Job Description: Head of Design / UX Lead

Overview

A fast-growing product organization is seeking a Head of Design / UX Lead to drive the full user experience strategy across a suite of mobile and web-based learning products powered by AI and coaching technology. This is the most senior design role in the company, responsible for owning the UX vision, leading cross-functional product design decisions, and managing a growing team of designers.

The ideal candidate is both a strategic thinker and a hands-on design leader who can translate user needs into exceptional product experiences while fostering a culture of excellence within the design team.

This position reports directly to the CTO and partners closely with Product Management, Engineering, and Data leadership.

Key Responsibilities

1. UX Strategy & Experience Leadership

• Define the long-term UX vision and experience strategy across all consumer and enterprise-facing products.
• Establish design principles, guidelines, and UX frameworks that ensure consistency and scalability.
• Translate complex user needs into clear, intuitive, and engaging end-to-end experiences.
• Leverage qualitative research, behavioral insights, and quantitative data to drive design decisions.
• Maintain a high-quality, cohesive experience across AI conversation, coaching workflows, onboarding, motivation systems, and other key product touchpoints.

2. Product Development & Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Product, Engineering, and Data leadership to shape product direction and feature prioritization.
• Lead UX for high-impact features and core user journeys, from ideation to launch.
• Create user flows, prototypes, interaction patterns, and design specifications that guide cross-functional alignment.
• Ensure UX considerations are integrated into product planning, sprint processes, and roadmap discussions.
• Champion design thinking and user-centered methodologies across teams.

3. Design Team Leadership & Management

• Directly manage, mentor, and support a team of UI/UX and visual designers.
• Conduct regular design reviews, ensuring the team maintains a high bar for usability and quality.
• Build and refine processes for collaboration, critiques, documentation, and knowledge sharing.
• Support hiring, onboarding, performance development, and long-term growth of design talent.
• Foster a culture of creativity, open communication, autonomy, and continuous improvement.

4. Hands-On Design Execution

• Lead hands-on design work for complex, strategic, or cross-functional initiatives.
• Produce wireframes, interaction models, prototypes, and polished UI when appropriate.
• Guide designers on UX patterns, user psychology, and experience problem-solving.
• Ensure the final output delivered by the team meets functional and experiential standards.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of UX design experience with mobile apps or consumer-facing web products.
• Proven track record leading major UX initiatives in collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating interaction design, system-level thinking, and measurable product impact.
• Experience influencing product decisions, driving UX strategy, and improving key user metrics.
• Prior experience mentoring designers or leading small design teams.
• Effective communication skills, especially within cross-functional, multicultural teams.
• Ability to articulate design rationale using clear frameworks and user insights.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing engagement-driven experiences (e.g., gamification, behavioral design, retention systems).
• Experience in fast-paced environments such as startups or 0→1 product creation.
• Prior leadership of a growing design team or design organization.
• Familiarity with EdTech, coaching, or language-learning products.
• Comfort working with AI-integrated or adaptive learning systems.

Tools & Workflow

• Figma (primary design tool)
• Sketch
• Zeplin
• InVision
  (Team is transitioning toward a unified Figma-first environment.)

Ideal Candidate Attributes

• Thinks holistically about the full user journey, not just individual screens or features.
• Balances strategic product thinking with hands-on design execution.
• Comfortable working with incomplete data and making decisions with conviction.
• Able to navigate ambiguity while setting clear direction for the team.
• Passionate about building experiences that drive learning, motivation, and behavior change.
• Brings emotional intelligence, curiosity, and leadership presence.

Benefits & Work Style

Flexible Work Arrangements

• Flextime schedule with a midday core working period.
• Hybrid work environment (typically once a week or similar office cadence).
• Option to work remotely from abroad for up to three months per year.
• Flexible scheduling to accommodate childcare, family responsibilities, or personal needs.

Paid Time Off & Leaves

• Paid annual leave starting after probation period.
• Additional onboarding leave provided during the first year.
• Sabbatical leave of one to three months available after two years of service.
• Founding Day holiday and flexible holiday/weekday substitution system.

Learning & Skill Development

• Free access to internal learning applications and coaching programs.
• Full reimbursement for language proficiency exams (multiple times per year).
• Monthly book purchase allowance for professional development.
• Monthly subsidy to support in-person connection and meetups.

Family Support

• Babysitter subsidy program aligned with national childcare support initiatives.
• Flexibility for school pickups, drop-offs, or family-related appointments.

Global & Administrative Support

• Visa issuance and renewal assistance for international employees.
• Culturally diverse, globally distributed team environment.