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This role is a local hire position and not an International Service Program (ISP) assignment; only candidates who are eligible to be hired locally in the job location will be considered. Work Arrangement This role is categorized as on-site. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to Advanced Technical Center in Shanghai, China full time. The Role - The CMF and Brand Design Manager leads the development and delivery of color, material and finish (CMF) strategies for interior and exterior vehicle programs for the China market. This role balances premium brand expression , China customer expectations , and technical feasibility , ensuring vehicles in China achieve outstanding perceived quality and a distinctive luxury identity. This role also encompasses brand strategy, look and feel and an interface with Global Design, marketing and communication.
Job Responsibility:
Translate brand values into clear CMF strategies and stories tailored to China customers, competitive set, and trends.
Develop interior and exterior color and trim palettes, materials, grains, patterns and finishes that elevate perceived luxury and support trim walk strategies.
Monitor luxury/EV/China market trends and bring relevant CMF innovation into assigned programs.
Work with Global Design brand team and China based Marketing and Communication teams to ensure aspirational and consistent brand messaging.
Input China luxury trends and learnings to Global Design and Brand teams.
Own CMF deliverables for assigned programs across all phases, from advanced exploration through production.
Ensure CMF proposals meet design intent, craftsmanship and perceived quality targets, and are robust for series production.
Prepare and manage CMF specifications and documentation (e.g., CTDAR / appearance data, color & trim charts) required for downstream functions.
Work closely with Creative Design, Brand, UX, Engineering, Materials Engineering, Manufacturing, Purchasing, and Quality to balance design ambition with feasibility, timing and cost.
Represent CMF in program forums, design reviews and gateway assessments, clearly articulating CMF rationale, risks and trade‑offs.
Coordinate with global brand and other regional studios to align on global CMF direction while addressing China‑specific needs.
Serve as CMF Design contact in program / change‑management processes when CMF content is impacted.
Support updates to CMF documentation and data in line with approved change content, ensuring accuracy and traceability.
Contribute to continuous improvement of CMF workflows, standards and appearance quality guidelines within GM China Design.
Lead day‑to‑day work planning and reviews for a small team of CMF designers and/or coordinators on China programs.
Provide clear feedback and coaching to elevate creative quality, storytelling, and execution detail.
Help build CMF capability in the studio by sharing best practices, references, trends, and new material opportunities.
Requirements:
Bachelor's degree in Transportation Design, Industrial/Product Design, Textile/Surface Design, or related field.
Solid experience in CMF design, preferably within automotive, premium, or luxury consumer products.
Strong portfolio demonstrating CMF work for interiors and/or exteriors, with clear storytelling, material sensibility and perceived quality.
Good understanding of automotive materials and processes (plastics, coatings, textiles, leather, metal, decorative trim, etc.) and their constraints.
Proven experience working within structured program environments, with exposure to gateways, timing, and cross‑functional reviews.
Strong communication and presentation skills
able to clearly explain CMF concepts and decisions to both design and non‑design stakeholders.
Proficiency in relevant design tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, KeyShot or similar visualization tools).
Nice to have:
Experience with premium or luxury automotive CMF, ideally including EV programs.
Experience working in or with China market, with good understanding of local customer preferences and competitive CMF landscape.
Experience working with Global leadership teams.
Demonstrated ability to build teams, guide and mentor junior designers.
Business‑level English
Mandarin strongly preferred for cross‑functional collaboration within China.