Director, UX Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Director, UX Design

Company: We Are Rosie (Client: Leading National Restaurant Brand)

Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Job Type: Contract

Category: UX/Product Design Leadership

Date Posted: 2026-09-22

Experience Level: 10+ Years (with 3+ years in leadership)

Remote Status: Hybrid (2 days/week in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and direct a team of 2-3 product designers responsible for the UX/UI design of five critical restaurant-facing digital products, ensuring high-quality user experiences and design consistency.

• Serve as the primary design point person for daily operations, providing hands-on critique, guidance, and design support to ensure all design deliverables meet functional and user requirements.

• Act as a key liaison and "connector" between product designers and various stakeholders (product, engineering, operations, business), fostering alignment and mitigating conflicting priorities.

• Drive design quality and completeness across a diverse portfolio of digital tools that power in-restaurant operations, local marketing, and delivery experiences.

• Develop and mentor junior and senior designers, providing structured guidance and empowering them to excel in their respective product areas.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a hybrid position requiring 2 days per week in the Atlanta office, specifically on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The contract is for 6 months with a strong potential for extension up to 18 months, operating under a W2 contract through We Are Rosie. The focus is on hands-on leadership within a complex, matrixed organization, emphasizing collaboration and stakeholder management alongside design oversight.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee and direct the day-to-day design activities of a small team of product designers, managing the UX/UI for a portfolio of five distinct restaurant-facing digital products.

• Conduct detailed design reviews in Figma, providing clear, actionable critique and constructive feedback to elevate design quality and ensure adherence to project requirements.

• Step in to perform hands-on design work, including information architecture, user flows, and detailed UI design, as needed to support the team and meet project deadlines.

• Ensure all design deliverables are complete, accurate, and meet specified requirements before release, from initial concept through final implementation.

• Coach and mentor product designers at various experience levels, offering tailored guidance, support, and opportunities for professional growth within their roles.

• Facilitate effective communication and alignment between design teams and cross-functional partners, including product managers, engineers, operations specialists, and business stakeholders.

• Proactively identify and address potential conflicts or competing priorities among stakeholders, acting as a "peacemaker" to build consensus and drive forward progress.

• Champion user needs and design quality, constructively pushing back on requests that compromise user experience or design integrity while offering alternative solutions.

• Collaborate closely with the Head of Digital Product Design on strategic planning, prioritization of design initiatives, and overall design approach for the product portfolio.

• Work with design systems teams to ensure consistency in UI patterns and components across all digital products, promoting reusability and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "five restaurant-facing digital products" implies a need for a candidate who can manage multiple complex workstreams simultaneously, demonstrating exceptional organizational skills and the ability to context-switch effectively. The responsibility to "shield designers" and act as a "buffer" highlights the critical need for strong interpersonal and conflict-resolution skills in navigating a matrixed corporate environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, or a related field is often preferred for senior design leadership roles.

Experience: 10+ years of progressive experience in UX or product design, with a minimum of 3 years in a formal leadership capacity such as Creative Director, Design Director, or Design Manager.

Required Skills:

• Proven track record of leading and directing product design teams across multiple, concurrent product lines or workstreams.

• Extensive hands-on proficiency with design and prototyping tools, particularly Figma, for both personal design work and team critique.

• Deep understanding of UX fundamentals, including information architecture, interaction design principles, and user-centered design methodologies.

• Exceptional ability to translate complex business and user requirements into clear, intuitive, and effective user experiences.

• Strong stakeholder management skills, with a demonstrated ability to build relationships, influence decision-making, and navigate disagreements constructively.

• Experience operating effectively within large, matrixed organizations, requiring strong collaboration and alignment-building capabilities.

• Demonstrated coaching and mentorship skills, with a capacity to develop designers at various stages of their careers.

• Ability to work on-site in Atlanta, GA, 2 days per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) is mandatory. Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience designing operational, enterprise, or B2B tools such as Point-of-Sale (POS) systems, e-commerce platforms, CRM software, logistics management, or driver/delivery applications.

• Background in the restaurant, retail, or hospitality industries, providing domain-specific understanding of user needs and operational workflows.

• Experience designing for both front-of-house (customer-facing) and back-of-house (employee-facing) user roles.

• Familiarity with design systems, design tokens, and collaboration with design technologists.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "10+ years in UX or product design, including 3+ years as a creative director, design director, or design manager" strongly indicates a senior-level position. The emphasis on leading designers across "several products or workstreams at once" differentiates this role from managing a single product, requiring a candidate adept at portfolio-level design leadership and strategic allocation of design resources.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio that showcases both your individual design craft and the high-impact work of the teams you have led.

