Lead Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer

Company: Novisto

Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX Leadership

Date Posted: 2025-09-26T19:20:54

Experience Level: Senior / Lead (10+ years implied)

Remote Status: Hybrid (Remote OK)

🚀 Role Summary

• Champion holistic product thinking and lead design initiatives across multiple modules, ensuring integration and impact on existing workflows for a coherent and scalable platform experience.

• Define, own, and evolve the design system to ensure consistent visual and interaction design across the Novisto platform.

• Drive user research and usability testing efforts, translating insights into actionable design iterations and UX enhancements.

• Act as a key design voice within the product development "shaping triangle" (PM, UX, Tech Lead), fostering strong collaboration with Product Managers, Technical Business Analysts, and Tech Leads.

• Coach and mentor Product Designers, promoting skill growth, design excellence, and adherence to UX craft and methodology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job title "Lead Product Designer" combined with responsibilities like "7+ years of experience in product design, including enterprise SaaS" and "3+ year in working experience as a Lead UX" strongly suggests a senior leadership role. The emphasis on "leading design initiatives across multiple modules" and "coach and mentor Product Designers" further solidifies this. The mention of "complex, data-rich products" and "ESG, reporting, compliance, or data-intensive workflows" points towards a specialized area within product design, requiring strong analytical and systems thinking. The role is positioned as a critical contributor to the product's strategic direction and user experience.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end design process for complex features and modules within Novisto's ESG data management software, from discovery and user research through to detailed design and delivery.

• Develop and maintain the company's design system, ensuring its scalability, usability, and consistent application across all product touchpoints.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management and Engineering teams to define product strategy, shape feature requirements, and ensure technical feasibility of design solutions.

• Conduct and synthesize user research, including usability testing, customer interviews, and data analysis, to uncover user needs and pain points.

• Integrate UX writing and microcopy into the design process, ensuring clear, empathetic, and contextually appropriate in-product language.

• Drive design prioritization discussions, balancing user needs, business objectives, and technical constraints to deliver maximum impact.

• Mentor and guide junior and mid-level Product Designers, fostering a culture of design excellence, continuous learning, and best practice adoption.

• Champion accessibility and inclusivity in design, ensuring the product meets diverse user needs and regulatory standards.

• Collaborate with AI/ML and Data teams to explore and define innovative human-AI interaction models for data-driven insights.

• Implement and refine design reviews and rituals to enhance cross-functional alignment, feedback loops, and overall development velocity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Product Experience & Design Leadership," "User Research & Usability," and "Cross-functional Collaboration" as distinct sections within the responsibilities indicates a structured approach to product design leadership. The emphasis on "holistic product thinking," "design system," "shaping triangle," and "coaching and mentoring" highlights the strategic and leadership aspects of this role, moving beyond individual contribution to team enablement and strategic product vision.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 7+ years of progressive experience in product design, with a significant focus on enterprise SaaS applications.

• A minimum of 3 years in a dedicated Lead UX or Product Design Lead role, demonstrating proven leadership and team management capabilities.

• Extensive experience in designing and shipping complex, data-rich products, with a portfolio showcasing successful projects.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Leadership: Proven ability to lead design initiatives, mentor designers, and drive design strategy for complex product areas.

• UX Craftsmanship: Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, interaction design, information architecture, and visual design.

• Design Systems: Expertise in creating, managing, and scaling design systems for consistency and efficiency across large platforms.

• User Research & Usability: Proficiency in various user research methodologies (interviews, surveys, usability testing) and translating findings into actionable design improvements.

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced skills in Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Excellent ability to partner effectively with Product Management, Engineering, Data Science, and AI/ML teams.

• Communication & Presentation: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and rationale to diverse stakeholders.

• Problem-Solving: Ability to tackle complex design challenges in data-intensive environments and propose innovative solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• ESG/Reporting/Compliance Domain Knowledge: Familiarity with ESG reporting, compliance workflows, or other data-intensive business processes.

• UX Writing & Microcopy: Experience integrating UX writing principles into the design process to enhance user experience.

• Accessibility Standards: Knowledge of WCAG guidelines and experience designing for accessibility.

• Prototyping Tools: Experience with advanced prototyping tools beyond Figma.

• Data Visualization: Understanding of data visualization principles and best practices for presenting complex data.

• AI/ML Interaction Design: Experience designing interfaces for AI-powered features or human-AI collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "7+ years of experience in product design, including enterprise SaaS" and "3+ year in working experience as a Lead UX" are explicit requirements. The emphasis on "complex, data-rich products" and "ESG, reporting, compliance, or data-intensive workflows (an asset)" indicates a need for designers who can handle intricate information architecture and user flows. The inclusion of "Figma" as a required tool is standard, but the implied need for advanced skills in this area for a lead role is significant.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: A portfolio showcasing 3-5 detailed case studies demonstrating your product design leadership and process. Each case study should highlight:

  • The problem statement and business context.
  • Your specific role and contributions as a design leader.
  • The design process followed (research, ideation, prototyping, testing, iteration).
  • Key design decisions and their rationale, especially in complex, data-rich environments.
  • Collaboration with cross-functional teams (PM, Engineering, Data).
  • Measurable outcomes and impact (e.g., user adoption, efficiency gains, improved data accuracy).

