Design Manager, Advisor Experience

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Manager, Advisor Experience

Company: Thrivent

Location: Mpls-Corporate Center, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Design Operations / UX Operations

Date Posted: September 17, 2025

Experience Level: Mid-Senior to Senior Level (8+ years, with 3+ years management)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and manage a high-performing, cross-disciplinary team of UI/UX designers, content specialists, and UX researchers within the Digital Advisor Experience team.

• Drive operational excellence by developing and implementing best-in-class design processes and approaches to tackle complex, undefined problem spaces.

• Champion user-centered design principles, influencing product strategy and roadmap prioritization to deliver industry-leading experiences that align with enterprise objectives.

• Foster a collaborative environment, effectively communicating design rationale through storytelling and building strong, long-term relationships with cross-functional peers and stakeholders across the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a product operating model, suggesting a focus on Agile methodologies and close integration with Product Management and Engineering. The emphasis on "Advisor Experience" within a financial services context (Thrivent) indicates a need for deep understanding of user needs in a professional/B2B client-facing environment, translating to operational considerations around compliance, data security, and advisor productivity.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Directly manage, mentor, and develop a team of 5-8 designers, UX writers, and UX researchers, including capacity planning, talent management, and performance reviews.

• Establish and refine operational infrastructure for a high-performing design team, aligning with Thrivent's product operating model and driving enterprise priorities.

• Lead the problem-framing process for new and existing digital products, taking a holistic view of the user experience to identify and deliver quality solutions.

• Communicate design strategies, rationale, and user insights effectively to all levels of the organization, building trust and buy-in from partners and stakeholders.

• Prioritize team efforts and resource allocation based on impact and success metrics, systematically cutting low-return activities to focus on high-value initiatives.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineering leads, and Business Owners to align on product strategy, prioritize roadmaps, and identify high-impact opportunities for the advisor experience.

• Recruit, hire, and develop talent, fostering a culture of shared accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

• Champion Thrivent's purpose, promise, and values, ensuring the design team's work upholds the company's reputation and commitment to clients.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of people management, strategic design leadership, and operational process development. The emphasis on "managing a team like a business owner" suggests a need for strong financial acumen and prioritization skills within the operations context of resource allocation and ROI.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 8+ years of experience in user experience, interaction design, product design, and research within a product development team.

• Minimum of 3 years of direct managerial experience, leading design or UX teams.

• Proven experience collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams (Engineering, Product, Business Owners) to prioritize work and identify high-impact opportunities.

• Demonstrated ability to manage a team like a business owner, making trade-off and prioritization decisions regarding resource allocation (skill sets and quantity).

Required Skills:

• Team Leadership & Management: Proven ability to motivate, inspire, and organize a team to deliver portfolio goals and drive operational excellence. Expertise in talent management, including recruiting, hiring, and professional development.

• User Experience Strategy & Design: Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, problem-framing, and delivering industry-leading experiences. Proficiency in interaction design, UI/UX design, and UX research methodologies.

• Communication & Stakeholder Management: Excellent communication, persuasion, and storytelling skills to build trust and establish long-term relationships with partners and stakeholders at all organizational levels.

• Process Development & Optimization: Strategic mindset with the ability to develop and implement best-in-class processes and approaches for tackling design problems and driving change within the organization.

• Prioritization & Impact Measurement: Ability to understand and utilize impact and success metrics to focus and reprioritize design efforts for maximum business impact.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Strong ability to collaborate with peers across different enterprise functions, ensuring alignment and fostering strong working relationships.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing within the Salesforce ecosystem and utilizing the Salesforce Lightning Design System (SLDS), including relevant certifications.

• Experience designing user experiences for financial advisors in wealth management and/or financial advisor practice management environments.

• Strategic design thinking capabilities, with the ability to contribute to the overall design strategy of the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required experience level and managerial component suggest this role is critical for establishing and scaling design operations within the product group. The preferred skills in Salesforce and financial advisor experience point to a specialized domain knowledge that would be highly advantageous.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a track record of successfully leading and managing design teams to deliver impactful digital experiences.

• Showcase examples of developing and implementing design processes, workflows, or operational improvements that enhanced team efficiency and output.

