Lead Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer

Company: Catalyst Exchange

Location: United States (Remote)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: June 08, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design of Catalyst Exchange’s digital platform, ensuring a cohesive, intuitive, and high-quality user experience.

• Drive product strategy and feature definition through user-centered design principles and modern AI-enabled workflows.

• Establish and maintain a consistent design system and user experience across the entire platform.

• Conduct user research and usability testing to inform product decisions and validate implemented designs.

• Mentor and guide other designers or consultants to ensure design quality and consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is critical for a mission-driven nonprofit. The emphasis on AI-enabled design, user research, and cross-functional collaboration suggests a need for a designer who can not only create aesthetically pleasing interfaces but also strategically influence product development with data-backed insights and a forward-thinking approach to technology integration.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and deliver intuitive, user-centered product experiences from concept through to implementation, including low-fidelity prototypes and high-fidelity mockups.

• Define strategic user flows and product feature sets in close partnership with the Product team.

• Design intuitive UI elements such as menus, navigation, buttons, and widgets, ensuring a seamless user journey.

• Own and ensure consistency of the user experience across all aspects of the platform.

• Maintain and evolve a comprehensive design system and component library to ensure brand consistency and design efficiency.

• Partner closely with product management and engineering to gather requirements, understand technical feasibility, and ensure successful implementation of designs.

• Facilitate design walkthroughs and effectively incorporate feedback from product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders.

• Validate implemented designs against specifications to ensure alignment and quality.

• Collaborate within an agile development environment, iterating on designs based on feedback and usability testing results.

• Work with the Growth team to prototype and test new workflows, features, and innovative ideas to enhance user engagement and platform effectiveness.

• Conduct comprehensive user research, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to gather actionable insights.

• Develop detailed personas, user journey maps, and user stories to represent target users and their needs.

• Lead usability testing initiatives and iterate designs based on findings to optimize user experience.

• Create and implement a process for sharing user research insights across all relevant teams within the organization.

• Rapidly prototype and validate concepts using modern AI-enabled design and prototyping tools.

• Partner with product and engineering teams to shape AI-driven product interactions and user experiences.

• Evaluate opportunities where AI can simplify workflows, reduce operational burden, or improve decision-making for users.

• Establish best practices for responsible, accessible, and transparent AI experiences within the platform.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a full-cycle design role with significant strategic input. The emphasis on AI-enabled product development and establishing research processes indicates a need for a candidate who can build and scale design operations within a growing nonprofit.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is often preferred for senior design roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be strongly considered.

Experience: 5+ years of progressive experience in product design and UI/UX design, with a demonstrated track record of delivering successful digital products. Experience in a senior or lead capacity, with responsibilities for guiding design direction or mentoring others, is highly valued.

Required Skills:

• 5+ years of experience in product and UI/UX design with a strong, demonstrable portfolio showcasing end-to-end design projects.

• Proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe Creative Suite.

• Strong understanding of user research methodologies (interviews, usability testing, surveys) and experience analyzing user data and analytics.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams (product, engineering, growth).

• Demonstrated user empathy and a proven ability to advocate for user needs throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Experience using AI-enabled tools for rapid prototyping, workflow exploration, and product iteration.

• Familiarity with emerging AI-native design patterns and human-AI interaction principles.

• Experience maintaining design systems and ensuring adherence to accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG).

• Experience working within agile development methodologies and collaborating closely with engineering teams. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the nonprofit or social impact sector, understanding the unique challenges and opportunities of mission-driven organizations.

• Experience with systems thinking and designing complex, interconnected platform experiences.

• Familiarity with data visualization tools and methodologies for presenting user insights and product performance.

• Experience in guiding or mentoring junior designers or design consultants.

• Understanding of front-end development principles to facilitate better collaboration with engineering.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for AI-enabled design tools and human-AI interaction principles suggests that candidates with experience in emerging technologies and a forward-looking design perspective will be highly competitive. A portfolio that showcases projects involving AI integration or complex user flows will be particularly impactful.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase 3-5 comprehensive case studies demonstrating end-to-end product design ownership from problem identification to shipped solution.

• For each case study, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the design process followed, key decisions, and the final outcome.

