Head of Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Head of Design

Company: Aspora

Location: India

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Design Leadership / GTM Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-18

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and scale the entire design output for Aspora, unifying product, brand, and marketing design under a single vision and strategy.

• Define and drive Aspora's global design vision, ensuring coherence, consideration, and world-class quality across all customer touchpoints, from onboarding flows to campaign creative.

• Drive the evolution and application of Aspora's design system to effectively serve both product and marketing teams, fostering efficiency and consistency.

• Shape cross-functional design direction in direct partnership with Product, Engineering, and Growth leadership, from initial concept through to successful launch.

• Establish and maintain high design quality standards, foster a constructive critique culture, and implement an effective operating rhythm across all design disciplines.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is Head of Design, its strategic impact on customer-facing outputs (product, brand, marketing) and its requirement for cross-functional leadership with Product, Engineering, and Growth place it within a GTM Operations context. The emphasis on design systems and consistent customer experience directly supports Go-to-Market efficiency and brand integrity, crucial elements for revenue generation.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead, build, and scale three distinct design functions: product design, brand design, and marketing design, including team structure, hiring, and fostering a cohesive culture.

• Define and articulate Aspora's unified design vision and strategy across all customer touchpoints, including the mobile app, web platform, overall brand identity, and growth-focused creative assets.

• Spearhead the development and continuous improvement of Aspora's design system, ensuring it is robust, scalable, and effectively serves the needs of both product development and marketing campaigns without friction.

• Collaborate closely with Product, Engineering, and Growth leadership to shape the overall design direction, guiding initiatives from early-stage conceptualization through to final product launch and ongoing iterations.

• Implement and champion design quality standards, facilitate a constructive design critique process, and establish a regular operating rhythm for design reviews and decision-making across all disciplines.

• Maintain and elevate Aspora's brand integrity on a global scale, ensuring unwavering visual and tonal consistency across all markets, channels, and customer interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize scaling teams and processes, defining strategic vision, and ensuring cross-functional alignment—all core tenets of operational leadership within a GTM context. The focus on design systems and brand consistency directly impacts user acquisition, retention, and overall brand perception, which are key GTM metrics.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 8+ years in design, with a minimum of 3+ years in a leadership capacity, demonstrating a track record of building and managing high-performing design teams.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience building and leading multi-disciplinary design teams (product, brand, marketing), with a clear understanding of structuring teams for current needs and future scalability.

• Strong foundation in product design, including expertise in UX flows, interaction design, creating high-fidelity UIs, and implementing/managing comprehensive design systems.

• Proficiency with design tools, specifically Figma or equivalent industry-standard software for UI/UX design and prototyping.

• Fluency in brand and marketing design principles, including visual identity development, campaign creative strategy, and the ability to ensure cohesive branding across diverse marketing materials.

• Demonstrated high level of ownership, proactive problem-solving, and the ability to make decisive calls without constant oversight.

• Comfort and proven ability to operate effectively in ambiguous environments, building structure and clarity where needed.

• Experience working in regulated industries or fintech environments is a strong advantage. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with multi-market consumer products, understanding the nuances of designing for diverse global audiences.

• Familiarity with growth marketing principles and how design contributes to user acquisition and engagement strategies.

• Experience in building and scaling design operations processes.

• Understanding of front-end development principles to facilitate better collaboration with engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 8+ years of experience with 3+ in leadership, coupled with hands-on product design and brand/marketing expertise, positions this as a senior leadership role. The emphasis on building teams, establishing standards, and driving a unified vision are critical for operationalizing design strategy.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating leadership of multi-disciplinary design teams, showcasing the growth and structure of these teams over time.

• Detailed case studies of product design initiatives, highlighting UX flows, interaction design, UI execution, and the strategic application of design systems.

• Examples of brand identity development and campaign creative, illustrating a strong understanding of visual language and its application across various marketing channels.

• Demonstrations of how design systems have been evolved and applied to serve both product and marketing needs, emphasizing consistency and efficiency.

