Head of Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Head of Design

Company: Intertek

Location: Austin, Texas, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: Design Leadership & Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-06-19T12:40:28

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the transformation and strategic direction of the design function for Intertek's People Assurance division, focusing on modernizing and elevating product experiences.

• Drive end-to-end product design, from discovery and wireframing to polished UI, with a primary focus on transitioning legacy interfaces to a modern, scalable design system.

• Partner closely with Product Management, Engineering, and Marketing to ensure cohesive brand and product experiences, establishing and governing shared visual standards.

• Champion design-led thinking across the organization, advocating for design as a critical competitive advantage and driving cultural shifts towards modern design principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "transformation mandate" rather than a maintenance role, indicating a significant opportunity for strategic influence and building from the ground up. The emphasis on modernizing legacy UIs and establishing design systems suggests a need for a leader with a proven track record in large-scale design change initiatives within a SaaS environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Shape and implement a cohesive design philosophy across the software portfolio, emphasizing workflow efficiency, product functionality, and overall usability.

• Lead direct customer and prospect research to understand user needs and industry trends, translating insights into actionable product recommendations in partnership with Product Management.

• Define, implement, and govern scalable design systems and clear design standards across all People Assurance products and services, ensuring consistency and accelerating delivery.

• Own the end-to-end product design lifecycle, from initial concept and wireframing through to final, production-ready UI, with a significant focus on the transition from legacy to modern design.

• Partner with the Marketing team to evolve and maintain shared visual standards, ensuring consistency between product experiences and external brand touchpoints, and supporting brand evolution.

• Lead the cultural and operational shift towards design-led thinking, championing design as a strategic asset and building organizational fluency around its value.

• Ensure that accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design principles are embedded into all product design work.

• Present design strategy, direction, and progress to executive leadership and key stakeholders on a regular cadence, articulating the vision and execution plan.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on strategic design leadership and hands-on product design execution. The emphasis on research, design systems, and cross-functional partnership is crucial for a Head of Design role aimed at significant product modernization.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Graphic Design, or a related field is typically expected for a leadership role of this caliber.

Experience:

• 6-8+ years of design experience within a SaaS environment.

• Minimum of 2 years in a senior or lead design role, with direct people management experience.

• Demonstrated success in modernizing product UIs, with a portfolio showcasing a transition from legacy to modern design and quantifiable outcomes.

• Full-spectrum design capability, spanning both product/UX and brand/visual identity.

• Proven experience in building or scaling a design team, including hiring, mentoring, and talent development. Required Skills:

• Design Leadership: Ability to define vision, strategy, and drive design initiatives.

• UI/UX Design: Expertise in user interface and user experience design principles, from concept to execution.

• Design Systems: Experience in creating, implementing, and scaling design systems and component libraries.

• User Research: Proficiency in conducting user research, analyzing findings, and translating them into design solutions.

• Brand Strategy: Understanding of brand identity development and maintaining visual consistency across platforms.

• People Management: Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop a team of designers.

• SaaS Design: Deep understanding of design challenges and best practices within Software-as-a-Service products.

• Visual Design: Exceptional aesthetic sensibility, attention to detail, and a strong portfolio demonstrating visual design prowess.

• Change Management: Experience leading cultural and operational shifts towards design-centric approaches.

• WCAG Accessibility: Knowledge of and commitment to adhering to web accessibility standards.

Preferred Skills:

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced skills in Figma for design and prototyping, particularly for building design systems at scale.

• HR Tech/Workforce Management: Experience in HR technology, workforce management, compliance, or related SaaS verticals.

• High-Growth Environments: Background in fast-paced, scale-up environments requiring adaptability and rapid iteration.

• Front-End Collaboration: Familiarity with front-end development workflows and effective collaboration with engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "full-spectrum design capability" means candidates must demonstrate strength in both user-centered product design and compelling visual/brand design. The emphasis on SaaS and HR Tech verticals suggests that candidates with experience in complex B2B software environments will be highly valued.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design expertise, including case studies on modernizing legacy interfaces and transitioning to modern design systems.

• Demonstrations of how you've translated user research and business requirements into elegant, functional design solutions for SaaS products.

