Location: This role will be permanently based out of Portland, Oregon and/or Dallas, Texas on a hybrid work model. The associate may have flexibility to start the position remotely,but must plan to work in Portland and/or Dallas within 6 to 18 months. (Candidates who are unable to be located in Portland and/or Dallas within this timeframe will not be considered). 

Opportunity:

As a proud member of the Kohler family of brands, Luxury Brands offers a curation of the finest quality plumbing, bathroom styling, and hard surfaces and bathroom solutions.

The Director of Product Design – Luxury Brands has primary responsibility for imagining and directing the vision of the brand through all design efforts for both product and showroom experiences. This Chief Designer and integrator oversees the brand identity, design and construction of all product portfolios, showroom concepts, including the overall customer experience and journey to project Luxury Brands as the leader in luxury. The position also oversees product design and development for Luxury Brands, positioning the group as an authority and innovator in the design community and with end consumers.This highly collaborative role oversees the creative design and construction team, as well as the product development team to ensure Luxury Brands overall leadership in luxury home market.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Develops and introduces new product designs that are consistent with the brand’s design philosophy yet set Luxury Brands apart as an innovator in the market.
• Marshalls entire collections of products from design concept stage through to production, working within time and budget constraints.
• Ensures the growth of product revenue by designing and developing exclusive collections that customers love and for which Luxury Brands is known.
• Serves as the primary creative force behind all Luxury Brands Curated Bath Collections product development and other new product categories in development.
• Inspires and articulates the future vision of the brand and creative development of Luxury Brands brand, overseeing brand identity in showroom design in collaboration with head of marketing.
• Oversees $30M strategic budget into new concepts, redesigns, and renovations of our showrooms.
• Directs the design team to a more advanced and higher quality results through brain-storming sessions, team meetings, and other strategic tools.
• Transforms rough ideas and general concepts into actions, projects, and completed products.
• Anticipates the future direction of the industry using both research and own insight and brings the company into the fore of that trajectory and establishes a leadership position amongst our peers.
• Collaborates with product management and merchandising teams to achieve the right mix of exclusive, bespoke, and must have products for our customers.
• Leads the showroom construction and design teams to create and express differentiated Luxury Brands “point of view” in showrooms.
• Represents Luxury Brands as a spokesperson of the company in the media and events, to further increase the profile of the brand
• Partners with outside designers to realize their design visions in the context of opportunities in the marketplace and limitations of the mediums with which the company works.
• Identifies emerging designers who may be appropriate candidates for designing future collections.
• Maintains clear focus on competitors, customer preferences and conditions at the high end of the design market, identifying gaps and opportunities.
• Identifies new product trends and technologies.
• In partnership with the Purchasing & Procurement organization, assists with direct sourcing and developing of new vendors to add to the Luxury Brands Brand.
• Drives and sets all quality standards for new and existing Luxury Brands product lines.
• Travels to vendors and production facilities to work alongside vendors to drive product design, development and quality control.
• Initiates, maintains and develops strong relationships with primary resources, in partnership with the operations department.
• Identifies and addresses quality and lead-time issues with suppliers, in partnership with operations department.
• Fosters relationships with top specifiers around the country, including events like our VIP factory tours.
• Partners with product management to review analysis of product performance, making recommendations for changes to existing collections and identifying opportunities for new product introductions and line extensions.
• Enforces deadlines and maintains efficiency in the design department.
• Coordinates with vendors for timely delivery of final products throughout the design process.

This position requires a talented executive who has extensive product design and development experience at the high end of the home building and furnishings market. The Director of Product Design must have strong technical design and development skills, as well as financial savvy to maximize return on investment. In addition, he or she must possess superior management and leadership skills; the ability to be decisive, tough-minded yet fair, and results oriented will distinguish the successful candidate. This executive will have a good appreciation for the business end of product development, including planning and inventory management and sourcing and production. Multi-location experience would be a significant advantage as well. This executive must also have exemplary communication skills, with the ability to storytell, inspire and galvanize teams around a vision and lead successful execution of design intent in products and showroom concepts. In addition, the position is an ambassador that represents Luxury Brands as a distinguished brand externally in high profile media and events.