• Present case studies that highlight strategic problem-framing, user-centered design solutions, and the measurable impact on business objectives or user satisfaction.

• Include examples of how you've managed team capacity, allocated resources effectively, and prioritized design initiatives based on business value and strategic alignment.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates are expected to articulate their approach to establishing and refining design team operations, including processes for:

  • Capacity planning and resource allocation.

  • Workflow management and prioritization within an Agile framework.

  • Implementing and iterating on design systems.

  • Conducting UX research and integrating insights into the product lifecycle.

  • Measuring and reporting on design impact and success metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: While a traditional design portfolio is expected, this role emphasizes the management of design processes and teams. Therefore, a portfolio that demonstrates leadership in operationalizing design, managing team performance, and driving strategic outcomes will be more impactful than a purely individual contributor design showcase.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $136,721.00 - $184,976.00 per year (This is a stated range and actual offer may vary based on factors like location, experience, skills, and business needs).

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options.

• Retirement savings plans: 401k with company contributions and a Pension plan.

• Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance.

• Disability insurance (short-term and long-term).

• Supplemental protection insurance options.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO): 20 days annually.

• Sick and Safe Time.

• 10 paid company holidays.

• Paid Volunteer Time Off.

• Paid parental leave.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental and emotional well-being.

Working Hours:

• Standard 40-hour work week, typical for full-time roles. Flexibility may be available, but the role is on-site, implying adherence to office hours and collaborative team schedules.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Design Manager role with significant leadership and operational responsibilities in a major metropolitan area like Minneapolis. The comprehensive benefits package reflects Thrivent's commitment to employee well-being and long-term financial security, which can be a significant draw for operations professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services / Insurance (specifically, serving Christian financial needs).

Company Size: Thrivent is a large organization. While exact employee numbers aren't provided in the raw data, typical for a company of its nature, it would likely range from several thousand to tens of thousands of employees globally. This size implies structured processes, established hierarchies, and opportunities for cross-functional collaboration at scale.

Founded: Thrivent has a long history, founded in 1902. This longevity suggests a stable, values-driven organization with a strong foundation and established practices, which can influence the pace of change and adoption of new operational methodologies.

Team Structure:

• The Design Manager will lead a cross-functional team of 5-8 individuals, comprising UI/UX Designers, UX Writers, and UX Researchers, specializing in the Digital Advisor Experience.

• This team operates within the "Incentive and Practice Growth" product group, indicating a focus on tools and programs that support financial advisors in growing their practices and client base.

Methodology:

• The team operates within a "product operating model," implying an Agile or Lean approach to product development.

• Emphasis is placed on "best-in-class methods" for design problem-solving, suggesting a commitment to modern UX practices and continuous improvement.

• There's a clear focus on "impact and success metrics" to guide prioritization and demonstrate value, a core tenet of effective operations management.

Company Website: https://www.thrivent.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Thrivent's mission-driven nature (serving Christian financial needs) suggests a culture that may value purpose, integrity, and a client-first approach. For an operations manager, this means understanding how to align efficiency and process improvements with these core values and ensuring the advisor experience reflects them.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a management position, typically considered a mid-to-senior level leadership role within a design or operations function. It requires significant experience in both individual contributor design roles and team leadership.

Reporting Structure: The Design Manager will likely report to a Director or Senior Director of Product Design, UX, or Digital Experience, within the broader Digital Advisor Experience or Incentive and Practice Growth product group. They will manage a team of individual contributors.

Operations Impact: The Design Manager's impact is crucial for the success of the Digital Advisor Experience. By leading the design team, they directly influence the tools and platforms advisors use, which in turn affects advisor productivity, client satisfaction, and ultimately, Thrivent's business growth and revenue. Effective design operations ensure that the team can efficiently deliver high-quality, user-centric solutions that meet business objectives.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to advance into Director-level roles, overseeing larger design functions or multiple product groups, with increased strategic responsibility.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in financial advisor technology, product strategy, or specific areas of UX operations and process management.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Potential to move into broader product management or operational leadership roles, leveraging their understanding of design's impact on the business.

