Director, Industrial Design

Company Description

Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. is an industry-leading innovation company focused on creating smarter, safer and more beautiful homes and improving lives. Our driving purpose is that we elevate every life by transforming spaces into havens. We believe our work and our brands can have incredibly positive impacts for not just our business and shareholders, but for people and the planet, too. When you join Fortune Brands, you become part of a high-performing team who are empowered to think big, learn fast and make bold decisions. We support an inclusive and diverse culture where everyone is encouraged and empowered to be their authentic selves, and where our differences and unique perspectives are a key strength. Explore life at Fortune Brands here. 

Job Description

As the Director of Industrial Design, you will manage, guide, and scale a world-class industrial design team that shapes thoughtful, meaningful product experiences across our Outdoors, Security, and Connected Water product categories. This role focuses on nurturing a creative team, supporting effective execution, and evolving design practices in ways that align with both user needs and business goals.

We’re looking for someone who brings expertise in industrial design, a strong understanding of user experience (UX), and the ability to create bridges between physical and digital design. This person will support cross-functional collaboration, uplift team members, and contribute to the company’s long-term innovation strategy through empathy, adaptability, and clear communication.

We value individuals who can Think Fast by integrating design thinking with business strategy and leveraging technology to enhance creativity and accelerate impact; Work It Together by building trust-based relationships across cross-functional teams to ensure alignment on roadmaps and innovation pipelines; and Make the Hard Call by confidently navigating ambiguity, prioritizing work with clarity, and balancing creative vision with execution realities.

POSITION LOCATION: This position is eligible for a hybrid schedule based out of Deerfield, IL. Effective fall 2025, Fortune Brands will transition to a new world-class campus in Deerfield, bringing together associates from across our U.S. offices, brands, and functions. The campus will offer vibrant workspaces for collaboration, along with amenities for dining, onsite daycare, fitness and recreation.

What you will be doing:

Team Development

• Build, inspire, and manage a collaborative and energized industrial design team.
• Foster a culture where designers feel fulfilled, motivated, and empowered to grow.
• Set clear goals, secure needed resources, and enable the team to succeed.
• Celebrate successes and foster continuous learning and feedback.

Design & Project Leadership

• Champion an integrated Experience Brand approach that bridges Visual Brand Language (VBL) and User Experience (UX).
• Guide and manage design strategy and execution for Outdoor, Security, and Connected Water product categories.
• Deliver outstanding product and experience design that advances brand relevance and business growth.
• Oversee design execution across strategic product roadmaps, innovation pipelines, and ID-led initiatives.
• Ensure alignment with VP/GM-level stakeholders and support business unit goals.
• Work It Together with the Innovation Team to align on emerging initiatives and concept development.
• Directly lead key initiatives, managing internal and external resources to fulfill a robust design roadmap.
• Inspire and advance connected product design, ensuring a seamless end-to-end user experience across multiple touchpoints.

Process & Capability Development

• Establish and evolve best-in-class design processes, methods, and tools.
• Advance adoption of design methodologies such as User-Centered Design, Design Thinking, and Trend Research.
• Embrace and implement new technologies including AI-augmented design tools and emerging platforms.
• Lead by example in technical tools including CAD (SolidWorks), Adobe Creative Cloud, Keyshot, and VR environments.
• Encourage skillsets that blend technical craft with empathy, creativity, and strategic collaboration

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design or a related field.
• 15+ years of experience in industrial design, with a strong portfolio of consumer or durable goods.
• 5+ years leading and mentoring design teams, with a focus on growing talent and team cap