Vice President Product Design & Development - International

Reports To: Chief Creative Officer (CCO) and Executive Vice President of Product & Brand Strategy (EVP)

Department: Product Development

Date Prepared: July 2026

Who We Are

As a family-owned company, PALECEK values integrity, loyalty, and strong partnerships. We are driven to improve, innovate, and inspire. We bring our personal best to every aspect of our business, from our design and craft to our internal teamwork and customer service. We are passionate about creativity and believe that beautiful spaces enhance the quality of life.

Summary

The Vice President, of Product Design - International (based in Indonesia, Vietnam or Philippines) will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing PALECEK's design vision, working closely with the Chief Creative Officer (CCO), Executive VP of Product & Brand Strategy (EVP), and the Product Development (PD) team to drive innovative and aesthetically compelling furniture collections. This role will create key synergies between the US product development team, the PALECEK overseas offices, and the PALECEK vendor partners.

In addition to being a Vice President in the design process, the Vice President of Product Design, International will be one of the key decision-makers in material selection, supplier partnerships, and production processes, ensuring high-quality standards and cost-effective solutions that support the company’s growth objectives. Reporting directly to the Chief Creative Officer and the EVP, this role requires a deep understanding of market trends, consumer preferences, and competitive positioning.

Description & Responsibilities

• Work with leadership to create key synergies between the US design team, overseas office, and vendors by anticipating design needs, understanding design speed to market, and working to create solutions to complex design challenges.
• Continuously problem solve strategic operational and product development design initiatives. Leading to faster product speed to market, and more efficient design.
• High degree of collaboration is required: accepting feedback, creative versioning, and refinement with all samples across the PALECEK design network. This includes vendor designs, designs from PALECEK internal designers, feedback from PALECEK Engineering, PALECEK product development operations, and external designers.
• High level of flexibility and cooperation is required to achieve the best possible outcome with efficiency and speed to market.
• Continually ask for and seek feedback from management and peers, process feedback and streamline creative ambiguity.
• Provide immediate and informed design and manufacturing feedback directly to all members of product development.
• Curate product assortments that align with the brand’s customer demographic and regional preferences.
• Continuously analyze sales performance, market trends, and consumer insights to refine the product offering, maximizing revenue and profitability
• Implement and communicate and inspire overseas stakeholders
• Review, critique, and guide the creation of 3D and 2D CAD renderings to guarantee design accuracy, quality, and brand aesthetics
• Establish and adhere to the product development (PD) calendar, coordinating with cross-functional teams to align product launch schedules and ensure timely execution
• Maintain strong verbal and written communication with manufacturers to streamline the sampling process, enhance design aesthetics, and uphold quality standards
• Participate in company-sponsored travel to trade shows and international factories to foster relationships, oversee design integrity, and stay ahead of emerging product trends
• Evaluate product mixes to ensure collections maintain a cohesive brand identity and meet high-quality standards. Identify opportunities to incorporate current design trends while preserving core product offerings and best-sellers
• Identify and explore new business opportunities in emerging product categories and alternative sourcing channels to drive innovation and growth
• Collaborate closely with sales, merchandising, and marketing teams to effectively communicate the product strategy, ensuring alignment with upcoming product themes and overall brand messaging
• Facilitate and implement mutually agreed upon vendor strategies in coordination with CCO, EVP, VP of International Supply Chain.
• As a remote employee, it’s vital that you make significant efforts to proactively stay in touch with the various teams in various offices
• Availability for weekly early morning calls with the US design team (e.g., 3:00 p.m. US west coast time) to maintain efficiencies and synergies between the international team and the domestic team
• Perform other duties as assigned

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Furniture Design, Interior Design, or a related field is required; a Master’s degree is preferred
• A minimum of 15–20 years of experience in high-end furniture design, development, and production, with a strong background in luxury and custom furnishings
• Extensive knowledge of sourcing, supply chain logistics, product introduction, and the full design lifecycle, from concept to market launch
• Deep understanding of materials, furniture construction techniques, and finishing processes to ensure high-quality craftsmanship
• Demonstrated success in leading product design and supply chain development, with the ability to make strategic, data-driven decisions
• Ability to work autonomously while keeping senior leadership informed on project progress, performance, and key business initiatives
• Strong sense of urgency in executing business goals, taking calculated risks, and translating sales data into actionable design and sourcing strategies that enhance profitability and brand positioning
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with internal teams, overseas vendors, external partners, and key stakeholders at all levels
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Bahasa Indonesia or Vietnamese, with excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Skilled in navigating complex disagreements and facilitating resolution, ensuring trust, alignment, and a shared company vision among internal and external teams
• Desire to seek feedback and commit to continuous improvement of product lines based on team insights, customer feedback, product performance, and market changes
• Willingness to travel internationally for product development trips and domestically for trade shows, vendor meetings, and industry events
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently throughout Indonesia, Southeast Asia, the United States, and internationally, including manufacturing facilities, supplier locations, customer visits, and domestic and international trade shows
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook), Adobe Creative Suite, and AutoCAD

Physical Requirements

• Extensive travel across the APAC region (estimated to be 35%)
• Acclimating to different cultures
• Must be able to navigate the buildings and terrain of various APAC vendors who may not have the same building requirements as those in the US
• Travel to the US several times per year
• Visual acuity to assess product details, colors, and finishes accurately
• Frequent use of hands and fingers for computer work, sketching, and handling material samples
• Occasional bending, kneeling, or reaching to inspect products or review sample
• Exposure to high levels of noise
• Must be able to occasionally lift, pull, push and move up to 30 pounds
• Must be able to walk a minimum of 10k-15k steps per day
• Must be able to climb stairs
• Must be able to sit at a desk and work on a computer for extended periods

Pay & Benefits

• Pay range: $XXX,XXX - $XXX,XXX per year
• Competitive Paid Time Off
• Reimbursed Travel Expenses
• Reimbursed housing expenses up to agreed upon maximum amount
• Reimbursed healthcare expenses up to agreed upon maximum amount
• 401(k) Savings Plan
• Profit Sharing Benefits
• Generous Employee Discount