Senior Creative Specialist

Overview

Empire and Co. is seeking a Senior Creative Specialist to join our Creative Studio team in our New York, NY office. The Creative Studio was established to meet the increasing demand for highly curated ancillary environments across corporate, hospitality, and retail projects.

This senior-level position plays a key role in shaping the creative direction of ancillary solutions, supporting both internal teams and external clients across the A+D community and end user accounts. The Senior Creative Specialist brings deep product knowledge, elevated design sensibility, technical proficiency, and strategic thinking to every project, driving best‑in‑class solutions that balance aesthetics, performance, price, and lead time.

The Senior Creative Specialist will lead the development of ancillary packages for projects requiring alternates driven by budget, lead time, performance needs, or client aesthetic direction. They will strategize and curate furniture solutions that align with an overarching look and feel, even in the absence of defined specifications, translating conceptual direction into actionable packages. The role includes producing polished, client‑ready presentations in InDesign or PowerPoint, supported by comprehensive Excel documentation including pricing, discounts, lead times, warranties, and product details.

This position serves as a senior point of support for sales teams, offering expert recommendations, alternatives, and creative guidance for ancillary furniture, accessories, artwork, and specialty items. The Senior Creative Specialist will also develop elevated accessory and styling packages that enhance and complete ancillary environments across corporate, hospitality, and retail settings.

In collaboration with Creative Studio and Marketing leadership, the role will expand and refine the Creative Library, a curated pricing and specification tool built from Empire’s 500‑plus manufacturer partners, while maintaining and updating product data quarterly to ensure accuracy and alignment with market trends. The position will also build and nurture strategic partnerships with key manufacturers, gaining a strong understanding of aesthetic strengths, fabrication capabilities, pricing tiers, and lead times.

Additionally, the Senior Creative Specialist will manage escalated and time‑sensitive requests with professionalism, urgency, and strong decision making.

• Experience with in a contract furniture dealership or manufacturer with hands on knowledge of ancillary solutions, pricing structures, and industry trends
• Proven experience working on projects within corporate, hospitality, and retail environments
• Strong portfolio demonstrating creative curation, spatial thinking, and product storytelling
• Advanced proficiency in InDesign, PowerPoint, and Excel with a refined eye for visual communication
• Strong technical program experience including CET strongly preferred, AutoCAD, and related industry tools
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining high quality output
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and relationship building skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Interior Design, or a related field or equivalent professional experience
• Three to five years of experience in creative services, interior design support, or the contract furniture industry
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, especially Excel
• Experience with Adobe InDesign and Photoshop required. AutoCAD and CET experience strongly preferred
• Deep understanding of furniture aesthetics and ancillary products across corporate, hospitality, and retail environments
• Exceptional attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• Proven ability to problem solve, prioritize, and work independently
• Ability to multitask and manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
• Ability to thrive in a fast paced environment with a strong sense of urgency
• Hedberg experience a plus