Design Director

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Director

Company: XQ

Location: Oakland, California, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Design Leadership / Product Strategy

Date Posted: February 13, 2026

Experience Level: 8+ Years

Remote Status: On-site (5 days/week)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and define the strategic design direction for XQ's comprehensive product ecosystem, ensuring seamless integration with overarching organizational goals and deep alignment with user needs.

• Drive the creative vision and execution for XQ's brand experience across all digital products, content initiatives, national campaigns, and public-facing interactions, upholding an exceptionally high standard of quality and cultural relevance.

• Act as a senior design practitioner and systems thinker, translating complex educational, policy, and research insights into clear, actionable product and experience decisions that foster adoption and impact.

• Provide critical creative direction and rigorous critique across multiple design disciplines (product, visual, content, motion), fostering a culture of intentionality, curiosity, and continuous improvement within design practice.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior leadership position within a mission-driven organization focused on educational reform. The emphasis on "strategic lever for clarity, adoption, and impact" and "intersection of product strategy, design craft, and creative direction" indicates a highly influential role that goes beyond typical design execution, requiring strong strategic thinking and cross-functional leadership. The "systems thinker" requirement highlights the need to manage a complex product ecosystem.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Shape and evolve the design direction for XQ’s entire product ecosystem, ensuring strategic alignment with organizational objectives and profound resonance with user needs.

• Collaborate intimately with Product and Engineering teams to define product roadmaps, prioritize initiatives, and articulate the strategic 'why' behind what gets built, ensuring a cohesive user experience.

• Translate intricate policy frameworks, educational research, and community feedback into intuitive, accessible, and impactful product and experience designs.

• Provide expert creative direction and constructive critique to internal teams, external agencies, and contractors across product design, visual design, content strategy, and motion graphics.

• Uphold and elevate XQ's brand experience and visual language, ensuring consistency, cultural relevance, and a high standard of design quality across all touchpoints, from digital platforms to public campaigns.

• Guide design processes from initial concept development through to successful product launch, adeptly balancing ambitious vision with pragmatic, real-world constraints and iterative feedback loops.

• Foster a design culture characterized by rigor, intellectual curiosity, intentionality, and continuous learning, supporting the growth and development of design talent within the organization.

• Make decisive, well-reasoned design decisions in ambiguous and high-stakes environments, demonstrating strong judgment and strategic foresight.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, hands-on creative direction, and team/agency management. The emphasis on translating complex inputs (policy, research) into user-centric product decisions is a key differentiator for this role, requiring a deep understanding of the education sector. The need to "set direction under ambiguity" and "elevate both strategy and craft" points to a senior individual contributor or team lead role with significant autonomy.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio and demonstrated experience in design leadership and strategy are paramount. A background in Design, HCI, Graphic Design, or a related field is typically beneficial.

Experience: 8+ years of progressive experience in design, with a substantial portion spent in senior or staff-level roles, demonstrating leadership in product strategy and creative direction.

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to lead product strategy through design, influencing product roadmaps and development priorities beyond mere execution.

• Extensive experience directing design across multiple domains, including digital product design and brand/creative initiatives.

• Exceptional systems thinking capabilities, with the ability to conceptualize and manage design across complex, interconnected products and organizational initiatives.

• Deep expertise in human-centered design principles, user research methodologies, and iterative development processes.

• Demonstrated exceptional taste, robust judgment, and the ability to articulate complex design rationale persuasively to diverse stakeholders.

• Proficiency in managing and critiquing the work of external agencies and contractors, ensuring alignment with organizational standards.

Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience working with complex platforms, interconnected ecosystems, or mission-driven products, particularly within the education or public interest technology sectors.

• Demonstrated comfort and effectiveness working cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, Policy, Research, and Communications teams.

• Experience in the non-profit or social impact sector, with an understanding of mission-driven organizational dynamics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize strategic leadership and breadth of experience over specific tool proficiency. The "8+ years" combined with "senior or staff-level roles" suggests a role that requires significant autonomy and the ability to mentor others. The preference for education or public interest technology experience indicates a desire for candidates who can quickly grasp the nuances of XQ's mission.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a clear progression from strategic problem definition to design execution and measurable impact, showcasing how design decisions drove outcomes.

