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 / Brand Strategy

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

Experience Level: Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• This is a transformative leadership role responsible for defining and executing the end-to-end design strategy for Intertek's People Assurance division.

• The position demands a visionary leader to modernize legacy product interfaces and establish cohesive design principles across the software portfolio, influencing both product and brand identity.

• Key focus areas include driving UI/UX improvements, developing and scaling a design system, and fostering a design-led culture through change management.

• This role requires a blend of strategic vision, hands-on design execution, and strong people management capabilities to lead a team of 6-10 designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a significant transformation initiative, not merely maintenance. The emphasis on "building from the ground up" and "taking a legacy product or brand and transforming it" indicates a high-impact, strategic opportunity for a candidate who thrives on change and has a proven history of modernizing design functions.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design Vision & Strategy: Shape and implement a comprehensive design philosophy to enhance workflow efficiency, product functionality, and overall usability across the software portfolio.

• Product Design Leadership: Own the end-to-end product design lifecycle, from initial discovery and wireframing to polished UI, with a primary focus on transitioning legacy interfaces to a modern, intuitive design system.

• User Research & Insights: Lead direct customer and prospect research to understand user needs, identify industry trends, and translate these insights into actionable product recommendations, partnering closely with Product Management.

• Design Systems & Standards: Define, implement, and govern a scalable design system and component library, ensuring consistent application of core design principles and usability best practices across all People Assurance products and services.

• Brand & External Consistency: Collaborate with the Marketing team to evolve and maintain shared visual standards, ensuring seamless consistency between product experiences and external brand touchpoints, elevating the product brand to signal trust and market leadership.

• Change Management & Modernization: Drive a cultural and operational shift towards design-led thinking, championing design as a competitive advantage and establishing clear roadmaps for evolving visual and UX standards from legacy to modern.

• Team Development & Management: Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing design team, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented environment.

• Stakeholder Communication: Serve as a trusted design advisor to executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders, presenting design strategy, direction, and progress effectively.

• Accessibility & Inclusion: Ensure adherence to accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design principles in all product design work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on strategic leadership and hands-on execution, particularly in modernizing legacy systems. The emphasis on "direct research with customers and prospects" and partnering with Product Management suggests a highly collaborative and data-informed approach to design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent experience and expertise in design principles is paramount.

Experience:

• 6-8+ years of progressive design experience within a SaaS (Software as a Service) environment.

• A minimum of 2 years in a senior or lead design role, with demonstrated people management experience.

• Proven track record of successfully modernizing legacy product UIs, with the ability to articulate the process and outcomes achieved. Required Skills:

• Design Leadership & Vision: Ability to define and articulate a compelling design strategy and vision for a product suite.

• UI/UX Design: Expertise in end-to-end product design, including wireframing, prototyping, and user interface design.

• Design Systems: Experience building, scaling, and governing design systems and component libraries.

• User Research: Proficiency in conducting user research, analyzing insights, and translating them into actionable design recommendations.

• Brand Strategy & Visual Design: Strong visual design skills with an uncompromising eye for detail, and the ability to influence brand identity.

• People Management: Demonstrated experience in hiring, mentoring, and developing design talent.

• SaaS Design Expertise: Deep understanding of design principles and best practices within the SaaS product development lifecycle.

• Change Management: Ability to lead cultural and operational shifts, driving modernization efforts.

• Executive Presence & Communication: Strong presentation and communication skills to effectively engage with and influence senior leadership.

• WCAG Accessibility: Knowledge of and experience implementing web accessibility standards.

Preferred Skills:

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced skills in Figma, particularly for design system development and collaborative workflows.

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

• High-Growth/Scale-Up Environment Experience: Familiarity with fast-paced environments requiring adaptability and rapid iteration.

• Front-End Development Collaboration: Understanding of front-end development workflows and experience collaborating closely with engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "full-spectrum design capability" and the emphasis on a "demonstrated track record of modernizing a product UI" are critical differentiators. Candidates should be prepared to showcase specific examples of transforming legacy products into modern, user-friendly experiences.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Modernization Case Studies: Showcase at least one significant project where you led the modernization of a legacy product's UI/UX, detailing the challenges, your strategic approach, the design process, and quantifiable outcomes (e.g., improved usability, adoption rates, reduced support tickets).

