Head of Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Head of Design

Company: Nooks

Location: San Francisco, California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design & Management

Date Posted: March 11, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the overarching design vision and strategy for Nooks' AI Sales Assistant Platform (ASAP), ensuring a cohesive and intuitive user experience across all product touchpoints.

• Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing design team, fostering a culture of innovation, user-centricity, and design excellence within a fast-paced startup environment.

• Own the end-to-end product design lifecycle, from initial concept and user research through to polished visual design and execution, translating complex AI and workflow challenges into elegant solutions.

• Collaborate strategically with Product, Engineering, and Go-to-Market (GTM) leaders to influence the product roadmap, champion user needs, and ensure design alignment with business objectives for revenue-generating teams.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and articulate the comprehensive design vision for the Nooks platform, ensuring a unified and exceptional user experience across all features and user journeys.

• Lead and manage the product design team, including recruiting top talent, fostering professional development through mentorship, and cultivating a strong design culture.

• Oversee the entire product design process, from user discovery, ideation, and wireframing to high-fidelity prototyping and final visual design, ensuring quality and usability.

• Act as a key partner to Product Management and Engineering, contributing to product strategy, roadmap planning, and the timely delivery of high-impact features.

• Translate intricate AI functionalities and complex sales workflows into simple, intuitive, and user-friendly interfaces that empower sales representatives.

• Develop, implement, and maintain scalable design systems that promote consistency, efficiency, and rapid iteration across the product.

• Champion user needs and insights throughout the product development process, grounding design decisions in user research, customer feedback, and an understanding of real-world sales workflows.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: 8+ years of progressive product design experience, with a significant portion spent in leadership or management roles within fast-growing startup environments.

Required Skills:

• 8+ years of hands-on product design experience, with a proven track record of delivering exceptional UX and visual design.

• Demonstrated experience in managing and leading design teams, including hiring, mentoring, and performance management.

• A strong, comprehensive portfolio showcasing exceptional UX, strategic product thinking, and sophisticated visual design across complex SaaS products or workflow tools.

• Proven ability to design for complex SaaS applications and workflow automation tools, understanding the nuances of enterprise software.

• Experience in building and scaling design functions and design systems within fast-paced startup environments.

• Ability to operate effectively at both strategic (defining vision, roadmap input) and tactical (hands-on design execution) levels.

• Strong cross-functional leadership and collaboration skills, effectively partnering with Product, Engineering, and GTM teams.

• Deep understanding of user research methodologies, user-centered design principles, and translating customer workflows into intuitive interfaces.

• Passion for creating products that users love and rely on for their daily productivity and success.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience specifically within the AI or sales technology (SalesTech) space.

• Familiarity with AI-driven product design challenges and opportunities.

• Experience with recruiting and building design teams from the ground up.

• Strong understanding of product strategy and how design contributes to business outcomes.

• Proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite).

📝 Enhancement Note: The "10+ Years" AI-derived experience level aligns with the "8+ years" explicitly stated, suggesting a senior leadership role with significant room for growth. The emphasis on "complex SaaS products or workflow tools" and "AI" strongly suggests a need for experience in enterprise software design, particularly within productivity or automation platforms relevant to Nooks' AI Sales Assistant.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is mandatory, clearly demonstrating your product design expertise, strategic thinking, and visual design capabilities.

• Showcase case studies that detail your involvement in the entire product development lifecycle, from problem definition and user research to iterative design and final implementation.

• Highlight projects that involved designing complex SaaS products or workflow tools, emphasizing the challenges and solutions.

• Include examples of how you have influenced product strategy and roadmap through design thinking.

Process Documentation:

• Provide evidence of your ability to define and document design processes, including user research protocols, design sprints, and feedback loops.

• Illustrate how you have established scalable design systems, including style guides, component libraries, and design tokens.

• Showcase examples of how you have integrated design with product management and engineering workflows to ensure efficient and effective product development.

• Be prepared to discuss how you measure the success and impact of design initiatives, linking them to user satisfaction and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Head of Design role, the portfolio is critical. It should not only display aesthetic and functional design skills but also strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and the ability to scale design operations within a growing company. Emphasis should be placed on how the candidate has driven product outcomes through design.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Head of Design in San Francisco with 8+ years of experience, managing teams, and working in a high-growth SaaS startup environment, the estimated annual salary range is $180,000 - $250,000. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, proven impact, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Stock options or equity in a rapidly growing startup.

• Generous paid time off (PTO) and holidays.

• Opportunities for professional development, conference attendance, and continued learning.

