Senior Product Designer (Customer Experience) in Newcastle upon Tyne
About the role
Location: Unit 5 - 6, Armstrong Road, Washington, NE37 1PR
Contract: Full-Time
Hours: 40 hours per week; 08:00 to 17:00, Monday to Thursday, and 08:00 to 14:30, Friday
Salary: Competitive, depending on experience
NOVOCASTRIAN is a closely-knit team of Designers, Craftsmen, and Metalworkers. We are seeking a Senior Product Designer to take a pivotal role in our studio, leading projects and mentoring our growing team.
As a Senior Product Designer, you will lead projects from Sale through Design and Delivery, managing a significant portion of the company's projects while maintaining target profit margins. You will effectively manage accounts to ensure a steady flow of work and actively lead and contribute to wider office, studio, and workshop improvements. Additionally, you will be tasked with developing new products and bringing them to market under guidance from the Creative Director.
Design and Technical Execution:
- Demonstrate a creative and original approach to design, delivering high-quality outputs across multiple types of projects.
- Design within NOVOCASTRIAN's company ethos, with a clear understanding of the differing needs of Private and Commercial clients.
- Guide design direction and create the visuals required to convey design intent.
- Manage the risk of using known processes versus new processes.
- Work up designs from initial concept to full production drawings.
- Manage jobs through the manufacturing process, working closely with our team of makers and external suppliers.
- Monitor projects through the workshop to ensure manufacturing success.
- Produce O&M manuals, and final handover documentation to successfully close out projects.
Project and Commercial Management:
- Manage designated project types from start to finish, including NOVOCASTRIAN products, Special Projects, Bespoke work, and Architectural Metalwork.
- Ensure project budgets are met and flag any intended spend that exceeds the quoted allowance by over 5%.
- Monitor in-house resource burn and project profitability.
- Manage the client and gain approvals when required, keeping them informed of project particulars at all times.
- Lead by example in instilling a positive attitude and help enforce studio protocol.
Requirements:
- Extensive experience in furniture design.
- Excellent concept design and technical drawing skills.
- High proficiency in Fusion 360, AutoCAD, Photoshop, and InDesign.
- Deep understanding of manufacturing techniques and technologies.
- Demonstrable experience successfully delivering multiple projects from initial concept through to final handover.
- Must have a car and be able to commute to Washington, Tyne and Wear.
- Experience in luxury furniture design and lighting.
- Metalworking knowledge.
Private healthcare after two years. Enrolment in our quarterly profit share scheme.
Your tasks
Lead exciting design projects and mentor a creative team in a dynamic studio.
Your profile
Extensive experience in furniture design and proficiency in design software.
What's also included
Competitive salary, private healthcare, and profit share scheme after two years.
Tech stack & ways of working
Senior Product Designer (Customer Experience) in Newcastle upon Tyne employer: Novocastrian
At NOVOCASTRIAN, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and inspiring work environment where creativity thrives. As a Senior Product Designer, you will not only lead innovative projects but also have the opportunity to mentor a talented team, ensuring your professional growth alongside the company. With benefits like an early Friday finish and private healthcare after two years, we are committed to supporting our employees' well-being and career development in the heart of Washington.
Your perspectives
Make a real impact in luxury furniture design and bring innovative products to market.
StudySmarter Expert Advice
Join Product Management Meetups
Get involved in local product management meetups or workshops. These events are perfect for meeting industry folks, sharing ideas, and staying updated on trends. Plus, you never know who might be hiring—it's a fantastic way to make connections that could lead to a job at places like Novocastrian!
Show Off Your Product Sense
Create case studies or mini-projects showcasing your product management skills, and share them on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn. This not only puts your skills on display but also boosts your visibility in the product community. Imagine how impressed the hiring team at Novocastrian would be by your initiative!
Utilise Online Communities
Dive into online product management communities like Product Coalition or Mind the Product. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights. These platforms are goldmines for networking and finding hidden job opportunities—many companies often scout talent from within these circles.
Leverage Your University Network
If you’ve recently graduated or are still in uni, tap into your alumni network for connections in product management. Many universities have their own job boards and affinity resources to help graduates land roles. Don't forget to keep an eye out for job openings at Novocastrian through your school's career services!
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion
When applying for a product management role like Senior Product Designer (Customer Experience), let your passion for developing products shine through in your cover letter. Share specific examples of products you've managed, how you solved user needs, and any successful outcomes you've achieved. This is your chance to showcase your understanding of the product lifecycle!
Highlight Your Cross-Functional Skills
Product management isn't just about understanding the product; it’s about collaborating with different teams! Make sure to emphasise your experience working with developers, designers, and marketers. Use your CV to showcase your ability to bridge gaps between these areas, and include relevant experiences that demonstrate your communication and leadership skills!
Include Your Metrics and Achievements
In a full-time product management application, data speaks volumes! Quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you increase user retention by a certain percentage? Launch a product ahead of schedule? Include these metrics in your CV to paint a picture of your impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV to the Role
Make sure your CV is tailored for the Senior Product Designer (Customer Experience) position at Novocastrian. Use keywords from the job description and ensure your relevant experiences are front and centre. Highlight any certifications or relevant training you’ve completed that will make you stand out as a strong candidate for the role. And remember, we’re excited to see your application on our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Novocastrian
Understand the Product Life Cycle
As a product management candidate, we need to get our head around the complete product life cycle. Be prepared to discuss real-world examples of how you’ve managed product development from ideation to launch. Bring specific insights on tools like JIRA or Trello that can help streamline these processes.
Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
Product management is all about collaboration. We should be ready to highlight how we’ve worked across teams—think marketing, engineering, and design. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you had to mediate differing opinions and how you got everyone on board with a shared vision.
Prepare for Case Studies
In a full-time role, we can expect to encounter case study questions during our interviews. Practise solving hypothetical product problems on the spot, such as prioritising features for a new app or improving user engagement metrics. This will show our analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
Know Your Metrics
Let’s face it, numbers are our best friends in product management. We should prepare to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) and how we've used analytics to inform product decisions. Dive into examples where data has driven our strategy for improvements or justified product changes.
Locations
- Newcastle upon Tyne