• Include case studies that highlight your ability to lead product strategy through design, illustrating how you influenced product direction and development.

• Showcase examples of directing design across both product and brand/creative contexts, demonstrating a cohesive approach to user experience and brand identity.

• Present projects that exhibit strong systems thinking, illustrating how you managed design across multiple products, initiatives, or a complex ecosystem.

Process Documentation:

• Provide documentation or case studies detailing your approach to translating complex inputs (policy, research, user needs) into clear, actionable design strategies and product decisions.

• Illustrate your methodology for guiding design processes from early concept through to launch, including how you balanced strategic vision with practical constraints and managed iterative feedback.

• Show examples of how you have set and upheld high standards for design quality, clarity, and cultural relevance across various creative outputs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are heavily focused on demonstrating strategic leadership, systems thinking, and the ability to drive measurable impact through design. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their design rationale and process for complex, ambiguous problems, especially those involving policy and research translation.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $225,000 - $250,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health coverage.

• Retirement plans.

• Generous paid time off.

• [Other benefits may include professional development opportunities, commuter benefits, etc., specific to a full-time exempt role.]

Working Hours: Full-time, exempt role. While a standard 40-hour work week is implied for an exempt position, the nature of leadership and mission-driven work may require flexibility and dedication beyond standard hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a senior Design Director role in the Oakland/Bay Area, reflecting the high level of experience and strategic responsibility. The benefits package is standard for a full-time role at a national organization, with specific details typically provided during the interview process. The "exempt" status implies that the role is not eligible for overtime pay.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Education Technology / Non-Profit / Social Impact. XQ operates at the critical intersection of product, policy, design, and storytelling to drive systemic change in high school education across the United States.

Company Size: The provided LinkedIn data indicates a company size of 51-200 employees. This suggests a dynamic environment where individual contributions are highly visible and can significantly influence organizational direction. For operations professionals, this often translates to broader responsibilities and direct impact on key initiatives.

Founded: The founding date is not explicitly provided in the input data but XQ is a relatively established organization focused on transforming high school education. This implies a culture that values innovation, long-term vision, and a commitment to its mission.

Team Structure:

• The Design Director will likely lead a small but impactful design team or oversee the work of external agencies and contractors, depending on XQ's current structure.

• This role reports into a senior leadership position, likely overseeing Product, Marketing, or a broader GTM function.

Methodology:

• XQ emphasizes a data-driven and research-informed approach to product and policy development. Design is a strategic lever, not just an aesthetic layer, implying a focus on user-centered design, impact measurement, and iterative refinement.

• Workflow planning and optimization will be crucial, especially in translating complex educational concepts into scalable digital products and experiences.

• Automation and efficiency practices will be key to scaling XQ's impact across diverse communities and stakeholders.

Company Website: https://xqsuperschool.org/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is likely to be mission-driven, fast-paced, and collaborative, with a strong emphasis on innovation and systemic change in education. The "design is not decoration" statement highlights a pragmatic, impact-focused approach to design.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a senior leadership level, responsible for the strategic vision and execution of design across XQ's entire product and brand portfolio. It requires a blend of strategic thinking, creative direction, and people/agency management.

Reporting Structure: The Design Director will likely report to a VP or C-level executive, such as a Chief Product Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, or Chief Strategy Officer, depending on XQ's organizational structure. This placement indicates significant influence on core organizational initiatives.

Operations Impact: The Design Director will have a direct and substantial impact on the perception, usability, and adoption of XQ's products and platforms. By ensuring clarity, coherence, and cultural relevance, this role directly contributes to XQ's mission of reimagining high school education and achieving its strategic goals. Effective design leadership can enhance user engagement, stakeholder buy-in, and ultimately, the scale of XQ's impact.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Expansion: Potential to lead larger, more integrated design functions as XQ scales, potentially encompassing UX research, content strategy, and marketing design more broadly.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Opportunities to deepen influence across Product, Policy, and Communications, shaping broader organizational strategy beyond design.

