Colour Material Finish Design Manager

Role overview

Design strategy and product development

• Set a holistic material aesthetic and tactile direction across multiple touchpoints and lead material innovation initiatives.
• Lead conceptual direction for soft and hard products, onboard amenities, aircraft seats and cabins, and architectural environments.
• Lead material and product development with internal partners and suppliers through production, including new products and material upgrades or replacements.

Partnerships, guidelines and library

• Partner with project leads across development teams and stakeholders in Brand, Cabin Interiors, Product and Hospitality, Cabin Crew, and Service.
• Create CMF guidelines for ground, aircraft, product, and service contexts.
• Create and manage an onsite library of in-production CMF samples and specifications, plus digital and physical databases of relevant materials.
• Maintain supplier relationships and their representation in the library, and organize supplier visits and product demonstrations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial, Interior, Transportation, Textile, Graphic, or another Design field, with specialized CMF experience.
• Seven years of CMF design experience in a consultancy or in-house role; aviation, automotive, hospitality, or guest-experience-driven industry experience is preferred.
• Aviation material development knowledge and expert storytelling and concept articulation.
• Strong interest in design and cultural trends, strong presentation skills, and strong design visualization skills.
• Ability to lead and command respect as a subject-matter expert.

Capabilities

• Translate brand into compelling CMF strategies and tangible outcomes with suppliers and manufacturers.
• Develop solutions grounded in manufacturing realities and capable of implementation in the short and long term.
• Visualize concepts using quick 2D sketches and developed 3D renderings, and present them through compelling narratives.
• Collaborate proactively with stakeholders and drive concepts forward.