Senior Manager, Industrial Design

Job ID: 7649 

Alternate Locations:  

Newell Brands is a leading consumer products company with a portfolio of iconic brands like Graco®, Coleman®, Oster®, Rubbermaid®, Sharpie® and Yankee Candle® - and 24,000 talented teammates around the world. Our culture is built on values in action: Integrity, Teamwork, Passion for Winning, Ownership, and Leadership. We work together to win, grow, and make a real impact—supported by a high-performing, inclusive, and collaborative environment where you can be your best, every day.

Job Overview:

We are seeking a seasoned and strategic design leader to elevate product innovation across Newell's diverse portfolio. As a Senior Manager Industrial Design, you will drive design across multiple categories while developing the talent, tools, and processes that empower teams to consistently deliver breakthrough, consumer-first solutions. You'll leverage deep expertise in Industrial Design and strong command of Gen AI and emerging technologies to optimize creative workflows and scale impact.

You will lead end-to-end design development of products from home goods and baby gear to outdoor equipment and kitchen appliances. Working across functions and influencing at multiple organizational levels, you'll align cross-disciplinary teams around compelling design strategies that translate insight into differentiated, manufacturable, brand-right experiences. You'll be responsible for building design maturity, guiding teams through complex trade-offs, and ensuring every product reflects excellence.

Responsibilities:

• Lead, inspire, and manage a team of Industrial Designers to deliver innovative, consumer-driven product solutions.
• Drive design strategy across multiple brands and categories, ensuring alignment with business goals and consumer insights.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional partners (Marketing, Engineering, R&D, Packaging, and Manufacturing) to bring new products from concept through commercialization.
• Champion design excellence, balancing creativity with feasibility, cost, and brand equity.
• Establish and enforce design standards, best practices, and guidelines to maintain consistency and elevate design quality.
• Translate consumer research, market trends, and brand strategy into compelling product experiences.
• Mentor and develop design talent, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Manage project timelines and resources to ensure successful delivery of design programs.
• Present design concepts, strategies, and final solutions to senior leadership and stakeholders, influencing key business decisions.
• Partner with external design resources and agencies when needed, ensuring seamless integration of design deliverables.
• Advocate for the role of design as a key differentiator and value driver within the business.

Qualifications:

• Minimum: Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design
• 10 + years of relevant experience in corporate or consulting design
• 5 years of people management experience
• Ability to travel at least once per quarter
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Champions People Management by defining talent strategy, developing senior designers and emerging leaders, and building culture of psychological safety and continuous learning through data-driven metrics and individualized coaching.
• Shapes Industrial Design Strategic Thinking by uncovering disruptive opportunities and partnering cross-functionally to embed design as lever for business growth and brand distinction. Brings critical thinking to Gen AI as creative partner.
• Exhibits Aesthetic Sensibilities mastery in product form, detailing, and CMF with sophisticated understanding of successful paradigms aligned to brand identity and market positioning.
• Champions Consumer Empathy through designs informed by articulated and unarticulated insights embedded in workflows and proactive research methodology.
• Utilizes Design Context through powerful storytelling that connects emotionally and logically. Leverages visual knowledge for compelling prompts. Expert with LLMs including ChatGPT, MS CoPilot or equivalents
• Has expert Design Feasibility knowledge, ensuring production-ready designs through close engineering/manufacturing collaboration without sacrificing core ideas.
• Demonstrates 2D Design skills with strong sketching and Gen AI exploration. Advanced composition skills. Proficient with Adobe Creative Suite, Midjourney, Vizcom or equivalents
• Sound 3D Design skills including intermediate CAD modeling, surfacing, rendering, and NURBS. Hand modelmaking experience. Proficient with SolidWORKS, Rhino, Keyshot, Kaedim or equivalents
• Basic Motion Design skills for animations and video content supporting product storytelling. Proficient with Adobe Creative Suite, Runway or equivalents
• Excellent Interaction Design evidenced in usability, interface design, and user-centric experiences through sensory details and testing methods.

Newell Brands (NASDAQ: NWL) is a leading global consumer goods company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands, including Rubbermaid, Sharpie, Graco, Coleman, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Yankee Candle, Paper Mate, FoodSaver, Dymo, EXPO, Elmer’s, Oster, NUK, Spontex and Campingaz. We are focused on delighting consumers by lighting up everyday moments. Newell Brands and its subsidiaries are Equal Opportunity Employers and comply with applicable employment laws. EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled are encouraged to apply.