Director, Slack Design Systems at Slack

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Director, Slack Design Systems Company: Slack Location: San Francisco, California, United States Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: User Experience / Design Operations Date Posted: 2025-08-15 Experience Level: 10+ Years Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

Lead and evolve Slack's cross-platform design system (Slack Kit) ensuring consistency, efficiency, and accessibility across desktop and mobile applications.
Drive adoption of design system capabilities and develop new components to facilitate rapid decision-making while maintaining quality and consistency.
Champion accessibility standards (WCAG) across all platforms, ensuring inclusive user experiences and compliance.
Establish and manage robust design governance processes to uphold high-quality standards and prevent UX inconsistencies affecting customer satisfaction (NPS).
Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation for design system components, usage guidelines, and contribution standards to foster adoption and maintain system integrity.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role, while within the "User Experience" job category, has significant operational responsibilities related to managing and scaling a design system. It requires a blend of strategic design leadership and operational rigor, making it a key role in ensuring product consistency and development efficiency, aligning with the principles of Design Operations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

Lead the strategic direction and ongoing development of Slack's cross-platform design system, "Slack Kit," focusing on component libraries, design tokens, and best practices.
Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering (Frontend and Backend), and Design teams to identify needs, evangelize system capabilities, and co-create new components that balance speed with quality.
Direct and champion accessibility initiatives, ensuring the design system and its implementations adhere to WCAG 2.1 AA standards and promote inclusive design practices.
Establish, implement, and refine design system governance models, including review processes, contribution workflows, and version control strategies, to maintain system health and velocity.
Oversee the creation and maintenance of thorough design system documentation, including component specifications, usage patterns, accessibility guidelines, and contribution guides for designers and engineers.
Foster a culture of systems thinking and design excellence by leading enablement programs, conducting regular office hours, and providing training on design system principles and tools.
Drive adoption of the design system across product teams by building strong relationships, demonstrating value, and integrating the system into core development workflows.
Manage and mentor a team of designers and engineers focused on the design system, promoting a people-first approach to systems work that empowers contributors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities highlight a strong focus on process management, cross-functional collaboration, and system governance, which are core tenets of operational excellence within a product development environment. The emphasis on "evangelize existing capabilities," "develop new ones," and "maintain high quality standards and prevent UX inconsistencies" points to a need for proactive operational management and continuous improvement.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience:

10+ years of professional experience in product design, with a significant portion dedicated to working with established design systems, accessibility programs, and platform-level design initiatives.
4+ years of experience in a management or leadership role, ideally leading teams focused on design systems, design tools, or platform design.

Required Skills:

Design Systems Leadership: Proven ability to build, scale, and evolve cross-platform design systems (desktop and mobile) that cater to diverse product needs and user bases.
Accessibility Expertise: Deep understanding of web accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA), including practical experience in implementing and auditing for compliance across complex products.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Demonstrated success in leading and influencing cross-functional teams (Design, Engineering, Product) to achieve shared goals and maintain system cohesion.
Systems Thinking & Governance: Experience in establishing and managing design governance programs, including review processes, contribution workflows, and quality assurance for design systems.
Technical Acumen: Strong understanding of how design systems translate to code, including familiarity with design tokens, component libraries, and systematic approaches to design and development.
Documentation & Communication: Excellent ability to articulate complex system decisions, usage guidelines, and best practices to varied technical and non-technical audiences through comprehensive documentation and clear communication.
People Management & Mentorship: A people-first approach to leadership, with experience mentoring designers and engineers on systems thinking, accessibility, and design best practices.

Preferred Skills:

Experience with design system tooling and platforms (e.g., Figma, Storybook).
Familiarity with front-end development frameworks (e.g., React, Web Components).
Experience in enterprise software or SaaS environments.
Knowledge of user research methodologies to inform design system evolution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "managerial experience (ideally on teams working on design systems and design tools)" and "people-first mindset toward systems work" strongly suggests a need for operational leadership skills focused on team enablement and process efficiency within the design system context. The emphasis on "technical acumen" and "bridging design and engineering" reinforces the operational aspect of system implementation.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Demonstrate a portfolio showcasing leadership in building and scaling comprehensive, cross-platform design systems, with examples of desktop and mobile implementations.
Include case studies that highlight your approach to accessibility integration, detailing how WCAG standards were met and maintained within a design system context.
Provide evidence of establishing and managing design governance processes, including examples of review cycles, contribution guidelines, and quality assurance mechanisms.
Showcase examples of how you've documented design system components, usage patterns, and best practices to facilitate adoption and understanding across teams.
Present examples of successful cross-functional collaboration, illustrating how you've partnered with Product and Engineering to drive system adoption and impact.

