Design Director

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Director

Company: Jobgether (on behalf of a partner company)

Location: Austria

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Design Leadership / Operations (GTM Enablement)

Date Posted: May 21, 2026

Experience Level: Senior / Director (10+ years implied)

Remote Status: Remote OK (within compatible time zones)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and mentor design teams to achieve exceptional product, UX, and visual design outcomes across a portfolio of complex digital products.

• Drive strategic alignment between design execution, product roadmaps, and overarching business objectives to ensure maximum market impact.

• Cultivate a robust design culture, fostering inclusivity, high performance, and continuous learning within the design talent pool.

• Act as a key design advisor to clients, shaping design direction and managing feedback loops to ensure successful project delivery and client satisfaction.

• Champion innovative design methodologies, including service design and systems thinking, to deliver scalable and impactful user-centered solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Design Director," the responsibilities heavily emphasize strategic alignment, client advisory, and team development, which are critical functions within Go-To-Market (GTM) Operations and Revenue Operations. This role requires not just design execution but also the operational rigor to ensure design efforts directly support business goals and drive revenue. The "globally distributed environment" and "partner company" aspect suggests a need for strong process management and cross-functional collaboration skills, akin to those found in operations roles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Directly lead and contribute to the hands-on execution of product, UX, and visual design work, ensuring the highest standards of quality and consistency across multiple projects.

• Define, communicate, and uphold rigorous design excellence standards, providing constructive critique and clear direction to elevate team output.

• Serve as a trusted design advisor to clients, adeptly presenting work, managing feedback, and strategically shaping design direction in alignment with their business objectives.

• Ensure design decisions are tightly integrated with product strategy, supporting product roadmaps, market positioning, and evolving user needs.

• Collaborate closely with business development teams to accurately scope engagements, identify opportunities for organic growth, and nurture client relationships.

• Actively participate in the hiring, mentoring, and professional development of designers, fostering an inclusive environment that promotes high performance and innovation.

• Champion the adoption of service design, change management, and systems thinking principles to ensure the long-term scalability and impact of design initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "partner company," "clients," "business development teams," and "strategic goals" indicates this role requires strong GTM operational thinking. The Director will need to translate design vision into actionable plans that align with sales and marketing objectives, manage stakeholder expectations, and demonstrate the ROI of design investments.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• A minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in design, with a significant portion dedicated to leading and mentoring design teams within complex product environments.

Required Skills:

• Design Leadership & Team Management: Proven experience in leading, mentoring, and developing design teams, fostering a culture of excellence and high performance.

• UX & Product Design Expertise: Deep understanding of user research, strategy, interaction design, and end-to-end product delivery principles.

• Visual Design Acumen: Strong aesthetic sensibility with a keen awareness of modern design trends, tools, and emerging technologies.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with product managers, engineers, marketing, sales, and business stakeholders.

• Strategic Thinking & Alignment: Capacity to translate business goals into design strategies and ensure design efforts support product roadmaps and market positioning.

• Communication & Storytelling: Exceptional ability to articulate design rationale, influence stakeholders, and present work compellingly.

• Service Design & Systems Thinking: Understanding of principles for creating holistic and scalable user experiences.

• Research & Validation: Proficiency in using qualitative and quantitative research methods to inform and validate design decisions.

• Ambiguity Navigation: Ability to thrive in uncertain environments, balancing strategic vision with hands-on execution.

• Inclusive Design Practices: Commitment to designing for diversity, equity, and accessibility.

Preferred Skills:

• Community Engagement: Active participation in the design community through thought leadership, writing, or speaking.

• Business Development Support: Experience in scoping design engagements and identifying growth opportunities.

• Change Management: Familiarity with principles and practices of organizational change.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "10+" implied experience level for a Director role necessitates a deep understanding of operations principles, even within a design context. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how design strategy directly impacts GTM efficiency, customer acquisition, and retention – key metrics for revenue operations. The preference for community engagement suggests a forward-thinking organization valuing external perspective and thought leadership, which can be leveraged in GTM strategy.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design Strategy & Execution: Showcase a minimum of 2-3 significant projects demonstrating your ability to lead design strategy from conception to launch, detailing the challenges, your approach, and the measurable outcomes.

• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Include examples of how you've mentored designers, improved team processes, or fostered a collaborative design environment.

• Client Engagement & Influence: Present case studies where you've acted as a client advisor, demonstrating your ability to manage feedback, influence stakeholders, and align design with business goals.

