Design Lead

Design Lead – Kitchen Warehouse

Fixed Term Contract 6-12 months – Parental Leave Cover

On-site, North Fremantle Support Office.

About us:

At Kitchen Warehouse, we’re passionate about inspiring people that love to cook, bake and entertain with quality kitchenware, beautiful design, and exceptional experiences. We are a family owned business, headquartered in Perth, but with a rapidly growing National store network and a large ecommerce arm.

Our design team plays a central role in shaping the way our customers see, feel, and connect with our brand – from the moment they pick up our products.

The focus for our Design Lead is to optimize the presentation of our In House Brands (IHBs), specifically IHB packaging.

In the last few years we have grown the scale of our IHB operation, building brands like Wolstead, Salisbury & Co, Kitchen Pro, Another and Everten. These brands offer quality product solutions at great prices, and are credible alternatives to better known 3rd Party Brands (Le Creuset, KitchenAid, Scanpan).

No matter how quickly we grow, we remain connected and are guided by our core values:

Authenticity: genuine experience and service

Quality: standards that can be trusted

Family: putting our people first

Customer: at the heart of everything we do 

And we bring our behaviours to life every day:

Take Ownership – Commit, act, and deliver

Challenge Respectfully – Ask questions, share ideas, align as a team

Fact-Based Conversations – Use data to drive clarity and improvement

Frugality – Deliver more with less, valuing time and resources

Role overview:

This is a hands-on role for a designer with extensive packaging design experience. The Design Lead will take responsibility for the packaging design and artwork for our Wolstead, Salisbury & Co, KitchenPro, Another and Everten brands across a broad range of categories including appliances, dinnerware, glassware, knives and boards. The Design Lead is ultimately responsible for the way our IHB products show up in stores.

The ideal candidate will have exceptional attention to detail, pride themselves on being a conceptual thinker, be comfortable working in a fast-paced retail environment and be confident delivering to deadlines. The role involves hands on delivery of artwork, management of an offshore design team and collaboration with our in house photography studio and buying team.

In addition to packaging, the role may also involve broader creative opportunities to get involved with Kitchen Warehouse brand identity, seasonal campaigns (e.g. Christmas & Mother’s Day), and the development of our ‘Cook’ magazine.

Key Responsibilities:

Packaging Design

• Lead the creative development and execution of packaging design across all of our IHB’s and IHB product categories.
• Manage the end-to-end process from receipt of die lines and a brief, to final artwork, ensuring alignment with brand guidelines, compliance requirements, and production standards.
• Oversee broader design team (in the Phillipines) to ensure quality standards are met
• Keep IHB Brand identity Guides up to date, optimising where necessary to incorporate new needs and improved presentation standards
• Partner with the buying and sourcing teams to create best practice packaging solutions that balance creativity with commercial outcomes and manufacturing constraints.
• Ensure accuracy in dielines, print specifications, and finishes.
• Ensure final presentation of packaging on shelf delivers optimal customer experience – world class packaging design, clear product presentation and highlighting of key product benefits.

Brand & Creative Development

• Drive the evolution and consistency of IHB packaging. As new IHB’s are added this role will lead the evolution of new IHB identities, either by utilising internal resources or partnering with external agencies.
• From time to time, there may be opportunities to work on design projects for seasonal events, campaigns, and promotional periods, and our ‘Cook’ magazine. .

Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead an off-shore design team, providing support and feedback where required and ensuring quality standards are met. NB there is a Design team manager within our off shore team who will assist with scheduling and task allocation..
• Collaborate closely with the buying team, the marketing team, and the in-house studio team to ensure creative and production alignment.
• Stay ahead of design trends, materials innovation, and sustainable packaging practices, bringing fresh ideas to the business.

About You:

Essential:

• 10+ years in graphic design with a strong focus on packaging design and artwork production.
• Demonstrated experience in managing complex packaging projects from concept through to print.
• Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign).
• Strong understanding of print production processes, dielines, colour management, and finishing techniques.
• Proven ability to lead creative projects.

Desirable:

• Experience in retail or consumer goods sector.

Why you’ll love working with us:

As part of our team you’ll enjoy:

• A welcoming, supportive and positive work environment
• Working with a passionate and experienced team
• Opportunities to grow and develop your skills
• Staff discounts on the best kitchenware brands
• The chance to be part of an exciting, fast-growing business

If you want to be part of a thriving and passionate community, then Kitchen Warehouse could be the place to take your career to the next level!

Apply now

If this role sounds like the perfect fit, we’d love to hear from you. 

When sending in your application, in addition to your resume, please attach a cover letter stating why you are ideal for this role. Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through!