Design Director

If you're looking for a progressive and rewarding career and you thrive in a fast-paced, fun and team-orientated environment, then look no further!

Overview of Vax:

Our heritage-rich, expert-led business has always had the same goal: to prioritize innovation and to design easy-to-use products that seamlessly integrate into our customers' lives, offering reliable, quick solutions to cleaning homes, whatever the mess.

Vax has forged its reputation as a brand that focuses on the needs of its customers. Our culture of innovation is at the heart of everything we do and we work hard to constantly think of new ways to improve our products, ensuring that we deliver premium quality products for our customers.

Design Director

Global Floorcare, part of TTI, is home to two iconic floorcare brands: Vax and Hoover.

Together, we combine decades of expertise with a passion for innovation, creating products that make cleaning faster, easier and more effective for millions of customers around the world.

Our success is built on understanding the needs of consumers and continuously pushing the boundaries of what's possible in floorcare. Backed by the scale and strength of a global business, we are committed to developing high-quality, innovative solutions that deliver exceptional performance and help people care for their homes with confidence.

We work on a hybrid basis; this role will be working 4 days onsite and 1 day working from home

As our Design Director, you'll define the future design direction of our products by leading our Design Research and Industrial Design teams. You'll establish the Design philosophy that shapes our brands, ensuring that every concept delivers exceptional consumer experiences while remaining true to our design principles.

Working in close partnership with Advanced Development, you'll translate emerging technologies and consumer insights into compelling product concepts, helping transform technical possibilities from Advanced Development into products that consumers value.

Key Duties include

• Define and champion the Industrial Design philosophy, principles and creative vision across future product portfolios.
• Lead and develop our Design Research and Industrial Design teams. Building a culture of creativity, collaboration and design excellence.
• Translate consumer insight into meaningful product experiences, design strategies and opportunity areas.
• Partner with Advanced Development to shape future concepts, ensuring that emerging technologies are transformed into desirable intuitive and differentiated solutions.
• Work alongside Product Management to align future concepts with consumer needs, brand positioning and our commercial strategy.
• Drive world class Design Research, working closely with the Consumer Insight team to influence product direction and strategic decisions.
• Co-Lead concept generation, creative workshops and design reviews to inspire bold thinking and cross functional collaboration.
• Establish high standards for Industrial Design, execution, storytelling, visual communication and concept quality.
• Champion design excellence throughout the innovation process, balancing consumer desirability, technical feasibility and commercial viability.
• Inspire and develop a high performing design team while building strong relationships across the wider organisation.

What we're looking for

You're an inspiring design leader who understands that great products are created where consumer insight, exceptional design and innovative engineering come together. You're passionate about defining product experiences, building creative & pragmatic teams whilst developing a clear differentiated design philosophy for our brands. You influence through vision, collaboration and outstanding story telling.

Skills, Experience & Competencies

• Bachelor's degree (BA or BSc) in Industrial / Product Design or related discipline. (Master's advantageous but not required).
• Ideally 12+ Years experience in Industrial Design, including 5+ years leading multidisciplinary design teams in consumer product development.
• Proven experience defining design strategies, product experiences and ID philosophies to strengthen brands and create differentiation.
• Strong background in Design Research and Human Centred Design, with experience translating consumer insights into product opportunities.
• Demonstrated experience partnering with Engineering and Advanced Development (Innovation) teams to create future product concepts and demonstrator prototypes.
• Excellent understanding of ergonomics, usability, product architectures, manufacturing processes and DFM.
• Experience leading concept development from early opportunity identification through to a validate design direction.
• Outstanding communication, story telling and presentation skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at every level.
• Experience facilitating workshops, design sprints and multidisciplinary ideation sessions.
• A proven track record of developing creative talent, building team capabilities and influencing standards across a business for design.

What Makes You Successful

• Design Vision: You define and champion industrial design philosophy, creating consistency in the products we develop.
• Consumer / User Obsessed: You instinctively translate insight into meaningful design and concepts which solve high value problems.
• Creative Leadership: You inspire, coach and mentor to generate creativity, curiosity and collaboration.
• Cross Functional Influence: You build trusted partnerships between AD, Engineering, Product Management and ID, allowing us to translate technology into compelling consumer experiences.
• Design Excellence: You set the benchmark for execution, story telling and design quality, raising the standards in everything we do.
• Strategic Impact: You influence long term, playing a vital role in shaping our future.

At Vax we are committed to being an equal opportunity employer. We believe in creating a supportive environment where everyone can thrive and grow.
If you're looking to join a forward-thinking company that values collaboration, innovation, and impact - we'd love to hear from you.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will do what we can to support you.

Please note: Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. We are unable to provide sponsorship for this role.

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Vax is made up of people who have a shared understanding of our mission and vision. Our values define who we are and what we stand for;

Trust - We're experts and everything we do is based on brilliant knowledge.

Honesty - Our commitment to doing the right means we are always open and transparent.

Resilience - For decades, we have embraced change and been agile in what we do. We aren't easily discouraged.

Innovation - We're curious and explore opportunities, innovating to benefit our customers and business.

Valued - We are better when each of us feels included and respected for who we are and what we contribute.

Energy - We are positive thinkers, excited about what we do.