Director of Design

Summary

Join Gladly as the visionary Director of Design, leading and growing a talented design team. You will be a key strategic partner to Product, Engineering, and Marketing leadership, ensuring design remains central to Gladly's mission. Lead a team of designers, contribute to product and brand strategy, establish design systems, and stay current on industry trends. Oversee user research and drive the evolution of Gladly's brand identity. This role requires 10+ years of design experience, including 4+ years in leadership, a strong portfolio, and exceptional communication skills. Gladly offers competitive salaries, stock options, comprehensive benefits, generous paid time off, parental leave, a fully remote work environment, and a commitment to professional growth.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in design, with at least 4 years in a leadership role, managing and mentoring design teams
• A strong portfolio showcasing a track record of designing and leading the design of successful, user-centered products and impactful marketing campaigns, ideally in the SaaS or enterprise software space
• Exceptional leadership and communication skills, with the ability to inspire, influence, and collaborate effectively with team members and stakeholders at all levels
• A deep understanding of design principles and methodologies, as well as brand strategy and marketing principles
• A strong visual design aesthetic and a keen eye for detail
• Experience building and scaling design systems and working with modern design and prototyping tools
• Experience conducting and interpreting user research and quantitative inputs
• A strategic mindset, ability to connect design choices to broader company strategy and goals, and ability to prioritize for outcomes
• A drive for innovation, creativity, emerging technologies, and pulse on design trends and user behaviors
• Exceptional problem-solving and communication skills, with a collaborative mindset
• The ability to navigate ambiguity and manage multiple priorities effectively
• A willingness to learn and contribute to a fast-paced team fueled by underdog grit and a shared passion for excellence

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of product and brand designers, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous learning
• Contribute to product and brand strategy, often exploring new areas of opportunity
• Establish and maintain design systems, processes, and tools to ensure consistency, efficiency, and scalability across both product and marketing design
• Stay plugged in to industry trends and best practices in both product and brand design, fostering fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the team
• Act as a player-coach, contributing directly to key projects and initiatives, and helping team members bring their best to each project
• Oversee the user research process, ensuring that design decisions are informed by user insights and data, and that brand messaging resonates with our target audience
• Drive the evolution of the Gladly brand identity and its expression across the product, marketing materials, website, and all other touchpoints

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working in companies with very high design standards is a plus

Benefits

• Competitive salaries, stock options, and comprehensive benefits
• Generous paid time off, parental leave, and home office stipends
• A fully remote work environment with opportunities for in-person team gatherings
• A strong commitment to professional growth and an inclusive workplace where diverse perspectives thrive