Director of Design

The Mullings Group Search Canada is in search of an Director of Design for our client based in Concord, ON.

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.

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.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

- Lead, mentor, and develop a small cross-functional team of designers, engineers, and pricing analysts.
- Maintain a hands-on leadership style by directly contributing to design, drafting, engineering checks, and pricing to support throughput.
- Create an environment of collaboration, adaptability, and continuous improvement.
- Manage workload distribution and ensure timely delivery of design packages, pricing models, and engineering documentation.

Hands-On Design & Engineering Contribution

- Actively participate in concept development, technical drawings, 3D modeling, material selection, and engineering problem-solving.
- Produce and/or refine AutoCAD drawings and 3D models when project volume or complexity requires additional hands.
- Conduct detailed engineering reviews and contribute to finalizing production-ready documentation.
- Engage directly in prototyping efforts, material evaluation, and feasibility analysis.

Technology & AI Integration

- Implement AI-powered solutions for concept ideation, drafting automation, BOM estimation, and predictive pricing.
- Maintain expert-level proficiency in AutoCAD and other design applications, setting the technical standard for the team.
- Continuously evaluate emerging technologies to streamline workflow and reduce cycle time.

Custom Pricing & Margin Management

- Oversee the development of accurate custom quotes, ensuring precise costing and proper margin management.
- Personally step in to execute or validate complex pricing models during high-volume periods.
- Collaborate with Pricing and Operations Director to ensure all designs align with quality and profitability requirements.
- Monitor gross margins and identify opportunities for cost optimization.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

- Champion new innovation and new vertical development (Beauty/Cosmetics) with peers (sales, pricing and procurement).
- Support Sales through hands-on creation of accurate drawings, shop documents, and presentations for key customer programs.
- Participate directly in client meetings (face-to-face / TEAMS) to understand technical requirements and propose design solutions.

Process Optimization & Compliance

- Establish design standards, drafting protocols, and engineering best practices appropriate for a small but high-performing team.
- Identify and implement process improvements that enhance speed-to-design and reduce rework.
- Ensure compliance with safety, load capacity, and industry regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

Required

- Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, or related field.
- 10+ years of experience in custom fixturing, retail display manufacturing, store design, or a related environment.
- 5+ years of leadership experience with proven hands-on involvement in design or engineering work.
- Expert-level AutoCAD proficiency and competence with at least one 3D CAD environment.
- Strong knowledge of materials, fabrication methods, and manufacturing processes.
- Experience managing gross margins and custom project costing.
- Demonstrated ability to implement and adopt AI-enhanced workflows.
- Strong communication and customer-facing presentation skills.

Preferred

- Experience working in the grocery, pharmacy, or CPG merchandising space.
- Familiarity with ERP, PLM, and quoting tools.
- Experience with rendering/visualization platforms.
- Exposure to lean manufacturing or design-to-cost methodologies.