• Design System Contribution: Evidence of involvement in creating, evolving, or implementing a design system, including examples of components, guidelines, and their impact on consistency.

• Data-Intensive Design Examples: Specific examples of how you've designed for complex data sets, reporting dashboards, or data-driven workflows, demonstrating your ability to simplify complexity for users.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Examples or descriptions of how you have mentored other designers, led design critiques, or influenced design strategy within a team.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Showcase how you map out complex user journeys and system workflows, with a focus on efficiency and user clarity.

• Design System Governance: Demonstrate understanding of how to document and govern a design system to ensure consistent adoption and evolution.

• Research Synthesis: Provide examples of how you synthesize user research findings into actionable design requirements and product improvements.

• Cross-Functional Handoffs: Illustrate your process for collaborating with engineering and product teams, ensuring smooth design handoffs and clear communication of design intent.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Lead Product Designer role, the portfolio must go beyond individual contributions to demonstrate leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage complex design processes. Emphasis should be placed on how the candidate has influenced product direction, scaled design practices, and mentored team members, particularly within data-intensive enterprise SaaS environments.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: $120,000 - $180,000 CAD annually, depending on experience, qualifications, and specific contributions.

• Methodology: This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for Lead Product Designer roles in Montreal, Canada, considering the seniority (10+ years implied experience), the enterprise SaaS sector, and the emphasis on specialized skills such as data-rich product design and ESG domain knowledge. Compensation for lead roles in tech hubs like Montreal typically falls within this range.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Benefits: 100% insurance coverage, providing peace of mind for medical, dental, and vision needs.

• Access to Dialogue: Telemedicine app for convenient and immediate access to healthcare professionals.

• Flexible Work Schedules: Adaptable working hours to accommodate personal needs and promote work-life balance.

• Remote Work Opportunity: Flexibility to work remotely, offering greater autonomy and convenience.

• Generous Vacation Policy: 4 weeks of paid vacation per year, encouraging rest and rejuvenation.

• Summer Hours: Additional flexibility during summer months, potentially involving shorter workdays or extended weekends.

• Early-Stage Company Equity: (Implied potential) As an early-stage, well-financed company, opportunities for stock options or equity may exist, providing a stake in the company's success.

Working Hours:

• Standard: 40 hours per week.

• Flexibility: The company offers flexible schedules, allowing for adjustments to accommodate personal needs while ensuring core responsibilities and team collaboration are met. This flexibility is crucial for balancing deep work sessions required for design with team meetings and cross-functional engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided benefits are specific and appealing to experienced professionals. The salary range is an estimate based on market data for a Lead Product Designer in Montreal with significant experience in enterprise SaaS. The mention of "early-stage, well-financed company" suggests potential for equity, which is a common and attractive benefit for senior roles in such environments.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focused on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Data Management Software. Novisto operates at the intersection of finance, sustainability, and technology, providing critical tools for companies to manage and report on their ESG performance. This industry demands precision, data integrity, and a forward-thinking approach to sustainability challenges.

Company Size: Early-stage, well-financed. This implies a dynamic, fast-paced environment where roles can be broad, and individual contributions have a significant impact. It also suggests a growing team with evolving processes.

Founded: Not specified, but the "early-stage" descriptor is key. This points to a company culture that is likely adaptable, innovative, and values agility.

Team Structure:

• Product Design Team: The Lead Product Designer will mentor and guide other Product Designers, suggesting a growing design team that requires strong leadership to scale its practices and output.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role is deeply embedded within a "shaping triangle" involving Product Managers and Tech Leads, indicating a highly collaborative model where design is integrated from the outset of feature development. Collaboration with AI/ML and Data teams is also a key aspect.

• Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Lead Product Designer typically reports to a Head of Product, Director of Design, or a VP of Product/Engineering, overseeing a team of individual contributors.

Methodology:

• Holistic Product Thinking: Emphasis on understanding the entire user journey and how features connect to create a cohesive experience.

• Data-Driven Design: Use of user research, usability metrics, and product instrumentation to inform design decisions. The company's core business in ESG data management underscores the importance of data accuracy and user understanding of complex datasets.

• Agile Development: Implied by the collaboration with engineering and the need for rapid iteration in an early-stage company.

• Design System Implementation: A structured approach to ensuring consistency and scalability of the user interface and experience.

