Design Engagement Lead

Role overview

Fisher & Paykel Appliances is seeking a Design Engagement Lead to help drive its luxury brand presence across the Auckland region. The business is a well-recognised New Zealand brand with global reach, a strong heritage, and an ambition to be the world’s most human-centred premium appliance company. This role sits within the Global Marketing team and is based in Auckland.

The company is growing its Auckland footprint through a new three-site campus spread across the Auckland isthmus. A key part of that network is the Global Experience Centre in Grey Lynn, which will play a central role in the brand story and customer experience.

What this role involves

This is a senior leadership position where you will lead the execution of design engagement strategy across the region. You will guide a team made up of Design Development Managers and Experience Centre staff, while also directly managing a portfolio of top-tier Specifiers, Designers, and Architects.

The role acts as the link between the global design engagement strategy and how it is delivered locally. Every client interaction, event, and experience-centre touchpoint should reinforce the brand’s premium, design-led positioning.

You will report to the Head of Global Design Engagement and be expected to build a cohesive team culture, set clear expectations, coach performance, and keep the group focused on outcomes. At the same time, you will personally demonstrate a consultative, relationship-led approach with key SDA customers.

Core accountabilities

You will oversee the Auckland Experience Centre as the flagship luxury environment for the brand, making sure it delivers memorable experiences for one-on-one SDA meetings, developer visits, and international stakeholder events. You will work closely with marketing and sales teams locally and globally to turn strategy into practical regional plans with clear commercial goals.

The role also requires strong use of the Design Engagement toolkit, Salesforce, and Programa to maintain consistency, quality, and discipline in team activity. Keeping up to date with developments in design, architecture, and specification will be important for both your own performance and the guidance you provide to the team.

Candidate profile

Fisher & Paykel is looking for an experienced leader who can think strategically while also being hands-on when needed. The ideal person will bring a strong track record of managing high-value client relationships in a luxury or design-related environment, along with commercial judgement and a real interest in design and architecture.

Strong communication skills are essential, as you will need to adapt your style for designers, consumers, internal teams, and senior leaders. You should also have experience coordinating projects and events in a way that keeps multiple priorities moving at once.

In addition to customer-facing work, you will be responsible for ensuring an excellent visitor experience at the Experience Centre, with the goal of strengthening brand advocacy. Operational ownership will include staffing, administration, budgeting, and reporting.

Preferred background

An understanding of the design and architecture sector is highly desirable, along with the ability to interpret floor plans and elevations. Experience using Salesforce or a similar CRM platform would be an advantage.

A bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Design, Architecture, or a related subject is preferred. However, substantial practical experience in a comparable leadership role may also be accepted.

What the employer offers

This opportunity offers exposure to a large and complex global organisation headquartered in New Zealand, with room to influence how a trusted local brand presents itself to the design and architecture community. The role brings varied challenges and ongoing leadership development opportunities.

Benefits include a competitive salary, flexible working arrangements, strong growth and progression prospects, generous staff discounts on Fisher & Paykel and Haier products, life and disability insurance, discounted medical cover, access to Whānau/Family leave, a subsidised staff café, and free on-site parking.

Fisher & Paykel also highlights its heritage and reputation as one of New Zealand’s most trusted brands, with a workplace grounded in strong leadership and a design-focused mission.

Additional information

Applicants are asked to submit a CV and cover letter. The company states that it is an equal opportunity employer and that hiring decisions are made without regard to race, colour, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or other protected characteristics.

The organisation also describes its broader purpose as turning ideas into performance and improving everyday life through good design.