Senior Design Manager

Job Type

Full-time

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.

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.