• Design System Development: Include examples of design systems you have built or significantly contributed to, highlighting component libraries, style guides, and governance models. Demonstrate how these systems promoted consistency and efficiency.

• End-to-End Product Design: Present a comprehensive product design project from conception to launch, illustrating your ability to handle all phases of the design process, including user research, wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and collaboration with engineering.

• Brand Integration: Provide examples of how you have successfully aligned product design with brand identity, ensuring a cohesive visual experience across different touchpoints.

• Leadership & Team Impact: If applicable, include examples demonstrating your leadership in growing or managing a design team, showcasing mentorship and team development strategies.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Demonstrate your process for mapping, analyzing, and optimizing user workflows to improve efficiency and user satisfaction within software products.

• Design System Implementation & Governance: Detail your methodology for establishing and maintaining a design system, including documentation, version control, and processes for team adoption and contribution.

• User Research & Feedback Loops: Outline your approach to conducting user research, gathering feedback, and integrating these insights into iterative design improvements.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Illustrate your processes for collaborating effectively with Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and Executive Leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is crucial for this role, serving as the primary evidence of a candidate's ability to lead design transformation. Emphasis should be placed on demonstrating tangible results and a systematic approach to modernizing design functions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

$150,000 - $200,000 per year.

This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for Head of Design roles with 6-8+ years of experience in the SaaS sector, particularly in leadership positions focused on product modernization and design system implementation. Factors such as Austin's cost of living and the strategic importance of this transformation role at Intertek have been considered.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans.

• Financial Security: Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, and a 401(k) plan with a company match.

• Work-Life Balance: Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) including vacation and sick time.

• Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement to support continuous learning and skill enhancement.

• Additional Perks: Potential for other benefits as per company policy.

Working Hours:

Standard full-time hours, approximately 40 hours per week. Given the remote nature and leadership responsibilities, flexibility may be expected to accommodate global team collaboration and critical project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation. Candidates should verify the exact compensation during the interview process. The benefits package reflects a competitive offering for a senior-level role in a global organization.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Quality Assurance (QA), Testing, Inspection, and Certification (ATIC) solutions, with a specific focus on People Assurance services (training, certification, consulting for workforces).

Company Size: Large enterprise (Intertek operates globally with a significant employee base, likely exceeding 10,000 employees worldwide). The People Assurance division, while part of this larger entity, may have a more focused team size.

Founded: Intertek was founded in 1883, indicating a long-standing history and established presence in the industry.

Team Structure:

• The Head of Design will lead a team of 6-10 designers within the People Assurance division.

• This team will likely comprise various design specializations (e.g., UX/UI designers, visual designers, researchers).

• The Head of Design will report to executive leadership within People Assurance, with significant cross-functional collaboration expected with Product Management, Engineering, and Marketing. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on user research, customer insights, and performance metrics to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Agile & Iterative Development: Likely follows agile methodologies, requiring flexibility and continuous iteration in design processes.

• Systematic Approach: Focus on establishing scalable design systems and governance models for consistency and efficiency.

• Collaborative Environment: Fosters close partnerships between design, product, engineering, and marketing teams.

Company Website: https://www.intertek.com/ and specifically https://www.intertek.com/people-assurance

📝 Enhancement Note: Intertek's long history suggests a stable organization, but the "transformation mandate" for this role indicates a commitment to innovation and modernization within the People Assurance division. Understanding this balance will be key for candidates.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership position, equivalent to a Director or VP level within a specialized function. It is a "Head of" role, signifying ultimate responsibility for the design discipline within the People Assurance division.

Reporting Structure: The Head of Design will likely report to a VP or SVP of Product, Technology, or the People Assurance division directly. They will manage a team of designers and collaborate closely with peers in Product Management, Engineering, and Marketing.

Operations Impact: The design function under this leadership is positioned as a strategic driver of business success. By modernizing the user experience and brand, this role directly contributes to improved customer satisfaction, increased product adoption, enhanced market perception, and ultimately, revenue growth and competitive advantage for Intertek People Assurance.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the future of design within a significant division of a global company, with executive backing for transformation initiatives.

• Team Building & Leadership: Build and scale a high-performing design team, developing leadership skills and mentoring talent.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Expand influence and understanding across product, technology, marketing, and business strategy.

