- Company Name
- Variate
- Job Title
- Design Director (Remote, US-Based, EST Collaboration)
- Job Description
-
Job title: Design Director
Role Summary:
Lead and scale a remote design team to create high‑impact digital experiences for enterprise clients. Own end‑to‑end design strategy, mentor 2–6 designers, and partner with leadership and clients to deliver measurable business outcomes.
Expectations:
• 8+ years of design experience, 3+ in leadership.
• Proven ability to manage client relationships and deliver on scope, budget, and quality.
• Expertise in AI integration within design systems.
• Strong communication, coaching, and accountability skills.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Define and drive design vision for major programs from discovery to delivery, ensuring alignment with business and customer goals.
2. Mentor and develop designers through regular 1:1s, feedback, and growth plans.
3. Serve as primary creative partner for 1–2 active client programs, maintaining white‑glove service and partnership.
4. Review, refine, and approve design output for clarity, consistency, and impact.
5. Collaborate cross‑functionally with strategy, research, and development to translate vision into execution.
6. Foster a culture of speed, precision, and proof‑driven design while holding designers accountable.
7. Lead AI adoption—build custom GPTs, workflows, and tools to enhance creativity and efficiency.
8. Train designers on responsible AI usage and set industry‑leading standards.
9. Evaluate emerging technologies and establish best practices to keep the organization at the forefront of design innovation.
Required Skills:
- Leadership: coaching, inspiring, managing small teams, stakeholder management.
- Design Expertise: UX, product, interaction design, design systems, scalable workflows, Figma.
- Strategic Thinking: user research, content strategy, design‑driven business growth.
- Client Partnership: executive-level collaboration, managing complex relationships.
- Operational: balancing creative ambition with deadlines, resources, and metrics.
- AI & Tech: integrating GPT and AI tools into design workflows, building custom solutions.
- Thought Leadership: clear perspective on AI’s role in design, ability to influence and teach.
Required Education & Certifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Design, Human‑Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or related field (or equivalent experience).
- No mandatory certifications required, but certifications in UX, product design, or AI technologies are a plus.