Temporary Director of Design Program Management

We’re looking for an accomplished Temporary Director of Design Program Management (DPM) for a 6-month contract position, who will be pivotal in overseeing and coordinating multiple design programs for both the Industrial Design and Packaging teams.

This strategic leadership position requires a strong background in program management, a deep understanding of packaging and industrial design processes, and the ability to inspire and guide cross-functional teams.

You are comfortable helping teams come together to deliver exceptional experiences – and as such, you are highly competent in socializing, initiating, and driving process collaboration, negotiations, and delivery of various deliverables on time and within budget.

This role requires someone to be flexible, humble, collaborative, and laser-focused on helping everyone reach incredible outcomes. This role is remote (US) and reports to the Head of Industrial & Packaging Design.

You Will:

• Program Leadership: Work closely with our Head of Industrial and Packaging Design, structuring, developing, and presenting detailed project schedules, briefs, and documentation.
• Project Management: Overseeing simultaneous industrial and packaging design programs, tracking multiple complex deliverables, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals and objectives.
• Resource Planning: Effectively allocate and manage resources across multiple programs, balancing workloads, communicating priorities, and optimizing team efficiency.
• Risk Mitigation: Proactively identify potential risks and challenges within programs and develop mitigation strategies to ensure successful outcomes. Comfortably communicate and escalate delays and risks while being solutions-oriented.
• Quality Assurance: Establish and implement quality control processes to maintain consistently high standards for design deliverables while ensuring proper approvals are met and documented, and internal alignment is achieved throughout projects.
• Innovation and Best Practices: Co-create and drive the adoption of industry best practices within the design program management framework across the organization.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Foster collaboration among design, engineering, supply chain, operations, and other cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration and execution of program deliverables. Confidently and comfortably guide cross-functional status calls, documentation, and accountability.
• File ownership: Manage critical files, both internally and externally.
• Mentorship and Development: Desire and experience to lead, mentor, and inspire a team of DPMs, conduct regular performance evaluations, set goals, and facilitate professional development opportunities for team members.
• Vendor Management: Develop and maintain strong relationships with vendors and ensure quality and delivery standards adherence. Work closely with supply chain sourcing leads to manage existing packaging, print, and manufacturing vendors to drive accountability, the highest quality output, and timely execution.

You Have:

• 12+ years of Design Program Management experience.
• 4+ years of directly managing a team of program managers.
• Proven experience & subject matter expertise in leading multiple projects within packaging and industrial design is a must. Candidates are asked to come prepared with detailed examples of previous programs managed within ID and print.
• Knowledge of print technologies, manufacturing technologies, user-centered design methods, and other industry standards.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in relevant software tools and technologies. Knowing Monday.com and G-Suite is a plus.

What is the last date for applying to the job?

Which countries are accepted for this remote job?