Director of UX

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Director of UX
Company: HubSpot
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design Leadership
Date Posted: December 18, 2025
Experience Level: 10+ Years
Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design strategy for a new, AI-first product line focused on brand awareness, content distribution, and intelligent brand management.
• Drive the vision and execution of user experiences that transform product complexity into simple, trustworthy, and powerful interfaces, with a strong emphasis on generative AI workflows.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to a UX team, including Design Managers, a Staff Designer, and a Staff UX Researcher, overseeing 11 cross-functional teams across three groups.
• Foster a culture of experimentation, iteration, and rapid progress within a 0-1 product environment, championing an AI-first strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a senior leadership position within Product Design, focusing on defining a new product space from inception. The emphasis on "AI-first strategy" and "LLM landscape" indicates a forward-thinking approach to product development, requiring a candidate adept at integrating cutting-edge technologies into user-centric solutions. The hybrid work arrangement in Dublin suggests a need for on-site collaboration, particularly with the Engineering Partner also based in Ireland.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and Execute Design Vision:
  • Own the complete end-to-end design strategy for a new product line, translating complex business needs into a cohesive and intuitive product experience.
  • Champion and design for an AI-first product strategy, integrating generative and assistive AI workflows seamlessly.
  • Simplify highly complex and technical workflows, ensuring the user experience remains simple, trustworthy, and powerful.
• Lead and Scale Teams:
  • Lead, mentor, and scale the UX team, providing design oversight for two Design Managers, a Staff Designer, a Staff UX Researcher, and 11 cross-functional teams across three organizational groups.
  • Cultivate an environment of experimentation and rapid iteration to accelerate development in a 0-1 product context.
• Cross-Functional Strategy and Influence:
  • Collaborate closely with Engineering and Product Management counterparts, particularly the Engineering Partner based in Ireland, to co-own product strategy.
  • Influence and align stakeholders across a large organization to gain support and drive necessary changes for the design vision.
  • Act as a key strategic partner in shaping the product roadmap and go-to-market strategy for the new product offering.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic vision setting, hands-on design leadership, and significant people management. The "0-1 environment" implies a high degree of ambiguity and the need for a proactive, self-starting leader who can build and scale a design function from the ground up. Collaboration with a geographically distributed Product Management team (Europe or East Coast USA) will require strong communication and alignment skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a strong portfolio and demonstrable experience in Product Design and UX leadership are paramount. Experience: A minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in Product Design and User Experience, with a significant portion dedicated to leadership and strategy.

Required Skills:

• Deep Product Craft & Visual Design: Undeniable, demonstrable strength in visual and interaction design, with a strong product-first background.
• AI Fluency: Proven experience designing AI-based interactions and workflows; ability to develop product strategies with an AI-first mindset.
• 0-1 Leadership Experience: Demonstrated success in leading the design of new products from concept to launch in ambiguous, undefined environments.
• Managing Complexity and Scale: Experience designing for large, technical, enterprise-level product organizations and successfully navigating their inherent complexity.
• Strategic Vision: Ability to translate complex business goals into a clear, unified product experience and design strategy.
• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Experience leading, mentoring, and scaling UX teams, including managing direct reports.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to partner effectively with Engineering, Product Management, and other stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

• Technical Acumen: High degree of technical fluency to effectively partner with engineering leaders on complex system design.
• Influencing Large Organizations: Exceptional ability to drive consensus, align diverse stakeholders, and influence product direction at the executive level.
• Experimentation Mindset: A proactive approach focused on rapid prototyping, iteration, and data-informed decision-making for early-stage concepts.
• Brand Management & Content Strategy: Experience with brand identity, content distribution, and brand reporting systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Product-First Background" distinguishes this role from pure Brand or Marketing Design. The "AI Fluency" requirement is critical, suggesting the need for expertise in designing with generative AI, not just understanding AI concepts. The "0-1 Leadership Experience" points to a need for someone comfortable with high ambiguity and building new initiatives.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• 0-1 Product Development Case Studies: Showcase your ability to take a product from concept to launch in an ambiguous environment, detailing problem definition, user research, ideation, prototyping, and iteration.
• AI-Powered User Experiences: Include examples of designing AI-driven features or products, demonstrating your understanding of user interaction with AI, prompt engineering considerations, and ethical AI design principles.
• Complex System Design: Present case studies that illustrate how you’ve simplified intricate technical workflows or enterprise-level solutions into user-friendly interfaces, highlighting problem-solving methodologies.
• Leadership and Team Impact: Demonstrate your experience leading design teams, including examples of mentorship, team scaling, and fostering a collaborative design culture. Quantify the impact of your leadership on team performance and product outcomes.