• Evidence of strategic partnerships with Product, Engineering, and Growth teams, showcasing collaborative design processes and successful product launches. Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of established design quality standards and critique methodologies implemented within previous roles.

• Provide insights into the process of defining and driving a unified design vision across diverse disciplines.

• Illustrate the process of scaling design functions, including hiring, team structure, and culture-building strategies.

• Demonstrate experience in shaping cross-functional design direction from concept to launch, including decision-making frameworks.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Head of Design, a portfolio should not just showcase individual work but also the candidate's ability to lead, strategize, and operationalize design processes at scale. Emphasis on team building, system evolution, and cross-functional collaboration is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: INR 40,00,000 - INR 70,00,000 per annum (approx. USD 48,000 - USD 84,000) Note: This is an estimated range for a senior design leadership role in India, considering Aspora's funding and industry. Actual compensation will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary package aligned with industry benchmarks for senior leadership roles.

• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits for employees and their dependents.

• Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), providing long-term value and alignment with Aspora's growth.

• Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning in a fast-paced fintech environment.

• Paid time off and holidays.

• Potential for flexible work arrangements as the company culture evolves.

Working Hours: Standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility expected for leadership roles requiring strategic input and team support.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is based on research for Head of Design roles in major Indian tech hubs, considering Aspora's funding (Sequoia, Greylock) and stage. Benefits like ESOPs are standard for leadership roles in well-funded startups.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Fintech / Global Banking Infrastructure

Company Size: 150+ employees, indicating a rapidly scaling startup environment where clear processes and strong leadership are essential for efficient operations.

Founded: 2022, suggesting a dynamic, fast-paced, and innovative culture focused on rapid growth and product development.

Team Structure:

• The design team will be structured under this role, encompassing product, brand, and marketing design disciplines.

• This role will report to senior leadership (likely CEO, CPO, or CTO), indicating high visibility and direct impact on company strategy.

• Cross-functional collaboration is central, with direct partnerships with Product, Engineering, and Growth leadership to ensure cohesive GTM efforts. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on using customer data and analytics to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Extreme Ownership & Radical Candour: Aspora values individuals who take full responsibility for their work and communicate openly and honestly.

• Customer Impact Obsession: All efforts are geared towards delivering tangible value and exceptional experiences to customers.

• Agile Development: Likely operates within an agile framework, requiring design to be iterative and responsive.

Company Website: http://www.aspora.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Aspora's focus on "borderless financial operating system" and its VC backing suggests an ambitious, tech-forward company. The culture emphasizes ownership and impact, critical for operational success in a competitive fintech landscape.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership position, equivalent to a Director or VP level within a design organization. It requires strategic oversight, team building, and significant influence on company-wide GTM and product strategy.

Reporting Structure: The Head of Design will report to a C-suite executive (e.g., Chief Product Officer, Chief Technology Officer, or CEO), indicating a direct line of influence on strategic decision-making and a key role in shaping the company's product and brand direction.

Operations Impact: This role has a profound impact on Aspora's Go-to-Market strategy by ensuring a unified and compelling customer experience across all touchpoints. Effective design leadership drives user acquisition, engagement, retention, and brand loyalty, all of which are critical for revenue growth and market penetration.

Growth Opportunities:

• Scaling Design Function: Opportunity to build and scale a world-class design organization from the ground up, defining its structure, processes, and culture for future growth.

• Strategic Influence: Direct involvement in shaping the company's overall product strategy and GTM approach, with the potential to influence business outcomes significantly.

• Industry Leadership: Become a key leader in the rapidly evolving fintech space, driving innovation in financial product design and brand communication.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Develop expertise in leading design within a complex, cross-functional environment, enhancing skills in product management, engineering collaboration, and growth marketing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a unique opportunity to build a design function from an early stage in a well-funded fintech, providing significant career growth potential and strategic impact.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Aspora operates with a distributed team across India, the UK, UAE, EU, and the US, with an emphasis on an on-site work arrangement in India for this role. This likely means a modern office space designed to foster collaboration and innovation.

