Lead UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UX/UI Designer

Company: Theta

Location: Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Design Operations / GTM Operations (Design Strategy & Enablement)

Date Posted: March 10, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (Minimum 2 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic direction and governance of design systems to ensure consistency and quality across a suite of products.

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, guiding them on user experience and interface design decisions for critical programs.

• Drive the creation and maintenance of outstanding visual and interactive designs for web and mobile applications within a technology consultancy environment.

• Foster a culture of design excellence by mentoring junior team members and contributing to client proposals and new business opportunities.

• Champion best practices in responsive design, accessibility standards, and the application of design tokens to maintain alignment between design assets and code.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior, strategic design leadership position within a technology consultancy. While the core function is UX/UI Design, its impact on governance, client advisory, and design system leadership places it within the broader GTM Operations umbrella, focusing on design enablement and strategic execution that directly influences product delivery and client success. The emphasis on "design governance" and "advocating for quality at the governance board level" highlights a critical operations function.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain high standards for visual and interactive design across client projects, ensuring alignment with brand guidelines and user needs.

• Proactively lead the governance and evolution of a design system, providing necessary resources and guidance to development and design teams.

• Collaborate closely with senior stakeholders (clients, project managers, technical leads) to assess and communicate the impact of design changes across multiple products and platforms.

• Accurately estimate design effort, scope, and potential impact of interface improvements for existing applications, contributing to project planning and resource allocation.

• Participate actively in the proposal development process, contributing design expertise and strategic insights to respond to new client opportunities and secure business.

• Mentor and guide less experienced designers and developers, fostering knowledge sharing and professional growth within the UX/UI design practice.

• Conduct user research, usability testing, and iterative design cycles to validate design solutions and ensure optimal user experience.

• Stay abreast of emerging design trends, tools, and technologies, and advocate for their adoption where beneficial to enhance design quality and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: These responsibilities are enhanced to reflect the senior and consultative nature of the role. Emphasis is placed on leadership, strategic influence, and client-facing aspects typical of a lead position within a consultancy. "Governance of a design system" is framed as a key operational responsibility, directly impacting product consistency and development efficiency.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 10+ years of commercial experience in interface design for web and mobile applications.

• Proven experience within an IT consultancy or a design agency environment, demonstrating an understanding of client-driven project lifecycles.

• Substantial experience in guiding and influencing senior stakeholder opinions on user experience and interface design matters.

• Demonstrated experience leading the governance and application of large-scale design systems.

Required Skills:

• UX/UI Design: Expertise in user-centered design principles, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design.

• Design Systems: Deep understanding of design system architecture, component libraries, and governance models.

• Stakeholder Management: Proven ability to build relationships, communicate effectively, and influence decisions with senior stakeholders.

• Visual & Interactive Design: Strong aesthetic sense and ability to create engaging and intuitive user interfaces.

• Design Governance: Experience in establishing and enforcing design standards and best practices within teams and across projects.

• Consulting Acumen: Ability to understand client needs, provide strategic advice, and act as a trusted advisor.

• Mentoring: Capability to guide and develop junior design and development talent.

• Responsive & Accessible Design: Proficiency in designing for various screen sizes and ensuring compliance with accessibility standards.

• Proactive Problem-Solving: A solutions-focused mindset with the ability to identify issues and propose effective design solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Design Tokens: Experience with design tokens and maintaining consistency between design assets (Figma) and code implementation.

• Front-End Development Fundamentals: Strong understanding of HTML5 and CSS to facilitate better collaboration with developers and ensure design feasibility.

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

• Formal Design Training: Background in graphic design, interaction design, or a related field.

📝 Enhancement Note: The skills section is expanded to include specific operations-relevant keywords and concepts such as "Design Governance," "Consulting Acumen," and "Design Systems" as core competencies. Preferred skills are highlighted to indicate areas where candidates can further differentiate themselves, particularly regarding the operational aspect of bridging design and code.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies in Design Leadership: Showcase at least 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating your leadership in UX/UI design projects, highlighting your role in strategy, decision-making, and problem-solving.

• Design System Governance Examples: Include examples of how you have led or significantly contributed to the governance, evolution, or implementation of a design system, detailing its impact on consistency, efficiency, and scalability.

• Stakeholder Influence Examples: Present specific instances where you successfully guided and influenced senior stakeholders on design decisions, including the challenges, your approach, and the outcomes achieved.