Process Documentation:

• Design Strategy Frameworks: Be prepared to discuss your frameworks for defining and executing design vision, especially in new product areas.
• AI Integration Methodologies: Articulate your approach to integrating AI into user workflows and product roadmaps, including user testing and feedback loops for AI features.
• Cross-Functional Alignment Processes: Detail how you build consensus and influence stakeholders across engineering, product, and other departments to drive design initiatives forward.
• Experimentation and Iteration Cycles: Describe your methods for rapid prototyping, user testing, and iterative development, particularly in a fast-paced, 0-1 environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this Director-level role, the portfolio should not only showcase individual design craft but also strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and the ability to drive product innovation in a complex, AI-centric landscape. Case studies demonstrating success in ambiguous, foundational product work are crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Director of UX role in Dublin, Ireland, with 10+ years of experience, a competitive salary range is estimated to be between €120,000 and €170,000 annually. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior UX leadership roles in major tech hubs like Dublin, considering HubSpot's market position and the specialized nature of AI product design.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
• Generous paid time off (PTO) and public holidays.
• Stock options or equity grants, common for leadership roles at HubSpot.
• Professional development budget for conferences, courses, and certifications.
• Retirement savings plan (e.g., pension contributions).
• Parental leave policies.
• Wellness programs and stipends.
• Hybrid work flexibility with support for home office setup.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are typically 40 hours per week. While this is a leadership role, flexibility is expected to accommodate cross-functional collaboration across different time zones (Europe and USA).

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate for Dublin, Ireland, based on current market data for comparable roles at large tech companies. HubSpot is known for offering competitive compensation packages including equity. The "AI-first strategy" and "0-1 environment" may also command a premium.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software/Technology, specifically focused on CRM, Marketing, Sales, and Service Hubs, with a strong push into AI-powered customer platforms. HubSpot is a key player in the SaaS market for growing businesses. Company Size: HubSpot is a large, publicly traded company with over 7,000 employees globally. This scale implies established processes but also a dynamic environment for innovation. Founded: HubSpot was founded in 2006. Its history reflects a growth trajectory from a startup to a major enterprise, emphasizing its adaptability and focus on customer success.

Team Structure:

• The Director of UX will lead a significant portion of the design organization, directly managing Design Managers and a Staff Designer/Researcher.
• This role will oversee UX efforts across 11 cross-functional teams, which are likely organized within 3 distinct product groups, indicating a matrixed structure common in large tech organizations.
• Close collaboration with Engineering Partners (based in Ireland) and Product Management counterparts (potentially in Europe or East Coast USA) is critical.

Methodology:

• Customer-Centricity: HubSpot's core commitment is "Solve for the Customer," driving all product and design decisions.
• Data-Driven Innovation: Expect a strong emphasis on using data, user research, and experimentation to inform product direction and measure impact.
• Agile Development: The "0-1 environment" and emphasis on iteration suggest an agile or hybrid agile development methodology will be in place.
• AI-First Strategy: A key operational methodology for this specific product line, requiring designers to proactively integrate AI into user workflows.

