Director of Design

Are you a visionary designer and leader with a love for creating beautiful, functional products that meet the needs of consumers? Do you thrive on turning ideas into reality and seeing your designs come to life in people's homes? As a Director of Design at Sauder, you will lead a world class design team that conceptualizes and develops new product offerings or enhancements that allow our consumers to live better lives. You will leverage your experience, market research, manufacturability, and costing knowledge to create designs that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. You will lead a team that champions projects from concept through implementation, collaborating with multiple stakeholders throughout the end-to-end process. This role offers a hybrid arrangement, with an agreed-upon portion of work time spent at our office in Archbold, Ohio. Key Responsibilities Consumer and Market Expertise Maintain an expert understanding of consumer behaviors and needs across product categories. Stay current on competitor offerings, product design trends, and technologies/methods. Use and identify external data to stay informed and relevant. Communicate market trends and product directions internally and externally to align with strategy. Design and Development Develop original, market-aligned designs that drive innovation and support product strategy. Represent Sauder's products with customers and stakeholders to build trust and credibility. Deliver compelling presentations of concepts, new products, and enhancements to internal and external stakeholders. Champion approved designs from concept to implementation, ensuring adherence to quality and strategy. Manufacturing and Cost Alignment Maintain familiarity with new and existing manufacturing processes, both domestic and international. Work with the Sauder import team to develop expertise in international capabilities and foster strong relationships. Collaborate with internal teams to set specifications and resolve manufacturing issues. Leadership and Collaboration Lead and coach a talented design team, delivering fresh, market relevant designs at the right time, value, and on budget. Be a product advocate by serving as the point person for anything product related, the product development processes, optimizing protocols across disciplines and departments, and promoting inter-department communications. Collaborate to develop and improve corporate product strategies and implementation plans. Visionary Role Plan and execute long-term strategies that blend creativity, manufacturability, and cost objectives. Serve as a visionary by conceptualizing and implementing strategies that position Sauder as a market leader in consumer trends. Drive innovation by blending technical understanding with consumer insight to deliver exceptional products. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree with focus in Industrial Design or Furniture Design preferred or equivalent experience. 10+ years providing design leadership. Strong leadership skills. Ability to think strategically and make sound decisions. Highly collaborative. Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for visa sponsorship. PAY SUMMARY The actual salary will be based on factors such as location, relevant experience, and skills. We believe that all people are capable of great things. Because of this, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all of the requirements that are listed within this job description. Sauder is a family company, so we believe in a healthy work-life balance for our employees. We want employees to know their time here is more than just a job--they can build a life-long career at Sauder. We have a culture of continuous improvement and internal advancement. We provide 3 weeks of vacation and a full benefit package beginning at 30 days. Other perks include 401(k), a company-funded health savings account, free counseling, furniture discounts, and tuition reimbursement. Sauder Woodworking Co. is North America's leading producer of ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture and one of the top five residential furniture manufacturers in the United States. An authentic American original, a majority of Sauder furniture is manufactured in Archbold, Ohio--right where we were founded in 1934. We have thrived for 90 years because we have led with integrity and respect, were great stewards of our resources, found better ways, and remained flexible. #J-18808-Ljbffr