• Demonstrations of how you have directed design quality and completeness across multiple products or complex workstreams.

• Case studies highlighting your ability to translate intricate requirements into clear, user-friendly digital experiences.

• Evidence of your stakeholder management skills, including examples of how you've built consensus, navigated disagreements, and driven alignment across diverse teams.

• Examples of your coaching and mentorship approach, illustrating how you've developed designers and elevated team capabilities. Process Documentation:

• Case studies detailing your process for ensuring design consistency and quality across a portfolio of products, potentially referencing design systems or pattern libraries.

• Examples of how you've managed competing stakeholder needs and priorities to protect design focus and ensure successful product launches.

• Documentation of your approach to translating complex operational requirements into intuitive user interfaces and workflows for restaurant staff or delivery personnel.

• Insights into how you've fostered collaboration and built alignment between siloed product, engineering, and business teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "hands-on" nature of the role and the need to "step in to design when needed," the portfolio should ideally include examples of your personal design contributions, not just team outputs. For a Director-level role, demonstrating strategic oversight and impact on business objectives through design is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $90 - $105 per hour (USD)

Benefits: As this is a W2 contract position through We Are Rosie, benefits are typically provided by the contracting agency. Standard contract benefits often include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance options.

• Paid time off (vacation, sick leave, holidays).

• Potential for 401(k) or retirement savings plans.

• Access to professional development resources and training.

• Workers' compensation and unemployment insurance.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week. The role requires a hybrid work arrangement, with mandatory in-office presence on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Atlanta.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range of $90-$105/hour for a contract role with a Director title and 10+ years of experience is competitive for the Atlanta market for specialized design leadership. This rate reflects the hands-on nature, leadership responsibilities, and the need for specific industry or operational tool design experience. The contract term of 6 months with strong potential for extension offers a degree of stability within the contract framework.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The client is a "leading national restaurant brand," suggesting a fast-paced, customer-centric environment with a focus on operational efficiency and digital innovation within the food service sector. We Are Rosie itself is a talent solutions provider for the marketing industry, indicating a professional, agency-like operational environment.

Company Size: The client is a "leading national restaurant brand," implying a large, established organization. We Are Rosie is a "fast-growing" company, recognized by Inc. 5000, and partners with "over 200 of the world's biggest brands and agencies," indicating a significant operational scale and network.

Founded: We Are Rosie was founded in 2018. The founding date of the client restaurant brand is not provided but is implied to be established.

Team Structure:

• The UX Design team likely consists of a Design Leader (Head of Digital Product Design), the Director, UX Design (this role), and 2-3 Product Designers.

• The Director will report to the Head of Digital Product Design, acting as their "right hand."

• This team collaborates heavily with Product Management, Engineering, Operations, and Business teams, each potentially having its own priorities and roadmaps. Methodology:

• The role emphasizes a "hands-on" approach to design critique and execution, alongside strategic leadership.

• Collaboration and alignment are key, with a focus on "connecting" and "peacemaking" across siloed teams.

• Design quality and user-centricity are paramount, with a focus on ensuring designs meet requirements and push back constructively when needed.

• Utilization of design systems is expected to maintain consistency across a portfolio of products.

Company Website: [Company URL not provided, but client is a "leading national restaurant brand"]

We Are Rosie: www.wearerosie.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The client's operational context within a national restaurant brand suggests a need for a candidate who understands the unique demands of the food service industry, including high-volume transactions, operational constraints, and the importance of both customer-facing and employee-facing digital tools.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership role positioned as a Director within UX Design. It sits below the Head of Digital Product Design but above individual Product Designers. The role requires a blend of strategic oversight, team management, and hands-on design contribution.

Reporting Structure: The Director, UX Design reports directly to the Head of Digital Product Design. They will work closely with this leader on strategic initiatives and portfolio management.

Operations Impact: The Director plays a crucial role in shaping the digital experience for both customers and restaurant employees. Their work directly impacts operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, local marketing effectiveness, and the overall success of the restaurant brand's digital ecosystem. By ensuring high-quality, consistent design, they contribute to revenue generation and operational cost savings.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into a Senior Director or Head of Product Design role, managing larger teams and broader design portfolios within the client organization or through future engagements via We Are Rosie.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for complex operational tools (POS, commerce, logistics) within the restaurant/hospitality industry.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Develop stronger strategic partnerships and influence across product, engineering, and business functions.