• Impact & ROI Demonstration: Clearly articulate the business impact of your design work, quantifying improvements in user engagement, conversion rates, customer satisfaction, or other relevant business metrics.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Portfolio pieces should illustrate your process for defining and optimizing design workflows, from initial research and ideation to final delivery and iteration.

• Systemic Approach: Demonstrate how you've applied systems thinking or service design to create cohesive and scalable user journeys across multiple touchpoints.

• Collaboration & Feedback Integration: Highlight processes for cross-functional collaboration and how you integrate feedback from product, engineering, and business stakeholders.

• Quality Assurance & Standards: Showcase your methods for defining and maintaining design quality standards throughout the design and development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Director-level role in a "partner company" setting, the portfolio must go beyond aesthetics. It needs to demonstrate operational excellence in managing design projects, teams, and client expectations. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how their design processes contribute to GTM efficiency and revenue generation, mirroring the analytical and process-oriented approach expected in Revenue Operations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Remote-Friendly Work Environment: Flexibility to work remotely across compatible time zones (PST to BRT), enabling better work-life integration.

• High-Impact Project Leadership: Opportunity to lead significant global design projects that shape products, markets, and user experiences.

• Design Autonomy & Ownership: Strong control over design vision, team development strategies, and creative direction.

• Collaborative & Mission-Driven Culture: Work within a team focused on achieving excellence through continuous learning and shared purpose.

• Global Client Interaction: Direct engagement with global clients and senior stakeholders on strategic initiatives.

• Professional Development Support: Resources and opportunities for career advancement, leadership training, and community engagement.

• Inclusive Workplace: Commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and belonging in all aspects of work.

• Potential for Performance Bonuses: Common for leadership roles, tied to project success and business outcomes.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week. However, the remote-friendly nature and global distribution of teams may offer some flexibility in scheduling, provided core collaboration hours and project deadlines are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate for Austria. The benefits listed are directly from the job description, emphasizing aspects attractive to senior professionals, particularly the autonomy and growth opportunities relevant to operations leaders. The mention of "partner company" and "global clients" suggests potential for performance-based incentives tied to client success and business growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Digital Product Development / Design Services (implied by "partner company" and digital product focus).

Company Size: Undisclosed, but the distributed nature and client portfolio suggest a medium to large organization or a specialized consultancy.

Founded: Undisclosed. The mention of "partner company" suggests Jobgether is an intermediary, and the actual hiring company's founding date would provide historical context.

Team Structure:

• Design Team: You will lead and mentor a team of designers, likely with varying specializations in UX, UI, and product design.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role necessitates close partnership with Product Management, Engineering, Business Development, and potentially Sales and Marketing teams within the partner company.

• Client Engagement Model: The structure involves direct client interaction, suggesting a consulting or agency-like model where design leadership is client-facing and strategic.

Methodology:

• User-Centred Design: A fundamental approach, ensuring all design decisions are informed by user needs and research.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasis on using qualitative and quantitative research to validate design choices and measure impact.

• Agile & Iterative Development: Implied by the need to work with product and engineering teams on complex digital products.

• Strategic Alignment: A core methodology of ensuring design efforts directly support business objectives and product roadmaps.

• Service Design & Systems Thinking: Integration of these methodologies to ensure holistic and scalable solutions.

Company Website: [Jobgether Website: https://jobgether.com/ - Partner Company Website is not specified]

📝 Enhancement Note: The "partner company" aspect is key. This role operates within a client-facing framework, requiring the Design Director to understand and align with the partner company's operational model for client delivery, as well as the client's strategic business objectives. This mirrors the challenges faced by GTM Operations in ensuring alignment across multiple internal departments and external partners.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Director-level position, signifying a senior leadership role responsible for strategic direction, team management, and significant impact on product and business outcomes. In a GTM Operations context, this aligns with a senior manager or director role focused on driving design excellence that directly supports sales and marketing effectiveness.

Reporting Structure:

• The Design Director will likely report to a senior executive within the partner company, such as a Head of Product, Chief Product Officer (CPO), or potentially a VP of Design or a Managing Director if it's a consultancy.

Operations Impact:

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow into a VP-level role, overseeing larger design functions or multiple product lines.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the overall design strategy and operational processes for the partner company and its clients.

• Mentorship & Talent Development: Deepen expertise in nurturing design talent and building high-performing teams.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Develop broader business acumen by collaborating closely with sales, marketing, and product leadership.

