Head of Design

📋 Description

• Formulate and implement a comprehensive design strategy that aligns with business goals and technical limitations

• Collaborate closely with Product, Engineering, and Executive teams to ensure design integration in all strategic choices

• Consider the architectural impact of design decisions on the overall product ecosystem

• Establish, guide, and manage a top-tier design team in a dynamic, early-stage setting

• Cultivate design talent through structured career growth frameworks and a culture of continuous learning and excellence

• Promote a mindset of systems thinking and principled decision-making within the design department

• Drive design operations and processes to enhance speed, consistency, and collaboration

• Organize and lead design critiques, workshops, and cross-functional discussions to promote clarity and alignment among stakeholders

• Navigate organizational changes and introduce new design methodologies while maintaining existing workflows

• Ensure design deliverables meet quality standards while adhering to startup pace

• Develop and implement scalable design systems, components, and patterns that grow with the product

• Balance ideal design solutions with practical constraints such as technical debt, timelines, and business requirements

• Anticipate design obstacles and guide the team towards coherent, forward-looking solutions

• Clearly communicate complex design concepts to executives, product managers, and engineers

⛳️ Requirements

• Minimum of 8 years of design experience with at least 4 years in senior design leadership roles

• Strong background in SaaS or fintech products, with a deep understanding of complex user workflows

• Experience in building and scaling design teams in startup environments (Series A-C preferred)

• Technical background preferred - ideally transitioning from engineering to design with insight into product development

• Ability to design interconnected systems beyond individual screens to evolve over time

• Profound understanding of how design intersects with engineering, product, data, and business strategy

• Strong design principles balanced with flexible adaptability when constraints demand compromises

• Skill in identifying design, behavioral, and organizational patterns to anticipate and resolve issues proactively

• Proven track record in developing design talent and enhancing team capabilities

• Proficient in structuring discussions to clarify complexity and drive teams towards aligned decisions

• Competent in introducing new systems and methods into existing organizational structures

• Deep concern for the delivery of design, not just the concept

• Ability to explain intricate design systems and decisions accurately to executives, PMs, engineers, and designers

• Comfortable with uncertainty and rapid iteration in startup environments, with a keen sense of when to move quickly versus advocating for design quality

• Customer-focused - ensuring all systems decisions are rooted in real user needs and behaviors

• Experience with integrating user research and data-driven design decisions

• Strong viewpoints on user experience supported by evidence and clear rationale

🏝️ Benefits

• Competitive base pay and significant equity

• 100% coverage for employee health, dental, and vision plans (varies in U.S. & Canada)

• 10 observed holidays and flexible PTO policy for rejuvenation

• $1000 budget for a home office setup

• $2400 budget for co-working spaces to collaborate with colleagues

• $600 budget for learning and development opportunities

• 401K plan for future savings

• And much more