• Cross-Platform Design: Demonstrate proficiency in designing for both web and mobile applications, showcasing your understanding of responsive design principles and platform-specific best practices.

• Accessibility Compliance: Provide evidence of your commitment to accessibility, with examples of how you've incorporated accessibility standards into your design process and solutions.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Detail your approach to designing and optimizing design workflows, from initial concept to final implementation, emphasizing efficiency and collaboration.

• System Implementation & Integration: Showcase experience in implementing design systems or integrating design components across different platforms or development environments, noting any challenges and solutions.

• Metrics & Performance Analysis: Illustrate how you measure the success of design initiatives, including user adoption, satisfaction, and business impact, and how you use data to inform design iterations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is crucial for operations roles. The portfolio requirements are tailored to demonstrate not just design skill but also operational capabilities such as leadership, process management, system governance, and data-driven decision-making. The emphasis is on showcasing impact and strategic thinking, which are key for operations professionals.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• NZD $140,000 - $180,000 per annum (estimated).

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the seniority (10+ years experience), lead role, required consultancy background, and location in Auckland, New Zealand, a salary range of NZD $140,000 - $180,000 is estimated. This range reflects typical compensation for Lead UX/UI Designers in a high-cost-of-living city like Auckland, especially within a technology consultancy. Research was based on industry benchmarks for senior design roles in New Zealand, consulting firm salary data, and the specific demands of leading design governance and client advisory.

Benefits:

• Competitive Rates: Reflecting the senior nature of the role and market value.

• Hybrid Working Model: Offering flexibility with a minimum of 2 days per week in the Auckland office to foster collaboration and team connection.

• Professional Growth & Learning Opportunities: Access to training, workshops, conferences, and potential for certifications to enhance design and leadership skills.

• Flexible Work Hours: Practical flexibility to accommodate personal needs, particularly beneficial for caregivers.

• Staff Assistance Programme: Confidential support services for employees facing personal or work-related challenges.

• Office Amenities: Daily fresh fruit basket, coffee machine, and a wide selection of teas and biscuits to enhance the daily work experience.

• Internal Referral Incentive: Reward for successfully referring new talent to Theta.

• Community Involvement: Opportunity to participate in company initiatives supporting causes like Cure Kids.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, with an emphasis on flexibility where practical. The hybrid model requires a minimum of 2 days in the Auckland office, allowing for focused work at home on other days.

📝 Enhancement Note: Benefits are detailed to highlight aspects attractive to experienced professionals, including growth, flexibility, and well-being support, which are often key considerations for senior operations roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology Consultancy / Software Development. Theta operates within New Zealand's growing technology sector, focusing on digital transformation for leading organizations across Aotearoa. This industry context means a constant drive for innovation, problem-solving, and client-centric solutions.

Company Size: Approximately 300 employees. This size indicates a structured organization with established processes and a dedicated UX/UI practice, while still retaining a collaborative and agile feel. It offers opportunities for influence without the bureaucracy of a much larger enterprise.

Founded: Information not explicitly provided, but the company has a presence across multiple New Zealand locations (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Tauranga), suggesting a mature and established business.

Team Structure:

• UX/UI Design Practice: You will be part of a dedicated UX/UI design team, offering peer support and opportunities for collaboration.

• Reporting Structure: This is a senior role with considerable autonomy, likely reporting to a Head of Design, Practice Lead, or a senior executive overseeing digital transformation programs. You will also work daily with senior stakeholders, developers, and project teams.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role necessitates close collaboration with project managers, business analysts, developers, client representatives, and potentially sales/account management teams to ensure design vision is understood and implemented effectively.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: While not explicitly stated, a technology consultancy serving leading organizations likely employs data analysis to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Agile & Pragmatic Approach: Theta values a pragmatic approach, suggesting an agile methodology that balances best practices with client needs and project constraints.

• User-Centricity: The core of the role is advocating for the user, implying a strong user-centric design methodology integrated into project lifecycles.

Company Website: https://www.theta.co.nz/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is described based on its industry, size, and stated values, emphasizing a blend of innovation, pragmatism, and employee well-being. For operations roles, understanding how design functions within this structure—especially its governance and client advisory aspects—is key.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Lead / Senior Principal. This role represents a significant step up from a standard UX/UI Designer, involving strategic design leadership, governance responsibilities, and direct client advisory at senior levels. It's a position of influence where design strategy directly impacts business outcomes and client relationships.