• Examples of established and governed design systems, illustrating their components, usage guidelines, and impact on product consistency and development efficiency.

• Evidence of strong visual design skills, including brand evolution guidance and maintaining cohesive external-facing aesthetics.

• Case studies detailing your approach to people management, team building, and fostering a high-performing design culture. Process Documentation:

• Workflow designs and optimization strategies for the product design lifecycle, from research and ideation through to final handoff to engineering.

• Methodologies for establishing and maintaining design systems, including version control, component documentation, and governance models.

• Processes for conducting and integrating user research, customer feedback, and market analysis into the design decision-making process.

• Documentation of how you've championed and driven change management initiatives to embed design-led thinking across an organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to present detailed case studies that not only showcase design execution but also the strategic thinking, process innovation, and leadership that drove successful outcomes, particularly in modernization and system-building efforts.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the "Head of Design" title, 6-8+ years of experience, leadership responsibilities, and a remote status in Austin, TX, a competitive salary range is expected to be between $160,000 - $220,000 annually. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior design leadership roles in major tech hubs like Austin, considering the SaaS and transformation aspects of the role.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans.

• Life and Disability Insurance coverage.

• 401(k) retirement plan with a company match.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) including vacation and sick time.

• Tuition Reimbursement program for continued professional development.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses or equity, though not explicitly stated.

Working Hours: Typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility often expected for leadership roles. The remote nature may allow for some adjustment in daily schedules, provided objectives and collaboration needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate for the Austin, TX market for a Head of Design role with these qualifications. Actual compensation will depend on the candidate's specific experience, interview performance, and Intertek's internal compensation structure. The listed benefits are standard for a company of Intertek's size and scope.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Quality Assurance & Testing Services, with a focus on People Assurance (workforce training, certification, consulting, and assurance). This places Intertek at the intersection of professional services, HR tech, and compliance solutions.

Company Size: Intertek operates globally with a significant employee base (likely thousands, based on industry standing) and a large network of laboratories and offices. This implies a structured, established corporate environment with opportunities for broad impact.

Founded: Intertek has a long history, founded in 1888, indicating a stable, experienced organization with a mature business model.

Team Structure:

• The People Assurance division likely comprises Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, Sales, and the newly established Design function.

• The Head of Design will report to executive leadership, likely a VP or C-suite executive within People Assurance, and will manage a team of 6-10 designers.

• Close collaboration is expected with Product Management for feature definition and prioritization, Engineering for implementation feasibility and technical constraints, and Marketing for brand consistency. Methodology:

• Intertek emphasizes a data-driven approach to quality assurance and performance improvement. For the design team, this translates to a focus on user research, analytics, and measurable outcomes to demonstrate design's impact on business goals.

• Workflow planning and optimization will be critical, especially in the context of modernizing legacy systems and establishing scalable design processes.

• The company's "Total Quality. Assured." slogan suggests a commitment to excellence, precision, and continuous improvement across all functions, including design.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Intertek's established nature suggests that while they are undergoing transformation, there will still be established corporate processes and a need to navigate a larger organization. The "People Assurance" focus means the design work will directly impact how businesses manage their workforces, compliance, and employee development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership role, equivalent to a Director or VP level within a specialized function. It requires a blend of strategic vision, operational execution, and people management. The role's mandate for transformation implies significant autonomy and responsibility.

Reporting Structure: The Head of Design will report directly to senior executive leadership within the People Assurance division, indicating high visibility and direct influence on strategic decisions. They will lead a team of approximately 6-10 designers.

Operations Impact: The Head of Design will have a profound impact on the usability, efficiency, and market perception of Intertek's People Assurance products. By modernizing the UI/UX and brand experience, this role directly contributes to customer acquisition, retention, satisfaction, and ultimately, revenue growth by making products more competitive and user-friendly.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow the design team further, establish more specialized design functions (e.g., UX Research, Content Design), or expand design's influence across other Intertek divisions.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the long-term product roadmap and company-wide design strategy, moving beyond People Assurance to influence broader organizational design thinking.

• Skill Development: Deepen expertise in enterprise SaaS design, design system scaling, HR tech, and leading transformative change within a large, global organization.