• Potential for flexible work arrangements within a hybrid model.

• 401(k) or similar retirement savings plan.

• Commuter benefits or stipends for hybrid work.

Working Hours: Standard full-time work hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week, with flexibility often available given the hybrid work arrangement. However, the demands of a leadership role in a fast-paced startup may require occasional extended hours to meet critical deadlines or strategic objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on data from reputable sources for similar roles in the San Francisco Bay Area, considering the company's funding status and growth stage. Benefits are typical for VC-backed tech startups and are tailored to attract senior talent.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Software as a Service (SaaS), Sales Technology (SalesTech). Nooks operates at the intersection of these dynamic fields, providing an AI sales assistant platform designed to enhance sales productivity and pipeline generation.

Company Size: Nooks is a rapidly growing startup, having raised over $70M from top VCs. While the exact current employee count isn't specified, its growth trajectory (4x ARR, then 3x, planning to 3x again) suggests a company that has scaled significantly from its inception and is likely in the range of 50-200 employees, with plans for further expansion.

Founded: Founded in 2020, Nooks is a relatively young but highly ambitious company with a clear mission to automate sales busywork.

Team Structure:

• The Design team, which this role will lead, is expected to be small initially and grow under the Head of Design's leadership.

• This role will work closely with Product Management, Engineering, and Go-to-Market (GTM) leaders, indicating a highly cross-functional and collaborative environment.

Methodology:

• Nooks leverages AI to automate sales tasks, implying a data-driven and technology-forward approach to product development.

• The company emphasizes user-centricity, aiming to solve real workflows for modern revenue teams and ensure its platform is intuitive and beloved by users.

• The rapid growth and funding suggest an agile, iterative development process focused on delivering value and scaling quickly.

Company Website: https://www.nooks.ai/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on AI and SalesTech, coupled with its rapid growth and VC backing, points to a dynamic, innovative, and demanding work environment. The Head of Design will be instrumental in shaping the user experience of a cutting-edge product.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior leadership position, specifically Head of Design. It is a strategic role responsible for defining the design vision, building and managing a team, and significantly influencing product strategy and user experience. This is a critical leadership role within the GTM and Product organizations.

Reporting Structure: The Head of Design will likely report directly to a C-level executive, such as the CEO, CTO, or Chief Product Officer (CPO), given the strategic importance and cross-functional nature of the role. This ensures direct access to executive leadership and influence on company-wide product decisions.

Operations Impact: The Head of Design's impact is crucial for Nooks' success. By ensuring an intuitive, beautiful, and effective user experience, this role directly influences:

• Sales Productivity: An optimized platform reduces busywork, allowing sales reps to focus on selling, directly impacting pipeline generation and revenue.

• User Adoption & Retention: A superior user experience drives adoption, customer satisfaction, and long-term retention, contributing to ARR growth.

• Brand Perception: The design of the product is a key element of the brand's identity and perceived quality.

• Scalability: Well-designed systems and processes enable the company to scale its product and user base efficiently.

Growth Opportunities:

• Team Expansion: Opportunity to build and scale the design team from a small initial group into a robust, specialized function.

• Strategic Influence: Shape the product vision and roadmap, directly impacting the direction of an AI-powered sales platform.

• Organizational Design: Establish the design culture, systems, and standards for a growing company, leaving a lasting legacy.

• Industry Leadership: Become a recognized leader in the design of AI-driven sales tools and workflow automation.

• Potential for VP Level: As the company scales, this role could evolve into a VP of Design or VP of Product Design.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned for significant impact and growth, offering the chance to build a design function from the ground up within a rapidly scaling tech company. The candidate will have considerable influence over the product's success and user perception.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job is listed as "TELECOMMUTE" with "location_requirements_raw" specifying "United States," but the "ai_work_arrangement" is "Hybrid." This suggests that while remote work is possible within the US, the company likely operates on a hybrid model, requiring some in-office presence, particularly for the San Francisco location. This hybrid approach balances flexibility with the collaborative benefits of in-person interaction.

Office Location(s): The primary physical location is San Francisco, California. This implies access to a vibrant tech hub with potential for in-person collaboration with local teams and networking opportunities.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model suggests a dynamic workspace that blends remote flexibility with structured in-office collaboration days.

• Expect a fast-paced, high-energy environment typical of a well-funded, rapidly growing startup.

• The workspace will likely be equipped with modern design and collaboration tools to support both remote and in-office team members.