Reporting Structure: You will report into a senior design or technology leadership role, but your day-to-day interactions will be with senior client stakeholders, development leads, and project teams. This dual reporting and collaboration structure is typical for senior consultants embedded in client programs.

Operations Impact: As a Lead UX/UI Designer, your impact extends beyond aesthetics. You will directly influence product success by ensuring user-centricity, driving adoption through intuitive interfaces, and ensuring design quality across potentially large, long-running programs. Your ability to advocate for good design at the governance level means you are influencing strategic direction and resource allocation for design.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow into a Head of Design, Practice Lead, or Director role, managing larger teams and broader design strategy.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like design system strategy, accessibility consulting, or UX research leadership.

• Client Advisory: Evolve into a Principal Consultant or Solutions Architect role, leveraging design expertise for high-level client strategy and business development.

• Mentorship & Training: Develop leadership skills through mentoring, and potentially contribute to internal training programs and curriculum development for the UX/UI practice.

📝 Enhancement Note: This analysis frames the role not just as a design job but as a strategic operations position with clear career progression paths within a consultancy. The "Operations Impact" section highlights how design leadership contributes to business objectives, a critical perspective for operations professionals.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is hybrid, requiring a minimum of 2 days per week in the Auckland office. This suggests a professional office environment designed to support collaboration, client meetings, and focused individual work.

Office Location(s): Auckland, New Zealand. The specific office location within Auckland would be provided upon inquiry or during the interview process. This location offers access to a vibrant tech ecosystem.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office serves as a hub for team meetings, design critiques, stakeholder workshops, and cross-functional collaboration with developers and project teams.

• Tools & Technology: Access to standard design software (likely Figma), collaboration tools, and potentially internal design system resources.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities to connect with fellow designers, developers, and project leads, fostering a shared sense of purpose and facilitating knowledge exchange.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time employment with flexible working hours where practical. The hybrid arrangement requires presence in the office for specific days, allowing for focused remote work on other days, balancing project needs with personal flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment is described to appeal to professionals seeking balance and collaboration, highlighting how the hybrid model supports both individual productivity and team synergy, important factors for operations roles that often require deep work alongside collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio by the recruitment team or hiring manager to assess suitability based on experience and core skills.

• Portfolio Presentation & Technical Interview: A session where you present selected case studies from your portfolio, focusing on your design process, strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and leadership in design governance. Expect deep dives into your design decisions and problem-solving approaches.

• Stakeholder/Team Interview: Interviews with senior stakeholders, potential team members, and project leads to assess your consulting skills, collaboration style, and cultural fit within Theta and client teams.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership to confirm strategic alignment, long-term vision, and overall fit for the organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Impact: Select 2-3 of your most impactful projects that best showcase your leadership, design system governance, stakeholder influence, and problem-solving abilities.

• Tell the Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the business problem, your role and approach, the design process, key decisions made (and why), the challenges faced, and the measurable outcomes. Quantify impact where possible (e.g., efficiency gains, user satisfaction improvements).

• Highlight Governance: Explicitly detail your experience with design systems, including how you managed their governance, ensured adoption, and maintained consistency.

• Showcase Collaboration: Demonstrate how you worked with stakeholders, developers, and other teams, highlighting your communication and influencing skills.

• Accessibility & Responsiveness: Be prepared to discuss your approach to these critical standards with tangible examples.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Strategy Discussion: Be ready to discuss your philosophy on user-centered design, the role of design systems in large organizations, and how you approach complex design challenges.

• Client Scenario: You may be presented with a hypothetical client scenario to gauge your consulting approach, problem-solving skills, and ability to think strategically under pressure.

• Design System Governance Q&A: Prepare to answer questions about the challenges of implementing and governing design systems, and how you would address them.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process and portfolio review tips are tailored to emphasize the operational aspects of the role – strategy, governance, stakeholder management, and impact measurement – which are critical for operations professionals evaluating opportunities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The primary design and prototyping tool. Proficiency in Figma, including its collaboration features, component management, and prototyping capabilities, is essential.

• Design System Platforms: Experience with tools or methodologies for managing design tokens and component libraries (e.g., Storybook, Zeroheight, or custom solutions).

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other prototyping tools may be beneficial for specific project needs.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary focus of this role, understanding how design impacts user behavior and business metrics is key. Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to interpret user data and inform design decisions would be advantageous.

• User Feedback Tools: Experience with tools for collecting and analyzing user feedback (e.g., surveys, heatmaps, session recording).