Company Website: https://www.hubspot.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: HubSpot's culture is described as "bold," customer-obsessed, and focused on learning and growth. The "Solve for the Customer," "Be Bold," "Learn Fast," and "Align, Adapt & Go!" commitments are central. The company's experience in scaling from startup to enterprise means operations professionals can expect a blend of structured processes and a fast-paced, innovative culture.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior Director-level position, signifying a significant leadership role with strategic influence. It sits at a high level within the Product Design organization, responsible for a critical new product initiative and a substantial team. Reporting Structure: The Director of UX will likely report to a VP of Product Design, Head of Product, or a similar senior executive within the Product organization. They will manage direct reports and collaborate closely with peer Directors in Engineering and Product Management. Operations Impact: The Director of UX will have a direct and substantial impact on HubSpot's growth by defining and launching a new product line. Success in this role means establishing a strong market presence for this new offering, driving customer acquisition and retention, and contributing significantly to revenue growth through innovative user experiences, especially leveraging AI.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow into a VP-level role overseeing a larger product portfolio or a broader design function within HubSpot.
• Product Portfolio Ownership: Opportunity to continue defining and expanding the scope of the new product line, potentially leading to new product ventures.
• AI Product Innovation Leadership: Becoming a recognized leader in AI-driven product design within HubSpot and the broader tech industry.
• Mentorship and Team Building: Developing and nurturing talent within the design team, fostering future leaders.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant opportunity for a seasoned UX leader to shape a new product area from the ground up, with a strong focus on AI. The growth potential is substantial, aligning with HubSpot's commitment to employee development and advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: HubSpot operates with a hybrid work model. While remote-friendly in principle, this specific role in Dublin requires proximity to the Dublin office for hybrid work, implying a need for in-office collaboration. Office Location(s): The primary work location is Dublin, Ireland. HubSpot has offices in various global locations, but this role is tied to the Dublin hub, particularly for team collaboration.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The Dublin office likely serves as a hub for in-person collaboration, team building, and strategic alignment, especially with the Engineering Partner.
• Technology-Rich Environment: Expect access to modern design tools, collaborative software, and the necessary infrastructure to support complex product development.
• Cross-Functional Interaction: The role necessitates frequent interaction with design, engineering, product management, and potentially marketing and sales teams, fostering a dynamic and collaborative atmosphere.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with flexibility to adapt to project needs and cross-time zone collaboration. The hybrid model allows for a balance between focused individual work and team-based collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role in Dublin means candidates should be prepared for a mix of remote and in-office work, with specific expectations for in-person collaboration days, likely dictated by team needs and company policy.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will likely review your application and resume, focusing on leadership experience, AI product design background, and 0-1 product development.
• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager (likely a VP of Design or Product) to assess strategic thinking, leadership philosophy, and fit with HubSpot's culture.
• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A deep dive into your portfolio, showcasing specific case studies. This may include a design challenge or presentation focused on a hypothetical new product area or AI integration. Expect to articulate your process, rationale, and leadership approach.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key partners, including Engineering and Product Management leads, to evaluate collaboration skills and technical understanding.
• Team/Culture Fit Interviews: Conversations with potential direct reports (Design Managers, Staff Designers) and other team members to assess leadership style and cultural alignment.
• Executive/Final Interview: A final conversation with a senior leader to confirm strategic alignment and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight 0-1 Successes: Clearly articulate your role in defining and launching new products from scratch. Emphasize the ambiguity and how you navigated it.
• Showcase AI Design Expertise: Dedicate specific slides or sections to your experience designing AI-powered user experiences. Detail user challenges solved and the impact of AI integration.
• Demonstrate Leadership Impact: Use metrics and specific examples to show how you've led, mentored, and scaled design teams. Quantify improvements in team performance or product outcomes.
• Articulate Strategic Thinking: Be prepared to discuss your design process, strategic decision-making, and how you align design with business objectives.
• Tailor to HubSpot: Research HubSpot's products and customer base. Frame your experience in a way that resonates with their mission and current strategic priorities (e.g., AI integration).

