Lighting Designer
Be part of a growing, successful company in an exciting and challenging field. Border States is 100% employee-owned, which means you’re empowered to make decisions, find solutions and receive rewards for your hard work.
This position will be located in: Chantilly , VA
Job Summary
The Lighting Designer is proficient in lighting design, specification, and limited layout for residential and light commercial projects. Focuses on smaller-scale projects and in individual retail customers within the showroom and occasionally meets with the customer/electrician/builder offsite (at job sites, builders’ offices, etc.) for larger-scale projects. Works during a project’s schematic design, design development, construction documentation, and construction administration phases while readily involving more senior members of the team for complex or technically challenging components. Utilizes expertise in specifying, coordinating, and arranging lighting elements (indoor and outdoor) for the project’s scope. Balances design needs for the client with profitability goals for the company.
Responsibilities
Essential Functions
- Works independently and collaboratively to research and provide creative lighting design and specification recommendations.
- Organizes, plans, and coordinates with the builder/design team to schedule installation and completion of lighting projects.
- Works closely with the warehouse team(s) and other relevant personnel to ensure fulfillment/delivery.
- Establishes goals and priorities, including profitability, for all secured and/or assigned projects.
- Monitors performance from vendors and alerts of potential problems.
- Monitors the order, charges, and releases of lighting and controls; advises the contractor(s) of essential scheduling details, as necessary.
- Handles correspondence, prioritizes and executes good judgment, and demonstrates initiative and tact with customers and vendors on all levels.
- Initiates return authorizations (RGAs), debit, and claim processes, works closely with the Order Fulfillment Specialist (OFS) team to ensure satisfactory order delivery, and troubleshoots as needed.
- Visits customer and/or builder job sites/homes to provide accurate and timely project completion as needed.
- Markets to current and new prospects by attending trade and business networking functions.
- Builds and maintains strong relationships with current and prospective clientele during regular work hours.
- Works with teammates, administrative, and support staff to ensure that orders are processed efficiently and correctly.
Non-essential functions
- Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor or designate.
- May advise the purchasing team on stock and display purchases, determining retail displays and fixture arrangements, and ensure that the showroom environment is well-maintained and on-brand.
Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED required.
- Four-year degree in design, sales, marketing, and/or business administration preferred.
- Minimum two years of prior work experience preferred.
- Good knowledge of interior design, lighting, finishes, and client management preferred.
- Proficiency in guiding clientele in a retail showroom through fixture selection, as well as a comfort level in limited layout and lighting specification for larger-scale projects in both residential and light commercial markets.
- Knowledge of lighting product lines and current design trends.
- Must be able to read, write, and speak in English.
- Strong working knowledge of PC for Windows, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Access, and PowerPoint), Adobe Acrobat, Internet, Email, and SAP software preferred.
Skills and Abilities
- Good interpersonal and persuasive skills.
- Constructive thinking and innovative problem-solving to ensure that customer needs are satisfied.
- Ability to define and communicate processes effectively, orally and in writing.
- Ability to work autonomously.
- Good project management and scheduling skills.
- Detail-oriented, accurate, organized, and flexible.
- Ability to handle multiple tasks at one time.
- Ability to work under pressure and deadlines.
- Excellent customer service skills, including competence, accuracy, responsiveness, and engagement.
- Ability to perform all aspects of the job as accurately, efficiently, and safely as possible.