• Contract to Full-Time: Successful contract performance often leads to opportunities for full-time employment with the client company or a pipeline of similar high-level contract roles through We Are Rosie.

📝 Enhancement Note: The contract nature of this role offers flexibility and exposure to different environments. For individuals seeking long-term growth, demonstrating significant impact and alignment with the client's culture can lead to conversion to a full-time role or a consistent stream of high-value contract assignments. The "potential to extend to 18 months" suggests a significant project scope and opportunity for deep immersion.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model with 2 mandatory in-office days per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) at the client's Atlanta location. This suggests a structured office environment designed for collaboration and team interaction on designated days.

Office Location(s): Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Specific office address not provided, but candidates must be local to the Atlanta area.

Workspace Context:

• On-site days (Tuesdays/Thursdays) will likely involve in-person meetings, design critiques, collaborative working sessions, and team sync-ups.

• Remote work days will require a productive home office setup with reliable internet for remote collaboration tools.

• Access to necessary design software (Figma) and communication platforms will be provided or expected.

• The environment is described as "matrixed," implying a need for adaptability and effective communication across different teams and reporting lines.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week. While the core hours are defined, the hybrid nature may offer some flexibility in structuring remote workdays, provided deadlines and collaboration needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid requirement is a critical factor. Successful candidates will need to demonstrate comfort and effectiveness in both in-person and remote collaboration settings, with a strong ability to transition between these environments seamlessly. The "connector and peacemaker" aspect suggests an environment where proactive communication and relationship-building are valued.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely with a We Are Rosie recruiter to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Conversation with the Head of Digital Product Design to discuss design philosophy, leadership style, and experience managing design teams and portfolios.

• Design Portfolio Review: A deep dive into your portfolio, focusing on case studies demonstrating leadership, hands-on design skills, stakeholder management, and impact. Expect to discuss team projects and your specific contributions.

• Stakeholder/Team Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineering leads, and potentially other designers to assess collaboration skills, ability to build alignment, and fit within the broader digital organization.

• Executive Interview (Possible): A final conversation with a senior leader in the digital organization to ensure strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Leadership: Clearly articulate your role in leading design teams, mentoring designers, and driving design strategy across multiple products.

• Showcase Impact: For each case study, quantify results where possible (e.g., improved user satisfaction, increased conversion rates, reduced operational time) and explain the business impact.

• Demonstrate Hands-On Skill: Be prepared to walk through specific design decisions, Figma files, and your personal contributions, especially for the operational tools.

• Address Complexity: Use examples that illustrate your ability to manage complex requirements, navigate conflicting stakeholder feedback, and build alignment in a matrixed environment.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies with a clear narrative: problem, your approach, your team's solution, and the outcome.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss hypothetical scenarios related to managing design quality across multiple products, handling difficult stakeholder conversations, or mentoring designers facing challenges.

• Prepare to articulate your design process for operational tools and how you ensure usability for employees with varying technical skill levels.

• Think about how you would approach building consistency and a cohesive user experience across five distinct digital products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on being a "connector and peacemaker" suggests interviewers will probe your ability to handle ambiguity, mediate conflicts, and influence without direct authority. Your portfolio should provide concrete examples of these skills in action.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for daily design work, critique, and collaboration. Proficiency is a must.

• Prototyping Tools: Likely integrated within Figma or other standard tools (e.g., InVision, Principle) for demonstrating user flows and interactions.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned, understanding analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) and how design impacts key metrics will be beneficial for demonstrating ROI. CRM & Automation:

• Experience with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) or operational workflow tools could be advantageous, particularly if the "operator and team-member tools" integrate with or are similar to CRM functionalities.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is non-negotiable for this role. While the focus is on design leadership, an understanding of how design integrates with analytics and business operations tools will strengthen your candidacy, especially for the "enterprise tools" preference.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working together across diverse teams (product, engineering, operations, business) to achieve common goals.

• User-Centricity: Prioritizing the needs and experiences of both customers and restaurant employees in all design decisions.

• Quality & Craftsmanship: Maintaining high standards for design execution, ensuring thoroughness and attention to detail.

• Constructive Communication: Encouraging open dialogue, providing thoughtful critique, and pushing back respectfully to advocate for the best solutions.

• Adaptability: Thriving in a dynamic, matrixed environment where priorities can shift and alignment must be continuously earned.

