Skills & Competencies for Product Design Director

Product Design Director job profile

JOB SUMMARY for Product Design Director

Oversees the implementation of product design and development policies, objectives, and initiatives.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES for Product Design Director

Directs the design, development, and enhancement of new and existing products/product lines. Evaluates and ensures design feasibility and design optimization. Helps facilitate project milestones and determination of project timelines. Evaluates issues and provides resolution and communicates and influences top management.

Product Design Director SALARY RANGE

BASE 50%
$208,175
TOTAL 50%
$244,919
Job Level
M04
Job Code
DD19000093
Education/Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Reports To
Top Management

Product Design Director Skills and Competencies List

Proficiency Levels and Behavioural Indicators
Salary.com identifies five increasing levels of proficiency for each skill/competency. Some jobs require only a relatively low level of proficiency in each skill/competency, while other jobs will require a more advanced level of proficiency in the same skill/competency. These levels rate the degree of proficiency (skill level, expertise) we expect the incumbent to perform in the given skill/competency for the given job. Note that we intentionally do not associate timeframes or years of experience in performing the skill/competency because that can be misleading. Proficiency levels identify what the incumbent knows and can do rather than how long they have been doing it. Also, note that the proficiency levels are cumulative, e.g., a level 4 proficiency implies the ability to perform all the behaviors at the lower levels.
Check each Product Design Director skill and competencie below to view definitions.

7 hard skills or competencies (industry competencies) for Product Design Director

1 Industry Competency – Engineering Management
Proficiency Level -4
Skill definition-Applying management skills and engineering principles in overseeing technical projects and personnel.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Lists the types of tools and systems used to help facilitate engineering management processes.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Reports the advantages and limitations of engineering management structure to management.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Utilizes both business management and engineering capabilities to handle large-scale projects.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Manages engineering management audits to resolve quality issues of various mechanisms.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Leads workstream management of the engineering teams to complete strategic programs.
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2 Industry Competency – Feasibility Study
Proficiency Level -3
Skill definition-Analyzing economic, technical, and legal considerations to determine the cost and risks of projects.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Explains protocols for an accuracy and operational feasibility study.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Conducts a feasibility study to understand the impact of the requirements on the existing product.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Reviews feasibility studies and documentation for new proposals.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Guides a team of individuals in performing feasibility studies.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Designs models to conduct feasibility studies that reduce the risk of project failure.
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3 Product Design Director - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Product Design Director
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Product Design Director
Proficiency Level - 5

1 general skill or competency (Job family competency) for Product Design Director

1 Job Family Competencies – Product Development
Proficiency Level -4
Skill definition-Overseeing the creation of new products or improvement of the performance, cost, or quality of existing products to achieve business goals.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Explains the principles and concepts of product development.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Enters all project-related information into the software tracking tool.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Manages various phases of product development, including design, development, and implementation.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Oversees all facets of a product development initiative, from site map creation to launch.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Leads the execution of a product roadmap based on planned product development activities.
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3 Product Design Director - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Product Design Director
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Product Design Director
Proficiency Level - 5

14 soft skills or competencies (core competencies) for Product Design Director

1 Core Competencies – Business Acumen
Proficiency Level -3
Skill definition-Insight into our organization's business, goals, and values. Ability to design and implement initiatives that facilitate successful outcomes.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Explains our key business strategies and priorities.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Reports and communicates market and competitor status regularly to the management team.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Implements effective marketing strategies that achieve improved business outcomes.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Optimizes business processes based on deep insight into various business unit functions.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Evaluates industry and market trends to identify new business opportunities.
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2 Core Competencies – Budgeting
Proficiency Level -3
Skill definition-Applying specific policies, tools and practices to plan and prepare projected revenues, expenses, cash flows, and capital expenditures.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Compiles a list of basic issues and risks for conducting our budget processes.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Applies established guidelines for conducting our budgeting processes.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Communicates budget objectives and plans to help identify financial trends and create budget forecasts.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Anticipates organizational income and expenses to make forecasts and develop budget plans.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Adapts relevant industry trends on techniques in financial budgeting in our organization.
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3 Product Design Director - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Product Design Director
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Product Design Director
Proficiency Level - 5

Summary of Product Design Director skills and competencies

There are 7 hard skills for Product Design Director, Engineering Management, Feasibility Study, Engineering Change Management, etc.
1 general skills for Product Design Director, Product Development.
14 soft skills for Product Design Director, Business Acumen, Budgeting, Planning and Organizing, etc.
While the list totals 22 distinct skills, it's important to note that not all are required to be mastered to the same degree. Some skills may only need a basic understanding, whereas others demand a higher level of expertise.
For instance, as a Product Design Director, he or she needs to be skilled in Business Acumen, be skilled in Budgeting, and be skilled in Planning and Organizing.

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