Karol O Keeffe
Laois,Ireland
Summary
With over 20 + years of experience in the Sales and project design in the Kitchen and furniture industry, both in residential and commercial sector.
I am currently project design manager leading a successful team in sales and business development at Hanlon Kitchens that specialises in bespoke projects specifically in residential homes and private sector.
In this role, I oversee the design and delivery of
contract and owner occupier residential projects, working closely with clients, contractors, architects, and interior
designers to ensure quality, efficiency, and innovation. I also lead the sale division and
manage the budget, timeline, and resources of each project,
I established and maintained strong relationships with
suppliers, distributors, and partners, and expanded the companies partnership with leading key accounts..
Sale manager, team leadership and business development are key to my growth and development within the industry
Karol o Keeffe
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Senior Project Design & Sale Manager
Hanlon Kitchens
Laois, Laois
03.2020 - Current
- Maintained smooth-running business operations by delegating priorities to staff abilities.
- Supported team's transition to more flexible working environment for better employee satisfaction.
- Helped to reduce staff turnover rates by driving improvements in team culture, transparency and cohesion.
- Led and managed administrative staff to maintain smooth daily operations.
- Developed strong teams by skilfully recruiting, orienting and training loyal, hard-working employees.
- Planned and managed resources and budget to support and deliver objectives.
- Assessed knowledge and skills gaps, creating opportunities to fuel improvement.
- Organised financial and operational data to help with yearly budgeting and planning.
- Developed organisational policies for administrative oversight and internal controls.
Kitchens Design Manager
Neptune Global Village
Dublin, Dublin
07.2016 - 03.2020
- Developed and updated internal guidelines.
- Coordinated consistent, high quality provision of [Type] service.
- Identified service gaps, developing plans to strengthen or expand offerings.
- Directed activities of staff to maximise service availability and play to teams' strengths.
- Coordinated with clients to understand design requirements and objectives for various projects.
- Produced deliverables consistently to standard and budget.
- Created stunning visualisations using systems such as CAD, CAN and CAM.
- Actioned feedback from service users, resulting in improved satisfaction levels.
Installation manager
Kube /McNally
Dublin, Dublin
09.2014 - 06.2016
- Implemented policies and devices to improve workplace safety.
- Applied strong civil and structural engineering expertise to contribute successfully to project success.
- Designed devices uses in medical procedures to help patients manage symptoms.
- Collaborated with architects, project managers and engineers to optimise project outcomes.
- Managed thorough works inspections, assessing quality standards against project deliverables to ensure optimised outcomes.
- Worked with production teams to facilitate smooth transition from design and testing to full-scale manufacturing.
- Used precise calculations to design internal components of optical systems.
- Quickly learned and applied new skills to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.
- Managed on-site evaluations, internal audits and customer surveys.
Designer Kube Interiors
Kube
Dublin , Dublin
07.2012 - 07.2014
- Outlined designs for use and refined final products with feedback
- Developed design guidelines and standards to maintain consistency across projects.
- Improved creative processes through effective collaboration with graphics and design teams.
- Managed lifecycle design phases, from initial client brainstorms to timely project completion.
- Executed high quality designs using allocated resources and budget.
- Sketched and diagrammed design concepts to share vision and collected feedback.
- Devised design solutions to meet client brief requests.
- Created 3D graphics and animations with Autodesk 3ds Max.
- Implemented client feedback to refine and enhance design concepts
Director
O Keeffe Krafts
Laois, Laois
03.2011 - 05.2014
- Identified and resolved operational issues impacting productivity, performance or profitability.
- Established budgets based on historical, current and forecasted business data.
- Monitored operations to assess and highlight results.
- Evaluated market trends and competitor activities, informing strategic decision-making.
- Directed day-to-day work of [Number] employees and motivated teams to exceed objectives.
Design/Production Manager
Kinsella Kitchens
Laois, Laois
02.2004 - 12.2010
- Tracked performance metrics for plant operations and reviewed regular reports to proactively identify areas of concern.
- Implemented staff training and development to improve team expertise and performance.
- Developed production plans covering schedules, quality goals and labour requirements.
- Supervised production schedules and production quality for timely delivery
- Coordinated maintenance processes to keep equipment operating correctly and maximise uptime.
