Director of Design

Job Description

<p>The Mullings Group is in search of a <b>Director of Design</b> for our client based in Concord, ON.</p><p><br></p><p>The Director of Design is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing and actively participating in the full lifecycle of custom-fixturing design and development for the grocery, pharmacy, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) verticals. As this role supports a small, agile team, the Director must pair strategic leadership with a hands-on approach, frequently engaging directly in design work, engineering reviews, AutoCAD drafting, and pricing tasks as needed.</p><p><br></p><p>Reporting to the President, this leader directs the Design, Engineering, and Custom Pricing functions, champions the use of AI-driven tools, and ensures accuracy, manufacturability, and profitability while meeting gross-margin targets. The ideal individual combines creative expertise, technical mastery, and commercial awareness with the willingness to work side-by-side with the team to meet deadlines and deliver excellence.</p><p><br></p><p><b>Responsibilities</b></p><p><br></p><p><b>Leadership & Team Management</b></p><ul><li>Lead, mentor, and develop a small cross-functional team of designers, engineers, and pricing analysts.</li><li>Maintain a hands-on leadership style by directly contributing to design, drafting, engineering checks, and pricing to support throughput.</li><li>Create an environment of collaboration, adaptability, and continuous improvement.</li><li>Manage workload distribution and ensure timely delivery of design packages, pricing models, and engineering documentation.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><b>Hands-On Design & Engineering Contribution</b></p><ul><li>Actively participate in concept development, technical drawings, 3D modeling, material selection, and engineering problem-solving.</li><li>Produce and/or refine AutoCAD drawings and 3D models when project volume or complexity requires additional hands.</li><li>Conduct detailed engineering reviews and contribute to finalizing production-ready documentation.</li><li>Engage directly in prototyping efforts, material evaluation, and feasibility analysis.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><b>Technology & AI Integration</b></p><ul><li>Implement AI-powered solutions for concept ideation, drafting automation, BOM estimation, and predictive pricing.</li><li>Maintain expert-level proficiency in AutoCAD and other design applications, setting the technical standard for the team.</li><li>Continuously evaluate emerging technologies to streamline workflow and reduce cycle time.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><b>Custom Pricing & Margin Management</b></p><ul><li>Oversee the development of accurate custom quotes, ensuring precise costing and proper margin management.</li><li>Personally step in to execute or validate complex pricing models during high-volume periods.</li><li>Collaborate with Pricing and Operations Director to ensure all designs align with quality and profitability requirements.</li><li>Monitor gross margins and identify opportunities for cost optimization.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><b>Cross-Functional Collaboration</b></p><ul><li>Champion new innovation and new vertical development (Beauty/Cosmetics) with peers (sales, pricing and procurement).</li><li>Support Sales through hands-on creation of accurate drawings, shop documents, and presentations for key customer programs.</li><li>Participate directly in client meetings (face-to-face TEAMS) to understand technical requirements and propose design solutions.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><b>Process Optimization & Compliance</b></p><ul><li>Establish design standards, drafting protocols, and engineering best practices appropriate for a small but high-performing team.</li><li>Identify and implement process improvements that enhance speed-to-design and reduce rework.</li><li>Ensure compliance with safety, load capacity, and industry regulatory requirements.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><b>Qualifications</b></p><p><br></p><p><b>Required</b></p><ul><li>Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, or related field.</li><li>10+ years of experience in custom fixturing, retail display manufacturing, store design, or a related environment.</li><li>5+ years of leadership experience with proven hands-on involvement in design or engineering work.</li><li>Expert-level AutoCAD proficiency and competence with at least one 3D CAD environment.</li><li>Strong knowledge of materials, fabrication methods, and manufacturing processes.</li><li>Experience managing gross margins and custom project costing.</li><li>Demonstrated ability to implement and adopt AI-enhanced workflows.</li><li>Strong communication and customer-facing presentation skills.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><b>Preferred</b></p><ul><li>Experience working in the grocery, pharmacy, or CPG merchandising space.</li><li>Familiarity with ERP, PLM, and quoting tools.</li><li>Experience with rendering/visualization platforms.</li><li>Exposure to lean manufacturing or design-to-cost methodologies.</li></ul>