Head of Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Head of Design

Company: Narmi

Location: New York, NY, USA

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Design Leadership

Date Posted: 2026-07-29

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: On-site (NYC Metro Area)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and evolve the design vision and strategy for a suite of digital banking and account opening products within the community financial institution sector.

• Build, mentor, and manage a high-performing team of 3-5 Product Designers, fostering a culture of ownership, collaboration, and design excellence.

• Establish and optimize robust design processes, including design systems and frameworks, to ensure efficient and scalable product development.

• Drive user-centered design methodologies and collaborate cross-functionally to align design with go-to-market strategies and customer needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is critical for Narmi's mission to empower community financial institutions with cutting-edge digital banking capabilities. The Head of Design will play a pivotal role in translating complex financial technology needs into intuitive and impactful user experiences, directly contributing to the company's growth and customer success metrics. The emphasis on being both a player and a coach, combined with process optimization, indicates a need for a hands-on leader who can elevate the team's capabilities while driving strategic direction.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design Vision & Strategy: Develop and champion a unified design vision across all Narmi products, ensuring strategic alignment with Product Management and Engineering roadmaps to deliver cohesive and impactful user experiences.

• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Lead, mentor, and cultivate a team of Product Designers, focusing on individual skill development, career pathing, and fostering a culture of high-quality output, ownership, and mutual appreciation.

• Process Optimization & Frameworks: Define, implement, and refine design processes, methodologies, and best practices to enhance efficiency and quality in product development, including the creation and maintenance of scalable design systems.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Forge strong partnerships with Product, Engineering, Marketing, Sales, and Customer Success teams to ensure design initiatives are integrated with go-to-market strategies and deeply address evolving customer needs and market opportunities.

• Talent Management & Acquisition: Drive the recruitment, hiring, and professional development of design talent, championing inclusive hiring practices and building a robust, capable design department.

• Executive Stakeholder Alignment: Collaborate with executive leadership to align design strategies with overarching company objectives, balancing innovative design ambitions with technical constraints and business goals.

• User-Centered Design Advocacy: Champion user-centered design principles throughout the organization, ensuring user research insights are effectively translated into product designs that meet user needs and drive engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strategic leadership role that requires not only creative direction but also operational rigor. The emphasis on "streamlined design processes to produce exceptional, user-centered products quickly" suggests a need for a candidate who can implement agile design workflows and leverage design systems for rapid iteration and consistent quality, directly impacting time-to-market for new features and products.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong academic background in Design (e.g., Graphic Design, Interaction Design, HCI), Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is expected.

Experience: A minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in product design, with at least 3-5 years in a leadership role managing and growing design teams. Experience within SaaS or metric-driven product environments is highly preferred.

Required Skills:

• Design Vision & Strategy: Proven ability to define and articulate a compelling design vision and strategy that aligns with business objectives and drives product innovation.

• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Demonstrated experience in building, leading, mentoring, and developing high-performing design teams, with a track record of fostering talent and creating clear growth paths.

• Process Optimization: Expertise in establishing and refining design processes, workflows, and best practices for efficient and high-quality product development, including the implementation of design systems and frameworks.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Exceptional ability to partner effectively with Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, Sales, and Customer Success teams to ensure cohesive product development and go-to-market execution.

• User-Centered Design Methodologies: Deep understanding and practical application of user-centered design principles, including user research (qualitative and quantitative), usability testing, and translating insights into actionable design solutions.

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration, along with familiarity with other relevant design and collaboration tools.

• Stakeholder Management: Strong capability to manage and influence executive stakeholders, aligning diverse perspectives on design strategy and priorities.

• Talent Acquisition & Development: Experience in recruiting, hiring, and managing design talent, with a focus on professional development and inclusive team building.

Preferred Skills:

• Fintech Experience: Prior experience in the Financial Technology (Fintech) sector, understanding its unique design challenges and regulatory landscape.

• SaaS Product Experience: Deep experience designing for Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platforms, with a focus on user adoption, retention, and driving key business metrics.

• Design Systems Expertise: Hands-on experience in developing, scaling, and maintaining comprehensive design systems for large-scale applications.

• Agile/Scrum Environment: Familiarity and experience working within agile development methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "10+" years of experience and the dual "player/coach" requirement suggest a need for a leader who can both strategize at a high level and contribute directly to design execution when necessary. The emphasis on SaaS and metric-driven products implies that success will be measured by tangible business outcomes derived from design improvements, such as increased conversion rates, user engagement, or deposit growth.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Leadership Case Studies: Showcase examples of how you have led design teams to achieve significant product improvements or strategic design initiatives, detailing your role in shaping the vision and guiding the execution.

