Head of Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Head of Design Company: Remote Location: Remote (APAC) Job Type: Full-Time Category: Design Leadership / Brand Strategy / User Experience Date Posted: September 15, 2025 Experience Level: 10+ Years Remote Status: Remote Solely

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and elevate the design function, driving a cohesive creative vision across branding, product, and user experience for a fully remote, globally distributed organization.
• Develop and implement robust design processes, standards, and best practices to ensure exceptional quality and measurable impact in all design outputs.
• Build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing design team, fostering a culture of innovation, user-centricity, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate strategically with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to align design initiatives with overarching business objectives and brand definition.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a strategic leadership function, reporting directly to the CEO, indicating a high level of influence and responsibility within the organization. The emphasis on "design differentiator" and end-to-end product design suggests a hands-on leadership approach rather than purely managerial.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and champion the creative vision, strategy, and overarching design principles for the Remote brand and product experience.
• Build, mentor, scale, and manage a world-class design team, including senior designers and design leaders, fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment.
• Oversee and execute creative programs, from concept development and creative direction to project execution, ensuring alignment with business objectives and brand consistency.
• Act as a key advocate for user-centered design principles, user experience excellence, and design-led thinking across all departments and initiatives.
• Establish and refine design processes, workflows, and quality standards, ensuring efficient project management and delivery of exceptional creative output.
• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and other cross-functional teams to integrate design effectively into the product development lifecycle and brand campaigns.
• Drive the conceptualization and execution of visual design, branding, typography, and user interface (UI) design across digital and traditional media.
• Leverage quantitative data and qualitative user feedback to inform design decisions, iterate on solutions, and measure design impact.
• Stay abreast of emerging design trends, tools, and technologies, integrating relevant innovations to maintain a competitive edge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, team management, and hands-on design oversight. The expectation to "work on design assets as required" suggests that the Head of Design may still engage directly with design creation, particularly in setting the creative bar.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Graphic Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected, though extensive relevant experience can be considered equivalent.

Experience: Minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in design, with a significant portion focused on leadership roles within tech companies, particularly in branding and enterprise application design. Proven track record of successfully leading and managing design teams, including senior staff and leaders.

Required Skills:

• Extensive experience in leading and overseeing design teams, including senior staff and design leaders, ideally within a tech company environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead initiatives from design brief interpretation, conceptualization, and creative direction to goal setting and high-standard project execution.
• Exceptional portfolio showcasing deep understanding of branding, design aesthetic, typography, and excellent UX/UI principles.
• Strong command of product design principles, visual design (online and traditional media), brand development, and the creative process.
• Fluency in current design trends and proficiency with leading design tools such as Figma, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Sketch, etc.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, and project management skills to effectively manage multiple projects and priorities.
• Superb communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills for effective collaboration with cross-functional teams and executive stakeholders.
• Demonstrated passion for user-centered design, user experience, and design-led thinking.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with design systems and their implementation.
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and working within cross-functional product teams.
• Understanding of international markets and diverse user needs.
• Experience in a high-growth, fast-paced startup environment.
• Knowledge of web design principles, including accessibility standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for extensive experience leading senior design staff and leaders, along with a strong portfolio in branding and enterprise application design, indicates this is a senior-level leadership position requiring seasoned expertise. Fluency in English is a hard requirement due to the global nature of the company.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating end-to-end product design, branding initiatives, and user experience strategy.
• Case studies that clearly articulate design challenges, your role, the creative process, design solutions, and measurable outcomes.
• Evidence of leading design projects from conception through to successful implementation, showcasing strategic thinking and execution.
• Demonstration of expertise in branding development, visual identity systems, and their application across various touchpoints.
• Examples of user research, user testing, and how insights were translated into design improvements and product strategy.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of established design processes, workflows, and methodologies used to manage design projects efficiently.
• Illustrate how design standards and best practices were defined, implemented, and maintained within a team.
• Provide examples of how design decisions were informed by data (quantitative and qualitative feedback) and how impact was measured.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the seniority of the role and the emphasis on strategic vision, the portfolio should not only showcase aesthetic quality but also demonstrate leadership, process management, and the ability to drive business impact through design. Showcase examples of how you have built and scaled design teams and processes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $90,000 - $200,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Work from anywhere globally.
• Flexible paid time off.
• Flexible working hours, supporting an asynchronous work culture.
• 16 weeks paid parental leave.
• Mental health support services.
• Stock options.
• Learning budget for professional development.
• Home office budget and IT equipment provision.
• Budget for local in-person social events or co-working space access.

