Director of Product Design
About The Position
This position is the strategic leader responsible for transforming ideas into market-winning products that drive growth, strengthen competitive advantage, and shape the future of the business for La-Z-Boy products, upholstery & casegoods. This role leads the innovation pipeline from opportunity identification through commercialization, bringing together customer insights, technical expertise, and operational excellence to deliver breakthrough physical products. Working across Marketing, Engineering, R&D, Supply Chain, Consumer Insights, and Sales, this position champions a culture of innovation and execution while building a portfolio of products that create meaningful value for customers, consumers and the company.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Product Design, or Marketing with 10+ years of related experience or equivalent
- 7+ years of supervisory/leadership experience managing category/ brand / product growth and development / go-to-market product & channel launch
- Proven success launching physical products from concept to market.
- Strong project management and cross-functional leadership skills.
- Experience with manufacturing processes and supply chain considerations.
- Strategic Thinker / Change Management / Communication / Leadership / Influence / Collaboration / Consumer First Mindset
- Proficient in: Microsoft Windows, E1, SAP, Miro
- Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to drive alignment, challenge assumptions, and lead through change
- In-depth knowledge of materials, mechanisms, and advanced furniture manufacturing processes.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint; Microsoft Access preferred
Nice To Haves
- MBA
- Experience in durable goods / furniture industry or related field with a focus on upholstery and casegoods, or equivalent
- Lean Product Development experience.
- Six Sigma, PMP, or equivalent certification.
Responsibilities
- Develop, Lead & Execute La-Z-Boy new product design strategy for upholstery & casegoods with focus on innovation, functionality and consumer experience to drive brand preference, business growth and channel profitability
- Identify market trends, consumer needs and emerging technologies to drive category growth
- Build and maintain a multi-year product roadmap, inclusive of launch cadence and product lifecycle
- Co-lead and implement go-to-market launch process including commercial functions
- Establish and improve stage-gate development process for innovation
- Develop business cases for new products, conduct market and competitive analysis, support pricing, positioning and launch planning, monitor post-launch performance and drive continuous improvement
- Partner with: Consumer Insights ,R&D, Engineering, Finance, Marketing, Pricing, Sales, Sourcing & Supply Chain
- Implement best practices in product development, ensuring efficiency, agility, and continuous innovation – building a culture of innovation, accountability & execution.
- Establish, track, and regularly review performance metrics, including product launch timelines, cost optimization, customer satisfaction, and market success.
- Manage external development partners and technical consultants.
- Manage departmental budgets and resource allocations.
Benefits
- Medical, Vision, Dental and Basic Life Insurance
- 401k retirement plan with company match of up to 6%
- 9-11 paid holidays each year
- two weeks’ prorated vacation as a new hire
- personal time (non-exempt only) or state mandated sick time
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
