Design Director

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Director

Company: Verndale LLC

Location: Hybrid (Montreal) / Remote (Canada)

Job Type: Full-Time, Salaried

Category: Experience Design Leadership / Digital Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-06-23

Experience Level: 7-10 Years (with 2-4 years leadership)

Remote Status: Hybrid (Montreal) / Fully Remote (Canada)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic vision and creative execution for digital products, websites, and eCommerce experiences, ensuring alignment with user needs and business objectives.

• Drive the creation and review of comprehensive experience design deliverables, from concept sketches to high-fidelity prototypes and design systems.

• Mentor and guide a team of designers and experience strategists, fostering collaboration, continuous learning, and high-quality output.

• Engage directly with clients and stakeholders, presenting strategic recommendations, facilitating workshops, and building trusted advisory relationships.

• Champion design excellence, consistency, and innovation, while contributing to the continuous evolution of Verndale's Experience Design practice.

• Leverage and evaluate emerging AI technologies to enhance design processes, team efficiency, and client outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior leadership position within the Experience Design practice, requiring a blend of strategic oversight, hands-on design craft, team mentorship, and client-facing responsibilities. The emphasis on AI integration suggests a forward-thinking approach to design operations and delivery.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Creative & Experience Leadership:

  • Lead the end-to-end design process for digital products, websites, and eCommerce platforms, ensuring strategic alignment and user-centered execution.
  • Develop and refine experience strategies informed by user research, analytics, customer insights, and industry best practices.
  • Define visual frameworks, mood boards, design directions, and scalable design systems that uphold brand standards and accessibility.
  • Oversee the creation of key design deliverables including concept sketches, user journeys, information architecture, wireframes, prototypes, personas, and strategic presentation materials.
  • Ensure the translation of complex business requirements into intuitive, user-friendly digital experiences.
  • Champion design quality, consistency, and adherence to accessibility standards (WCAG) across all projects.

• Team Leadership & Mentorship:

  • Provide clear direction, constructive feedback, and ongoing mentorship to designers and experience strategists.
  • Foster a collaborative team environment that encourages knowledge sharing, continuous learning, and professional development.
  • Support performance management by establishing priorities, managing workloads, and facilitating career growth.
  • Lead by example, demonstrating strong design craft, professionalism, accountability, and a commitment to excellence.

• Client & Stakeholder Engagement:

  • Present design work and strategic recommendations confidently to clients and internal stakeholders.
  • Facilitate client workshops, discovery sessions, design reviews, and collaborative working sessions to drive project alignment and innovation.
  • Build and maintain trusted relationships with client teams, acting as a strategic advisor and design thought leader.
  • Clearly articulate design rationale and solutions to diverse audiences, including technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Collaborate closely with Account Management, Research, Strategy, and Technology teams to identify growth opportunities and enhance client outcomes.

• Design Execution & Delivery:

  • Contribute hands-on to the design of digital interfaces and experiences, particularly when strategic or complex challenges arise.
  • Create visually compelling and user-centered designs that balance usability, brand expression, and business objectives.
  • Collaborate closely with developers to ensure seamless design-to-development handoffs and high-quality implementation.
  • Produce well-organized, developer-ready design files, specifications, and assets.
  • Leverage AI-powered design, research, and prototyping tools to accelerate exploration, optimize workflows, and enhance deliverable quality.
  • Evaluate and integrate emerging AI technologies to improve design processes and team efficiency.

• Practice Leadership & Business Development:

  • Participate in business development activities, including contributing to pitches, proposals, RFIs, and RFPs.

  • Contribute to the ongoing development and refinement of Verndale's design methodologies, tools, and best practices.

  • Stay abreast of emerging technologies, design trends, and industry developments to maintain Verndale's competitive edge.

  • Identify opportunities for process innovation and continuous improvement to enhance team effectiveness and delivery quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are clearly segmented into distinct leadership and execution areas, emphasizing a holistic approach to design management. The explicit mention of AI tools and evaluation indicates a focus on modernizing design operations and workflows.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field (e.g., Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Digital Media, Computer Science). Experience:

• 7–10 years of progressive experience in UX, product design, digital experience design, eCommerce, or a closely related discipline.

