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Director of Design
OTHER•San Francisco•$120k - $150k
About this role
Overview
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.
Compensation range: $120,000.00 - $150,000 Annually
The base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. Actual total compensation will be dependent upon the individual's skills, experience and qualifications.
Pair Benefits:
- 15 days of PTO
- 8 Paid holidays
- Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
- Profit Sharing
- 401k + Employer Match
- Paid Parental Leave
- Wellness App with reimbursement of up to $500/year
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.
Key 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.
Qualifications
- 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.
Preferred Experience
- 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.
What you'll do
- The Director of Product Design leads the design function for Pair’s office portfolio, shaping product vision and execution. This role involves collaboration with various teams to ensure customer-centered design translates into scalable products.
About One Workplace
We create spaces that inspire and transform.
One Workplace doesn’t just create spaces, we put them to work. We don’t measure them in square feet, but by the possibilities they create for our clients. From a better way to express your culture, to a better way to work, to learn or to heal – the possibilities are endless.
Better space always solves a problem. Our solution is simple. We believe together is better. Combining business strategists, designers, furniture, construction, ancillary and audiovisual specialists with project managers, customer support, delivery and installation under one roof simplifies a complicated process - and it makes the workplace better. It’s a unique process, and it’s made us one of the most successful interior solutions companies in the US.
Each project starts with collaboration and ends with trust. For us, this is a big deal. Better spaces are built with better relationships - our most valuable assets. That means finding an amazing way to work together with our clients and partners because when we co-create, remarkable things happen. Everything we do links back to one simple philosophy:
We’re better together.
Ready to join One Workplace?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does One Workplace pay for a Director of Design?
One Workplace offers a competitive compensation package for the Director of Design role. The salary range is USD 120k - 150k per year. Apply through Clera to learn more about the full compensation details.
What does a Director of Design do at One Workplace?
As a Director of Design at One Workplace, you will: the Director of Product Design leads the design function for Pair’s office portfolio, shaping product vision and execution. This role involves collaboration with various teams to ensure customer-centered design translates into scalable products..
Is the Director of Design position at One Workplace remote?
The Director of Design position at One Workplace is based in San Francisco, United States. Contact the company through Clera for specific work arrangement details.
How do I apply for the Director of Design position at One Workplace?
You can apply for the Director of Design position at One Workplacedirectly through Clera. Click the "Apply Now" button above to start your application. Clera's AI-powered platform will help match your profile with this opportunity and guide you through the application process.