Office Location(s): While the primary posting is India, Aspora has a global presence. Specific office locations within India would need to be clarified, but common hubs for tech companies include Bengaluru, Mumbai, or Delhi NCR.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment is expected to be designed to encourage interaction between design, product, engineering, and marketing teams, facilitating rapid iteration and problem-solving.

• Tooling & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma), collaboration tools (Slack, Asana/Jira), and potentially prototyping and user research platforms.

• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities for design critiques, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional alignment meetings.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is typical, but as a Head of Design in a startup, there will be an expectation of flexibility and commitment to meet critical project deadlines and strategic objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in India, coupled with a global team, suggests a hybrid model where this role is central to the Indian operations while needing to connect with international teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A conversation with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, leadership experience, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion with the direct reporting manager (likely a C-suite executive) focusing on strategic vision, leadership philosophy, and experience in unifying design functions.

• Team & Peer Interviews: Meetings with Product, Engineering, and Growth leaders to evaluate cross-functional collaboration skills, strategic thinking, and ability to integrate design into broader business objectives. This may include team members from the design function.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, focusing on leadership examples, strategic impact, and how they've unified design disciplines. Expect to discuss case studies on how they've built teams, scaled processes, and driven brand consistency.

• Final Round: Potentially a final discussion with the CEO or other senior stakeholders to confirm alignment on vision, culture, and strategic direction.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Leadership Focus: Highlight your experience in building, mentoring, and scaling design teams. Showcase your leadership philosophy and how you foster a positive and productive design culture.

• Strategic Unification: Clearly articulate how you have unified disparate design efforts (product, brand, marketing) and the impact this had on business objectives. Use specific examples of strategy development and execution.

• Design System Evolution: Demonstrate your understanding of design systems, their evolution, and their application across product and marketing. Show how you've driven adoption and maintained consistency.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Provide concrete examples of successful collaborations with Product, Engineering, and Growth teams. Explain your role in their decision-making processes and how you influenced outcomes.

• Impact Metrics: Quantify the impact of your design leadership where possible. Use metrics related to user engagement, brand perception, efficiency gains, or successful product launches.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential design challenge or case study related to unifying design disciplines or solving a complex product/brand problem for a fintech.

• Practice articulating your design strategy, decision-making process, and how you would approach building Aspora's design function.

• Be ready to discuss your approach to establishing design quality standards and fostering a critique culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize leadership capabilities, strategic vision, and the ability to integrate diverse design functions into a cohesive GTM strategy. The portfolio presentation is a critical evaluation point.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI/UX design, prototyping, and design system management. Expertise in advanced Figma features and collaboration workflows is expected.

• Design System Tools: Proficiency with tools and methodologies for creating, documenting, and maintaining scalable design systems (e.g., Storybook, Zeroheight, or custom solutions).

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with tools like Principle, ProtoPie, or InVision for advanced interactive prototyping may be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Experience with tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Google Analytics to understand user behavior and inform design decisions.

• Brand/Marketing Analytics: Familiarity with tools for tracking campaign performance, brand sentiment, and market positioning.

• Data Visualization: Ability to interpret data dashboards and communicate insights effectively (e.g., Tableau, Looker, or internal BI tools).

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a design tool, understanding how design outputs integrate with CRM (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and marketing automation platforms (e.g., Marketo, HubSpot) for GTM purposes is advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma and design systems is critical. Understanding how design integrates with analytics and GTM tools highlights the operational aspect of this design leadership role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Extreme Ownership: Taking full responsibility for the design output and its impact on the business, from concept to execution.

• Radical Candour: Fostering open, honest, and constructive feedback within the design team and with cross-functional partners.

• Customer Impact Obsession: Prioritizing design decisions that directly enhance the user experience and drive customer value in the fintech space.

• Building for Scale: A mindset focused on creating design solutions, processes, and teams that can grow and adapt with the company.

• Builder's Mentality: Encouraging a proactive, hands-on approach to problem-solving and innovation within the design function.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively partnering with Product, Engineering, and Growth to ensure design is a strategic enabler of GTM and product development, not an isolated function.