• Mission Impact: Direct contribution to significant educational reform, offering a unique opportunity to drive meaningful social impact through design expertise.

• Talent Development: Mentoring and growing design talent, whether direct reports or through agency partnerships, fostering a strong design culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant strategic impact and growth potential within a mission-critical organization. The ability to influence product strategy and brand perception at a national level is a key differentiator for career advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: XQ is based in Oakland, CA, with offices in Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and New York. The Oakland office is described as a place where this role will be based "onsite 5 days per week." This suggests a traditional office environment that prioritizes in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): Oakland, California, United States. Specific details about the office amenities or environment are not provided, but being in Oakland suggests access to a vibrant urban professional setting.

Workspace Context:

• The requirement for 5 days onsite indicates a preference for direct, in-person collaboration, fostering spontaneous ideation and strong team cohesion.

• As a Design Director, the workspace should facilitate focused individual work, as well as collaborative sessions for critiques, brainstorming, and strategy development. Access to necessary design software and hardware is implied.

• Opportunities for interaction with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Policy, Comms) will be frequent, enabling a holistic understanding of XQ's initiatives.

Work Schedule: Full-time, exempt role, requiring 5 days per week in the Oakland office. While a standard work week is typical, the nature of leadership and mission-driven work may necessitate flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a 5-day on-site work arrangement is a key differentiator. Candidates should be comfortable with a fully in-office role and value in-person collaboration for design leadership and strategy.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess alignment with the role's requirements, particularly experience in product strategy, brand direction, and systems thinking.

• Portfolio Presentation & Case Study: Expect to present a curated selection of your work, focusing on 1-2 key projects that demonstrate your strategic leadership, problem-solving skills, and impact. Prepare to articulate your design process, rationale, and the outcomes achieved.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Discussions with key stakeholders from Product, Engineering, and potentially Policy or Communications to assess collaboration style, strategic alignment, and ability to translate complex ideas.

• Leadership & Culture Fit: Interviews with senior leadership to evaluate your leadership philosophy, ability to foster design culture, and alignment with XQ's mission and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Focus: Emphasize projects where you led product strategy through design, not just execution. Clearly articulate the problem, your strategic approach, and the resulting impact.

• Systems Thinking Examples: Showcase projects that demonstrate your ability to manage design across multiple products, platforms, or initiatives, highlighting interconnectedness and cohesive experiences.

• Brand & Product Integration: Include examples that blend product design with brand experience, demonstrating your ability to maintain a consistent and high-quality brand voice across different touchpoints.

• Process & Rationale: Be prepared to walk through your design process, explaining your decision-making at each stage, especially how you translated complex information (policy, research) into design solutions.

• Impact Metrics: Quantify your achievements whenever possible. Highlight how your design work contributed to user adoption, engagement, or other measurable organizational goals.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready for questions that probe your judgment, decision-making under ambiguity, and ability to balance vision with constraints.

• Prepare to discuss how you would approach setting design direction for a complex, mission-driven organization like XQ.

• Consider how you would foster a strong design culture and manage external design resources effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily weigh strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and the ability to translate complex needs into impactful design solutions. A strong portfolio that demonstrates these attributes, especially through well-documented case studies, will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools: While specific tools are not listed, a Design Director would typically be proficient in or oversee the use of:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign), potentially tools for motion design (After Effects) and 3D if relevant.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Tools like Jira, Asana, Trello, or Monday.com for managing workflows and cross-functional projects.

• Design Systems: Experience with or ability to develop and maintain design systems for consistency across a product ecosystem.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with product analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to understand user behavior and inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how design integrates with user journeys managed by CRM and marketing automation platforms is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in industry-standard design tools is expected. The emphasis is less on specific software mastery and more on the strategic application of these tools to drive product strategy, brand consistency, and user experience across a complex ecosystem.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven Impact: A core value will be a dedication to XQ's mission of transforming high school education, with design decisions directly contributing to this goal.

• Strategic Design: Design is viewed as a critical strategic lever for clarity, adoption, and impact, not merely an aesthetic enhancement.