• Specialization: Further develop expertise in areas like service design, design systems, or leading design for specific industries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Design Director" title, coupled with the emphasis on client advisory and business alignment, positions this role as having significant operational influence. Candidates should frame their experience in terms of driving business outcomes through design, akin to how RevOps or Sales Ops leaders demonstrate ROI. The growth path highlights opportunities for broader strategic and operational leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job description mentions a "remote-friendly work environment across compatible time zones (PST to BRT)." This suggests that while there might be a physical headquarters for the partner company, this role is designed to be performed remotely. Collaboration will primarily occur through digital channels.

Office Location(s): While the role is based in Austria, the remote-friendly aspect and the broad time zone compatibility (PST to BRT) suggest that the partner company operates globally. Specific office locations for the partner company are not detailed but may exist in various regions.

Workspace Context:

• Digital Collaboration: Expect a heavily digital workspace, relying on video conferencing, instant messaging, and collaborative design/project management tools.

• Global Team Interaction: Opportunities to connect with diverse teams and clients across different geographical locations and cultures.

• Independent Work Environment: Requires self-discipline and effective time management to succeed in a remote setting.

• Access to Tools: Will likely have access to industry-standard design software, project management platforms, and communication tools.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approx. 40/week) are expected.

• Flexibility in scheduling may be available, but candidates must be available for critical meetings, client interactions, and cross-team collaboration within the specified time zone range (PST to BRT). This requires careful planning to manage project deadlines and team synchronization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "remote-friendly" aspect and broad time zone compatibility (PST to BRT) are critical operational considerations. This suggests the partner company has mature remote work policies and infrastructure. Candidates should highlight their experience with asynchronous communication, remote team management, and cross-time-zone collaboration, which are vital for GTM operations in global organizations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening (Jobgether): AI-powered matching and initial review by Jobgether to assess core requirements.

• Partner Company Screening: Review of shortlisted candidates by the hiring partner company.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: Expect a practical exercise to assess design skills, strategic thinking, and problem-solving abilities. This might involve critiquing an existing design, proposing a solution for a hypothetical problem, or presenting a design strategy.

• Team & Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with potential peers, direct reports, and key stakeholders (Product, Engineering, Business Development) to evaluate collaboration style, leadership potential, and cultural fit.

• Director-Level/Executive Interview: Final interview with senior leadership to discuss strategic vision, leadership philosophy, and overall fit for the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the business problem, your strategic approach, your specific role, the design solutions, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., increased conversion, user satisfaction, market share). Quantify wherever possible.

• Showcase Leadership: Include examples of mentoring, team building, process improvement, and how you’ve elevated the design function.

• Client Engagement Examples: Detail how you've managed client relationships, presented work, and influenced design direction to meet business objectives.

• Process Clarity: Be ready to walk through your design process, highlighting how you integrate research, collaboration, and iteration.

• Tailor to GTM: If possible, highlight projects where design directly supported sales, marketing, or customer success initiatives, demonstrating an understanding of GTM operations.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Partner Company: Research the partner company's business model, target markets, and typical client challenges.

• Design Strategy Articulation: Prepare to discuss your approach to developing and communicating design strategies that align with business goals.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Be ready to tackle hypothetical design challenges, focusing on your thought process, methodology, and how you would involve stakeholders.

• Leadership & Mentorship Examples: Prepare specific anecdotes demonstrating your ability to lead, mentor, and foster a positive design culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI screening by Jobgether and then partner company review highlights the operational efficiency in their hiring process. Portfolio review tips are geared towards demonstrating not just design skill but also the operational rigor and business impact expected in a leadership role connected to GTM.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, XD), InVision, Axure.

• User Research & Testing: UserTesting.com, Maze, Hotjar, SurveyMonkey, Lookback.

• Project Management & Collaboration: Jira, Asana, Trello, Monday.com, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Confluence.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics.

• Product Analytics: Amplitude, Mixpanel, Pendo.

• BI Tools (for understanding business impact): Tableau, Power BI, Looker (familiarity may be beneficial).

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM/Automation role, understanding how design impacts these systems is crucial. Familiarity with CRM principles (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and marketing automation concepts can be advantageous for aligning design with sales and marketing funnels.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in industry-standard design tools is a given. However, for a Director role influencing GTM, familiarity with product analytics and an understanding of how design impacts CRM and sales/marketing automation workflows are highly relevant operational skills. This indicates a need for a design leader who thinks beyond the UI to the broader business impact.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence & High Performance: A drive to achieve the highest standards in design execution and team output.