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this UX/UI Design role, but understanding how design integrates with customer-facing platforms and workflows could be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section focuses on the tools directly relevant to a UX/UI Designer, with an eye toward how these tools support operational goals like consistency, efficiency, and data-informed decision-making in the design process.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• People as the Greatest Asset: Theta values its employees, fostering a supportive environment that encourages individual growth and well-being. This means valuing collaboration and mutual respect within the design team and across departments.

• Ethical Business Conduct: A commitment to integrity and transparency in all client dealings and internal operations.

• Invention, Imagination, Creativity: Encouraging innovative thinking and new approaches to problem-solving, essential for a technology consultancy.

• Positive Energy, Enjoyment, Humour & Work/Life Balance: A culture that promotes a positive and sustainable work environment, recognizing the importance of personal life alongside professional achievement.

• Excellence & Delivery: A passion for delivering high-quality work and exceeding client expectations, a core tenet for any successful consultancy.

• Pragmatic Approach: Balancing innovative ideas with practical implementation, ensuring solutions are effective and achievable within real-world constraints.

• Environmental Appreciation: A commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, reflecting a broader corporate social consciousness.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect a highly collaborative environment where designers work closely with developers, project managers, and business analysts to achieve project goals.

• Feedback & Iteration: A culture that embraces constructive feedback and iterative design processes to refine solutions.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing best practices, insights, and learnings within the UX/UI practice and across the wider organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values are mapped to how they influence the operations of a design team within Theta, emphasizing collaboration, pragmatism, and a commitment to excellence, which are crucial for operational success in any role.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Design Vision with Client Constraints: Navigating client expectations, budget limitations, and technical constraints while advocating for the best user experience.

• Scalability of Design Systems: Ensuring design systems remain effective, up-to-date, and adopted across diverse projects and teams as the company and its clients grow.

• Influencing Senior Stakeholders: Consistently influencing decision-makers who may not have a design background, requiring strong communication and articulation of design value.

• Keeping Pace with Technology: Continuously adapting design practices and toolsets to align with evolving web and mobile technologies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design System Strategy: Opportunities to lead the strategic direction of design systems, potentially influencing industry best practices.

• Consulting & Client Advisory Skills: Developing expertise in client relationship management, business development, and strategic IT consulting.

• Leadership Development: Formal and informal leadership training to hone mentoring, team management, and strategic planning skills.

• Industry Exposure: Attending industry conferences, workshops, and potentially pursuing certifications related to UX, design systems, or accessibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are framed to highlight areas where strategic thinking and operational problem-solving are key. Growth opportunities are aligned with senior leadership and specialized consulting roles, common in established consultancies.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach establishing or governing a design system for a large, multi-product program with diverse development teams?" (Focus on process, communication, and adoption strategies).

• "Describe a time you had to influence a senior stakeholder who was resistant to your design recommendations. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Highlight influencing skills, data-driven arguments, and stakeholder management).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Theta's approach to technology consulting and digital transformation?" (Show research into Theta's services and values).

• "How do you see the role of design evolving within a technology consultancy like Theta?" (Align your vision with the company's strategic direction).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: For each case study, use a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role & Process -> Solution -> Outcomes (quantified where possible).

• Focus on Governance: Dedicate specific slides or time to showcasing your experience with design systems, emphasizing your leadership and impact.

• Highlight Stakeholder Interaction: Detail how you engaged with clients and senior stakeholders, demonstrating your consulting and influencing capabilities.

• Discuss Trade-offs: Be prepared to talk about the compromises made and how you navigated them effectively.

• Be Ready for Live Design Tasks: While not explicitly stated, some companies might present a small design challenge or ask you to critique an existing interface.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions are crafted to probe the candidate's strategic, operational, and consulting capabilities, aligning with the "Lead" and "governance" aspects of the role. Portfolio presentation advice is focused on demonstrating impact and process, critical for operations roles.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your CV to highlight your 10+ years of experience, consultancy background, design system governance, stakeholder influence, and leadership achievements. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 strong case studies that best demonstrate your leadership, strategic thinking, design system governance experience, and ability to influence senior stakeholders. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your solution, process, and impact.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies concisely and compellingly, focusing on the operational aspects of your role and the outcomes you delivered. Be ready to discuss your design philosophy and approach to governance.

• Research Theta: Familiarize yourself with Theta's services, client work, and company values. Understand their approach to technology consultancy and how design fits into their offerings.

⚠️ 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.