• Highlight projects that involve complex user flows, intricate systems, or innovative problem-solving.

• Include examples of how you've leveraged user research and data to inform design decisions and iterations.

• Demonstrate proficiency with modern design tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch) and prototyping techniques. Process Documentation:

• For each case study, detail your approach to user research, including methodologies used and insights gained.

• Explain your process for creating and managing design systems, including component libraries and style guides.

• Illustrate your workflow for collaborating with product managers and engineers, including how you gather requirements and provide design specifications.

• Include examples of how you have used AI-enabled tools or methodologies in your design process, outlining the benefits and outcomes.

• Showcase how you ensure accessibility and inclusivity in your designs, referencing relevant standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI-enabled design and end-to-end product experience means portfolios should not just display final UI but also the strategic thinking, user advocacy, and iterative design processes that led to successful outcomes. Case studies demonstrating how AI was used to enhance user experience or streamline workflows will be highly advantageous.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $120,800 - $132,100 annually.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical insurance coverage.

• Dental insurance coverage.

• 403(b) retirement plan.

• Employer match of up to 5% on base salary for the 403(b) plan.

• Generous leave policy, providing ample time off for rest and rejuvenation.

Working Hours: This is a full-time position. While specific daily hours are not stated, standard professional expectations for a full-time role apply, typically around 40 hours per week, with flexibility inherent in a remote work environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Lead Product Designer role with this level of experience and responsibility, especially in the nonprofit sector. The benefits package, including the 403(b) match and generous leave, reflects a commitment to employee well-being and long-term financial security.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Nonprofit / Social Services / Capacity Building. Catalyst Exchange operates within the impact-driven sector, focusing on enhancing the effectiveness of organizations that serve communities. This context implies a mission-first culture, driven by a desire to create meaningful social change.

Company Size: The description suggests a growing organization, serving over 1,500 organizations since 2020. While an exact employee count isn't provided, the structure described (reporting to Director of Product, potential mentorship of designers) points to a mid-sized, dynamic nonprofit, likely with a lean but effective team structure.

Founded: Founded in 2020, Catalyst Exchange is a relatively young organization, suggesting a culture of innovation, agility, and rapid growth. This can translate to opportunities for team members to shape processes and contribute significantly to the organization's development.

Team Structure:

• The Product team includes a Director of Product, to whom the Lead Product Designer will report.

• Collaboration is expected with Product, Engineering, and Growth teams, indicating a cross-functional, integrated approach to product development.

• The role may involve guiding or mentoring other designers or consultants, suggesting a potential for leadership within design initiatives. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The organization emphasizes using expertise, resources, and hands-on support to achieve outcomes, implying a data-informed approach to strategy and impact measurement.

• Process Optimization: The core function of connecting organizations to expertise and managing projects suggests a focus on efficient and effective processes.

• Equity and Inclusion: Explicitly stated as a core value and embedded in their work, this commitment influences all aspects of their operations and team dynamics.

Company Website: catalyst-exchange.org

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission and its emphasis on equity and innovation are key cultural drivers. Candidates who align with these values and thrive in a collaborative, mission-focused environment will find this a rewarding place to work. The "nonprofit" aspect means understanding resource constraints and prioritizing impact will be important.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a "Lead" position, signifying a senior individual contributor role with significant autonomy and influence. It requires not only expert design skills but also strategic thinking, leadership potential, and the ability to mentor others. This role is a critical step for a designer looking to deepen their impact within a mission-driven organization and potentially grow into a design leadership position.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer will report directly to the Director of Product. This close reporting line suggests regular interaction, strategic alignment, and opportunities for direct mentorship and feedback from senior leadership.

Operations Impact: The Lead Product Designer will have a direct impact on the success of Catalyst Exchange's platform, which is the central tool for delivering its mission. By creating an intuitive and effective user experience, the designer will enhance the capacity of client organizations, deepen their impact, and contribute to the overall success and growth of Catalyst Exchange. The integration of AI also positions the role to drive innovation and efficiency within the platform's operations.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Development: Opportunities to deepen expertise in AI-enabled design, user research, and building scalable design systems.