• 2–4 years of experience in a leadership capacity, specifically guiding, mentoring, or managing design teams and cross-functional project groups. Required Skills:

• Strategic Design Leadership: Proven ability to define experience vision, translate business goals into user-centered strategies, and guide creative direction.

• User Experience (UX) Expertise: Deep understanding of user-centered design methodologies, usability principles, information architecture, user journeys, and user research synthesis.

• Visual Design Excellence: Strong aesthetic sensibility with the ability to create visually compelling, on-brand, and high-fidelity design compositions.

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, design system development, and collaboration.

• AI-Powered Design Tools: Demonstrated ability to effectively use AI tools for design exploration, workflow optimization, content generation, and rapid prototyping. Familiarity with AI-assisted workflows in design.

• Design Systems & Scalability: Experience in developing, implementing, and scaling design systems, component libraries, and style guides.

• Client & Stakeholder Management: Exceptional communication, facilitation, presentation, and storytelling skills with a proven ability to build trust and influence stakeholders.

• Mentorship & Team Development: Experience in leading, mentoring, and coaching design teams, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.

• Web & Digital Experience Design: Hands-on experience designing for websites, digital products, and eCommerce platforms.

• Accessibility Standards: Thorough understanding and practical application of WCAG guidelines and accessible design principles.

Preferred Skills:

• eCommerce Platform Experience: Familiarity or experience designing for enterprise CMS and commerce platforms such as Sitecore, Optimizely, Shopify, Adobe Experience Manager, or similar.

• Front-end Development Concepts: Working knowledge of HTML, CSS, and modern front-end development principles to facilitate effective collaboration with development teams.

• Agency/Consultancy Background: Experience working within an agency, consultancy, or digital product development environment.

• Agile/Scrum Methodologies: Familiarity with agile development processes and how design integrates within them.

• Other Design Tools: Proficiency with other modern design and prototyping tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required experience level and specific tool proficiencies (Figma, AI tools) are critical. The mention of specific platforms like Sitecore and AEM, along with WCAG, points to a need for practical, enterprise-level design experience.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a range of digital design projects, demonstrating strategic thinking, problem-solving, and execution capabilities.

• Evidence of leading design initiatives and influencing project direction.

• Case studies that detail the design process, from initial concept and user research through to final design solutions and impact.

• Examples of user journeys, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs.

• Demonstrations of design systems or style guides developed and applied.

• Projects that highlight effective collaboration with cross-functional teams (e.g., developers, strategists).

• Clear articulation of the candidate's role and contributions within each project. Process Documentation:

• Examples of how strategic thinking is applied to translate business requirements into actionable design plans.

• Demonstrations of user-centered design methodologies and research synthesis into design decisions.

• Showcases of workflow optimization within the design process, particularly leveraging AI tools for efficiency and quality.

• Evidence of design-to-development handoff processes and collaboration with engineering teams.

• Documentation or examples of how design quality, consistency, and accessibility standards are maintained.

• Portfolio pieces that illustrate the development and application of design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is crucial for this role, needing to demonstrate not only design craft but also strategic leadership, process ownership, and the ability to integrate new technologies like AI into the design workflow.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Given the senior level (7-10 years experience with 2-4 years leadership), location (Montreal/Canada), and specialized skills (AI design, eCommerce platforms), a competitive salary range is expected. For a Design Director role in Canada, particularly Montreal, the estimated annual salary range could be CAD $120,000 - $180,000+. This estimation is based on industry benchmarks for senior design leadership roles in major Canadian tech hubs, considering factors like market demand, company size (Verndale was founded in 1998 and is growing), and the specialized nature of the responsibilities including AI integration. Benefits:

• Health & Wellness: Top-of-the-line Health Insurance, generous Paid Sick Time.

• Work-Life Balance: Generous Paid Company Holidays, Vacation time, and support for a healthy work/life balance.

• Professional Growth: Regular training and professional development opportunities to advance careers.

• Flexibility: Fully remote-enabled workplace with options for hybrid work in Montreal or fully remote within Canada.

• Perks: Monthly perks customized to meet individual employee needs.