- Defined manufacturing quality guidelines and criteria to adhere to company standards.
- Set clear budget targets and established successful controls to control expenditure.
Project Foreman
O Keeffe Engineering
Laois, Laois
01.2003 - 03.2004
- Operated machinery to achieve targets while following regulations.
- Completed customer orders with speed and accuracy.
- Oversaw daily operations to achieve high productivity levels.
- Reviewed customer history to recommend appropriate products and services.
- Worked flexible hours, covering nights, weekends and bank holidays.
- Managed on-site evaluations, internal audits and customer surveys.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
Cabinet maker apprentice
Franz Collection
Laois, Laois
01.2000 - 12.2003
- Cut and fit glass into cabinet doors and mirror frames.
- Coordinated workflows and laid out workpieces to support smooth operations.
- Operated power saws and hand tools to cut, shape and form wooden parts and components.
- Prioritised competing tasks and managed deadlines to meet customer needs.
- Used woodworking techniques and principles to construct wooden cabinets and furniture.
- Adhered to established safety protocols and PPE requirements to reduce risks.
- Sanded raw wood to prepare surface for painting, staining or sealing.
- Completed finish work to decorate, coat or protect wooden articles and surfaces.
- Sketched design ideas to evaluate build requirements and material needs.
- Leveraged strong knowledge of wood types and construction techniques to deliver quality products.
- Applied wood inlays and veneers to enhance decorative aspects on wooden pieces.
- Monitored furniture trends to inform design strategy.
Cabinet Maker Apprentice
Foley Kitchens
Laois, Laois
05.1998 - 12.2000
- Prioritised competing tasks and managed deadlines to meet customer needs.
- Monitored furniture trends to inform design strategy.
- Repaired dents, cracks or holes and replaced broken parts of furniture frames.
- Reinforced joints using nails, screws or adhesives to support longevity.
- Leveraged strong knowledge of wood types and construction techniques to deliver quality products.
- Trimmed and assembled parts and subassemblies to form complete units.
- Used woodworking techniques and principles to construct wooden cabinets and furniture.
- Applied wood inlays and veneers to enhance decorative aspects on wooden pieces.
- Cut and fit glass into cabinet doors and mirror frames.
- Sketched design ideas to evaluate build requirements and material needs.
- Operated power saws and hand tools to cut, shape and form wooden parts and components.
- Completed finish work to decorate, coat or protect wooden articles and surfaces.
Education
ISME, Essential Management Skills, 2015 FETAC Le - Business
ISME
Dublin 03.2014 - 03.2015
F.A.S Apprenticeship (4 Year) Cabinet Maker - Cabinet Maker
F.A.S
Dublin 01.1999 - 01.2003
Junior Certificate 1998 Heywood Community School, - Junior Certificate
Heywood CS
Laois08.1998
Skills
- Technical project management
- Agile business methods
- Visual design
- Quality Assurance and Control
- Creative product strategy
- Product roadmap planning
- Safety and quality standards
- Knowledge of Cad
- Programme development
- Google Workspace
- Leadership
- Time management
- Marketing
- Communication skills
- Management
Affiliations
- Passionate about Gaa ,Hurling and football. Mountain Biking, managing teams and underage development
Timeline
Senior Project Design & Sale Manager
Hanlon Kitchens
03.2020 - Current
Kitchens Design Manager
Neptune Global Village
07.2016 - 03.2020
Installation manager
Kube /McNally
09.2014 - 06.2016
ISME, Essential Management Skills, 2015 FETAC Le - Business
ISME
03.2014 - 03.2015
Designer Kube Interiors
Kube
07.2012 - 07.2014
Director
O Keeffe Krafts
03.2011 - 05.2014
Design/Production Manager
Kinsella Kitchens
02.2004 - 12.2010
Project Foreman
O Keeffe Engineering
01.2003 - 03.2004
Cabinet maker apprentice
Franz Collection
01.2000 - 12.2003
F.A.S Apprenticeship (4 Year) Cabinet Maker - Cabinet Maker
F.A.S
01.1999 - 01.2003
Cabinet Maker Apprentice
Foley Kitchens
05.1998 - 12.2000
Junior Certificate 1998 Heywood Community School, - Junior Certificate
Heywood CS
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