• Industry Impact: Contribute to defining best practices in workforce assurance design, potentially influencing industry standards in HR tech and compliance solutions.

• Career Advancement: Potential for advancement to higher leadership roles within Intertek's broader design or product organizations as the company continues its transformation journey.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity to define a design legacy and drive significant change, making it attractive for experienced leaders looking to make a substantial impact rather than simply maintain existing systems.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a remote position, offering flexibility in work location. However, collaboration with distributed teams is essential.

Office Location(s): While remote, the role is based in Austin, Texas, suggesting potential for participation in local industry events or occasional team gatherings if the company has a presence there. The company has offices in over 100 countries globally.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Collaboration: Expect a digital-first work environment requiring strong proficiency with remote collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Teams, Zoom, Miro, Figma).

• Cross-Functional Interaction: The role necessitates close collaboration with Product, Engineering, and Marketing teams, often in a virtual setting.

• Design Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software and collaboration platforms will be provided.

• Autonomy & Initiative: The "comfortable operating in ambiguity" requirement suggests an environment where self-starters who drive clarity are valued.

Work Schedule:

Primarily a standard 40-hour work week, but flexibility will be required to accommodate different time zones for global collaboration and to meet project deadlines. The remote nature allows for some flexibility in structuring the workday.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be comfortable and effective in a remote, digitally connected environment, demonstrating strong self-management and communication skills.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

2. Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion with the hiring manager (likely a VP of Product or Technology) focusing on leadership experience, strategic vision, and proposed approach to design transformation.

3. Portfolio Review & Presentation: A dedicated session where the candidate presents their portfolio, focusing on key case studies demonstrating modernization of legacy products, design system development, and leadership impact. This will likely involve a live presentation and Q&A.

4. Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Product Management, Engineering, and Marketing to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and alignment with team goals.

5. Executive Interview: Final interview with a senior executive (e.g., SVP or C-suite) to gauge strategic alignment, executive presence, and overall fit for the organization's transformation objectives.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Transformation: Clearly articulate your role and impact in modernizing legacy systems. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your case studies.

• Showcase Design System Expertise: If you've built a design system, walk through its architecture, governance, and adoption strategy. Emphasize how it drives efficiency and consistency.

• Demonstrate Full-Spectrum Capability: Ensure your portfolio includes examples of both strategic product/UX design and strong visual/brand design.

• Quantify Results: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your design work (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion times, increased user satisfaction scores).

• Prepare for "How": Be ready to explain your process, methodologies, and decision-making rationale for each project. Executive leadership will want to understand how you achieve results.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Strategy Challenge: You may be asked to outline your initial 90-120 day plan for transforming the design function, or to propose a solution to a hypothetical design problem relevant to Intertek's People Assurance products.

• Design System Thinking: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach building or scaling a design system for a diverse product suite.

• Leadership Scenarios: Anticipate questions about managing design teams, resolving conflicts, and influencing stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is rigorous and designed to assess strategic leadership, practical design execution, and the ability to drive significant change. A well-prepared portfolio is non-negotiable.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly preferred, essential for design system work), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator).

• Collaboration & Whiteboarding: Miro, Mural, Confluence, Jira.

• User Research Platforms: UserTesting.com, Maze, SurveyMonkey, Dovetail (or similar tools for qualitative and quantitative user feedback).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics (understanding how users interact with digital products).

• Product Analytics: Mixpanel, Amplitude, Pendo (for in-depth user behavior analysis within SaaS products).

• BI Tools: Tableau, Power BI (for visualizing data and performance metrics).

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managed by Design, familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms is beneficial for understanding customer journeys and brand touchpoints.

• Integration Tools: Understanding how design impacts integrations and data flow between systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and experience building design systems are explicitly mentioned as preferred. Candidates should highlight their experience with these tools and demonstrate how they leverage technology to drive design efficiency and impact.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Transformation & Innovation: A drive to modernize and innovate, moving away from legacy approaches towards cutting-edge design solutions.

• Customer Centricity: Deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs through research and empathetic design.

• Excellence & Detail: An uncompromising standard for quality, detail, and execution in all design outputs.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Strong emphasis on working effectively across teams (Product, Engineering, Marketing) to achieve shared goals.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Using insights and metrics to inform design strategy and measure success.