• Team Environment: Fosters a culture enabling individuals to do their best work.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, typically around 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected to meet project deadlines and client needs. The remote and hybrid nature of the role supports a degree of autonomy in scheduling.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is an estimate based on publicly available data for similar roles in Canada and the specific responsibilities outlined. Benefits are directly extracted from the job description and highlighted for their relevance to a senior professional.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Transformation, Experience Design, Technology Consulting, eCommerce Solutions. Verndale operates at the intersection of technology, data, and design to solve complex business problems for clients.

Company Size: Growing, founded in 1998, indicating a stable yet entrepreneurial spirit. The company emphasizes being "scrappy and entrepreneurial today."

Founded: 1998. This long history suggests a mature organization with established processes, but the emphasis on growth and adaptability implies a dynamic work environment.

Team Structure:

• The Design Director will work closely with other Design Directors, VPs, and cross-functional teams including Account Management, Research, Strategy, and Technology.

• This role involves leading and mentoring a team of designers and experience strategists.

• Collaboration is a key aspect, requiring close partnerships with various departments to ensure comprehensive project success and client satisfaction. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Utilizes research, analytics, and customer insights to inform experience strategies and design decisions.

• User-Centered Approach: Prioritizes user needs and business objectives in the creation of digital experiences.

• Agile & Iterative: Implied through collaboration with development teams and the need for adaptability.

• Process Innovation: Encourages continuous improvement and the adoption of new technologies, including AI, to enhance workflows and outcomes.

Company Website: [Verndale LLC Company URL - Placeholder, as not provided in input]

📝 Enhancement Note: Verndale appears to be a well-established digital agency with a focus on client success and employee growth, blending a startup mentality with the stability of a long-standing company. The emphasis on "doing the best work of their career" and client/employee satisfaction are key cultural indicators.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a senior leadership level within the Experience Design practice. It requires a blend of strategic oversight, team management, client engagement, and hands-on design expertise. The Design Director is expected to be an influential figure in shaping both client solutions and the company's design capabilities.

Reporting Structure: The Design Director will report to senior leadership (likely VPs or similar) and will work in close collaboration with other Design Directors. They will also lead and mentor a team of designers and experience strategists.

Operations Impact: The Design Director's impact is multi-faceted:

• Client Success: Directly influences the quality and effectiveness of digital products and experiences delivered to clients, impacting their business outcomes (e.g., revenue, customer engagement, brand perception).

• Team Development: Shapes the skills and capabilities of the design team, fostering talent and driving design excellence.

• Practice Advancement: Contributes to the evolution of Verndale's design methodologies, tools, and overall service offering, influencing the company's competitive position.

• Business Development: Plays a role in winning new business by contributing expertise to pitches and proposals.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to move into higher executive roles within the design or broader digital strategy functions.

• Specialization & Expertise: Opportunity to deepen expertise in areas like AI integration, specific industry verticals (e.g., eCommerce), or advanced design system architecture.

• Mentorship & Thought Leadership: Develops strong leadership skills and can become a recognized thought leader within the company and industry.

• Strategic Influence: Increased involvement in high-level client strategy and business development initiatives.

• Continuous Learning: Access to regular training and professional development programs to stay at the forefront of design and technology trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential, moving beyond pure design execution to strategic leadership and practice development, with a clear emphasis on continuous learning and impact.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company offers a hybrid model in Montreal and fully remote options across Canada. This suggests a flexible work environment that supports remote collaboration and autonomy.

Office Location(s):

• Hybrid option available in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

• Fully Remote option available for candidates located anywhere in Canada. Workspace Context:

• Remote Collaboration Focus: The role necessitates proficiency in remote collaboration tools and practices, as teams and clients may be distributed.

• Technology-Enabled: Access to modern design and collaboration tools, including AI-powered software, is expected.

• Cross-Functional Interaction: The role involves frequent interaction with various internal teams (Account, Strategy, Research, Technology) and external client teams, requiring adaptability in communication and collaboration styles.

Work Schedule:

• A standard 40-hour work week is typical for a full-time salaried position. However, the nature of client-facing leadership roles in a consultancy environment often requires flexibility to meet project deadlines and client demands. The remote and hybrid options provide flexibility in how and where work is performed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on hybrid/remote work indicates a modern approach to employment, requiring strong self-management and digital collaboration skills from the candidate.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of the resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with the role requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing key projects, their role, strategic thinking, design process, and outcomes. This is a critical stage for evaluating design craft, leadership, and communication.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with other Design Directors, VPs, and potentially leaders from Strategy, Technology, or Account Management teams to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and strategic alignment.