Process Documentation:

Illustrate your experience in developing clear and actionable documentation for design system components, including functional specifications, interaction patterns, and accessibility considerations.
Detail your methods for creating and maintaining design tokens and component libraries that ensure consistency and efficiency in design and development workflows.
Showcase your approach to establishing contribution frameworks and review processes that enable external teams to leverage and contribute to the design system effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated as a "portfolio requirement" in the raw listing, the nature of a design systems leadership role inherently demands a portfolio that demonstrates operational process management, system scalability, and cross-functional integration. The "What you should have" section implies these capabilities, which would be best showcased through portfolio examples.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

The provided salary range for this position in California is $230,800 to $334,600 annually. This range is determined by factors such as location, job level, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Benefits:

Comprehensive Health & Wellness: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Mental Health Support.
Work-Life Balance: Generous Time Off Programs and Paid Parental Leave.
Financial Security: Life and Disability Insurance, 401(k) plan, and an Employee Stock Purchasing Program.
Career Development: Opportunities for professional growth and development within Salesforce.

Working Hours:

The role is full-time, with an estimated 40 hours per week. While specific daily hours are not detailed, the company culture and benefits suggest a supportive environment for work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly provided for California-based roles. The benefits listed are comprehensive and standard for a large tech organization like Salesforce, offering a strong total compensation package.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software / Collaboration / AI CRM (Salesforce Ecosystem) Company Size: Large (Salesforce is a global enterprise with tens of thousands of employees). This size implies extensive resources, established processes, and opportunities for broad impact. Founded: Slack was founded in 2009 and acquired by Salesforce in 2021. Its history is rooted in creating a beloved enterprise communication tool known for its user experience and "craft."

Team Structure:

The role sits within the User Experience (UX) function at Slack, likely reporting to a VP or Senior Director of UX.
The Director will lead a dedicated design systems team, comprising designers and potentially engineers focused on Slack Kit.
Close collaboration is expected with Product Management, Engineering (Frontend, Backend, Mobile), and potentially Marketing/Brand teams to ensure consistent application of the design system.

Methodology:

Slack emphasizes a "people-first" approach to systems, focusing on empowering teams rather than imposing rigid constraints.
The company values a positive, diverse, and encouraging culture, seeking individuals who are curious, inventive, and committed to continuous improvement.
Data-driven decision-making is implied, with a focus on user feedback (NPS) and metrics to guide design system evolution and adoption.

Company Website: https://slack.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's acquisition by Salesforce brings an added layer of potential for integration and leveraging broader enterprise resources. The emphasis on "craft" and "consumer experiences" for an enterprise product indicates a strong focus on quality and user delight, which the design system is crucial for maintaining.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Director-level position, indicating significant leadership responsibility, strategic input, and management of a specialized team. This role requires a blend of deep technical expertise in design systems and strong people leadership.

Reporting Structure: The Director will likely report into a senior UX leadership role (e.g., VP of Design, Head of Product Design). They will directly manage a team of design system professionals.

Operations Impact: This role has a substantial impact on operational efficiency and product quality. By leading the design system, the Director enables faster product development cycles, ensures brand consistency, improves user experience across platforms, and drives accessibility compliance, all of which contribute to customer satisfaction and business success.

Growth Opportunities:

Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the future of design and development at Slack by evolving a critical platform asset.
Leadership Development: Direct management experience and the opportunity to build and mentor a high-performing team.
Cross-Company Impact: Potential to influence design system practices across the broader Salesforce ecosystem.
Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in design systems, accessibility, and scaled design operations within a leading tech company.