Working Hours: This is a full-time position. The company operates asynchronously, allowing for flexible working hours to accommodate global time zones and individual needs, with an expectation of 40 hours per week, though the focus is on output and impact rather than strict adherence to a schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is broad, reflecting Remote's compensation philosophy which adjusts for geographic location. Candidates should expect their final salary to be determined based on their specific location, experience, and the company's geo-based pay bands. The emphasis on asynchronous work suggests flexibility but also requires strong self-management and communication skills.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: HR Technology / Global Employment Solutions. Remote operates in a rapidly growing sector, providing critical infrastructure for companies looking to hire and manage international talent compliantly. Company Size: While the exact number of employees isn't specified, Remote is a well-funded, fast-growing startup with a global, distributed workforce. This implies a dynamic, agile, and potentially less hierarchical structure than larger, established corporations. Founded: Remote was founded to address the complexities of global employment. Its founding ethos likely centers on enabling global talent mobility, compliance, and fair compensation practices.

Team Structure:

• The Design team is integral to the company's mission, with a mandate to make design a key differentiator. It likely consists of product designers, UX researchers, and potentially brand designers.
• The Head of Design reports directly to the CEO, signaling the strategic importance of design and its alignment with executive-level decision-making.
• Collaboration is expected with Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and potentially Legal/HR (for compliance aspects of design).

Methodology:

• The company emphasizes an asynchronous work culture, promoting flexibility and global collaboration.
• Design decisions are guided by a combination of quantitative data and qualitative user feedback, reflecting a data-driven approach to product development and user experience.
• A strong focus on user-centered design and design-led thinking is evident, aiming to create a seamless and intuitive user experience.

Company Website: https://remote.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's core mission of simplifying global employment for businesses directly influences its design philosophy. The "work from anywhere" and "async" culture are central to its identity and operational model, which the Design team must embody and support.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a C-suite or senior executive leadership role, specifically the Head of Design, reporting directly to the CEO. It signifies a critical leadership position responsible for shaping the company's brand and user experience strategy.

Reporting Structure: The Head of Design reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This indicates a high level of visibility and direct influence on company-wide strategy and operations.

Operations Impact: The Head of Design will have a profound impact on Remote's ability to attract and retain customers by ensuring a best-in-class user experience and a strong, differentiated brand identity. Their work will directly influence product adoption, user satisfaction, and the company's market positioning.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to significantly shape the future of a rapidly growing global tech company by defining its design DNA.
• Team Building: Build and scale a high-performing, globally distributed design organization from a leadership position.
• Professional Development: Access to a learning budget, mentorship opportunities (from the CEO and other leaders), and exposure to diverse global markets.
• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into broader executive roles within the company as it scales, depending on individual performance and company trajectory.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity for a design leader to establish and scale a design function within a mission-driven, globally distributed company. The direct reporting line to the CEO underscores the strategic importance and growth potential of the position.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. The company embraces a distributed workforce model, meaning there is no central physical office. Employees work from their chosen locations worldwide.

Office Location(s): Anywhere in the World. The company explicitly states that all positions are fully remote, with employees working from various continents.

