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Description

More than a decade ago, Ledge introduced America to the first-in pool chaise and modern design forward furniture for a more compelling outdoor living experience. Today the award-winning brand is recognized as the in-pool and poolside leader, adopted by discerning homeowners and five-star resort and residential properties around the world.

Our continued success is very much a consequence of our team members, the Ledge culture of collaboration and innovation, and our unwavering belief in the importance of design distinction in everything we do.

Job Overview:

We are seeking a strategic and experienced Senior Design Manager to lead our design team in creating innovative, high-quality product experiences that are aligned with brand vision and business goals. This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for driving the creative direction, managing cross-functional collaboration, and ensuring design excellence from concept through execution.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with a strong background in product or industrial design, and bonus points for experience in furniture design or plastic manufacturing. A technical understanding of materials—particularly plastics and their thermal properties—is a strong advantage in this role.

1. Strategic Design Leadership

• Define and execute the design vision for products and experiences, ensuring alignment with broader company and brand strategies.
• Champion design quality and innovation through structured design reviews, feedback, and exploration processes.
• Lead discovery initiatives to identify new features, opportunities, and design directions that support product and business growth.

2. Team Management and Development

• Mentor, guide, and develop a team of designer(s), fostering a high-performing and collaborative design culture.
• Manage team workload and capacity planning to support current and future design needs.
• Promote continuous learning, creative experimentation, and professional development within the team.

3. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Product, Engineering, Marketing, and Research teams to deliver integrated design solutions.
• Serve as a key design advocate, facilitating strong communication between design and other departments.
• Translate research insights into actionable design strategies and concepts.

4. Design Process Management

• Oversee the end-to-end design process, from concept development to final implementation.
• Lead sprint planning, critiques, reviews, and retrospectives to maintain momentum and quality across projects.
• Ensure consistency in user experience and visual design across products and platforms.

5. Brand Stewardship

• Uphold brand standards and ensure consistent visual and experiential execution across all design outputs.
• Collaborate with the brand and marketing teams to align product design with broader brand messaging and campaigns.

6. Innovation and Problem Solving

• Identify and champion opportunities for design innovation, especially in response to user pain points and business objectives.
• Proactively resolve design challenges and balance creative vision with practical execution.

Requirements

• 8+ years of design experience, with 3+ years in a team leadership or management role.
• Strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design leadership and user-centered design thinking.
• Expertise in design tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills.
• Proven experience working closely with product, engineering, and research teams in an agile environment.
• Furniture design experience is a plus.
• Plastic manufacturing experience is a plus.
• Technical understanding of plastics and thermal properties is a plus.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, HCI, or a related field preferred.

At Ledge, we value diversity and inclusion and are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals. We offer a competitive salary, benefits package, and the opportunity to work with a dynamic team in a positive and supportive work environment.