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of students, educators, and communities.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Valuing strong working relationships across Product, Engineering, Policy, and Communications to achieve holistic solutions.

• Excellence & Rigor: Upholding a high standard of craft, judgment, and intentionality in all design work.

• Curiosity & Learning: Encouraging a culture of continuous learning, experimentation, and adaptation in a rapidly evolving field.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Fostering seamless collaboration between design and other departments to ensure design is integrated into strategy from the outset.

• Constructive Critique: A culture of open, honest, and constructive critique that focuses on elevating the work and its strategic impact.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of insights, best practices, and learnings across design and related teams to build collective expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture likely emphasizes purpose, innovation, and collaborative problem-solving. Candidates should demonstrate an alignment with these values and a proactive approach to building strong cross-functional relationships.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Operating effectively in a complex, mission-driven environment with evolving priorities and diverse stakeholder needs.

• Systemic Design Complexity: Designing for an entire product ecosystem that spans multiple user types, policy frameworks, and educational contexts.

• Balancing Vision with Constraints: Ensuring high-quality, strategic design while adhering to project timelines, budgets, and technical limitations.

• Scaling Design Practice: Growing and refining the design function (whether internal or external) to meet the increasing demands of a scaling organization.

• Translating Complex Information: Effectively converting intricate educational policies and research into user-friendly and impactful digital experiences.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepening Mission Impact: Gaining profound understanding and direct influence within the education reform sector.

• Strategic Leadership Growth: Expanding leadership scope and influence within a national organization focused on systemic change.

• Cross-Disciplinary Expertise: Developing a comprehensive understanding of policy, product development, and communications within the education landscape.

• Mentorship and Team Building: Opportunities to build and mentor design talent, shaping the future of design at XQ.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant opportunities for professional growth by tackling complex challenges in a meaningful sector. The ability to adapt, lead, and innovate will be key to success and development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led product strategy through design. What was the challenge, your approach, and the outcome?" (Focus on your strategic thinking, decision-making, and measurable impact.)

• "How do you ensure a cohesive brand experience across a complex ecosystem of digital products and campaigns?" (Highlight your understanding of brand systems, visual language, and cross-channel consistency.)

• "Walk us through a project where you had to translate complex policy or research into clear, actionable design decisions. What was your process?" (Emphasize your ability to simplify complexity and user-centric problem-solving.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about XQ's mission, and how do you see design contributing to it?" (Showcase your research into XQ and genuine alignment with its purpose.)

• "How would you foster a culture of design rigor and collaboration within a cross-functional team?" (Discuss your leadership style, critique methods, and approach to team dynamics.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Curate for Strategy: Select 1-2 case studies that best illustrate your leadership in product strategy and systems thinking, rather than just visual execution.

• Tell a Story: Structure your presentation as a narrative: problem, strategic approach, design process, key decisions, and measurable impact.

• Articulate Rationale: Be prepared to defend every design decision with clear reasoning, linking it back to user needs, business objectives, or organizational strategy.

• Demonstrate Impact: Quantify results whenever possible. Use metrics to showcase how your design work contributed to XQ's goals.

• Show Systems Thinking: If possible, use examples that illustrate how your design work fits into a larger product ecosystem or brand strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess strategic leadership, problem-solving skills in complex environments, and cultural fit. Candidates should prepare to articulate their strategic approach and demonstrate impact through concrete examples and well-reasoned case studies.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Director position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Portfolio Customization: Carefully curate your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating product strategy leadership, systems thinking, and experience across both product and brand design. Tailor your case studies to emphasize your process for translating complex information into impactful design solutions.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 8+ years of experience, specifically detailing your senior/staff-level roles and responsibilities related to strategic design direction, cross-functional collaboration, and agency management. Use keywords from the job description naturally.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design philosophy, strategic decision-making process, and how you measure design impact. Prepare to discuss your approach to leading design in a mission-driven, complex environment.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research XQ's mission, current initiatives, and target audience. Understand their approach to design as a strategic lever and be ready to discuss how your vision aligns with 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.