Design Director

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Director Company: Metalab Location: Remote (PST to GMT time zones) Job Type: Full-Time Category: Design Leadership / GTM Strategy Date Posted: 2025-09-17 Experience Level: 10+ Years

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and mentor design teams, fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration in digital product development.
• Drive strategic vision and hands-on execution across UX design, visual design, and product strategy to deliver high-impact solutions.
• Act as a key client advisor, translating business objectives into user-centered design strategies and securing stakeholder buy-in.
• Champion inclusive design practices and contribute to the company's thought leadership within the design community.
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure design initiatives align with product roadmaps and market positioning.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is "Design Director," the emphasis on client engagement, business development contributions, and strategic alignment with product roadmaps positions it strongly within a Go-To-Market (GTM) Operations context, particularly concerning how design influences product adoption and market perception. The requirement to "change the world" through products suggests a focus on innovation and market disruption, aligning with strategic GTM planning.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of Design Leads and designers, providing clear direction, constructive feedback, and professional development support to elevate design quality and team performance.
• Balance hands-on design execution with leadership responsibilities, actively contributing to project work and setting high standards for creative output and user experience.
• Serve as a primary design advisor to clients, guiding them through strategic design processes, presenting work effectively, and ensuring alignment with business goals and user needs.
• Develop and refine user-centered design strategies, leveraging expertise in UX, visual design, product strategy, and systems design to create innovative and impactful digital products.
• Collaborate closely with Account Directors and the Partnerships team to align design strategies with client business priorities, scope design work, and identify new business development opportunities.
• Apply service design and change management principles to enhance the company's design recommendations and client engagement methodologies.
• Advocate for high-quality, user-centered design principles across all projects, ensuring Metalab remains at the forefront of digital innovation and design excellence.
• Actively participate in the design community through articles, panels, and thought leadership to represent Metalab and attract top talent and business opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, client management, team mentorship, and direct design contribution. For a GTM context, the emphasis on "selling design," "client engagement," and "business development opportunities" is crucial. This indicates the Design Director will play a role in shaping the client's perception of product value and market fit, which is integral to successful GTM execution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A strong portfolio demonstrating a breadth of experience in leading design initiatives is more critical than a specific degree. However, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred.

Experience: A minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in design, with a significant portion spent in leadership roles managing design teams and client-facing projects. This should include experience with product strategy, user experience design, and visual design across various digital platforms.

Required Skills:

• Proven track record in leading and mentoring design teams, fostering a high-performance and collaborative environment.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and storytelling skills, with the ability to articulate design vision and influence diverse stakeholders, including C-suite executives.
• Deep expertise in UX design principles, user research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative), information architecture, and interaction design.
• Strong visual design sensibility, with an understanding of current design trends, typography, color theory, and layout principles.
• Proficiency in product strategy development, including the ability to translate business goals into actionable design roadmaps and user experience strategies.
• Experience in developing and advocating for scalable design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency across products.
• Demonstrated ability to lead client engagements, build strong relationships, and act as a trusted design advisor.
• Knowledge of change management and service design principles to inform strategic recommendations.
• Active engagement in the design community, demonstrating thought leadership through publications, speaking engagements, or contributions to design discourse.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with emerging technologies and design approaches such as 3D design, spatial computing, and AI-driven design tools.
• Familiarity with content design principles and their impact on user experience and brand messaging.
• Experience in business development, including scoping design work and contributing to sales pitches.
• Understanding of agile development methodologies and experience working within cross-functional product teams.
• Exposure to brand strategy development and execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The skills listed are typical for senior design leadership. The "Selling Design" and "Brand Strategy" skills are particularly relevant to GTM, as they directly influence how a product is perceived and positioned in the market. The requirement for "active engagement in the design community" suggests a need for individuals who can represent the company's expertise externally, a key aspect of GTM brand building.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrations of leading end-to-end design processes for complex digital products, from initial concept to final execution.
• Case studies showcasing strategic thinking, user research integration, and the impact of design decisions on business outcomes.
• Examples of developing and implementing design systems, highlighting scalability, usability, and adoption.
• Evidence of client engagement, including presentations, stakeholder management, and successful navigation of feedback cycles.
• Showcase of team leadership and mentorship, illustrating how you've guided and grown design talent.
• Examples of how you've applied service design or change management principles to influence project outcomes.

Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate the design process followed for key projects, emphasizing user-centered methodologies, iterative design, and collaboration.
• Detail how research findings were integrated into design decisions and validated with users.
• Provide insights into how design strategies were aligned with business objectives and product roadmaps.
• Showcase examples of managing design critiques and incorporating feedback to refine work.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Design Director role with GTM implications, the portfolio must not only highlight design excellence but also the strategic impact of design on business goals. This includes demonstrating how design contributes to product adoption, market positioning, and client satisfaction. The ability to articulate process and demonstrate ROI through design is paramount.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the "Design Director" title, 10+ years of experience, and the remote nature for experienced professionals in specified time zones, a competitive salary is expected. For senior design leadership roles in technology-focused companies, particularly those with a global client base, a typical range in high-cost-of-living remote locations could be between $170,000 - $250,000+ USD annually.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off (PTO) and holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development, including conference attendance and training.
• Retirement savings plan with company match (e.g., 401k).
• Potential for performance-based bonuses or profit sharing.
• Home office stipend or equipment for remote work.
• Access to cutting-edge design tools and technologies.

Working Hours: Typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility for remote work. However, client demands and project deadlines may require occasional extended hours or availability outside of standard business hours, especially given the PST to GMT time zone requirement, necessitating effective time management and communication across different regions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimations are based on industry benchmarks for senior design leadership roles in remote, tech-forward companies. The specific range would depend on the candidate's exact experience, location within the specified time zones, and the company's compensation philosophy. The emphasis on remote work across a broad time zone range suggests a need for strong self-management and communication skills.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Product Design & Development, Technology Consulting. Metalab partners with companies aiming to "change the world," suggesting a focus on innovation, disruption, and impactful solutions across various sectors. Company Size: While not explicitly stated, the mention of "Design Leads" and partnering with "companies ready to change the world" implies a mid-to-large-sized agency or consultancy with a significant design bench and a diverse client portfolio. Founded: Metalab was founded in 2006, indicating over 15 years of experience in the digital product space, suggesting a mature organization with established processes and a strong reputation.

Team Structure:

• The Design Director will lead a team of Design Leads and individual designers, forming a core part of the company's creative and strategic offerings.
• This role likely reports to a higher-level executive, such as a Head of Design, Chief Creative Officer, or a Director of Operations for design services.
• Close collaboration is expected with Account Directors, Project Managers, strategists, and potentially client-side product teams.

Methodology:

• Design-led innovation, focusing on user-centered design, agile development, and lean methodologies.
• Emphasis on strategic partnerships with clients, acting as an extension of their teams to drive product success.
• Commitment to high-quality execution, brand storytelling, and delivering tangible business value.

Company Website: metalab.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Metalab's focus on "changing the world" and "shaping culture" through products suggests a company culture that values ambition, innovation, and impact. This aligns with GTM strategies that aim to establish market leadership and differentiate through product excellence. The design leadership role is central to achieving this.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership position, operating at a strategic level within the design function. The Design Director is responsible for the quality and impact of the company's design output and the professional growth of its design talent. In a GTM context, this role bridges creative execution with business strategy. Reporting Structure: Reports to senior executive leadership (e.g., Head of Design, CCO). Manages Design Leads and their respective teams. Collaborates closely with client-facing roles like Account Directors. Operations Impact: The Design Director directly impacts the company's ability to attract and retain clients by ensuring the delivery of exceptional, strategically aligned design solutions. This influences revenue generation through client satisfaction, repeat business, and new business acquisition. The design quality directly supports the market positioning and perceived value of client products, a core GTM element.