• Leadership Growth: Potential to shape the design function within Catalyst Exchange, mentor junior team members, and influence product strategy.

• Cross-functional Impact: Gain exposure to various aspects of a nonprofit's operations, from product development to growth strategies, enhancing overall business acumen.

• Industry Influence: Contribute to best practices in design for the social impact sector, particularly in leveraging new technologies like AI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title, combined with the direct report to the Director of Product, indicates a significant opportunity for professional growth. Candidates should consider how their previous experience in leading design initiatives or mentoring can be leveraged here. The focus on AI also presents a unique growth path in a rapidly evolving field.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Catalyst Exchange operates as a remote-first national team with an office located in New Orleans. Team members can work from any U.S.-based location. This hybrid model offers flexibility while maintaining a central hub for potential in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): While the team is primarily remote, there is a physical office presence in New Orleans. This may serve as a meeting point for occasional team gatherings or for those who prefer a co-working environment.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Flexibility: The ability to work from any U.S.-based location offers significant autonomy and work-life balance.

• Collaborative Tools: Expect extensive use of digital collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, project management software) to maintain connection and productivity across distributed teams.

• Team Interaction: While remote, the organization emphasizes interactions through multiple people-facing meetings daily via video conferencing. Occasional in-person travel (1-2 times per quarter) is expected for team meetings and events, fostering a sense of community.

• Technology Access: As a design role, access to modern design software and hardware is assumed.

Work Schedule: This is a full-time role. While specific hours are flexible due to the remote nature, core working hours would likely align with team collaboration needs and project deadlines. The role requires being available for meetings and collaborative sessions, often using Zoom or similar platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first approach with a New Orleans office provides a blend of flexibility and opportunities for in-person connection. Candidates should be comfortable with remote collaboration tools and prepared for occasional travel to foster team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: An opportunity to present your portfolio, discuss your design process, and delve into specific case studies. Expect questions about your approach to user research, design systems, AI integration, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Skills-Based Interview: May involve a design exercise or a deep dive into specific technical skills, potentially including AI-enabled design workflows.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with members of the Product, Engineering, and potentially Growth teams to assess collaboration style and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Likely with the Director of Product and potentially other senior leadership to discuss strategic alignment and overall fit with the organization's mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your end-to-end design process, leadership potential, and experience with AI-enabled tools.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the challenges, your process, key decisions, and the measurable impact. Focus on the "why" behind your design choices.

• Highlight AI Integration: Specifically showcase any projects where you've utilized AI tools for prototyping, workflow optimization, or enhancing user experiences. Explain the benefits and outcomes clearly.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Provide examples of how you've worked with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering) and incorporated feedback.

• Showcase Design Systems: If applicable, present examples of design systems you've built or contributed to, emphasizing consistency and scalability.

• Address Accessibility: Be prepared to discuss how you ensure designs are accessible and inclusive.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a take-home or live design challenge that assesses your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to translate requirements into a functional design. It might focus on a specific platform feature or user flow.

• AI Integration Scenario: The challenge might involve exploring how AI could be integrated into a specific feature or workflow to improve user experience or efficiency.

• Presentation Skills: Practice presenting your work concisely and effectively, focusing on key insights and impact. Be ready to answer questions about your design rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on AI, interviewers will likely probe deeply into how candidates have used AI in their design process and their understanding of human-AI interaction. A portfolio that explicitly addresses this will be highly advantageous.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly likely, given industry trends and stated preference), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite. Candidates should be proficient in at least one primary tool.

• AI-Enabled Design Tools: Experience with AI tools for rapid prototyping, workflow exploration, and product iteration is a key requirement. Specific tools may vary, but familiarity with emerging AI design platforms is essential.

• Design System Management: Tools and methodologies for creating and maintaining design systems (e.g., Storybook, Zeroheight, or Figma's component features).

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar platforms to understand user behavior and product performance.

• Usability Testing Platforms: Tools for conducting remote usability tests (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback).

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a design tool, understanding how designs integrate with CRM (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and automation platforms can be beneficial for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is almost a given for modern design roles. The critical differentiator for this role will be demonstrated experience and comfort with AI-enabled design tools and workflows, as this is explicitly called out as a key aspect of the position.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centered: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for user needs is paramount.