• Process Innovation: Present case studies demonstrating your ability to identify inefficiencies in design workflows and implement new processes, tools, or methodologies (e.g., design systems, agile design practices) that led to measurable improvements in speed, quality, or scale.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Include examples of projects where you successfully collaborated with Product, Engineering, and other departments to align design strategy with business goals, addressing complex stakeholder needs.

• User-Centered Impact: Provide concrete examples of how user research and testing informed your design decisions and resulted in demonstrably better user experiences and business outcomes.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Candidates should be prepared to discuss their approach to designing and documenting end-to-end design workflows, from concept generation and user research to final handoff and iteration.

• System Implementation: Documented experience with implementing or significantly contributing to the development of design systems, including their structure, governance, and adoption strategies.

• Performance Measurement: Examples of how design processes and outcomes were measured, tracked, and reported against key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to product success and business growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on process optimization and team growth, the portfolio should not only highlight final design outputs but also the candidate's strategic thinking around how design work gets done. Demonstrating the ability to build scalable processes and foster a culture of continuous improvement will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The expected annual base salary for this role is $210,000 - $250,000 USD.

Benefits:

• Equity Option Grant: Significant equity participation in Narmi's growth.

• Performance-Based Bonuses: Eligibility for cash and equity bonuses tied to individual and company performance.

• Full Benefits Package: Comprehensive health, dental, vision insurance, and other standard employee benefits.

• Relocation Assistance: May be provided for the right candidates relocating to the NYC metro area.

Working Hours: While specific hours are not detailed, a full-time role typically involves approximately 40 hours per week. The company culture emphasizes ownership and results, suggesting flexibility may be available, but a strong commitment to team collaboration and meeting deadlines is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is positioned at the higher end for a Head of Design role, reflecting the senior leadership responsibilities and the strategic importance of design in Narmi's FinTech environment. The inclusion of both cash and equity bonuses, alongside an equity option grant, indicates a strong emphasis on long-term incentive alignment. Salary will be commensurate with experience, skills, and geographic location, with potential adjustments for candidates outside the NYC metro area.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically FinTech, focusing on Digital Banking and Account Opening solutions for Community Financial Institutions. Narmi is disrupting traditional banking technology by offering modern, agile digital platforms.

Company Size: Narmi is a growing company, likely falling into the mid-size category (e.g., 50-250 employees based on typical growth stages for SaaS companies with significant funding and market traction). This size offers a balance of established processes and the agility of a startup environment.

Founded: Narmi was founded with the mission to modernize digital banking for community financial institutions. The company has a history of enabling significant financial movements and account openings, indicating a track record of successful product delivery and customer impact.

Team Structure:

• The Design team is expected to be relatively small (3-5 designers) under the Head of Design, allowing for close collaboration and direct mentorship.

• The Head of Design will report to executive leadership, likely the CEO, CTO, or CPO, given the strategic nature of the role.

• Close collaboration is expected with Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, Sales, and Customer Success teams, forming a matrixed, cross-functional approach to product development and go-to-market strategy. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decisions: Narmi emphasizes unlocking capabilities and driving growth, suggesting a data-informed approach to product development and design strategy. Metrics such as deposit increases, revenue growth, and customer satisfaction are key indicators of success.

• Agile Product Development: The need for rapid product development and iteration aligns with agile methodologies, where design plays a crucial role in defining user stories, creating prototypes, and conducting user testing within development sprints.

• Customer-Centricity: The company's success is tied to its customers' success, implying a strong focus on understanding and addressing the needs of both financial institutions and their end-customers.

Company Website: https://narmi.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Narmi operates in a dynamic FinTech space where user experience is a key differentiator. The company culture likely values innovation, speed, customer focus, and a collaborative spirit. As a growing company, there's an opportunity for the Head of Design to shape the future of the design function and significantly impact the company's trajectory.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership position, "Head of Design," overseeing a critical function within the company. It sits at the executive or near-executive level, responsible for strategic direction, team development, and operational excellence within the design domain.

Reporting Structure: The Head of Design will report directly to a C-level executive (e.g., CEO, CTO, CPO), indicating high visibility and direct influence on company strategy. They will manage a team of Product Designers.

Operations Impact: The Head of Design's impact is directly tied to the user experience and functionality of Narmi's digital banking and account opening platforms. Success in this role will translate to:

• Increased customer acquisition and retention for financial institutions using Narmi.

• Higher deposit volumes and revenue generation for Narmi's clients.