Workspace Context:

• The work environment is asynchronous, encouraging employees to manage their schedules flexibly around core collaboration needs. This requires strong self-discipline, proactive communication, and reliance on digital collaboration tools.
• Employees are empowered to set up their ideal home office environments with provided budgets and IT equipment.
• The culture values empathy, kindness, and inclusivity, with active Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to support diversity and belonging.

Work Schedule: The company operates asynchronously. While there's an expectation of roughly 40 hours per week, the emphasis is on output and results, allowing flexibility in when and how work is accomplished to support a healthy life-work balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The asynchronous nature of the work environment is a defining characteristic. Candidates must be comfortable with remote collaboration, self-management, and clear, concise digital communication.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• (Async) Profile Review: Initial screening of applications and CVs for qualifications and portfolio relevance.
• Interview with Recruiter: Assessment of cultural fit, communication skills, and initial alignment with the role requirements.
• Interview with VP of Product: Deep dive into product thinking, collaboration with product teams, and understanding of product design principles.
• Interview with CEO and Co-founder: Strategic discussion on vision, leadership, brand philosophy, and overall alignment with the company's mission.
• Interview with another Co-founder: Further assessment of leadership capabilities, strategic thinking, and cultural alignment.
• Interview with Stakeholder: Evaluation of how the candidate would collaborate with key business stakeholders outside of the core product and design teams.
• (Async) Offer: Extension of employment offer.
• Reference Check: Verification of employment history and performance with previous employers.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your most impactful projects that best demonstrate your leadership, strategic thinking, and end-to-end design process, especially those related to branding and enterprise SaaS.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the business problem, your specific role and contributions, the design process followed, key decisions made, challenges overcome, and the measurable business impact (e.g., increased user engagement, improved conversion rates, stronger brand perception).
• Showcase Leadership: Include examples of how you have mentored designers, built teams, established processes, and influenced cross-functional stakeholders.
• Highlight Branding Expertise: Ensure your portfolio includes strong examples of brand development, creative direction, and visual identity systems.
• Prepare for Discussion: Be ready to discuss your design philosophy, your approach to managing and motivating design teams, and how you handle constructive criticism and feedback.

Challenge Preparation:

• While no specific design challenge is mentioned, be prepared to discuss hypothetical scenarios related to scaling design in a remote, asynchronous environment, or how you would approach brand development for a global SaaS company.
• Focus on articulating your thought process, problem-solving approach, and how you would collaborate with different teams to achieve desired outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is extensive and involves multiple stakeholders, including founders. This emphasizes the importance of cultural fit, strategic alignment, and strong leadership potential. A well-prepared, impactful portfolio is crucial for advancing through the stages.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (primary), Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Sketch. Proficiency in Figma is particularly important given its widespread use in collaborative design environments.
• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace, Notion. Effective use of these tools is paramount for a remote, asynchronous team.
• Project Management: Tools like Asana, Jira, Trello, or Monday.com may be used for tracking design projects and team tasks.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with product analytics tools such as Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Google Analytics to understand user behavior and inform design decisions.
• Experience with A/B testing platforms to validate design hypotheses.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a design tool, understanding how design integrates with CRM systems (like Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms can be beneficial for cross-functional collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern collaborative design tools like Figma is essential. The ability to leverage data from analytics platforms to drive design decisions is also a key expectation for this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the user's needs through thoughtful design.
• Empathy, Kindness, Patience: Valuing individuals and fostering a supportive, inclusive environment for all team members.
• Diversity & Inclusion: Actively promoting and championing diversity in all its forms, with support for ERGs.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Using quantitative and qualitative data to inform design choices and measure impact.
• Ownership & Proactivity: Encouraging individuals to take initiative and drive action rather than waiting for direction.
• Excellence: Setting high standards for creative output, collaboration, and overall contribution.