• Case Study/Design Challenge (Potential): May involve a practical exercise or discussion of hypothetical scenarios to assess problem-solving skills, strategic approach, and ability to apply design principles under pressure.

• Final Interview: Likely with senior leadership to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and final alignment with Verndale's vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your leadership, strategic thinking, end-to-end design process, and impact on business/user goals. Include examples of complex digital products, eCommerce, and ideally, projects involving design systems or AI integration.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role and process, key decisions, challenges faced, solutions implemented, and measurable outcomes. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Leadership: Emphasize instances where you led teams, mentored designers, facilitated client workshops, or influenced strategic direction.

• Demonstrate Process: Show your understanding of various design methodologies and how you adapt them to project needs. Include examples of user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and final UI.

• Showcase AI Integration: If possible, include projects where AI tools were used to enhance the design process, efficiency, or outcomes. Be prepared to discuss your approach and learnings.

• Prepare to Present: Practice presenting your portfolio concisely and engagingly, anticipating questions about your design rationale, decision-making, and collaboration.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic Thinking: Be ready to discuss how you approach complex design problems, translate business objectives into design strategies, and prioritize initiatives.

• AI in Design: Prepare to discuss your understanding of AI's role in design, potential applications, ethical considerations, and how you'd integrate it into workflows.

• Client Management: Think about how you handle client feedback, manage expectations, and present design recommendations effectively.

• Team Leadership: Be prepared to discuss your mentorship style and how you foster collaboration and quality within a design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process heavily relies on portfolio demonstration and strategic communication. Candidates must be ready to articulate their process, leadership capabilities, and forward-thinking approach to design, especially regarding AI.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Advanced proficiency in Figma is a requirement. Experience with modern prototyping tools is also expected.

• AI-Powered Design Tools: Proficiency and experience using AI tools for design assistance, workflow optimization, content generation, and rapid prototyping is essential.

• Design Systems: Tools and methodologies for creating and managing design systems and component libraries.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a primary tool, a Design Director must be able to interpret and leverage analytics data to inform design decisions. Familiarity with web analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics) is beneficial. CRM & Automation:

• Experience with enterprise CMS and commerce platforms such as Sitecore, Optimizely, Shopify, or Adobe Experience Manager is highly preferred, indicating a need to understand how designs integrate into these systems. Collaboration & Project Management:

• Proficiency with standard collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom) and project management software (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello) is assumed for remote and hybrid team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma and AI-powered design tools are explicitly highlighted as critical. Experience with specific enterprise platforms like Sitecore and AEM is a significant plus, indicating the type of client projects Verndale handles.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Client Success: A primary metric, indicating a strong focus on delivering value and meeting client objectives through technology, data, and design.

• Relentless Curiosity: A drive to understand and solve complex problems, suggesting an environment that encourages exploration and learning.

• Entrepreneurial Spirit: A "scrappy and entrepreneurial" culture, implying agility, initiative, and a willingness to innovate.

• Excellence & Growth: Fostering a culture where individuals can do their best work and advance their careers through continuous learning and development.

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): Active celebration and championing of DEI, indicating an inclusive and respectful workplace.

• Efficiency & Innovation: Implied through the emphasis on leveraging AI and improving team effectiveness and delivery quality.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Strong emphasis on partnering with Account Management, Research, Strategy, and Technology teams to ensure holistic project success.

• Client-Centric: A collaborative approach with clients, acting as strategic advisors and facilitating workshops.

• Knowledge Sharing: Fostering an environment for continuous learning and sharing best practices among team members.

• Mentorship-Driven: A culture where senior members actively mentor and guide junior team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: Verndale's culture appears to be a blend of client-focused delivery, continuous learning, entrepreneurial drive, and a commitment to inclusivity, all supported by strong cross-functional collaboration.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Strategy and Execution: Effectively managing the dual demands of high-level strategic thinking and hands-on design leadership in a fast-paced agency environment.