📝 Enhancement Note: This Director-level role offers significant growth potential, moving beyond individual contribution to strategic leadership and team building within a critical operational function (Design Operations). The connection to Salesforce also opens avenues for broader career advancement within a large enterprise.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job is posted as "TELECOMMUTE" but with a specific location requirement of "California - San Francisco," and the description implies an on-site presence is expected for this Director role, especially for fostering collaboration and team leadership. It's likely a hybrid or primarily office-based role within the San Francisco Salesforce hub. Office Location(s): San Francisco, California.

Workspace Context:

The work environment is described as positive, diverse, and encouraging, with a culture that values curiosity and continuous improvement.
Expect a collaborative setting where designers, product managers, and engineers frequently interact. The design system team is central to many product development workflows.
Access to modern design and collaboration tools will be standard.

Work Schedule: Full-time, standard professional hours. The emphasis on a "people-first" mindset suggests a balance between productivity and employee well-being, allowing for efficient execution of operational tasks and strategic planning.

📝 Enhancement Note: Although listed as "TELECOMMUTE" in the metadata, the specific location and the nature of a Director role strongly suggest an on-site or hybrid model within the San Francisco office is required for effective team leadership and cross-functional collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.
Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the hiring manager to delve into experience, leadership style, and strategic approach to design systems.
Design System Team Interview: Meeting with members of the design system team to evaluate technical expertise, collaboration skills, and approach to systems thinking.
Cross-Functional Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with Product and Engineering leaders to assess cross-functional collaboration capabilities, influence, and strategic alignment.
Portfolio Review & Presentation: A dedicated session where candidates present their design system work, case studies, and strategic vision, often including a specific prompt or challenge.
Executive/VP Interview: Final discussion with senior leadership to assess overall fit, strategic vision, and leadership potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Focus on Impact: Showcase how your design systems have driven efficiency, consistency, and improved user experience. Quantify impact with metrics where possible (e.g., reduced development time, increased adoption rates, improved accessibility scores).
Demonstrate Process: Clearly articulate the processes you've implemented for design system governance, contribution, and maintenance. Highlight your approach to balancing speed with quality.
Accessibility Integration: Dedicate a section to how you embed accessibility into the design system's DNA, from component design to documentation and tooling.
Leadership & Collaboration: Use case studies that emphasize your leadership in cross-functional settings and your ability to influence stakeholders across design, engineering, and product.
Storytelling: Present your work as a narrative, explaining the problem, your solution, the process, and the outcome.

Challenge Preparation:

Be prepared for a design challenge that might involve critiquing an existing system, proposing improvements, or outlining a strategy for a new component or feature within the design system framework.
Practice articulating complex technical and design decisions clearly and concisely.
Prepare to discuss how you would foster adoption, manage contributions, and maintain quality within a large, distributed organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "cross-functional leadership," "accessibility standards compliance," and "design governance" suggests that interviewers will probe deeply into operational processes and how candidates manage complex systems and stakeholder relationships. The portfolio is critical for demonstrating practical application of these operational skills.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

Design: Figma (highly probable for a modern design system, used for component creation, prototyping, and collaboration).
Design System Platforms: Storybook (likely for component development, documentation, and testing of coded components), Zeroheight or similar (for documentation hosting).
Collaboration: Slack (native usage), Jira (for workflow management), Confluence (for knowledge sharing).

Analytics & Reporting:

Tools for tracking design system adoption, component usage, and bug reporting (e.g., internal analytics, GitHub/GitLab for code repositories, Jira for issue tracking).
Accessibility auditing tools (e.g., Axe, WAVE, built-in browser developer tools).

CRM & Automation:

While not directly a CRM-focused role, understanding how the design system integrates with product development workflows and potentially customer feedback platforms is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and an understanding of how design systems are implemented via code (e.g., Storybook, design tokens) are crucial. The role requires a bridge between design and engineering, making familiarity with their respective tools and workflows essential for operational success.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

People-First Systems: Prioritize empowering design and engineering teams through the design system, fostering collaboration and efficiency.
Invention & Curiosity: Embrace new ideas and approaches to design system development and problem-solving.
Continuous Improvement: Drive ongoing enhancements to the design system, processes, and accessibility standards.
Craft & Quality: Maintain a high standard of design excellence and user experience across all components and platforms.
Inclusivity: Champion accessibility and ensure the design system supports equitable experiences for all users.