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs as the foundation for all design decisions.

• Collaboration & Inclusivity: Fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and teams work together effectively.

• Continuous Learning & Growth: A culture that encourages ongoing skill development, knowledge sharing, and adaptation to new trends.

• Strategic Impact: Valuing design's contribution to business success, market positioning, and client outcomes.

• Ambiguity Navigation: Comfort and capability in operating and making decisions in uncertain or evolving environments.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Partnership: Emphasis on building strong working relationships with Product, Engineering, Business Development, and client teams.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging constructive critique and open communication to improve design quality and team dynamics.

• Mentorship & Development: A collaborative approach to supporting the growth and career progression of team members.

• Client-Focused: Working collaboratively with clients to understand their needs and co-create solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize operational excellence, strategic alignment, and collaborative execution, all critical for a GTM-focused role. The "partner company" context implies a need for adaptable collaboration styles to integrate with different client cultures and internal teams.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Strategic Vision with Execution: Effectively setting a high-level design direction while ensuring hands-on execution and quality across multiple projects and team members.

• Managing Ambiguity: Navigating unclear project scopes, evolving client needs, and dynamic market conditions.

• Cross-Time Zone Collaboration: Ensuring seamless communication and collaboration with globally distributed teams and clients.

• Demonstrating Design ROI: Quantifying the business impact of design initiatives to stakeholders who may not have a design background.

• Nurturing Talent: Developing and retaining high-performing designers within a competitive landscape.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Leadership: Access to training and mentorship focused on executive leadership, strategic planning, and organizational development.

• Business Acumen Enhancement: Opportunities to deepen understanding of sales, marketing, product strategy, and financial metrics through cross-functional collaboration.

• Industry Trends & Innovation: Staying abreast of emerging design technologies, methodologies, and market shifts.

• Client Relationship Management: Developing advanced skills in client advisory, negotiation, and strategic partnership building.

• Building Design Systems at Scale: Gaining experience in implementing and managing complex design systems for large-scale products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities are framed to highlight the operational aspects of design leadership. Candidates should prepare to discuss how they overcome these challenges using robust processes and strategic thinking, aligning with GTM operations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How do you ensure design strategy directly supports and drives key business objectives, such as revenue growth or market share?" (Focus on GTM alignment, metrics, ROI).

• "Describe a time you had to influence senior stakeholders or clients who were resistant to design recommendations. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on communication, negotiation, and strategic persuasion).

• "How do you foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within a design team, especially in a remote or distributed setting?" (Focus on team management, process, and operational efficiency).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working with a partner company model, and how would you adapt your leadership style to different client environments?" (Focus on adaptability, client management, and understanding of external partnerships).

• "How do you define and measure 'design excellence' within a team and for specific projects?" (Focus on standards, metrics, and quality control).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio around key projects, clearly stating the problem, your role, the strategic approach, the solution, and the quantifiable results.

• Narrative is Key: Tell a compelling story for each project, highlighting your thought process, decision-making, and leadership contributions.

• Quantify Everything: Use data and metrics to demonstrate the business impact of your design work. Connect design outcomes to revenue, efficiency, or user adoption.

• Highlight Operational Rigor: Showcase your processes for project management, collaboration, and quality assurance within your case studies.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your process, decisions, and the impact of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions are designed to probe strategic thinking, operational execution, and GTM alignment. Candidates should prepare to articulate their design leadership through the lens of business impact and operational efficiency, not just creative output.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-aligned design position:

• Submit your application through the Jobgether platform.

• Tailor Your Resume: Emphasize leadership experience, strategic thinking, cross-functional collaboration, and quantifiable achievements related to product success and business outcomes. Integrate keywords like "GTM alignment," "revenue impact," "process optimization," and "stakeholder management."

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select projects that best demonstrate your ability to lead design strategy, manage teams, influence stakeholders, and drive measurable business results. Focus on showcasing your operational approach to design execution.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your leadership philosophy, your approach to fostering design culture, and how your design decisions contribute to business objectives during interviews. Practice presenting your portfolio with a focus on impact and process.

• Research the Partner Company: If possible, research the partner company's industry, clients, and recent work to understand their business context and tailor your responses accordingly.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

---