• Integrating AI Effectively: Navigating the evolving landscape of AI in design, identifying practical applications, and guiding teams to adopt these tools responsibly and effectively without compromising core design principles or user needs.

• Client Management: Managing diverse client expectations, presenting complex design rationale, and ensuring client satisfaction on challenging projects.

• Team Development: Continuously mentoring and developing a diverse team of designers, ensuring skill growth and high performance across various projects.

• Keeping Pace with Technology: Staying ahead of rapid advancements in design tools, AI, and digital platforms to maintain Verndale's competitive edge.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI in Design Specialization: Deepening expertise in leveraging AI tools and methodologies for design, potentially becoming a subject matter expert within the company.

• Strategic Leadership Growth: Opportunities to take on more significant strategic responsibilities, influence business development, and potentially move into executive leadership roles.

• Industry Best Practices: Continuous exposure to cutting-edge design trends, technologies, and client challenges through project work and professional development.

• Mentorship Pipeline: Developing strong leadership and mentorship skills, contributing to the growth of future design talent.

• Client Relationship Building: Enhancing skills in client advisory and strategic partnership through high-impact projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to senior leadership roles in a dynamic agency setting, particularly with the integration of new technologies like AI. The growth opportunities are substantial, focusing on leadership, specialization, and strategic impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you translated complex business requirements into a user-centered digital experience strategy. What was your process, and what was the outcome?"

  • Preparation: Be ready to walk through a specific project, outlining your strategic framework, research integration, and how user needs informed the final experience. Emphasize your leadership in this process.

• "How do you approach building and scaling a design system? What are the key components and considerations for effective implementation and adoption?"

  • Preparation: Detail your experience with design systems, including their architecture, governance, and how you ensure consistency and efficiency across projects.

• "Given the rapid advancements in AI, how do you see AI impacting the role of a Design Director and the design process? How would you evaluate and integrate AI tools into our practice?"

  • Preparation: Articulate your understanding of AI in design, specific tools you'd consider, potential benefits (efficiency, exploration), and how you'd maintain design quality, user-centricity, and ethical considerations.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to Verndale, and how do your values align with our emphasis on client success, curiosity, and entrepreneurial spirit?"

  • Preparation: Research Verndale's website, case studies, and company values. Connect your past experiences and personal work philosophy to their stated culture.

• "Describe your experience mentoring and leading design teams. How do you foster collaboration, drive quality, and support individual growth?"

  • Preparation: Provide specific examples of your leadership style, how you give feedback, manage team dynamics, and support professional development.

• "How do you ensure accessibility (WCAG) is integrated throughout the design process, from initial concept to final delivery?"

  • Preparation: Be ready to discuss your practical approach to accessibility, specific checks you perform, and how you educate teams and clients on its importance.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure with Impact: Organize your presentation logically: Introduction, Problem/Challenge, Your Role & Process, Key Deliverables (showcasing Figma, AI tools if applicable), Outcomes/Results, and Learnings.

• Quantify Success: Where possible, use metrics to demonstrate the impact of your designs (e.g., conversion rates, user satisfaction scores, efficiency gains).

• Highlight Leadership & Strategy: Clearly delineate your strategic contributions and leadership involvement in each project. Don't just show screens; explain the why behind them.

• Be Conversational: Engage with the interviewers, invite questions throughout, and tailor your narrative to their interests.

• Showcase AI Integration: If you have relevant projects, be prepared to specifically discuss how AI tools were used, the benefits realized, and any challenges encountered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership, a deep understanding of design processes (including AI), and strong communication skills, all backed by a robust portfolio.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Director position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Verndale LLC careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating strategic leadership, end-to-end design process, team mentorship, and experience with enterprise platforms or AI tools, if applicable. Ensure it clearly articulates your role and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize your 7-10 years of design experience and 2-4 years of leadership experience. Use keywords from the job description (e.g., UX, product design, Figma, AI, design systems, eCommerce, WCAG). Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio and be ready to discuss strategic questions related to design leadership, AI integration, client management, and team development. Prepare specific examples from your career.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Verndale LLC, understanding their client work, company culture, and stated values. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewers about the role, team, and company direction, particularly regarding their approach to design innovation and AI.

⚠️ 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.