• Design-Led Strategy: Influencing product and marketing strategy through design insights, user empathy, and a clear vision for the customer experience.

• Iterative & Agile: Embracing a flexible and iterative approach to design, working closely with development teams in an agile environment.

• Knowledge Sharing: Cultivating an environment where design best practices, learnings, and insights are shared openly across the team and with stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: Aspora's stated values of "extreme ownership" and "radical candour" are strong indicators of a culture that expects proactive leadership and direct communication, crucial for operational efficiency.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Unifying Disparate Functions: Integrating three distinct design disciplines (product, brand, marketing) that may have evolved independently, requiring strong strategic vision and change management skills.

• Balancing Speed and Craft: In a fast-paced startup environment, maintaining high design quality and brand integrity while meeting aggressive development and marketing timelines.

• Scaling Talent: Attracting, hiring, and retaining top design talent across multiple disciplines in a competitive market.

• Global Consistency: Ensuring a coherent and impactful brand and product experience across diverse international markets with varying user expectations and regulatory landscapes.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Fintech Innovation: Deepen expertise in the unique design challenges and opportunities within the regulated fintech sector.

• Global Brand Building: Gain experience in building and scaling a global brand for a disruptive financial services company.

• Strategic Leadership: Enhance skills in C-suite collaboration, influencing business strategy, and leading large-scale design initiatives.

• Team Scaling & Mentorship: Develop advanced capabilities in team leadership, mentorship, and organizational design for design functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge will be unifying and scaling the design function strategically while maintaining quality and brand consistency in a high-growth fintech environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach unifying Aspora's product, brand, and marketing design functions into a single, cohesive vision and team?" (Focus on phased approach, stakeholder alignment, process integration)

• "Describe your philosophy for building and scaling a high-performing, multi-disciplinary design team. What key roles would you prioritize initially?" (Detail hiring strategies, team structure, culture building)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency and quality across all customer touchpoints in a fast-paced, multi-market environment?" (Discuss design systems, brand guidelines, cross-functional collaboration) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on Aspora's mission and values, how would you ensure the design team embodies 'extreme ownership' and 'radical candour'?" (Connect personal leadership style to company values)

• "How do you see design contributing to Aspora's goal of becoming a 'borderless financial operating system'?" (Articulate product and brand vision in relation to company mission)

• "Describe a time you had to navigate significant ambiguity. How did you create clarity and drive progress?" (Showcase comfort with uncertainty and ability to build structure) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your presentation around your leadership journey and how you've evolved design functions. Start with the problem, your strategic approach, the execution, and the measurable impact.

• Leadership Case Studies: Dedicate significant time to showcasing how you've led teams, mentored individuals, and scaled design operations. Use examples of team growth, process improvements, and cultural development.

• Unified Vision Examples: Clearly demonstrate how you've integrated different design disciplines. Show how brand and product design or marketing creative have worked in concert.

• Design System Impact: Highlight the strategic importance and practical application of design systems you've overseen, emphasizing their role in efficiency and consistency.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data to illustrate the success of your initiatives – user engagement metrics, conversion rates, brand recall, team efficiency improvements, etc.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to articulate a clear vision for Aspora's design future, demonstrate strong leadership acumen, and showcase your ability to operationalize design strategy for GTM success.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Head of Design position:

• Submit your application through the provided link (AshbyHQ).

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features examples of leadership, team building, and the strategic unification of product, brand, and marketing design. Tailor your case studies to highlight impact on business objectives and customer experience.

• Resume Optimization: Craft your resume to emphasize leadership experience, strategic contributions, and quantifiable achievements in design operations, team scaling, and cross-functional collaboration within fast-paced environments.

• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly research Aspora's mission, values, and recent news. Prepare specific examples to answer behavioral and strategic questions, focusing on your ability to lead and unify design functions for GTM success. Practice your portfolio presentation to be clear, concise, and impactful.

• Company Research: Understand Aspora's position in the fintech market, its competitive landscape, and its user base. Be ready to discuss how design can directly support its growth and customer acquisition strategies.

⚠️ 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.