Kitchen Designer Jobs

Island Woodcrafts
Southern Shores, NC
Full-time | In-person

About Island Woodcrafts

Island Woodcrafts is the Outer Banks’ original custom cabinet manufacturer. We provide factory and locally manufactured custom cabinetry, built-ins, closets, and other tailored solutions for homeowners, builders, and design professionals.

From our Southern Shores design studio and Wanchese manufacturing facility, our team transforms spaces through thoughtful design, precision, creativity, and craftsmanship.

Position Overview

Island Woodcrafts is seeking an experienced, highly organized Design Assistant to support our design team and help manage an active project load.

This is not strictly an entry-level position. We need someone who can quickly learn our processes, take ownership of assigned responsibilities, communicate professionally with clients and vendors, and help keep multiple cabinetry projects organized and moving forward.

The Design Assistant will support projects from the initial client consultation through design development, estimating, selections, ordering, and production handoff. The right candidate will be detail-oriented, dependable, comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, and able to work independently after training.

Key Responsibilities

• Support designers with active kitchen, bathroom, built-in, closet, and other cabinetry projects
• Assist with drafting plans and preparing accurate cabinet layouts
• Use 2020 Design or similar software to create and revise cabinetry designs
• Gather and organize measurements, plans, appliance specifications, inspiration images, selections, and client information
• Prepare for client consultations by organizing samples, drawings, presentations, and project documents
• Attend client meetings as needed, take detailed notes, and update project files
• Help prepare preliminary quotes, material lists, selection documents, proposals, and design presentations
• Assist clients with cabinetry, countertop, finish, hardware, and accessory selections
• Enter and maintain accurate project information in company systems
• Track assigned tasks and proactively follow up with clients, vendors, and team members
• Request and organize vendor pricing, product specifications, samples, and order information
• Help prepare factory cabinet orders and verify order details for accuracy
• Review project files for missing or conflicting information before estimating, ordering, engineering, or production
• Maintain organized digital and physical project files
• Coordinate with the design, sales, engineering, production, installation, and administrative teams
• Help ensure approved designs are accurately communicated to the shop and installation teams
• Assist with showroom organization, displays, samples, and customer appointments
• Stay current on cabinetry trends, materials, finishes, hardware, accessories, and design techniques
• Work independently while recognizing when questions or issues need to be escalated
• Perform other design, administrative, and project-support responsibilities as needed

Required Qualifications

• Previous experience in cabinetry, kitchen and bath design, interior design, architecture, drafting, construction, project coordination, or a related field
• Ability to support an active project load and manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail
• Professional written and verbal communication skills
• Confidence communicating with clients, vendors, builders, and coworkers
• Strong computer skills and the ability to learn new software and systems
• Ability to read plans, understand measurements, and perform basic dimensional calculations
• Dependable, accountable, and able to follow assignments through to completion
• Positive attitude and ability to collaborate as part of a team

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with 2020 Design is strongly preferred
• Experience with AutoCAD, SketchUp, or similar drafting and design software
• Previous experience preparing cabinetry layouts, quotes, specifications, material lists, or construction documents
• Knowledge of cabinet construction, kitchen planning, appliances, countertops, decorative hardware, and related products
• Previous customer-service or client-facing experience
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, or similar business applications

What Success Looks Like

A successful Design Assistant will:

• Quickly become a dependable source of support for the design team
• Keep project information complete, accurate, current, and easy to locate
• Take ownership of assigned projects and follow-up responsibilities
• Anticipate what designers need before appointments and project handoffs
• Consistently follow through with clients, vendors, and team members
• Catch missing or conflicting information before it causes mistakes or delays
• Help move projects forward without requiring constant supervision
• Help customers feel informed, organized, and well cared for
• Develop the knowledge and skills needed to accept greater design and project responsibility over time

Schedule and Work Location

This is a full-time, in-person position based primarily at our Southern Shores design studio. Occasional travel to our Wanchese manufacturing facility or local project sites may be required.

Candidates must be able to maintain a dependable work schedule and provide consistent support to the design team during normal business hours.

Why Join Island Woodcrafts?

• Join an established, locally owned, and growing cabinetry company
• Work on distinctive homes and custom projects throughout the Outer Banks
• Gain hands-on experience with both factory and locally manufactured custom cabinetry
• Work alongside experienced designers, craftspeople, and industry professionals
• Be part of a creative, professional, and collaborative team
• Opportunity to advance into design, sales, estimating, or project-management responsibilities
• Contribute directly to the customer experience and successful completion of each project

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation will be based on the candidate’s experience, cabinetry knowledge, and software proficiency.

Benefits:
PTO, paid holidays, health insurance, 401k, professional-development opportunities.

How to Apply

Please submit your résumé and a brief introduction explaining your relevant experience and why you are interested in joining Island Woodcrafts to Jobs@islandwoodcrafts.com.

If available, please include examples of cabinetry layouts, design work, drawings, renderings, presentations, or other relevant project experience.

Island Woodcrafts is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in the workplace.

Job Type: Full-time

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person