Sr. Director, DWR Trade & Hospitality

Why join us? 

Our purpose is to design for the good of humankind. It’s the ideal we strive toward each day in everything we do. Being a part of MillerKnoll means being a part of something larger than your work team, or even your brand. We are redefining modern for the 21st century. And our success allows MillerKnoll to support causes that align with our values, so we can build a more sustainable, equitable, and beautiful future for everyone.

Sr. Director, DWR Trade and Hospitality

Reports to: Chief Marketing Officer, MillerKnoll

Location: Stamford, CT

About the Role

MillerKnoll is looking for a Sr. Director, DWR Trade and Hospitality to become part of our marketing leadership team, reporting to the CMO. Design Within Reach (DWR) continues to find new ways to deliver the very best of authentic modern design to people everywhere. This newly created role will drive the creation of a new B2B business unit that closely connects DWR with the residential design trade, boutique hotels, restaurants, creative studios and small businesses. 

This person will develop growth strategies for DWR that are rooted in a deep understanding of these key audiences. This person will partner closely with the DWR retail team as well as the established MillerKnoll Contract team. The ideal candidate will be highly entrepreneurial, possess deep expertise and strong connections within the luxury furnishings space, have exceptional leadership and organizational savvy skills, and bring a solid understanding of both consumer and contract marketing strategies.

Responsibilities:

• Define and implement the go-to-market strategy for DWR, Trade and Hospitality including the positioning, pricing and service model.
• Foster strong relationships with interior designers and trade partners, creating programs and experiences that are unique and which deepen their connection to DWR and the brands we carry.
• Work closely with the DWR brand marketing leader and the DWR creative director to ensure everything we share with these audiences reflects the quality, craftsmanship, and exclusivity of the DWR brand.
• Partner closely with SVP, Stores to create the structure for this initiative, working in close partnership to define the incentives and service model that will inspire our sales organization.
• Establish business development practices, marketing activations, and partnership models that can scale profitably and sustainably.
• Provide strategic insights to inform the customer journey, merchandising approach, pricing strategies, and marketing campaigns.
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure our progress on this new initiative.
• Collaborate with MillerKnoll Contract teams to ensure collaboration, alignment, and mutual success.
• Introduce new opportunities into the pipeline that can scale and ultimately become growth drivers within the MillerKnoll Contract business.
• Build and lead a high-performing team, mentoring and developing talent to achieve our marketing team goals.
• Create people strategies including organizational structure, talent acquisition, succession planning, and team engagement.
• Foster a culture of creativity, accountability, and performance within the organization.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in the contract furniture, design, or hospitality sectors, with proven business development success.
• Deep connections across hospitality operators, small business owners, and the interior design trade community.
• Experience building and scaling new business initiatives inside a larger organization.
• Ability to develop short to long term operational plans (e.g. 3-5) years in support of a new business.
• An entrepreneurial mindset: proactive, resourceful, and energized by building something new.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to work across marketing, sales, and contract teams to generate shared wins. Successful experience working, and thriving, in a matrix organizational structure.
• High level of personal integrity and business ethics.
• Passion for design, innovation, and the transformative power of brands.
• Travel required up to 50% of time

Why Join Us

At MillerKnoll, we believe design has the power to change the world. This role offers the opportunity to help shape the next chapter of DWR as it delivers the very best of authentic modern design to people everywhere. You will join a leadership team committed to creativity, collaboration, and growth—and have the chance to create lasting impact on both our brands and our business.

Who We Hire?

Simply put, we hire qualified applicants representing a wide range of bac