Company Website: https://novisto.com/company/careers/job-openings

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on ESG data management is a critical differentiator. This means the product design needs to be robust, capable of handling complex data, and designed for users who are often dealing with regulatory compliance and detailed reporting. The "early-stage" nature implies a culture of innovation and opportunity for significant impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership role, focusing on Product Design and UX Leadership. It's a position of influence that shapes the user experience of Novisto's core ESG data management platform. The role requires not only strong individual design skills but also the ability to strategize, mentor, and drive design operations.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer will likely report to a senior leader in Product or Engineering (e.g., Head of Product, Director of Design). They will be responsible for managing and mentoring a team of Product Designers, fostering their growth and ensuring high-quality design output.

Operations Impact: The Lead Product Designer's impact is central to Novisto's success. By ensuring an intuitive, efficient, and reliable user experience for their ESG data management software, they directly influence:

• Customer Adoption & Retention: A strong UX makes the complex task of ESG reporting more manageable, leading to higher user satisfaction and reduced churn.

• Product Strategy: Design insights can uncover new opportunities and inform the product roadmap.

• Brand Perception: A well-designed, professional interface reinforces Novisto's credibility and leadership in the ESG tech space.

• Operational Efficiency: By simplifying workflows and data entry, the design can improve the efficiency of ESG analysts and compliance officers.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into a Head of Design or Director of Product role as the company scales.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to significantly shape the product vision and strategy for Novisto's ESG platform.

• Domain Expertise: Deepen knowledge in the rapidly growing and critical field of ESG and sustainability reporting technology.

• Team Building: Play a key role in building and scaling the Product Design function at Novisto.

• Industry Recognition: Contribute to a product that is making a tangible impact on corporate sustainability.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role represents a significant step up for an experienced Product Designer, moving into a leadership position with broad influence. The growth opportunities are tied to the company's scaling and the increasing importance of ESG reporting globally.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. Novisto offers both remote work options and a physical office space.

Office Location(s): Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The office is described as beautiful, located in Old Montreal, close to downtown and metro access, suggesting a well-situated and potentially attractive workspace for those who prefer an office environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office provides a space for in-person collaboration, design reviews, and team building. Its location in Old Montreal offers a vibrant work environment.

• Technology Enabled: As a tech company, it's expected that the workspace will be equipped with modern tools and technology necessary for design and development.

• Flexible Setup: The hybrid model allows team members to choose their preferred work setting, balancing focused individual work (potentially remote) with collaborative team activities (in-office).

Work Schedule:

• Standard: Typically 40 hours per week, aligning with full-time employment.

• Flexibility: "Flexible schedules" are explicitly mentioned, allowing for adaptation to individual needs while ensuring team coordination and project timelines are met. This is particularly important for roles requiring deep focus like design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model caters to modern workforce expectations, offering flexibility while retaining the benefits of in-person collaboration. The description of the office location suggests an appealing work environment for those choosing to work from the office.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by the hiring team to assess qualifications and fit.

2. Hiring Manager Interview: A conversation with the hiring manager (likely the Head of Product or Director of Design) to discuss your experience, leadership approach, and alignment with the role's strategic objectives.

3. Design Challenge / Portfolio Presentation: You will likely be asked to present your portfolio, focusing on 1-2 key case studies. This may involve a take-home design challenge or an in-depth discussion of your past work. Expect questions about your design process, how you handle complexity, collaboration, and leadership.

4. Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Tech Leads, and potentially other designers or engineers to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and cultural fit.

5. Final Interview: Potentially with a senior executive to discuss company vision and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Prioritize Impact: Focus on case studies that demonstrate tangible impact, measurable results, and clear problem-solving. For a Lead role, this means showcasing how your design leadership drove business outcomes.

• Showcase Process: Clearly articulate your design process, from research and ideation to iteration and delivery. Explain why you made certain decisions.

• Highlight Leadership: For relevant case studies, describe your role in mentoring, guiding, or influencing the design direction.

• Address Complexity: Since the role involves "complex, data-rich products," select examples that demonstrate your ability to simplify intricate information and workflows.

• Design System Expertise: If you have experience with design systems, be prepared to discuss your approach to building, maintaining, and scaling them.

• Storytelling: Frame your case studies as compelling narratives that showcase your problem-solving skills and design thinking.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Novisto: Research Novisto's mission, product, and the ESG industry. Understand the challenges companies face in ESG data management.

• Design System Thinking: Be ready to discuss how you would approach building or evolving a design system for an enterprise SaaS product.

• Data Visualization & Complexity: Prepare to discuss how you would design interfaces for complex data sets and reporting.

• Collaboration Scenarios: Think about how you would navigate design challenges when collaborating with product managers and engineers with differing perspectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is critical for a design leadership role. Candidates should prepare to articulate not just what they designed, but how they led the design process, influenced outcomes, and mentored others, especially within the context of complex, data-intensive enterprise software.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a required tool. Expect advanced usage for UI design, prototyping, collaboration, and potentially design system management.

