Industrial Design Director

Hayward Holdings Inc. (NYSE "HAYW") is the largest manufacturer of residential swimming pool equipment in the world, with a significant presence in the commercial pool market that is continuously growing. Hayward designs, manufactures, and markets a full line of residential and commercial pool and spa equipment including pumps, filters, heating, cleaners, salt chlorinators, automation, lighting, safety, flow control and energy solutions at our company owned facilities. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Hayward also has facilities in Tennessee, Arizona, and Rhode Island as well as Canada, Spain, France, Australia, and China.

Hayward Holdings Inc. (NYSE "HAYW") is the largest manufacturer of residential swimming pool equipment in the world, with a significant presence in the commercial pool market that is continuously growing. Hayward designs, manufactures, and markets a full line of residential and commercial pool and spa equipment including pumps, filters, heating, cleaners, salt chlorinators, automation, lighting, safety, flow control, and energy solutions at our company-owned facilities. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Hayward also has facilities in Tennessee, Arizona, and Rhode Island as well as Canada, Spain, France, Australia, and China.

As the Industrial Design Director within Hayward's Global Innovation organization, you will define and lead the industrial design vision, strategy, and execution across key product platforms and innovation roadmaps spanning connected physical products and digital ecosystems.

This is a leadership role responsible for shaping Hayward's product experience strategy, advancing the Visual Design Language (VDL), and ensuring cohesive, differentiated, and manufacturable design solutions across the global portfolio.

You will lead and develop a high-performing design team while partnering with Product Management and Engineering as part of Hayward's NPD trifecta to deliver long-term platform strategy and near-term execution excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

Design Strategy and Leadership

Define and drive the industrial design vision, strategy, and roadmap aligned to business objectives and innovation priorities
Establish and govern Hayward's Visual Design Language (VDL) across all product categories and touchpoints
Ensure design excellence, consistency, and differentiation across global product portfolios
Serve as a key design authority influencing executive-level product and brand decisions
Portfolio Ownership and Product Experience Lead design across multiple product platforms and programs, ensuring cohesive and scalable product ecosystems
Champion a systems-thinking approach that integrates hardware, software, UX, and service experiences
Drive a holistic product experience spanning installation, usage, service, and lifecycle ownership
Ensure alignment of design intent through complex trade-offs involving engineering, cost, and manufacturability
Innovation and Concept Development Own early-stage innovation efforts, including vision concepts, future-state product strategies, and advanced concept development
Guide concept exploration, prototyping, and validation efforts to de-risk innovation opportunities
Translate emerging customer insights and technologies into differentiated product experiences and platform opportunities
Customer Insight and Design Direction Champion customer-centric design by synthesizing VOC, Human Factors, and market insights into strategic design direction
Ensure insights are translated into clear product requirements and compelling design narratives
Partner with Product Management to influence roadmap decisions and value propositions
Cross-Functional Leadership and Execution Act as a strategic partner within the NPD trifecta (Product, Engineering, Design) to define problems, align priorities, and drive decisions
Influence cross-functional teams, including Mechanical, Electrical, Firmware, Software, UX, and Cloud, to maintain design integrity
Drive design governance, ensuring alignment across programs, risk mitigation, and design-for-manufacturing excellence
Manage external design partners and agencies as needed
Team Leadership and Design Culture Build, lead, and develop a high-performing Industrial Design team, including hiring, coaching, and performance management
Establish clear standards, processes, and best practices for design execution
Foster a culture of innovation, creativity, accountability, and collaboration
Elevate design maturity and influence across the organization
Requirements: Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design or related field (Master's preferred)
10+ years of progressive Industrial Design experience, including leadership of teams and complex product portfolios
Proven success leading design for connected devices and systems integrating hardware and digital experiences
Demonstrated ability to define and scale design strategy, VDL systems, and product ecosystems
Strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design, leadership impact, and design system consistency
Deep understanding of the full product development lifecycle from research through production
Experience influencing senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders
Ability to travel domestically (10-20%) with some international travel
What We Look For (Preferred) Experience in both corporate and consultancy environments
Advanced expertise in CAD, surfacing, and design-for-manufacturing
Strong executive presence and ability to communicate design vision at all levels
Passion for mentorship, team development, and design culture building