• Accountability & Ownership: Taking full responsibility for the design function and its outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Design-Led Partnership: Design acts as a strategic partner, not just a service provider, working closely with Product and Engineering from ideation through development.

• Open Communication: Encouraging transparent feedback, constructive critique, and knowledge sharing within the design team and across departments.

• Agile & Iterative: Embracing flexibility and continuous improvement, with a willingness to adapt designs based on feedback and evolving requirements.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Actively seeking alignment with Marketing on brand consistency and with Product on strategic roadmaps.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture emphasizes a proactive, change-oriented approach, with design positioned as a strategic driver rather than a support function. Candidates should demonstrate alignment with these values.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Modernizing Legacy Systems: Transitioning from outdated interfaces to a modern design system is a significant technical and cultural undertaking that requires careful planning, stakeholder buy-in, and robust execution.

• Balancing Vision with Execution: Driving a transformative vision while managing day-to-day design operations and team development requires strong organizational and prioritization skills.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Gaining consensus and driving adoption of new design standards across different departments and stakeholders with varying priorities.

• Ambiguity & Pace: Operating effectively in an environment that is undergoing significant change and potentially moving at a rapid pace.

• Defining Design's ROI: Demonstrating the tangible business value and return on investment of design initiatives to executive leadership.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Design Leadership: Develop advanced skills in setting design vision, managing design operations, and influencing organizational strategy.

• Design System Architecture: Deepen expertise in building and scaling complex design systems for enterprise-level products.

• Industry Transformation: Gain hands-on experience leading digital transformation in a well-established company within the HR Tech/Workforce Assurance sector.

• Executive Communication & Negotiation: Enhance skills in presenting to C-suite executives and navigating complex organizational dynamics.

• Mentorship & Team Growth: Develop leadership capabilities by building and nurturing a high-performing design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges that are directly tied to substantial growth opportunities for the right candidate. Success will hinge on managing complexity and driving impactful change.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to transforming a legacy product's user experience. Walk us through a specific example and the results." (Focus on your process, stakeholder management, and quantifiable outcomes.)

• "How would you establish and govern a design system for a diverse SaaS portfolio like Intertek People Assurance?" (Discuss your methodology for component creation, documentation, adoption, and maintenance.)

• "What are the key principles of a design-led organization, and how would you foster that culture at Intertek?" (Highlight your experience in change management and championing design's strategic value.)

• "How do you measure the impact and ROI of design initiatives?" (Prepare to discuss relevant metrics, reporting, and how you tie design outcomes to business objectives.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Intertek People Assurance and the challenges it faces in its market?" (Research the company, its services, and competitors.)

• "How do you see design contributing to Intertek's overall mission of Total Quality Assurance?" (Connect design principles to the company's core values and business goals.)

• "Describe a time you had to influence executive leadership on a design-related decision. What was your strategy?" (Showcase your executive presence and communication skills.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Frame your portfolio presentations as narratives about problem-solving, strategic thinking, and impactful outcomes.

• Focus on Transformation: For this role, prioritize case studies that demonstrate your ability to modernize legacy products and build design systems.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals, prototypes, and data to illustrate your design process and results.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, methodologies, and the challenges you encountered.

• Articulate Your Leadership: Clearly define your role and contributions, especially if presenting team projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Tailor your preparation to the specific emphasis of this role: transformation, design systems, and leadership. Be ready to articulate your vision and demonstrate a proven ability to execute it.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Head of Design position:

• Submit your application through the provided Oracle Cloud portal link.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 key projects that most strongly demonstrate your experience in modernizing legacy UIs, building scalable design systems, and your leadership capabilities. Ensure these projects highlight quantifiable results and your strategic approach.

• Tailor Your Resume: Emphasize keywords related to SaaS design, UI/UX leadership, design systems, change management, and people management. Quantify achievements wherever possible and clearly state your years of relevant experience.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design philosophy, your approach to transformation, and your vision for the Intertek People Assurance design function. Be ready to walk through your portfolio with confidence.

• Research Intertek: Understand Intertek's mission, the People Assurance division's offerings, and the competitive landscape. Identify how design can uniquely contribute to their goals.

⚠️ 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.