Head of Product Design - Automotive

Our client, a prominent automotive company, is seeking a dedicated and experienced Automotive Head of Product Design to be based in Dubai to lead their Product Design team who has a passion for finding solutions that allow customers to intuitively use their products. The ideal candidate would be a visionary with team management skills and shall be skilled at each stage of the design process while always being focused on the needs of the customer. Your duties and responsibilities would include but not limited to:

• Define and execute upon a vision for design and user experience within our portfolio of products.
• Provide leadership using your experience with analytics, research design methodologies, and product launches.
• Work closely with the development team to ensure that new product development and your design direction blend efficiently.
• Lead and motivate a team of talented product designers (including automotive designers, lifestyle designers, industrial designers, and other relevant roles) by providing mentorship, coaching, regular feedback, and career planning.
• Champion innovation and creativity within the design team, encouraging new ideas and pushing the boundaries of design excellence.
• Establish standards and KPIs, ensure adherence, assess quality, and maximize efficiency.
• Plan and monitor the day-to-day running of the Product Design team to ensure smooth progress.
• Stay updated with industry trends, design tools, and emerging technologies to continuously enhance the design process and output.
• Conduct regular design reviews and maintain design standards to ensure a cohesive and consistent brand identity across all products.
• Balance the creative aspects of design with practical considerations such as technical feasibility, manufacturing constraints, and budgetary requirements.

Requirements

To be considered, you need to meet the following requirements:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in design, Visual Arts, Automotive Industrial Design, or a related field.
• 15 - 20 years of proven experience in product design.
• Strong portfolio showcasing a wide range of design projects including consumer products, digital interfaces, and/or physical objects.
• Proficiency in design software such as Autodesk Alias, Rhino 3D, Render tool, Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, etc.
• Deep understanding of user-centered design principles and methodologies.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Strong leadership and people management skills with the ability to motivate and inspire a creative team.
• Strategic thinking and the ability to align design initiatives with business goals.
• Experience in iterative design processes, rapid prototyping, and usability testing.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, materials, and design for manufacturability is a plus.
• A passion for staying up to date with design trends, industry advancements, and emerging technologies.