Lead Service Designer (Contractor)

Position Title: Lead Designer, Materiality (Colour Material And Finish) Duration: 9 month contract initially Join our dedicated Design Hub – a dynamic, lean, and agile environment delivering premium contemporary vehicle design services to external partners. We are pioneering the future of mobility by blending innovative technology, fresh ideas, and creative approaches that resonate with evolving customer lifestyles. Operating at speed and with commercial focus, we balance bold design innovation with practical feasibility. This role has the lead responsibility for designing and developing sustainable and responsible colour and materials content for our brands. The position is full time located in Gaydon UK and reports to the Materiality Design Manager based in Gaydon UK. Leads research to identify trends, landscape shifts, analogous industry and new ideas for next generation vehicles Leads and co-ordinates the development and implementation of colour and material design proposals feeding into materiality strategies, concept cars, and vision properties. Create inspiring materiality concepts through digital and physical assets and prototyping ideas. Leads and co-ordinates the project management of vehicle builds and development related to colour and material design. Collaborates with creative design teams & design model operation teams to deliver property builds (this could include – providing quotes to business office to procuring materials, providing renderings/callouts as well as being on location to support the builds) Demonstrates a good understanding of product and knowledge of automotive materials, process and suppliers. Translates material concepts from 2d to 3d product / support of the production of components to specification Support on projects from concept to realisation and proceeds to repeat and improve this process. Relevant design degree Design software competency: photoshop/illustrator/vred Design experience Textile, fashion, graphics, product, automotive design or similar. Experience as a senior designer with proven experience or examples in portfolio of colour and material design application. Proficient in adobe creative suite: photoshop or illustrator or InDesign. Experience working with luxury & premium lifestyle brands. Proven ability to adjust to changing design, feasibility and cost requirements Proven ability to plan and undertake projects to a strict deadline A good understanding of automotive design and delivery processes. Additional software skills like vred, video editing software good to have yet not essential. Key candidates must be able to multi-task and work on several projects simultaneously. Proven creative and presentation skills, including advanced use of adobe and Microsoft office software and ability to use internet resources appropriately for research purposes. A good understanding of product design, combined with good aesthetic judgement, colour vision and colour perception Passion for colour and material technology, sustainability and design as evidenced by understanding of analogous industries, up to date in field literature, innovations and trends Proven ability to take accountability for own work, including the quality, accuracy and efficiencies around projects. Can work independently, is results driven, demonstrates tenacity and perseverance with the ability to understand and navigate complex strategies and operate with an agile and open mindset in a fast paced highly demanding environment. Successful candidates will have modern luxury taste level and design execution demonstrated in their portfolio. Contechs are a leading Automotive, Design, Engineering, Technology & Innovation Recruitment Consultancy. Founded in 1997, with an inhouse Contractor Care Team to support all external employee\’s, acts as an employment agency for permanent and contract recruitment. Applicants MUST have proof of immediate, on-going and valid eligibility to work full time in the UK and travel within the EU.*