Brand Designer at The Keva Dine Agency™ in Santa Rosa, California

Senior Designer, Design OperationsLocation: On-site / Hybrid (SF Bay Area)Position Type: Full-Time, Contract to startOur client is a premier luxury lifestyle brand and design authority in the home furnishings marketplace. Offering dominant assortments across a growing number of categories-including furniture, lighting, textiles, bathware, decor, outdoor, and garden-their business is fully integrated across multiple distribution channels, including flagship retail galleries, seasonal catalogs, and digital e-commerce platforms.Position SummaryWe are seeking a Senior Designer, Design Operations on behalf of our client. This hybrid role seamlessly blends hands-on print design execution with creative operations, workflow optimization, and project leadership. The ideal candidate is an elevated, detail-obsessed designer who thrives at the intersection of luxury print design and operational execution. You will contribute directly to core print deliverables-including seasonal catalogs, print advertising, PR collateral, and brand identity initiatives-while managing direct reports, establishing standard workflows, writing creative briefs, delegating projects, and tracking project progress in collaboration with a Junior Project Manager.Key Responsibilities Print & Brand Design: Lead hands-on creative execution across print platforms and physical brand collateral, including seasonal catalogs, magazine advertising, PR collateral, and print marketing materials.Brand Consistency & Quality Control: Implement and evolve brand standards across all collateral. Review creative assets created across internal teams to ensure strict adherence to luxury visual standards and visual hierarchy.Concept & Layout Development: Translate business objectives into compelling visual concepts and present fresh layout ideas to Creative Directors and senior leadership.Creative Briefing & Scope Definition: Partner with creative leadership and stakeholders to develop, write, and refine clear creative briefs, establish project requirements, and define deliverables.Project Tracking & Delegation: Oversee project progress, track timelines, and delegate design projects to team members as needed. Collaborate with a Junior Project Manager who will assist with daily project management logistics and execution tracking.Workflow & Process Optimization: Develop, refine, and maintain creative workflows, project tracking tools, and operational systems that increase efficiency and consistency across the team.Process Alignment: Identify operational bottlenecks, eliminate roadblocks, and introduce structured ways of working across design, production, and cross-functional teams.Team Management & Leadership: Directly manage, guide, and lead a small team of 1-2 designers. Oversee workload distribution, provide constructive feedback, and foster their professional development.Cross-Functional Alignment: Work closely with merchants, product development, art directors, copywriters, project managers, and production staff to bring creative initiatives to life.Mentorship & Culture: Support team growth by delegating assignments, fostering a collaborative environment, sharing best practices, and mentoring design team members.Qualifications & RequirementsExperience: 5-7+ years of professional design experience within luxury retail, editorial, print publishing, branding, direct marketing, or a high-end agency environment, including direct supervisory or team leadership experience.Portfolio: Portfolio demonstrating mastery of print layout, grid systems, visual hierarchy, typography, color theory, and editorial design for catalogs or publication collateral.Technical Mastery: Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator), macOS, and project management tools. Solid understanding of print production and prepress workflows.Operations & Leadership Skills: Proven track record of leading and managing designers, overseeing complex design projects, writing creative briefs, delegating tasks, building workflows, and managing priorities in a fast-paced creative environment.Communication & Collaboration: Articulate verbal and written communication skills with the ability to express a clear creative point of view and align diverse stakeholders.Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field.Key Attributes for SuccessHigh Attention to Detail: An uncompromising eye for taste, detail, layout precision, and luxury brand aesthetics.Agility & Resilience: Flexibility to navigate changing priorities and thrive under tight deadlines.Self-Starter Mindset: Highly proactive with the autonomy to drive initiatives forward independently, lead team members, and delegate effectively.