Collaboration Style:

• Asynchronous First: Prioritizing clear, concise digital communication and documentation to facilitate collaboration across time zones.
• Cross-Functional Integration: Working closely with Product, Engineering, and Marketing to ensure design is a core component of product development and company strategy.
• Feedback-Oriented: Encouraging open feedback loops within the design team and with cross-functional partners to foster continuous improvement.
• Empowerment: Empowering team members to take ownership of their work and contribute innovative ideas.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's emphasis on asynchronous work, empathy, and diversity shapes its collaborative environment. The Head of Design must be adept at fostering these values within their team and in cross-functional interactions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling Design in a Remote/Async Environment: Establishing and maintaining design consistency, quality, and team cohesion across a globally distributed, asynchronous workforce.
• Balancing Brand Vision with Product Needs: Ensuring the overarching brand vision is translated effectively into user-friendly and functional product designs that meet business objectives.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Effectively communicating and integrating design strategy with diverse stakeholders across Engineering, Product, Marketing, and Executive leadership.
• Maintaining Design Quality: Upholding high design standards across a growing team and a diverse range of products and marketing materials.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Development: Gaining experience in executive-level decision-making and shaping the strategic direction of a growing tech company.
• Global Market Exposure: Deepening understanding of diverse international markets and user needs, informing design strategy.
• Team Building & Mentorship: Developing skills in building, leading, and mentoring a high-performing, remote design team.
• Industry Trends: Staying at the forefront of design innovation, UX best practices, and branding strategies in the SaaS and HR tech industries.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents a significant opportunity to build and scale a design function within a fast-growing, mission-driven company. The challenges revolve around managing remote and asynchronous operations effectively while driving strategic design initiatives.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you define and implement a design vision and strategy for a globally distributed, asynchronous company like Remote?" (Focus on your process for setting vision, creating frameworks, and ensuring adoption.)
• "Describe your approach to building and mentoring a high-performing design team, particularly in a remote setting." (Highlight your leadership philosophy, team-building strategies, and methods for fostering collaboration and growth.)
• "How do you ensure design excellence and consistency across all touchpoints of a brand, especially when working with cross-functional teams and external partners?" (Discuss your quality assurance processes, design systems, and stakeholder management.)
• "Walk us through a time you used data (quantitative or qualitative) to significantly influence a design decision or product strategy." (Prepare a specific case study demonstrating your analytical and problem-solving skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Remote's mission and how do you see design playing a crucial role in its success?" (Research the company's mission and values thoroughly.)
• "How do you foster a positive, inclusive, and empathetic design culture within a remote team?" (Align your response with Remote's stated values.)
• "How do you approach work-life balance and manage your schedule in an asynchronous environment?" (Demonstrate your understanding and comfort with async work.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with Impact: Begin by stating the key business problem and the desired outcome for each case study.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively to showcase your design work, process, and outcomes.
• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, present metrics and data to demonstrate the impact of your design solutions.
• Focus on Leadership: Clearly articulate your role in leading the project, managing the team, and influencing stakeholders.
• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your design choices, challenges, and how you'd handle specific scenarios relevant to Remote's business.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the multiple interview rounds and involvement of founders, preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership acumen, cultural alignment, and a deep understanding of design's role in business growth.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Head of Design position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.
• Portfolio Preparation: Curate a portfolio that showcases your leadership in branding, UX/UI, and team management. Select 3-5 impactful projects with clear problem statements, your process, and measurable results. Ensure it highlights your experience with enterprise applications and a strong brand aesthetic.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize leadership experience, strategic contributions, team building, and quantifiable achievements relevant to a Head of Design role in a tech company. Use keywords like "creative vision," "design leadership," "user experience," "branding," "cross-functional collaboration," and "remote team management."
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Remote's mission, values, product, and target audience. Understand their asynchronous work culture and how design contributes to their business objectives.
• Interview Practice: Prepare to discuss your design philosophy, leadership style, experience with remote teams, and how you would approach the challenges specific to Remote. Practice articulating your portfolio projects clearly and concisely, focusing on impact and strategic thinking.

⚠️ 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.