• Opportunities for spontaneous brainstorming, team alignment meetings, and direct interaction with cross-functional peers (Product, Engineering, GTM) will be available on in-office days.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time schedule of approximately 40 hours per week is expected, with inherent flexibility often associated with hybrid and remote roles. However, the demanding nature of a leadership position in a high-growth startup may necessitate adaptable working hours to align with team needs, project deadlines, and cross-timezone collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "TELECOMMUTE" and "Hybrid" designations suggest a flexible policy, but for a Head of Design role based in San Francisco, regular in-office presence for team leadership and strategic meetings is highly probable. Understanding the specific expectations for in-office days will be crucial.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter or HR to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and alignment with the role's core requirements.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Conversation with the direct manager (likely CEO, CTO, or CPO) to delve deeper into strategic thinking, leadership philosophy, and overall fit.

• Portfolio Presentation & Deep Dive: A dedicated session where the candidate presents their portfolio, walking through key case studies. This will focus on design process, problem-solving, strategic impact, and leadership. Expect detailed questions about specific projects.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Product, Engineering, and GTM teams to assess collaboration skills, communication style, and ability to integrate design into broader business functions.

• Team Interviews (Optional): Potential interviews with existing design team members (if any) or other senior leaders to gauge team dynamics and leadership style.

• Final Round/Executive Interview: A concluding interview, potentially with the CEO, to confirm alignment, discuss long-term vision, and finalize compensation.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent your experience in SaaS, workflow tools, AI, and team leadership. Tailor the selection to Nooks' product and mission.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, iteration, execution), the challenges encountered, and the measurable outcomes (impact on users, business metrics).

• Highlight Leadership: If possible, include examples of how you mentored designers, influenced strategy, or scaled design processes. For this role, demonstrating team leadership is paramount.

• Showcase Design Systems: If you've built or significantly contributed to design systems, dedicate a section or specific examples to showcase their structure, components, and impact on efficiency and consistency.

• Visual Clarity & Polish: Ensure your portfolio is visually appealing, well-organized, and easy to navigate. High-quality mockups and clear explanations are essential.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your design solutions (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction scores).

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a design exercise or case study, which might involve critiquing an existing product, proposing design improvements for a specific Nooks feature, or outlining a strategy for a new feature.

• Focus on demonstrating your process, strategic thinking, and ability to translate business needs into user-centric solutions.

• Practice articulating your design decisions clearly and concisely, anticipating questions about trade-offs, user impact, and scalability.

• Research Nooks.ai thoroughly: understand their product, target audience (revenue teams), competitive landscape, and recent company news. This will allow you to tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Head of Design role will heavily emphasize the portfolio and the candidate's ability to articulate strategic vision, leadership, and process. Candidates should be ready to discuss their experience building and scaling design functions.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable as industry standard for collaborative SaaS design), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator), InVision, Axure.

• User Research & Testing: UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback, Dovetail, Hotjar.

• Design Systems Management: Storybook, Zeroheight, or custom-built component libraries.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello, Slack.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics, Heap.

• Business Intelligence: Tableau, Looker, Power BI (though less common for design-specific roles, awareness is beneficial).

• A/B Testing Tools: Optimizely, VWO.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: Salesforce, HubSpot (as Nooks is used by companies like HubSpot, understanding CRM integration is key).

• Automation Tools: While Nooks itself is an automation tool, understanding how design integrates with broader marketing automation platforms (e.g., Marketo, Pardot) might be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in collaborative design tools like Figma is paramount. Experience with design systems and user research platforms is also essential. Awareness of product analytics and CRM systems is important for understanding the context of Nooks' user base and product impact.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and solving user problems, ensuring that design decisions are grounded in user needs and workflows.

• Innovation & AI Integration: Embracing cutting-edge AI technology to create novel solutions and push the boundaries of what's possible in sales enablement.

• Excellence & Craftsmanship: A dedication to high-quality design execution, attention to detail, and continuous improvement of the product's aesthetic and functional aspects.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering an open environment where design works closely with Product, Engineering, and GTM, sharing insights and feedback freely.

• Impact & Results-Driven: Focusing design efforts on delivering measurable business outcomes, such as increased sales pipeline, improved user efficiency, and higher customer satisfaction.

• Agility & Adaptability: Thriving in a fast-paced startup environment, embracing change, and iterating quickly based on feedback and market dynamics.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Design will be deeply embedded within product teams, working hand-in-hand with Product Managers and Engineers from ideation through launch.

• Data-Informed Design: Collaboration will be supported by data from user research, product analytics, and customer feedback to guide decision-making.