• Mentorship & Development: Opportunity to mentor and develop a team, building strong leadership skills and contributing to the growth of talent within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for career progression within a large financial services organization. The emphasis on operationalizing design and managing a team like a business owner positions the candidate for broader operational leadership roles beyond pure design management.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The location "Mpls-Corporate Center" suggests a corporate office environment, likely a modern, well-equipped facility designed for collaboration and focused work.

Office Location(s): Mpls-Corporate Center, United States. This implies an on-site work arrangement, requiring the manager and their team to be present at this location.

Workspace Context:

• Expect a collaborative workspace designed to foster interaction between design, product, and engineering teams.

• Access to standard corporate technology, software, and potentially specialized design tools and resources.

• Opportunities for regular team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional alignment discussions.

Work Schedule:

• While the core is a 40-hour work week, the nature of managing a team and product roadmaps may require some flexibility to meet deadlines or support critical initiatives. However, as an on-site role, adherence to standard business hours is generally expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is key for this role. It suggests that in-person collaboration, team cohesion, and direct management oversight are highly valued for this position. Operations professionals should consider their preference for on-site versus remote work when evaluating this opportunity.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and salary expectations.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Focus on leadership experience, team management philosophy, strategic thinking, and operational approach to design. Expect questions about how you've managed teams, driven process improvements, and handled prioritization challenges.

• Design/Product Team Interview: Likely a panel interview with peer design leaders, Product Managers, and potentially Engineering leads. This will delve into your design process, collaboration style, and ability to influence cross-functional partners.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where you will present your work, focusing on leadership in managing design teams, developing processes, and driving strategic outcomes. Be prepared to discuss team dynamics, operational challenges overcome, and the impact of your leadership.

• Executive/Senior Leader Interview: A final discussion with a senior executive to assess strategic alignment, cultural fit, and overall leadership potential within Thrivent.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Leadership & Operations: Highlight instances where you've built, managed, and scaled design teams. Showcase your ability to define and implement design processes, operational frameworks, and talent development strategies.

• Demonstrate Strategic Impact: Present case studies that clearly articulate the business problem, your team's approach, and the measurable impact (e.g., improved advisor efficiency, increased adoption of tools, enhanced client satisfaction). Quantify results whenever possible.

• Showcase Process Improvement: Include examples of how you've improved team workflows, implemented design systems, or streamlined collaboration between design, product, and engineering.

• Tell a Story: Structure your presentations to tell a compelling narrative about your leadership journey, team successes, and operational achievements. Explain the "why" behind your decisions.

• Prepare for "How": Be ready to discuss the operational mechanics of your team – how you manage backlogs, conduct performance reviews, foster talent, and ensure quality output.

Challenge Preparation:

• Expect a potential "design challenge" or a case study discussion focused on a hypothetical advisor experience problem.

• Prepare to articulate your approach to problem-framing, user research (even if hypothetical), solution ideation, and how you would manage a team through this process.

• Demonstrate your ability to consider operational constraints, prioritize tasks, and communicate your strategy effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely to be rigorous, evaluating not just design acumen but also strong operational and leadership capabilities. A portfolio that emphasizes process, team management, and strategic impact will be key to success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Tools: Proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), InVision, or similar.

• Project Management & Collaboration: Familiarity with tools like Jira, Asana, Trello, Monday.com for task management, workflow tracking, and team collaboration.

• Communication Platforms: Experience with Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom for daily communication and virtual meetings.

• Salesforce Ecosystem (Preferred): Experience with Salesforce CRM, and potentially tools built on or integrated with Salesforce, leveraging the Salesforce Lightning Design System (SLDS) for UI consistency.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Experience with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to understand user behavior and measure the impact of design solutions.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM administrator role, understanding how design integrates with CRM systems like Salesforce is crucial, especially for preferred Salesforce experience.

• Familiarity with automation principles in design workflows or team operations could be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mention of Salesforce as a preferred skill strongly suggests that the Digital Advisor Experience platform is built on or heavily integrated with Salesforce. Candidates with this specific toolset experience will have a significant advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Client-Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and serving the needs of financial advisors and, by extension, their clients. Operational processes should support this.

• Purpose-Driven: Alignment with Thrivent's mission to help people thrive financially and live balanced, generous lives. Design and operational decisions should reflect these values.