Collaboration Style:

Highly collaborative, working closely with product managers, engineers, and other designers.
Emphasis on open communication, feedback exchange, and shared ownership of the design system.
Proactive in evangelizing the design system and providing support and education to adoption teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core values align with building a strong operational function that supports product development. The "people-first" aspect is key to successful design system adoption and integration, requiring strong interpersonal and communication skills from the Director.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

Scaling a Mature System: Evolving a design system that has been in place for some time, balancing legacy components with new initiatives and ensuring backward compatibility.
Cross-Platform Consistency: Maintaining a unified experience across diverse platforms (desktop, mobile web, native mobile apps) which have different constraints and capabilities.
Driving Adoption: Overcoming potential resistance or inertia from teams that are accustomed to existing workflows, requiring strong advocacy and enablement.
Balancing Innovation and Stability: Ensuring the design system remains cutting-edge while also providing a stable, reliable foundation for product development.
Accessibility at Scale: Implementing and enforcing accessibility standards consistently across a vast and evolving product.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Industry Best Practices: Stay at the forefront of design system trends, accessibility standards, and UX best practices.
Leadership Skills: Develop advanced leadership and management capabilities within a dynamic tech environment.
Cross-functional Expertise: Gain deeper insights into product management and software engineering processes.
Salesforce Ecosystem: Learn about the broader Salesforce product suite and how Slack's design system can integrate and influence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherently operational, focusing on process management, stakeholder engagement, and strategic implementation of a complex system within a large organization. These challenges also present significant opportunities for professional growth and skill development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

How would you approach evolving Slack's design system (Slack Kit) to better support agentic interfaces and AI-driven features?
Describe your philosophy on design system governance. What are the key components of an effective governance model, and how do you balance control with team velocity?
How do you ensure accessibility is not an afterthought but a foundational element of a design system? Walk me through your process for embedding WCAG compliance.
What strategies would you employ to drive adoption of a design system across a large organization with diverse product teams?

Company & Culture Questions:

Based on your understanding of Slack and Salesforce, how would you align the design system's evolution with the broader company strategy, particularly concerning AI and customer success?
How do you foster a "people-first" approach within a design system team and with the teams you support?
What are your expectations for collaboration with Product and Engineering leadership?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Structure: Organize your presentation logically, typically starting with an overview of your design system philosophy, followed by key case studies demonstrating your experience in leadership, collaboration, accessibility, and governance.
Narrative: Tell a compelling story for each case study, clearly outlining the problem, your strategic approach, the operational processes you implemented, and the measurable impact.
Demonstrate Process: Be ready to walk through specific examples of documentation, contribution guidelines, or governance frameworks you've developed.
Focus on Leadership: Highlight your role in influencing teams, mentoring individuals, and driving strategic initiatives.
Q&A: Anticipate questions about challenges you've faced, how you handle disagreements, and how you measure success.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on articulating operational strategies for managing a design system, demonstrating leadership in cross-functional environments, and showcasing a deep understanding of accessibility and scalability. Practical examples from your portfolio will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Director, Slack Design Systems position:

Submit your application through the official Salesforce careers portal via the provided URL.
Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight experience in design system leadership, cross-platform development, accessibility standards (WCAG), and design governance. Focus on case studies that demonstrate operational impact and strategic thinking.
Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 10+ years of product design experience and 4+ years of management experience, using keywords from the job description like "design systems," "accessibility," "governance," and "cross-functional leadership." Quantify achievements whenever possible.
Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design system strategy, leadership philosophy, and approach to operational challenges. Prepare specific examples from your past roles that demonstrate your ability to lead teams, influence stakeholders, and drive impactful change.
Company Research: Thoroughly research Slack's product, its mission, and its integration within the Salesforce ecosystem. Understand their stated values and culture to better align your responses during the interview process.

⚠️ 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.

Director, Slack Design Systems