• Executive Visibility: Direct exposure and collaboration with C-suite executives, providing a pathway for career advancement into broader executive leadership roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is explicitly framed as a "transformation mandate" with executive backing, offering a rare opportunity for a design leader to define and build a function from the ground up within a well-established company. This suggests a fast track for impact and potential career progression.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is listed as "Remote OK" and specifically mentions Austin, TX as a location. Intertek is a global company with offices worldwide, but this particular role is designated for remote work, potentially with an option to work from a local Austin hub if desired.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, Intertek has a presence in Austin, Texas, and numerous global locations. The remote status offers flexibility, but candidates should be aware of the company's broader physical footprint.

Workspace Context:

• Remote work environment requiring strong self-discipline, excellent digital communication skills, and proficiency with remote collaboration tools.

• The role will involve significant interaction via video conferencing, digital whiteboarding, and project management platforms.

• Access to Intertek's digital infrastructure and tools will be provided, supporting seamless remote collaboration with distributed teams.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week). While remote, maintaining consistent availability for core team collaboration and stakeholder meetings during standard business hours (likely US Central Time, given the Austin location) will be crucial. Flexibility may be available, but responsiveness and meeting commitments are paramount.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote designation offers significant flexibility, but candidates should be prepared for a highly collaborative digital environment and a need to proactively engage with teams across different time zones.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in the role and Intertek.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Conversation with the direct hiring manager (likely a senior executive) to delve into leadership experience, strategic vision, and transformation capabilities.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A crucial stage where candidates present their portfolio, highlighting key case studies related to UI/UX modernization, design system development, and brand evolution. A design challenge or a deep dive into a specific strategic problem may also be part of this stage.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Product Management, Engineering, and Marketing to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to influence diverse teams.

• Executive Interview: Final interview with a higher-level executive to confirm strategic alignment and overall fit for the organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Transformation: Clearly articulate your role in modernizing legacy products/brands and the measurable impact of your design decisions. Use a "Before & After" approach.

• Showcase Design Systems: Detail your process for creating, scaling, and governing design systems. Explain how it improved efficiency, consistency, and quality.

• Demonstrate Strategic Thinking: Go beyond aesthetics; explain the "why" behind your design choices, linking them to business objectives and user needs.

• Highlight Leadership: Include examples of team building, mentorship, and driving design culture within an organization.

• Conciseness and Clarity: Prepare a presentation that is impactful, easy to follow, and tailored to the specific challenges of this role at Intertek.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential strategic design challenge that requires you to outline a roadmap for transforming the People Assurance design function, or to address a specific UX problem.

• Focus on your process, problem-solving approach, and how you would collaborate with other functions.

• Practice articulating your vision and recommendations clearly and concisely, anticipating questions about feasibility, resources, and potential roadblocks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "transformation mandate" and "building from the ground up" means interviewers will be looking for candidates who are proactive, strategic, and have a clear vision for how to establish and scale a design function in a large organization. Portfolio content should directly address these aspects.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a preferred tool, essential for UI/UX design, prototyping, and design system development at scale.

• Design System Platforms: Experience with tools and methodologies for creating, documenting, and managing design systems (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook, or custom solutions).

• Prototyping Tools: Proficiency in tools like Figma, InVision, or Adobe XD for creating interactive prototypes.

• User Research Tools: Familiarity with tools for conducting user interviews, usability testing, and surveys (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, SurveyMonkey).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Pendo to understand user behavior and measure design impact.

• BI/Dashboard Tools: Familiarity with tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Looker for reporting on design metrics and KPIs.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a design tool, understanding how design integrates with CRM (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms can be beneficial for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and a strong understanding of design system implementation are critical. The ability to leverage data and analytics to inform design decisions and demonstrate ROI will be highly valued.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Quality & Assurance: Reflecting Intertek's core mission, this translates to a commitment to high-quality, reliable, and user-centric design solutions.

• Transformation & Innovation: A drive to modernize, improve, and innovate, particularly in moving from legacy systems to contemporary solutions.