• Continuous Improvement: A commitment to refining processes, learning from data, and constantly seeking ways to enhance team performance and output quality.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Strong emphasis on working effectively across teams (Product, Engineering, Business) to achieve shared goals and drive holistic solutions.

• Integrity & Trust: Upholding high ethical standards in all aspects of work, especially critical in the financial services industry.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect a highly collaborative environment where design is deeply integrated with product management and engineering from ideation through implementation.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: A culture that values data and metrics to inform design choices and operational priorities.

• Feedback Loops: Openness to constructive feedback, both giving and receiving, to foster growth and improve outcomes.

• Agile Mindset: Adaptability, iterative development, and a focus on delivering value incrementally.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is likely to be professional, collaborative, and mission-oriented. For an operations manager, understanding how to translate these values into team processes and foster a supportive yet performance-driven environment will be key.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Competing Priorities: Managing a diverse portfolio of products within the Incentive and Practice Growth group, each with its own set of user needs and business objectives, will require strong prioritization skills.

• Driving Change in a Large Organization: Implementing new processes or advocating for design-centric approaches within a large, established financial institution can present change management challenges.

• Attracting and Retaining Top Design Talent: As a manager, ensuring the team has the right skills and is motivated to perform in a competitive market.

• Measuring Design Impact: Clearly articulating and quantifying the ROI of design initiatives and operational improvements to stakeholders.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Financial Advisor Technology: Gaining in-depth knowledge of the tools and workflows critical to financial advisor success in wealth management.

• Leadership Development Programs: Thrivent likely offers internal programs for leadership and management skill enhancement.

• Industry Best Practices: Staying abreast of evolving UX trends, design operations methodologies, and financial services technology advancements.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the future of advisor experience through impactful design leadership and process innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant challenges that are also excellent growth opportunities, particularly in developing leadership, strategic influence, and operational expertise within a specialized industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your philosophy for managing and developing a cross-functional design team. How do you foster collaboration and ensure high performance?"

• "Walk me through a time you had to prioritize design initiatives with limited resources. What was your process, and what were the outcomes?"

• "How do you approach problem-framing for complex, undefined user experience challenges? Can you provide an example?"

• "What are your key strategies for building trust and influencing stakeholders across different departments (e.g., Engineering, Product, Sales)?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on what you know about Thrivent, how would your leadership style and team management approach align with our company values and mission?"

• "How do you foster a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence within a design team?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with an overview of your leadership philosophy and team management approach.

Then, present 2-3 key case studies that demonstrate your ability to manage teams, drive operational improvements, and deliver strategic design outcomes.

• Content Focus: For each case study, clearly articulate:

  • The business problem and user need.
  • Your role as a leader in guiding the team.
  • The design process and any operational improvements you implemented.
  • The final solution and its impact (quantified with metrics).
  • Lessons learned and how you applied them.

• Operational Insights: Be prepared to discuss how you manage capacity, prioritize work, onboard new team members, and ensure the quality and consistency of design output.

• Storytelling: Weave a narrative that highlights your leadership journey, your team's successes, and your ability to translate strategic vision into actionable design operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for evidence of strong leadership, strategic thinking, operational acumen, and the ability to effectively manage and mentor design talent. Demonstrating how you operationalize design to achieve business goals will be critical.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link: https://thrivent.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/External/job/United-States/Design-Manager--Advisor-Experience_REQ-43299

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your experience in team management, process development, operational efficiency in design, and stakeholder collaboration. Use keywords from the job description, such as "UX operations," "design leadership," "process improvement," "talent management," and "strategic prioritization."

• Portfolio Curation: Prepare a portfolio that specifically showcases your leadership in managing design teams and operationalizing design processes. Focus on case studies that demonstrate your strategic impact and ability to drive measurable results.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Thrivent's mission, values, and its financial services offerings, particularly how it supports financial advisors. Understand their product operating model and any stated design principles.

• Interview Practice: Prepare for behavioral and situational interview questions focusing on leadership, team management, problem-solving, and collaboration. Practice articulating your portfolio examples clearly and concisely, emphasizing your operational contributions.

⚠️ 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.