Physical Requirements
Frequency at which you would carry/lift in a typical day:
Occasionally 0 – 33% Frequently 34 – 66% Continuously: 67 – 100%
- Lift from Waist:
- < than 10 lbs. - Occasionally
- 10 to 25 lbs. - Occasionally
- 26 to 50 lbs. - Not at all
- 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all
- 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all
- 100+ lbs. - Not at all
- Lift from Floor:
- < than 10 lbs. - Occasionally
- 10 to 25 lbs. - Occasionally
- 26 to 50 lbs. - Not at all
- 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all
- 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all
- 100+ lbs. - Not at all
- Carried for Distance:
- < than 10 lbs. - Occasionally
- 10 to 25 lbs. - Occasionally
- 26 to 50 lbs. - Not at all
- 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all
- 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all
- 100+ lbs. - Not at all
Physical Activity
Frequency at which you would do the following in a typical day:
- Sitting (a continuous period of being seated) - Frequently
- Standing (for sustained periods of time) - Frequently
- Walking (moving about on foot to accomplish tasks) - Frequently
- Bending/stooping (downward and forward) - Occasionally
- Crawling (moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet) - Not at all
- Climbing/Walking Stairs (ascending or descending) - Frequently
- Reaching (extending arms in any direction) - Frequently
- Crouching/squatting (bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine) - Occasionally
- Kneeling (bending legs at knee to come to rest on knee(s)) - Occasionally
- Balancing (maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling) - Frequently
- Repetitive motion (substantial movement (motions) or the wrists, hands, and/or fingers) - Frequently
- Pivoting (movement in any direction with one foot, keeping the other in contact with the floor) - Occasionally
- Pushing/Pulling (using upper extremities to press against or draw or tug) - Frequently
- Grasping (Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm) - Frequently
- Fingering (picking, pinching, typing; working with primarily fingers and not whole hand) - Frequently
- Talking (expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word) - Continuously
- Driving (the control and operation of a motor vehicle) - Not at all
- Desk work (work usually performed at a desk) - Frequently
- Use of a computer - Continuously
- Use of a telephone - Frequently
- Hearing (Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels) - Continuously
- Exposure (to adverse weather & temperature conditions) - Occasionally
- Travel (travel needed to perform job duties) - Occasionally
Additional Information
This job description is a summary of the job duties and responsibilities and is not intended to cover all possible job duties and is subject to change at the employer’s discretion. Employees must be able to perform the essential job duties and satisfy job requirements either with or without a reasonable accommodation.
Our History
Border States is a leader in the electrical supply distribution industry with over 120 locations in 31 states. Our employee-owners are second to none in delivering top-notch customer service and in demonstrating extra-ordinary people skills. We are one of the largest independent electrical distributors in the United States providing products and services to the construction, industrial and utility industries. Border States has a competitive benefit package and is a 100 percent employee-owned company. Employee-ownership is a significant part of our culture and our success stems from the dedication of our employee-owners. We practice open-book management and our employee-owners are empowered with clearly defined levels of authority to be innovative and decisive, allowing us to respond quickly to the needs of customers. Employee-owners understand their roles in the success of the company and care about customers’ needs, which drives our focus on adding value to everything we do. We recognize that not all customers are the same and each has specific requirements. Our employee-owners understand these diverse needs and have the commitment, resourcefulness and flexibility to outperform all others.
Values
As a Border States employee-owner, you’re responsible for living our mission, service philosophy and service standards.
Our Purpose
We believe unstoppable businesses shouldn't go it alone. We are owners - of relationships, of outcomes, of every moment these unstoppable businesses need to deliver.
Service Philosophy
We earn customer loyalty and confidence by caring about their needs and adding value to everything we do.
Service Standards
Border States employee-owners are competent, accurate, responsive, and engaged .
Your career
Join an experienced team at one of the largest electrical distributors in the United States. What are you waiting for?
Border States has a competitive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:
Health, Dental and Vision Benefits
Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity
FSA & HSA
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
Disability Benefits
401(k) Retirement Plan
Life Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Paid Holidays
Paid Volunteer Time
Personal Leave time and more!
Border States provides bonuses to their employee-owners upon the achievement of branch and company goals.
Equal Opportunity For All
It’s not just the law. It’s something we’ve believed in since our founding. We value the diversity of all of our employee-owners and will always be an equal opportunity employer.
Drug Free/Smoke Free workplace