• Enhanced brand perception and market competitiveness for Narmi.

• Increased efficiency and scalability of Narmi's product development lifecycle. Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Expansion: Opportunity to expand strategic influence across broader product initiatives or contribute to company-wide operational efficiency improvements.

• Team Scaling & Specialization: Lead the growth of the design team, potentially introducing specialized roles (e.g., UX Researchers, UI Engineers, Design Operations) as the company scales.

• Industry Influence: Become a thought leader in FinTech design, representing Narmi at industry events and contributing to the broader design community.

• Executive Development: Potential for further advancement within the executive team, depending on performance and company growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant opportunity for a design leader to build and shape a function within a growing FinTech company. The emphasis on process optimization and strategic alignment suggests that growth will be tied to demonstrating tangible business impact and fostering a scalable, high-performing design organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Narmi is described as having an "On-site (NYC Metro Area)" requirement, indicating a preference for in-office collaboration. This suggests a modern office space designed to foster teamwork and innovation.

Office Location(s): New York City Metro Area. This provides access to a major hub for technology and finance, facilitating networking and talent acquisition.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The on-site requirement points to a workspace that encourages face-to-face interaction, brainstorming sessions, and spontaneous problem-solving between design, product, and engineering teams.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools (Figma is explicitly mentioned) and potentially other collaboration software to support efficient workflow.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct mentorship, design critiques, and team-building activities within the physical office space.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is typical for full-time roles, the emphasis on "ownership" and "results" may suggest a degree of flexibility. However, the on-site nature and cross-functional collaboration requirements mean consistent presence and availability during core business hours are likely expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in the NYC metro area suggests a company that values in-person collaboration and team cohesion, which can be highly beneficial for a design leadership role that requires close partnership with other departments. It also positions Narmi within a competitive talent market.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or HR representative will likely conduct an initial call to assess basic qualifications, salary expectations, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A conversation with the hiring manager (likely a C-level executive) to dive deeper into leadership philosophy, strategic thinking, and team management approach.

• Team/Peer Interviews: Interviews with Product Designers, Product Managers, and Engineering leads to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to integrate with existing teams. This may include presenting design work and discussing past projects.

• Portfolio Presentation & Case Study: A dedicated session where the candidate presents their portfolio, showcasing leadership examples, process improvements, and strategic impact. This is often a critical stage for leadership roles.

• Executive/Final Interview: A final discussion with senior leadership to confirm strategic alignment, cultural fit, and overall suitability for the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Leadership & Strategy: Highlight examples where you defined vision, mentored teams, and drove strategic design initiatives, not just individual design contributions.

• Process as a Key Element: Showcase how you've implemented or improved design processes, design systems, and collaboration frameworks, demonstrating your operational acumen.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics and data wherever possible to demonstrate the business impact of your design leadership (e.g., improved conversion rates, increased user engagement, reduced time-to-market).

• Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio presentations around compelling narratives that explain the problem, your strategic approach, the process you followed, and the measurable outcomes.

• Tailor to Narmi: Emphasize any experience relevant to FinTech, SaaS, or digital banking, and articulate how your skills align with Narmi's mission and values.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss hypothetical scenarios related to team management, process challenges, or strategic design decisions within a FinTech context.

• Prepare to articulate your leadership philosophy, your approach to fostering a positive and productive design culture, and your methods for developing talent.

• Consider how you would approach building or scaling a design system or implementing new design methodologies at Narmi.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio presentation and case studies suggests that Narmi values tangible evidence of a candidate's ability to lead, strategize, and drive results. Candidates should prepare to articulate not just their design skills, but their leadership philosophy and operational approach to design management.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a requirement, indicating its centrality for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaborative workflows.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other advanced prototyping tools may be beneficial for complex interactions.

• Design Systems Platforms: Experience with tools or methodologies for building, managing, and scaling design systems (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook integration).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Familiarity with tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Google Analytics to understand user behavior, track feature adoption, and measure the impact of design decisions.

• User Research Platforms: Experience with tools for usability testing, surveys, and user feedback collection (e.g., UserTesting.com, SurveyMonkey, Hotjar).

• Data Visualization Tools: While not explicitly mentioned, the ability to interpret and present data in a clear, visually compelling manner is crucial for demonstrating design's impact.

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management Software: Proficiency with tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for managing design tasks, sprints, and cross-functional workflows.

• Collaboration Tools: Experience with platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Google Workspace for seamless communication and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma points to its core role in the design workflow. A Head of Design should be adept at leveraging these tools to enhance efficiency, collaboration, and the overall quality of design output. Understanding how design integrates with product analytics and project management tools is also key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Design Excellence: A commitment to producing high-quality, user-centered designs that meet business objectives.