• Customer Focus: Deep understanding of user needs and a commitment to delivering solutions that provide value and peace of mind to customers.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Working effectively across departments (Product, Engineering, Marketing) to achieve shared goals.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing data and research to inform design strategies and measure impact.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Proactive engagement with Product, Engineering, and Marketing to ensure design is integrated early and throughout the development lifecycle.

• Design Advocacy: Championing the value of design internally, educating stakeholders, and building consensus around design strategies.

• Feedback Loop: Establishing clear channels for feedback from users, stakeholders, and team members to continuously improve designs and processes.

• Mentorship and Development: Fostering an environment where designers can learn, grow, and contribute to their fullest potential.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "transformation mandate" implies a culture that is open to change and innovation. Candidates who can demonstrate a proactive, collaborative, and data-informed approach to design leadership will align well with Intertek's values.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Modernizing Legacy Systems: Transitioning from outdated interfaces to a modern design system across a complex SaaS portfolio is a significant undertaking that requires strategic planning, strong stakeholder management, and technical collaboration.

• Cultural Shift: Driving a "design-led thinking" culture within a large, established organization that may have historically prioritized other functions.

• Balancing Vision and Execution: Aligning a transformative design vision with the practical constraints of product roadmaps, engineering resources, and business priorities.

• Geographically Dispersed Teams: Effectively leading and collaborating with a remote design team and cross-functional partners across different time zones.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Design Leadership: Opportunity to hone skills in shaping company-wide design strategy and influencing executive decision-making.

• Scale-Up Experience: Gaining deep experience in building and scaling design systems and teams within a global enterprise context.

• Industry Expertise: Developing specialized knowledge in HR tech, workforce management, and compliance solutions.

• Executive Mentorship: Direct interaction with senior leadership provides invaluable insights into business strategy and executive leadership development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are directly tied to the transformative nature of the role. Candidates should frame their experience in overcoming similar obstacles as a strong indicator of their potential success.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to transforming a legacy product's UI/UX into a modern, scalable design system. Walk us through a specific example from your portfolio." (Focus on process, user research, stakeholder buy-in, and outcomes.)

• "How would you establish design standards and a governance model for a diverse SaaS portfolio, ensuring consistency while allowing for team autonomy?" (Highlight your experience with design systems and cross-functional collaboration.)

• "As a Head of Design, how do you champion design as a strategic advantage and drive a design-led culture within an organization?" (Emphasize communication, advocacy, and demonstrating ROI.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Intertek People Assurance, and how do you see design playing a critical role in its future success?" (Research the division's offerings and market.)

• "How would you assess and integrate into our existing team structure and foster a collaborative relationship with Product, Engineering, and Marketing?" (Showcase your understanding of cross-functional dynamics.)

• "How do you measure the success and impact of design initiatives, especially in the context of modernization and efficiency?" (Prepare to discuss KPIs, user feedback, and business metrics.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with an executive summary of your leadership philosophy and transformational approach. Then, present 2-3 in-depth case studies that directly address the requirements of this role (e.g., legacy modernization, design system build, brand elevation).

• Narrative: Tell a compelling story for each case study: the problem, your process, the solution, your role, the challenges, and the measurable outcomes.

• Visuals: Use high-quality visuals that clearly demonstrate your design skills and the evolution of the products/brands you've worked on.

• Data: Quantify your impact wherever possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced support tickets, faster development cycles).

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to discuss your experience in driving significant change and building functions from the ground up. Demonstrating a strategic, collaborative, and results-oriented approach will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Head of Design position:

• Submit your application through the provided Oracle Cloud link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features case studies demonstrating your experience in modernizing legacy SaaS UIs, building scalable design systems, and leading design teams. Tailor your presentation to highlight your strategic vision and transformation capabilities.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your years of SaaS design experience, leadership accomplishments, and specific contributions to product modernization and design system implementation. Use keywords from the job description like "Design Leadership," "UI/UX," "Design Systems," "SaaS," and "Transformation."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design philosophy, leadership style, and approach to transformation. Be ready to walk through your portfolio case studies with detailed explanations of your process and impact.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Intertek, its People Assurance division, and its market position. Understand their mission, values, and the challenges they aim to address through this role. This will help you tailor your responses and ask insightful questions.

⚠️ 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.