Growth Opportunities:

• Advancement to higher executive leadership roles (e.g., Chief Design Officer, Head of Product).
• Opportunity to shape the company's design vision, methodologies, and talent development strategies.
• Potential to specialize in specific industries or product types, becoming a thought leader in those areas.
• Influence on business development and strategic client partnerships.
• Opportunity to mentor and develop future design leaders within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth potential is significant, moving beyond pure design execution to strategic business influence. For GTM professionals, this signifies a path towards influencing market strategy and product success at a higher organizational level.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Metalab operates with a remote-first or hybrid model, emphasizing flexibility for its global team. The specific mention of "remote candidates located within PST to GMT time zones" confirms a distributed workforce. Office Location(s): While specific physical offices aren't detailed, the remote nature means the "workspace" is wherever the employee is located, provided they meet the time zone requirements.

Workspace Context:

• A fully remote work environment, requiring strong self-discipline and proactive communication.
• Access to collaborative digital tools and platforms for team interaction, project management, and design execution.
• A culture that supports flexible working arrangements, balanced with the need for client responsiveness and team cohesion.
• Opportunities for virtual team building and professional networking.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week), with inherent flexibility for remote employees. However, the broad PST to GMT time zone coverage means individuals will need to be mindful of overlapping working hours for effective collaboration with colleagues and clients across different regions. This implies a need for efficient asynchronous communication and careful scheduling of synchronous meetings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote, distributed nature of the work environment necessitates strong communication and collaboration skills, particularly in managing asynchronous workflows and ensuring consistent team engagement across disparate time zones. This is a key operational consideration for any remote role.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in the role.
• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the hiring manager (likely a senior design or creative leader) to delve into experience, leadership philosophy, and strategic thinking.
• Team/Peer Interviews: Meetings with other Design Directors, Design Leads, or key cross-functional partners (e.g., Account Directors) to evaluate collaboration style, technical expertise, and ability to integrate into the team.
• Portfolio Presentation & Case Study: A critical stage where candidates present their work, specifically focusing on leadership, strategy, and impact. This is where they demonstrate how they've driven design excellence and client success.
• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior executive (e.g., CCO, CEO) for final assessment of vision, leadership, and strategic alignment with Metalab's mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Showcase not just the final designs, but the process, the strategic thinking behind them, and the measurable business outcomes or user impact achieved. Quantify success wherever possible (e.g., "increased conversion by X%," "reduced user task time by Y").
• Highlight Leadership: Include examples of how you’ve mentored teams, driven process improvements, resolved design challenges, and influenced stakeholders.
• Strategic Narrative: Structure your portfolio around key themes or projects that demonstrate your strategic approach to design, problem-solving, and client relationship management.
• Client-Centricity: Emphasize how your design decisions directly addressed client business objectives and user needs.
• Presentation Skills: Practice delivering your portfolio presentation concisely and engagingly, anticipating questions about your decision-making and leadership approach.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a case study or a deep dive into a specific project from your portfolio. This will likely involve discussing your role, the challenges faced, the strategies employed, and the results achieved.
• Anticipate questions about how you would approach a new client engagement, manage a challenging design team dynamic, or drive innovation within a project.
• Be ready to articulate your design philosophy, leadership style, and vision for design excellence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio presentation is crucial. Candidates should treat it as a strategic GTM pitch for their own capabilities, demonstrating how their design leadership can drive client success and business value for Metalab.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects), InVision, Principle, Framer.
• Collaboration & Project Management: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Asana, Jira, Trello, Notion, Miro, Mural.
• Research & Analytics: UserTesting.com, Hotjar, Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, Looker (or similar BI tools).
• Presentation: Keynote, PowerPoint, Google Slides.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Experience leveraging data from web analytics, user behavior tools, and product metrics to inform design decisions and measure impact.
• Ability to interpret data to identify user pain points and opportunities for improvement.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managing CRM systems, understanding how design integrates with customer journeys and marketing automation platforms is beneficial.
• Familiarity with how design impacts lead generation, customer onboarding, and retention efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a design role, familiarity with the tools used in GTM operations (analytics, CRM concepts) can be a significant advantage, demonstrating an understanding of how design contributes to the broader business objectives and customer lifecycle.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence: A commitment to delivering outstanding, high-impact design solutions that push boundaries.
• Collaboration: Fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and teamwork is prioritized.
