, your attention to detail leaves nothing behind. In addition to your razor sharp focus, you have a customer service focus, and can balance multiple projects with ease. Here's some of the things you'll be working on day-to-day: * Consult with sales team, and travel to client locations to confirm site details, dimensions, and requirements, and be a technical resource for our internal teams * Generate scale drawings/3D's, including furniture products, fabrics/finishes, layout etc., ensuring that designs are compatible with site requirements (including power and data availability) * Compose accurate specifications/bill of materials, including costing estimates, contribute to the RFP process, tender submissions, proposals, and prepare presentation materials (renderings/graphics) and attend client meetings * Review/audit specifications prior to order, and work with installers to ensure compliance with designs * Take an active role in the client consultation process, and help transform client needs to actionable items and design principles/objectives, and answer questions, and present design solutions to both sales team and clients * Review/validate project plans for feasibility and compliance with local building codes and site requirements (power and data availability) Working with Holmes + Brakel: This is a full-time, permanent position, working from Monday to Friday in our Ottawa office. You'll receive a competitive starting salary, access to a benefits program, as well as paid vacation. While we've experienced some great success over the years, we've stayed true to our roots as a family business. Our employees love it here, and stay with us for a long time. Qualifications: * Design experience in a similar role, preferably in contract furniture, dealership, furniture manufacturer, or a related industry * Post-secondary degree or diploma in interior design, or related field (architectural technologist, etc.) is an asset * Experience in a client-facing role * Strong computer skills, and proficiency with common software (MS Office, spreadsheets, project applications, etc.) * Experience with furniture design/specification software for planning/rendering and detailed bill of materials (AutoCAD, Project Matrix, 2020, CET Configura, etc.) * Strong ability in fundamental math and ability to determine accurate costing/estimates * Ability to distinguish and identify colours * Experience composing and delivering business presentations for clients and internal stakeholders We thank all applicants for their interest; however only those selected for interview will be contacted. Holmes + Brakel is an equal opportunity employer. If chosen to participate in the interview process, reasonable accommodations are available upon request. We will consult with the applicant to provide or arrange suitable accommodation in the manner that takes into account the applicant's accessibility needs