Collaboration Style:

• The role demands a "connector and peacemaker" approach, actively bridging gaps between teams and fostering a shared understanding of design goals.

• Expect a culture of collaborative critique and design reviews, where feedback is given and received constructively.

• There's a need to build alignment across siloed teams, requiring proactive communication and relationship-building efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of the ideal candidate as a "connector and peacemaker" is a direct indicator of the desired team culture. This role requires someone who can navigate complex organizational dynamics with diplomacy and a focus on shared success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Managing Multiple Portfolios: Effectively leading design for five distinct products simultaneously, each with its own user base, requirements, and stakeholders, requires exceptional organizational and prioritization skills.

• Navigating a Matrixed Organization: Building consensus and driving alignment across siloed teams with potentially competing priorities can be challenging, demanding strong influence and negotiation abilities.

• Balancing Hands-On Work with Leadership: Juggling day-to-day design direction, team mentorship, and stepping in for hands-on design tasks requires efficient time management and the ability to delegate effectively.

• Maintaining Design Consistency: Ensuring a unified and high-quality user experience across a diverse set of digital products, especially when working with different product teams and potentially a design systems function.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Operational Design Expertise: Gain in-depth experience designing for critical operational tools within the restaurant industry, a niche and valuable skill set.

• Strategic Leadership Skills: Enhance capabilities in portfolio management, cross-functional strategy, and influencing senior stakeholders.

• Mentorship and Coaching: Refine leadership and coaching techniques by developing designers at various career stages.

• Exposure to Large-Scale Digital Transformation: Contribute to the digital evolution of a major national brand, offering insights into enterprise-level digital strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge lies in managing the complexity of a multi-product portfolio within a large, matrixed organization. Success will depend on the candidate's ability to foster collaboration, build strong relationships, and maintain a clear vision for design excellence across all five products.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to lead design for multiple products with competing priorities. How did you ensure quality and alignment across them?" (Focus on portfolio management, prioritization, and stakeholder communication.)

• "How do you approach building consensus between product teams, engineering, and business stakeholders when there are differing opinions on design direction?" (Highlight your "connector" and "peacemaker" skills, and your process for reframing discussions.)

• "Walk us through your process for ensuring design quality and completeness before a product ships, especially when you're not the sole designer." (Emphasize your critique process, QA steps, and how you empower your team.)

• "Imagine a scenario where a key stakeholder is pushing for a design change that you believe compromises user experience. How would you handle this situation?" (Focus on constructive pushback, data-driven arguments, and proposing alternatives.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about working with a national restaurant brand and its digital experience portfolio?" (Show your understanding of the industry and the impact of your work.)

• "How do you foster a collaborative and supportive environment for your design team, especially in a hybrid or remote setting?" (Discuss your leadership and mentorship approach.)

• "How do you ensure design decisions align with broader business objectives and operational realities?" (Connect design strategy to business outcomes.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your role and responsibilities, the design process undertaken, your specific contributions (especially as a leader), the solutions implemented, and the measurable outcomes.

• Highlight Leadership Contributions: Explicitly detail your role in directing the team, mentoring designers, and influencing design strategy. Use "we" for team efforts and "I" for your direct contributions and leadership actions.

• Showcase Figma Proficiency: Be ready to navigate through Figma files if asked, demonstrating your understanding of interaction patterns, component usage, and design systems.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your team's work. If direct metrics are unavailable, discuss how the design contributed to operational efficiency or user satisfaction.

• Address the "Connector" Role: Prepare examples of how you've facilitated cross-functional collaboration and mediated stakeholder disagreements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to discuss your experience with operational tools specifically. If you don't have direct experience, articulate how your transferable skills in complex UX challenges would enable you to quickly learn and excel in this domain.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight your experience in UX/Product Design leadership, team management, hands-on design with Figma, stakeholder management, and any experience with operational or enterprise tools. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Curate your portfolio: Ensure it prominently features your leadership contributions, case studies demonstrating impact across multiple products, and your approach to design critique and mentorship. Be ready to present it effectively.

• Prepare for a hybrid work discussion: Confirm your ability and willingness to work on-site in Atlanta 2 days per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays).

• Research We Are Rosie: Understand their mission, values, and how they serve clients in the marketing industry. Familiarize yourself with the client's brand if publicly available.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with We Are Rosie before making application decisions. The role is a contract position, and specific benefits and terms should be clarified with the recruiting agency.