• User-Centricity: Placing the user at the heart of all design decisions, ensuring empathy and deep understanding.
• Innovation: Encouraging experimentation, embracing new technologies, and challenging conventional approaches.
• Impact: Focusing on delivering tangible business and societal value through design.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, working closely with cross-functional teams (Account Directors, Project Managers, strategists, developers).
• Open to constructive critique and actively participating in design reviews to elevate work.
• Proactive communication and transparency in sharing progress, challenges, and insights.
• Building strong, trust-based relationships with clients and internal stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "changing the world" and "shaping culture" suggests a culture that values purpose-driven work and a desire to make a significant impact, which is a strong motivator for many GTM and operations professionals.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating ambiguity in client projects and translating complex business needs into clear design strategies.
• Balancing hands-on design execution with the strategic and leadership demands of the role.
• Managing client expectations and influencing stakeholders with diverse priorities and perspectives.
• Maintaining a high bar for design quality across multiple projects and teams simultaneously.
• Adapting to evolving design trends, technologies, and client industry landscapes.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Opportunities to lead projects for high-profile clients and work on cutting-edge digital products.
• Mentorship from senior leadership and the chance to develop new design leaders.
• Exposure to diverse industries and business models, broadening strategic understanding.
• Participation in industry conferences, workshops, and thought leadership initiatives.
• Development of skills in service design, change management, and business development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for senior leadership roles in dynamic client-service environments. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a clear path for career advancement into broader strategic and executive roles, particularly relevant for those looking to transition or expand their influence within GTM functions.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to lead a design team through a significant strategic shift or a complex client challenge. How did you ensure alignment and maintain quality?" (Focus on leadership, strategy, and process.)
• "How do you balance hands-on design execution with your directorial responsibilities? Provide an example of a project where you were deeply involved in execution while also guiding the team." (Focus on execution vs. leadership balance.)
• "Walk us through a project where your design strategy directly contributed to a client's business objectives or market success. What was your role, what were the key decisions, and what was the measurable impact?" (Focus on business impact and GTM alignment.)
• "How do you foster a culture of innovation and excellence within a design team? What methods do you use to encourage creativity and constructive critique?" (Focus on team culture and process.)
• "Imagine you're presented with a client project that seems to lack clear business goals or user needs. How would you approach diagnosing the situation and defining a strategic design direction?" (Focus on strategic problem-solving.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to Metalab's mission of partnering with companies to change the world?" (Focus on alignment with company vision.)
• "How would you contribute to Metalab's design culture and its reputation in the broader design community?" (Focus on thought leadership and cultural contribution.)
• "Describe your experience working in a remote-first environment. What are the key challenges and best practices for leading distributed teams effectively?" (Focus on remote work and leadership.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Structure: Frame your portfolio presentation as a strategic narrative, highlighting your journey as a design leader and the impact you've made.
• Key Projects: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your leadership, strategic thinking, and ability to drive measurable results. For each project:
  • Problem: Clearly articulate the client's challenge and business objectives.
  • Your Role: Define your leadership responsibilities and contributions.
  • Process & Strategy: Detail the design process, key decisions, and strategic thinking involved.
  • Solution: Present the final design outcome.
  • Impact: Quantify the business or user impact achieved.
• Showcase Leadership: Integrate examples of team management, mentorship, and client influence throughout your project presentations.
• Conciseness: Be mindful of time and present information clearly and efficiently.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design expertise, but strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and an understanding of how design contributes to business success, which is critical for a role with GTM implications.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Director position:

• Submit your application through the provided Greenhouse link.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio clearly highlights leadership experience, strategic design thinking, and measurable impact on client business objectives. Prioritize case studies that demonstrate your ability to drive GTM success through design.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize leadership achievements, client management experience, and strategic contributions. Use keywords from the job description, such as "UX Design," "Product Strategy," "Client Engagement," "Leadership," and "Brand Strategy."
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design philosophy, leadership approach, and how you've successfully driven business outcomes through design. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions and be ready to present your portfolio with a clear strategic narrative.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Metalab's client work, company mission, and culture. Understand their approach to digital product innovation and how design plays a role in their GTM strategy.

⚠️ 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.