• Mission-Driven: Passion for Catalyst Exchange's mission of building organizational capacity and deepening impact is essential.

• Equity & Inclusion: Actively promoting and embedding equity in design decisions and team interactions.

• Collaboration: A strong belief in working together across teams to achieve shared goals.

• Innovation: Embracing new technologies (like AI) and methodologies to improve product and processes.

• Data-Informed: Utilizing research and analytics to guide design choices and measure success.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Design is seen as an integral part of the product development lifecycle, working hand-in-hand with Product and Engineering.

• Open Communication: Encouraging open feedback, design critiques, and knowledge sharing to foster continuous improvement.

• Agile Iteration: Embracing an iterative approach where designs are refined based on ongoing feedback and testing.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Proactively engaging with stakeholders to ensure alignment and gather input.

📝 Enhancement Note: The strong emphasis on mission, equity, and user-centricity means candidates should be prepared to discuss how these values influence their design work and collaboration approach. The "nonprofit" context suggests a culture that prioritizes impact over pure profit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation with Constraints: Effectively integrating cutting-edge AI design tools and workflows within the resource considerations of a nonprofit.

• Scaling Design Operations: Building and maintaining robust design systems and user research practices as the organization grows.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent understanding and buy-in for design decisions across diverse teams with varying priorities.

• Defining AI Design Standards: Establishing best practices for responsible, accessible, and human-centered AI experiences in a nascent field.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Design Specialization: Becoming a leader in applying AI to product design within the social impact sector.

• Product Strategy Influence: Deepening involvement in product strategy and roadmap development.

• Mentorship and Leadership: Gaining experience in guiding and developing other designers.

• Industry Engagement: Potentially representing Catalyst Exchange at industry events or contributing to thought leadership in design for social good.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed as opportunities for growth. Candidates who are proactive problem-solvers and eager to contribute to building processes within a growing organization will find this role stimulating.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used user research to significantly shift a product's direction." (Focus on your process, insights, and impact.)

• "How would you approach designing a new feature that leverages AI to simplify a complex workflow for our users?" (Discuss your ideation, prototyping with AI tools, and validation strategy.)

• "Walk us through your process for creating or maintaining a design system. What are the key components and how do you ensure adoption?" (Highlight your systems thinking and collaboration with engineering.)

• "How do you balance user needs with business/mission goals and technical feasibility?" (Demonstrate your strategic decision-making.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Catalyst Exchange's mission and our work in capacity building?" (Research the organization's impact and values.)

• "How do you incorporate equity and inclusion into your design process?" (Provide concrete examples.)

• "Describe your ideal collaboration with product managers and engineers." (Focus on communication, feedback loops, and shared ownership.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each case study, follow a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Impact.

• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, prototypes, and user flow diagrams. Show the evolution of your designs.

• Data & Insights: Quantify impact where possible (e.g., "increased user engagement by X%," "reduced task completion time by Y"). Clearly articulate qualitative insights from research.

• AI Focus: For projects involving AI, explicitly explain how AI was used, what tools you employed, and the resulting benefits for the user or product.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time; focus on the most critical aspects of each project. Be prepared for deep dives into specific areas.

📝 Enhancement Note: Expect questions that blend design methodology with strategic thinking and an understanding of the nonprofit sector. Be ready to articulate your design philosophy, especially regarding AI and user-centricity.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided BambooHR careers link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features 3-5 strong case studies that demonstrate your end-to-end design process, leadership capabilities, and specific experience with AI-enabled design tools and workflows. Tailor your case study selection to highlight projects most relevant to a mission-driven organization.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your 5+ years of experience, focusing on achievements and responsibilities in product design, UI/UX, user research, design systems, and AI integration. Use keywords found in the job description to align with ATS scanning.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on storytelling, clear articulation of your design rationale, and demonstrating your understanding of AI's role in design. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions related to collaboration, problem-solving, and user advocacy.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Catalyst Exchange's mission, values, and recent work. Understand their approach to capacity building and their commitment to equity. Prepare thoughtful questions about the role, team, and company culture.

⚠️ 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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