At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead design projects and inspire a creative team to deliver exceptional customer experiences.
- Company: Neptune, a design-focused company creating beautiful home spaces.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holidays, gym membership, and discounts.
- Other info: Flexible working hours with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape stunning interiors while building lasting relationships with customers.
- Qualifications: Experience in kitchen or interior design and proficiency in CAD software.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 45000 € per year.
At Neptune, our spaces are designed to bring beauty, comfort and a sense of home to everyday living. From timeless furniture pieces to thoughtful design advice, we're here to help our customers create their dream homes - and it all begins with exceptional service.
We're looking for an experienced Design Lead to work across two of our stunning Showrooms in Guildford and Reading on a permanent, full time basis, working 40 hours per week over 7 days on a rota basis. Great design is at the heart of our business. As Design Lead, you will be the senior design authority within our store, taking responsibility for leading the store from a design-led perspective while delivering an exceptional, commercially successful customer experience.
What you'll be doing
- Lead the design journey from the first conversation through to final sign-off, ensuring every project reflects Neptune's design principles, technical standards and brand values.
- Inspiring and developing the in-store design team, while remaining hands-on with complex and high-value projects.
- Blending design leadership, customer relationships, technical expertise and commercial awareness to help turn our customers' ideas into beautifully considered kitchens and whole-home spaces.
- Lead the creative direction across two store design locations, acting as the senior design voice in-store and setting the standard for inspiring concepts, exceptional customer experience and thoughtful brand execution.
- Guide the entire design journey from first conversation through to final sign-off, personally leading complex and high-value kitchen and whole-home projects while building trusted, lasting customer relationships.
- Oversee the store's design pipeline and performance, ensuring creative ideas translate into well-considered, deliverable projects that achieve both design and sales goals.
- Support and develop designers and design advisors, nurturing their creativity, strengthening technical expertise and building confidence in presenting considered design solutions.
- Ensure every design reflects Neptune's technical, safety and brand standards, providing guidance, quality assurance and close collaboration with regional and central teams.
A little about you
- You will bring experience within a kitchen or interior design environment, along with the confidence to guide customers through a thoughtful and well-considered design journey.
- Comfortable using CAD software, you'll be able to create and present detailed designs with accuracy and care.
- Naturally warm and personable, you build trust easily and communicate with clarity, whether you're working with customers in their homes or collaborating with colleagues in-store.
- You will be organised and calm under pressure, able to manage several projects at once while keeping a solutions-focused mindset.
- Above all, you take pride in your work and care deeply about delivering an exceptional customer experience from first conversation to final design.
Our store is open 7 days of the week, so it's important that you have the flexibility to work during the week and weekends too.
What Benefits we can offer you
- Competitive salary
- Generous holiday allowance
- Purchased additional annual leave scheme
- Life assurance
- Company sick pay
- Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
- Cycle to work scheme
- Gym membership
- Generous Neptune new item and outlet discounts
- Perkbox: Wellbeing Hub and Retail Discounts Portal
- Your birthday day off
- Two paid volunteer days a year
- Day off if you become a Grandparent
- A week off to celebrate a life event
- Refer a friend scheme
- Long service holiday allowance increase
- Training Workshops
Across all locations, we stay united by our company values: Do The Right Thing, Do It Together, Aim High and Keep It Real. We're an equal opportunities employer; our mission is to welcome everyone and create inclusive teams, with all colleagues and applicants afforded the same opportunities. We encourage everyone to join us and be themselves at work, in an environment that actively promotes equality, diversity and inclusion and where everyone's voices are heard.
Our Story
Founded in 1996 by friends John Sims-Hilditch and Giles Redman, Neptune design and make pieces for your whole home. Recognised for our exacting standards, design-led aesthetic and expert craftsmanship, we're perhaps most known for kitchens - with heirloom-worthy dressers not far behind. Neptune's trademark 'look' is British: refined, simple, sturdy, and with an almost obsessive attention to detail. We're also respected for our commitment to craft and quality. Put simply, we make things we're proud of, and that are designed to last a lifetime.
Design Team Leader in Twyford employer: Neptune (Europe) Ltd
At Neptune, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a creative and inclusive work environment. Our Design Team Leader role offers the opportunity to lead design initiatives across our stunning showrooms in Guildford and Reading, while benefiting from a competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, and a strong commitment to employee growth through training workshops. With a culture that values collaboration and innovation, we empower our team to deliver outstanding customer experiences and create beautiful living spaces that reflect our brand's dedication to quality and craftsmanship.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Team Leader in Twyford
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know Neptune's design philosophy inside out. Familiarise yourself with their products and values so you can speak confidently about how your experience aligns with their vision during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current or former employees on LinkedIn, and don’t hesitate to reach out for insights about the company culture and what they look for in a Design Lead.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare a portfolio that showcases your best work, especially projects that reflect customer-centred design. Be ready to discuss your design process and how you’ve successfully led teams in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Neptune family.
We think you need these skills to ace Design Team Leader in Twyford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Read the Job Description Carefully:Before you start your application, take a good look at the job description. It’s packed with info about what we’re looking for in a Design Team Leader, so make sure you understand the key responsibilities and requirements.
Show Off Your Design Experience:When writing your application, highlight your experience in kitchen or interior design. We want to see how you've led projects and built customer relationships, so don’t hold back on those details!
Be Personable and Authentic:We value warm and clear communication, so let your personality shine through in your application. Share your passion for design and how you connect with customers – it’s all about creating that exceptional experience!
Apply Through Our Website:Once you’ve crafted your application, head over to our website to submit it. This ensures it gets to the right place and helps us keep track of all applications. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Neptune (Europe) Ltd
✨Know Your Design Principles
Before the interview, brush up on Neptune's design principles and brand values. Be ready to discuss how your design philosophy aligns with theirs and provide examples of past projects that reflect these principles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Design Team Leader, you'll need to inspire and develop your team. Prepare to share specific instances where you've successfully led a design project or mentored a colleague, highlighting your ability to foster creativity and confidence in others.
✨Demonstrate Customer-Centric Thinking
Think about how you can guide customers through their design journey. Be prepared to discuss how you've built lasting relationships with clients in the past and how you ensure their needs are met throughout the design process.
✨Be Ready for Technical Questions
Since the role requires proficiency in CAD software and technical standards, expect questions that assess your technical expertise. Bring a portfolio of your work to showcase your design accuracy and attention to detail, and be ready to discuss your design process.