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate AI-Focused Problems: Be ready for design challenges that involve integrating generative AI into existing or new product workflows.
• Structure Your Problem-Solving: Outline a clear process: understanding the problem, identifying user needs, ideating solutions, prototyping, and iterating.
• Think Scalability and Complexity: Consider how your solutions would scale within an enterprise product and handle complex technical requirements.
• Prepare to Influence: Practice articulating your design decisions and rationale clearly, as you'll need to influence stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to thoroughly assess strategic leadership, design craft, AI expertise, and collaboration skills. A strong portfolio that tells a compelling story around 0-1 product development and AI integration will be critical.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly likely, given industry standard), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite.
• User Research & Testing: UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback, or similar platforms for remote and in-person research.
• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello, Slack.
• AI Design Tools: Potentially AI-assisted design tools, prompt engineering interfaces, or specialized AI prototyping platforms.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics, or internal HubSpot analytics tools.
• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, or internal dashboarding tools for tracking KPIs and user behavior.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: HubSpot CRM (as this is a HubSpot role, deep familiarity is expected).
• Workflow Automation: Tools for automating design processes or user feedback collection.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, proficiency with industry-standard design and collaboration tools is assumed. Given HubSpot's product suite, familiarity with their CRM and marketing/sales software would be a significant advantage. Expertise in tools that facilitate AI integration and rapid prototyping is also highly relevant.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Solve for the Customer: A paramount value, ensuring all design decisions prioritize customer needs and business outcomes.
• Be Bold: Encouraging ambitious thinking, taking calculated risks, and pushing creative boundaries, especially in a new product space.
• Learn Fast: A commitment to continuous learning, rapid iteration, and adapting to new technologies and market changes, crucial for AI innovation.
• Align, Adapt & Go!: Emphasizing clear communication, team alignment, flexibility in approach, and decisive action to drive progress.
• Deliver with HEART: A framework that likely encompasses Honesty, Empathy, Accountability, Respect, and Transparency in all interactions and deliverables.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Deep, integrated collaboration with Engineering and Product Management is essential, treating them as co-owners of the product strategy.
• Data-Informed Decision Making: A culture where design choices are supported by user research, data analytics, and iterative testing.
• Open Feedback and Iteration: An environment that encourages constructive feedback, rapid prototyping, and continuous improvement of designs.
• Mentorship and Knowledge Sharing: A willingness to share expertise, mentor junior team members, and foster a collective growth mindset within the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values are deeply embedded in HubSpot's operational philosophy. A candidate should demonstrate how their approach to design leadership aligns with these principles, particularly "Be Bold" and "Learn Fast" in the context of pioneering AI products.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Defining a New Product Space (0-1): Navigating high ambiguity, defining product-market fit, and establishing a foundational user experience for a completely new offering.
• Integrating Complex AI: Designing intuitive and trustworthy user experiences for advanced AI functionalities, managing user expectations, and ensuring ethical AI implementation.
• Leading a Large, Distributed Team: Effectively managing and mentoring a significant design team across multiple cross-functional groups, ensuring alignment and high performance.
• Influencing Stakeholders at Scale: Gaining buy-in and driving consensus for design vision across a large, complex organization with diverse priorities.
• Balancing Technical Complexity with Simplicity: Creating powerful backend solutions that remain simple and accessible for end-users.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Product Design Expertise: Deepen knowledge and practical application of AI-driven design principles and technologies.
• Strategic Leadership Development: Hone skills in setting product vision, influencing executive stakeholders, and scaling design organizations.
• Cross-Functional Product Strategy: Gain in-depth experience in co-owning product strategy with Engineering and Product Management leaders.
• Industry Recognition: Opportunity to lead a flagship AI product initiative, potentially leading to industry recognition and thought leadership.
• Mentorship Programs: Access to HubSpot's internal mentorship programs and opportunities to mentor emerging design talent.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are significant but offer commensurate growth opportunities. Success in this role will require a leader adept at navigating uncertainty, driving innovation, and building high-performing teams in a cutting-edge product domain.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for defining a design strategy for a completely new product category with significant AI components. How do you balance user needs with emerging technological capabilities?"
• "Walk me through a time you had to influence senior stakeholders to adopt a bold design direction for a product that was initially met with resistance. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?"
• "How do you approach designing for complexity at scale, especially when dealing with technical backends that need to appear simple to the user? Provide an example."

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do HubSpot's core values (Solve for the Customer, Be Bold, Learn Fast, Align, Adapt & Go!, Deliver with HEART) resonate with your leadership philosophy and approach to design?"
• "Describe your experience leading and mentoring design managers and larger design teams. How do you foster a culture of experimentation and high performance in a 0-1 environment?"
• "How do you measure the impact of UX design on business outcomes, particularly for new product initiatives and AI-driven features?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: Begin with the "Why" – the problem and the opportunity. Clearly articulate your role and the context.
• Showcase AI & 0-1 Expertise: Dedicate specific, detailed sections to your most relevant AI and 0-1 product case studies. Highlight the challenges, your unique contributions, and the measurable results.
• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs, team leadership, and strategic initiatives.
• Emphasize Collaboration: Explain how you worked with cross-functional partners and influenced stakeholders.
• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design decisions, process, and leadership choices.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a blend of strategic vision, hands-on design expertise (especially with AI), and proven leadership capabilities. Be ready to articulate your thought process and decision-making with clear examples and measurable outcomes.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX leadership position:

• Submit your application through the HubSpot Careers portal using the provided link.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight leadership experience, years of product design expertise, and specific accomplishments related to AI product development, 0-1 product launches, and managing design teams.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features case studies demonstrating your ability to lead new product initiatives from conception to launch, with a strong emphasis on AI integration and complex problem-solving.
• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your strategic vision, leadership philosophy, and how you embody HubSpot's core values during interviews. Practice presenting your portfolio with a focus on impact and collaboration.
• Research HubSpot: Understand their current product offerings, customer base, and recent AI initiatives to demonstrate informed interest and strategic alignment.

⚠️ 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.

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