• Feedback-Rich Environment: An open culture where constructive feedback is welcomed and actively sought, both within the design team and from cross-functional partners.

• Shared Ownership: Encouraging a sense of shared ownership over the product's success, with design playing a pivotal role in shaping its direction and user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: Nooks' culture likely reflects its rapid growth and innovative product. A Head of Design should embody a blend of strategic vision, user advocacy, and strong collaborative leadership, fitting into a dynamic, data-informed, and results-oriented environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling Design from Scratch: Building a design team, establishing processes, and creating a design system in a fast-growing startup presents significant organizational and operational challenges.

• Translating AI Complexity: Effectively designing user interfaces for complex AI functionalities and ensuring they are intuitive and trustworthy for sales professionals.

• Balancing Strategy and Execution: Effectively managing time and resources to simultaneously drive high-level design strategy and oversee hands-on design execution.

• Rapid Iteration Cycles: Adapting to the fast-paced startup environment requires quick decision-making and the ability to iterate rapidly without sacrificing quality.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent design vision and execution across multiple departments (Product, Engineering, Marketing, Sales) that may have competing priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Build & Lead a Team: Gain extensive experience in talent acquisition, team building, and leadership development within a design context.

• Shape a Product Vision: Directly influence the strategic direction and user experience of a cutting-edge AI sales enablement platform.

• Develop Design Systems at Scale: Create and evolve a robust design system that supports rapid product growth and ensures consistency across a growing feature set.

• Industry Expertise: Deepen knowledge in AI, SalesTech, and workflow automation design, becoming a thought leader in this specialized field.

• Executive Mentorship: Benefit from direct interaction and potential mentorship from senior leadership (CEO, CTO, CPO) in a high-growth environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a senior leadership role in a scaling startup, offering ample opportunities for professional growth and impact. The candidate will have the chance to build a function and influence a product at a critical stage of its development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach defining Nooks' design vision for the next 1-3 years, considering our AI capabilities and target audience?" (Focus on strategic framework, user research, competitive analysis, and alignment with business goals).

• "Describe your process for translating complex AI functionalities into intuitive and user-friendly interfaces for sales professionals." (Highlight methods for simplifying complexity, user testing, and ensuring trust).

• "How do you balance high-level product strategy with hands-on design execution in a fast-paced startup environment?" (Discuss prioritization, delegation, and personal workflow).

• "What are the key components of a scalable design system, and how would you approach building one for Nooks?" (Emphasize modularity, documentation, governance, and adoption strategies).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Nooks and our mission to revolutionize sales productivity with AI?" (Show genuine interest and research into the company's product and market).

• "How do you envision design contributing to Nooks' rapid ARR growth and market leadership?" (Connect design impact directly to business outcomes).

• "Describe your experience working with Engineering and Product teams. What are best practices for effective collaboration?" (Focus on partnership, communication, and shared goals).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a high-level overview of your career and philosophy, then dive into 2-3 detailed case studies. Conclude with your vision for Nooks' design.

• Case Study Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate: the problem statement, your specific role and responsibilities, the research and discovery phase, your design process and iterations, key design decisions and trade-offs, and the quantifiable results and impact.

• Design Systems Focus: If you have significant design system experience, dedicate a segment to showcase its structure, components, and how it enables efficiency and consistency.

• Leadership Emphasis: For this role, highlight instances where you led design initiatives, mentored designers, influenced product strategy, or scaled design operations.

• Q&A Readiness: Anticipate detailed questions about your process, decisions, and challenges. Be prepared to discuss trade-offs and alternative approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and a deep understanding of the product design process within a SaaS and AI context. The candidate must be able to articulate their impact and vision clearly.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Head of Design position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Customize your resume: Highlight your leadership experience, experience with SaaS products and workflow tools, and any experience with AI or SalesTech. Quantify achievements wherever possible, focusing on impact on user experience, team growth, or product outcomes.

• Prepare your portfolio: Ensure it is up-to-date, showcases your strongest relevant work (SaaS, workflow tools, leadership), and tells a compelling story for each project. Be ready to discuss your design systems experience and any leadership contributions.

• Research Nooks: Understand their product, target market (revenue teams), competitive landscape, and company mission. Familiarize yourself with their current product experience.

• Practice your narrative: Be ready to articulate your design philosophy, leadership approach, and vision for Nooks' design function. Prepare specific examples for common interview questions related to strategy, team building, and cross-functional collaboration.

⚠️ 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.