Director, Product Design & Development

• Create the strategic direction for the indoor case goods material library with Sr VP of Design— wood species, stone, ceramic, painted and specialty finishes, and hardware — ensuring it spans the right range of price points, aesthetics, and vendor capabilities
• Drive proprietary finish and material development that builds a competitive advantage — techniques and finishes that are distinctly Four Hands and cannot be easily replicated off the shelf

Fabric and Leather

• Create seasonal fabric and leather direction across categories with Sr VP of Design
• Build mill and tannery partnerships that give Four Hands access to colorways, textures, and materials not available to the broader market
• Drive the execution of proprietary leather and fabric development

• Create the outdoor material strategy across all weather-exposed categories with Sr VP of Design — solution-dyed acrylics, performance weaves, powder-coated aluminum, teak, reclaimed and treated woods, all-weather wicker, and concrete composites
• Drive outdoor finish development that aligns with seasonal creative direction and meets performance standards for UV, moisture, and fade resistance
• Evaluate and introduce new outdoor materials with a clear framework: performance data, sustainability credentials, commercial viability, and vendor capability to produce at scale

• Set material and finish direction for lighting across all categories with Sr VP of Design aligned with the seasonal brief and brand aesthetic
• Hold the standard for lighting development quality: shade construction, socket and hardware specifications, finish durability, and design intent from concept through production

• Own the design language of Four Hands at a systems level, defining the material, finish, form, and construction standards that make the line coherent across categories, seasons, and price points
• Establish CAD standards, specification templates, and design package requirements that allow the Product Development team to execute consistently and hand off to manufacturing without ambiguity
• Create and maintain documentation systems that build institutional knowledge: capturing design rationale, material development history, and vendor learnings in a form the team can access and build on

• Bring authoritative knowledge of furniture construction across all major categories, case goods, seating, upholstery, metal, outdoor, and lighting to every design, vendor, and development decision
• Apply value engineering discipline at the direction-setting level, so that cost and manufacturability are designed from the start, not corrected at sample
• Build and maintain deep knowledge of the Four Hands vendor base, understanding which manufacturers can deliver the required construction, materials, volume, quality, and design intent
• Hold a high standard for international communication: design intent should be fully resolved and clearly documented before it reaches a manufacturing partner
• Stay current on international freight procedures, certifications, and country-of-origin considerations that affect material sourcing and production decisions

• BA or BBA in Industrial Design, Merchandising, International Business, or a related field
• 15+ years of progressive experience in international product development and design leadership within the home furnishings industry
• Demonstrated track record of building and leading creative teams that deliver commercially successful, design-forward products across multiple categories
• Deep, hands-on knowledge of furniture construction across case goods, seating, upholstery, metal, outdoor, and lighting
• Experience developing seasonal material libraries across indoor case goods, fabric and leather, outdoor performance materials, and lighting across multiple price levels and countries of origin
• Experience owning a seasonal design program end to end: creative brief through market delivery, across multiple categories simultaneously
• Strong commercial instincts with the ability to hold a design point of view and make it work within margin, assortment, and calendar constraints
• Established industry relationships with designers, material suppliers, mills, tanneries, trade press, and manufacturing partners
• Demonstrated external presence in the design industry: trade events, editorial, press, or design community leadership
• Clear, confident communicator across all levels of the organization and across cultures, languages, and time zones
• Expected domestic and international travel