• Prototyping Environments: While Figma covers much of this, familiarity with other advanced prototyping tools might be beneficial for complex interactions.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Instrumentation Tools: (Implied) Tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or similar, used to track user behavior, product usage, and inform design decisions through data.

• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with how data is presented and potentially tools that facilitate effective data visualization for users.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly mentioned for this role, but understanding how design integrates with overall product development workflows, including potential CRM or automation aspects that impact user experience, would be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary tool requirement is Figma. However, for a Lead Product Designer in a data-rich SaaS environment, familiarity with analytics platforms that inform design decisions (like Amplitude or Mixpanel) and an understanding of how data visualization is presented to users are highly relevant.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence in Design: A commitment to high-quality, user-centered design that drives product value and user satisfaction.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Strong emphasis on working effectively with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Data, AI/ML) to achieve shared goals.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing user research, analytics, and feedback to inform design choices and measure impact.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: A culture that encourages exploring new ideas, iterating on designs, and constantly refining processes.

• Impact-Oriented: Focus on delivering designs that make a significant positive impact on users and the business.

• Sustainability Mission: A shared commitment to Novisto's purpose of empowering companies through ESG data management.

Collaboration Style:

• Shaping Triangle: A core collaborative model involving Product Managers, UX Designers, and Tech Leads working together from the outset of feature development.

• Open Communication: Encouraging candid feedback through design reviews and cross-functional discussions.

• User-Centricity: A collective focus on understanding and serving the end-user's needs.

• Agile & Iterative: Working in flexible, iterative cycles to adapt to feedback and evolving requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission in sustainability likely permeates its culture, fostering a sense of purpose. The collaborative style emphasizes close alignment between design, product, and engineering, which is crucial for complex SaaS development.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Complexity: Navigating the intricacies of ESG data management, regulatory reporting, and complex user workflows requires sophisticated design solutions.

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Effectively mediating between user needs, business objectives, technical constraints, and leadership vision.

• Scaling Design Practices: As an early-stage company, establishing and scaling design processes, documentation, and the design system will be an ongoing challenge.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent understanding and buy-in on design decisions across diverse teams.

• Driving Adoption of New Features: Designing innovative features that users will readily adopt and integrate into their existing processes.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into ESG Tech: Become an expert in a critical and rapidly evolving industry.

• Leadership Development: Hone skills in team management, mentorship, and strategic design leadership.

• Design System Evolution: Contribute to the growth and sophistication of a core design asset.

• Human-AI Interaction: Explore and design novel interaction models for AI-powered features within data management.

• Strategic Product Influence: Play a key role in shaping the future of Novisto's product offering.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a fast-growing tech company in a specialized, complex domain. The growth opportunities are significant for a leader looking to make a substantial impact and advance their career in product design and technology leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the design of a complex, data-rich feature. What were the key challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on your process, decision-making, and collaboration.)

• "How would you approach building or scaling a design system for an enterprise SaaS product like Novisto's? What are the critical considerations?" (Highlight your experience and strategic thinking.)

• "Imagine you have conflicting requirements from Product Management and Engineering. How would you navigate this as a Design Lead to reach an optimal solution?" (Demonstrate your negotiation and problem-solving skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Novisto's mission and the ESG industry?" (Research the company's mission and sustainability impact.)

• "How do you foster a culture of design excellence and collaboration within a product team?" (Discuss your mentorship and team-building philosophy.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Leadership: For your chosen case studies, emphasize your role as a leader, not just an individual contributor. Discuss how you guided the process, mentored others, and influenced outcomes.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, present metrics and data that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased user engagement, reduced task completion time, improved data accuracy).

• Explain the 'Why': Clearly articulate the rationale behind your design decisions, linking them back to user needs and business objectives.

• Showcase Collaboration: Describe how you worked with PMs, engineers, and other stakeholders.

• Design System Integration: If applicable, show how your work aligns with or contributes to a design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to discuss their leadership philosophy, strategic approach to design challenges, and how they drive impact within a cross-functional team. The ability to articulate complex design decisions and their outcomes is paramount.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:

• Visit the Novisto careers page and submit your application through the provided link: https://novisto.com/company/careers/job-openings?gh_jid=4613179005

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight relevant case studies demonstrating leadership in complex, data-rich enterprise SaaS products and experience with design systems.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience, leadership roles, and specific achievements in product design, using keywords from the job description.

• Prepare for Portfolio Presentation: Practice presenting 1-2 key case studies, focusing on your leadership, process, impact, and collaborative approach. Be ready to discuss your design philosophy and how you mentor designers.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Novisto's mission, product, target market (ESG data), and company culture to articulate your interest and fit during interviews.

⚠️ 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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