Material Resource Manager

Materials Library Curator

Supports the design studios by maintaining an organized, responsive, and future-ready materials library. This role streamlines sample logistics, manages vendor relationships, and ensures designers have rapid access to the material tools they need reducing non-billable time and enhancing creative efficiency. Curates a library that balances aesthetic inspiration, performance, and sustainability in efforts to empower design teams to make efficient and informed decisions.

Responsibilities :

• Curates and maintains an organized, up-to-date physical and digital materials library, ensuring samples are clearly labeled, categorized, easily accessible, and aligned with LEED, WELL, Living Building Challenge, and Declare Label standards.
• Proactively removes outdated or discontinued materials and ensures high-demand samples are stocked and accessible.
• Implements systems to track sample borrowing and returns.
• Manages all vendor communications related to new products, updates, and rep meetings.
• Schedules vendor presentations based on studio needs and project relevance, reducing interruptions, optimizing time and minimizing overlap and / or redundant visits.
• Assists project teams with product comparisons, substitutions, and specification support to reduce non-billable research time.
• Offers onboarding sessions to new hires or interns on how to efficiently access and request materials.
• Builds and maintains firmwide source page accessible across all locations that includes vendor contact list, event calendar, library processes, material spotlights, etc.
• Collaborates with Professional Development, design teams and vendors for hands-on workshops.
• Endorses the firm's cultural values, including a commitment to quality, innovation, learning and growth.
• Facilitates team's self-evaluation to distill and distribute lessons learned within the firm, in collaboration with the PM.
• May collaborate in developing, recognizing and growing diverse talent.
• Resolves conflict effectively and encourages a healthy team environment.
• Seeks leadership opportunities by providing direction and feedback to team members and collaborating with team leaders.
• Promotes the firm's principles of 'design excellence' through the integration of responsible and sustainable design practice with the art of design, including understanding mindful materials evaluation and selection.
• Reduces non-billable hours by streamlining access to materials and allowing designers and architects to focus on billable tasks including design, documentation, and client engagement.
• Protects profit margins with fewer change orders, redesigns, and costly missteps with library and material database management.
• Evaluates materials that align with sustainability and ESG goals supporting pursuits that offer fee premiums or incentives.
• Strengthens vendor relationships for cost leverage with access to better pricing and / or service.
• Supports long term innovation and brand value by elevating the client experience during tours or interviews, signaling HKS's commitment to craft, innovation, and sustainability.
• Understands fundamental accounting principles and the project accounting process.
• Collaborates in and may be responsible for delivering a project on defined budget requirements.
• Maintains accountability to project plans and planned utilization rate.
• May support the business development process by identifying, maintaining and cultivating essential relationships.

Qualifications :

Education and Experience :

Licenses and Certifications :

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities :

Advanced expert-level experience, knowledge or skills

Intermediate experience, knowledge or skills required to produce high-quality solutions or work

Basic familiar with primary concepts or capabilities and may perform elementary functions depending on role

Advanced knowledge of interior design materials, products and finishes required

Intermediate skills in MS Office Suite required

Basic knowledge of CSI Master Format Divisions and industry product classification standards required

Basic knowledge of Mindful Materials as well as interior related sustainability certifications and standards required

Basic experience in Bluebeam and Photoshop preferred

Basic experience in AI Design tools preferred

Intermediate knowledge of sustainability and integrated design guidelines required

Intermediate experience with managing and performing duties in a fast-paced environment preferred

Intermediate ability to maintain existing vendor relationships and build new vendor relationships required

Intermediate presentation skills preferred

Intermediate organizational skills required

Intermediate ability to communicate in a clear, concise and professional manner both verbally and in writing preferred

Intermediate ability to work independently and collaborate in a team environment required

Advanced ability to effectively meet deadlines at expected quality required

Travel may be required