• Ownership & Accountability: Encouraging team members to take responsibility for their work and its outcomes.

• Helpfulness & Collaboration: Fostering a supportive environment where team members readily assist each other and work effectively across departments.

• Appreciation for Quality: Valuing meticulous attention to detail and a dedication to crafting exceptional user experiences.

• Innovation & Agility: Embracing new ideas and adapting quickly to market changes and user needs, particularly in the fast-paced FinTech sector.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Design is positioned as a partner to Product, Engineering, Marketing, and Sales, requiring a collaborative approach to strategy and execution.

• Iterative & Feedback-Driven: A culture that embraces feedback, iteration, and continuous improvement based on user insights and performance data.

• Transparent Communication: Open dialogue and transparent sharing of information to ensure alignment and proactive problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture emphasizes a blend of high performance and supportive teamwork. The values of "ownership, helpfulness, and appreciation for quality" suggest a culture where individuals are empowered to excel while contributing to a cohesive and positive team dynamic.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation with Constraints: Harmonizing ambitious design visions with the technical realities and regulatory requirements of the FinTech industry.

• Scaling Design Operations: Growing the design team and its processes effectively to meet the demands of a rapidly scaling company without sacrificing quality or speed.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent design vision and execution across a complex product suite and diverse stakeholder group.

• FinTech Specifics: Navigating the unique challenges of designing for financial services, including security, trust, and compliance, while delivering intuitive user experiences.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Development: Opportunities to hone executive-level strategic thinking and influence within a growing organization.

• FinTech Design Specialization: Deepening expertise in the nuances of financial technology design, user behavior, and regulatory landscapes.

• Team Building & Management: Gaining experience in scaling and structuring high-performing design teams in a high-growth environment.

• Industry Exposure: Potential to represent Narmi at industry conferences and contribute to the FinTech design discourse.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a leadership role in a growing FinTech company, offering significant opportunities for professional development and impact. Success will depend on the candidate's ability to apply strategic thinking and operational rigor to complex design problems.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your philosophy on building and leading a design team. How do you foster a culture of ownership, helpfulness, and quality?"

  • Preparation: Prepare specific examples of how you've mentored designers, set performance expectations, and created a positive team environment. Use the company's stated values as a framework.

• "How would you approach establishing and refining design processes and a design system at Narmi to support rapid product development?"

  • Preparation: Outline a phased approach, detailing your methodologies for assessing current state, identifying gaps, and implementing scalable solutions. Reference your experience with design systems and agile workflows.

• "Imagine a scenario where Product and Engineering have conflicting priorities regarding a new feature's design. How would you navigate this to achieve the best outcome for the user and the business?"

  • Preparation: Focus on your communication, negotiation, and data-driven decision-making skills. Emphasize user advocacy and alignment with strategic goals.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Narmi's mission and the FinTech industry?"

  • Preparation: Research Narmi's products, recent news, and market position. Connect their mission to your passion for design and technology.

• "How do you ensure design remains aligned with business objectives and customer needs in a fast-paced environment?"

  • Preparation: Discuss your methods for staying connected with market trends, customer feedback, and business strategy, and how you translate these into design priorities.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, starting with an overview of your leadership philosophy and then diving into 2-3 key case studies that showcase your strategic impact, process improvements, and team leadership.

• Focus on "Why" and "How": For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your strategic approach, the methodologies you employed (including process and collaboration), and the measurable results.

• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your initiatives.

• Be Prepared for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, leadership style, and how you would approach challenges at Narmi.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic leadership, operational expertise in design processes, and a strong understanding of the FinTech landscape. The portfolio presentation is a critical opportunity to showcase tangible results and your ability to influence product strategy.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Head of Design position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature leadership case studies, process optimization examples, and quantifiable achievements in SaaS or FinTech environments. Highlight how you've led teams and built scalable design systems.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of leadership experience, specific achievements in team building and process improvement, and any relevant FinTech or SaaS accomplishments. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on articulating your strategic approach, leadership philosophy, and the impact of your work. Prepare to discuss hypothetical scenarios and your experience with cross-functional collaboration.

• Company Research: Thoroughly understand Narmi's mission, products, and target market. Consider how your design leadership can contribute to their goal of empowering community financial institutions.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Narmi, particularly regarding specific interview stages, process expectations, and the exact nature of the on-site requirement. Ensure all correspondence comes from official Narmi email addresses.