Director of Design

One Workplace•San Francisco, CA

1d•$120,000 - $150,000

About The Position

We are Pair, a division of One Workplace. We believe great design makes the workplace better. It improves the way we share ideas and connect with each other, which is why we're giving you more ways to make office furniture your own. You won't find a complex process, long lead times, or fine print here. Just a collaborative partner who wants to help you make something great. Pair is looking for a builder , a sales leader who thrives on creating new opportunities, establishing market presence, and scaling a business. As Director of Furniture Sales, you’ll be responsible for growing our footprint into a true regional player by building distribution channels, hiring and managing rep groups, and developing deep relationships with end-users across the Western U.S. and key Northeast markets. This role is about more than sales - it’s about building the business, shaping strategy, and laying the foundation for long-term success. Position Summary Overview The Director of Product Design leads the end-to-end design function for a Pair’s office portfolio, shaping product vision, experience strategy, and execution across systems, collections, and services. This role balances design excellence with manufacturability, sustainability, and dealer- and spec-driven market realities. The Director is a strategic partner to Sales, Applications, Engineering, and Operations- ensuring customer-centered design decisions translate into scalable, differentiated products for workplace environments. Role Pairing & Collaboration This role is paired closely with Applications, Marketing, and works i lockstep with Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain. Together, the leadership team aligns on portfolio strategy, line planning, pricing tiers, and launch timing—balancing end-user needs, specifier requirements, dealer enablement, and manufacturing feasibility.

Requirements

10+ years of product or industrial design experience, with 5+ years leading design teams.
Proven experience designing physical products in a B2B environment; office furniture or contract interiors strongly preferred.
Deep understanding of manufacturing processes, materials, and cost drivers.
Strong portfolio demonstrating systems thinking, modular product design, and manufacturable solutions.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence across Sales, Dealers, Engineering, and Operations.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with dealers, A&D firms, and spec-driven sales models.
Familiarity with ergonomics standards, workplace regulations, and performance testing.
Experience building or evolving modular furniture platforms.

Responsibilities

Design Leadership & Portfolio Strategy Define and champion a cohesive design vision across furniture systems, ancillary products, and workplace solutions.
Translate market insights, dealer feedback, and workplace trends into clear product principles and multi-year roadmaps.
Ensure consistency across form language, materials, finishes, and systems.
Product & Market Partnership Partner with leadership team to have a multi-year product portfolio plan and rationalization.
Collaborate with Sales, Dealers, and Marketing to ensure products meet specifier expectations and support go-to-market needs.
Participate in product reviews, pricing strategy discussions, and executive gate reviews.
Customer- and Specifier-Centered Design Lead design grounded in insights from end users, dealers, architects, and designers.
Oversee research related to ergonomics, workplace behavior, and space utilization.
Advocate for accessibility, inclusivity, and code compliance across all products.
Execution, Engineering & Manufacturing Integration Partner closely with Engineering to ensure designs are manufacturable, durable, and cost-aligned.
Balance innovation with platform reuse, modularity, and supply chain efficiency.
Guide teams from concept through prototyping, testing, and production release.
Team Leadership & Craft Excellence Lead, mentor, and grow an industrial and product design team (industrial design, CMF, ergonomics, systems).
Set clear expectations for design quality, collaboration, and accountability.
Foster a culture of critique, iteration, and continuous improvement.
Sustainability & Materials Stewardship Champion sustainable design practices, responsible material selection, and circularity principles.
Partner with Operations to support environmental certifications and lifecycle assessments.
Embed sustainability into design decisions without compromising performance or cost targets.
Operational Excellence Establish scalable design processes that integrate with product development, engineering, and manufacturing workflows.
Manage design resources, external partners, and prioritization across the portfolio.
Define and track success metrics tied to adoption, spec wins, and portfolio performance.