VP of Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: VP of Design

Company: Mochi Health

Location: San Francisco, CA

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Design Leadership / Operations

Date Posted: September 17, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: On-site (5 days/week)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic vision and execution of all design initiatives for a patient-centric, AI-driven healthcare marketplace.

• Serve as a player-coach, dedicating approximately 70% of your time to hands-on design work and 30% to team leadership and management.

• Build, mentor, and scale a high-performing design team, including Product Designers, UX Researchers, and Design Systems specialists.

• Establish and maintain robust design operations, including scalable design systems, efficient workflows, and clear quality standards to support rapid growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is classified under Design Leadership with a significant operational component due to the emphasis on establishing design systems, processes, and scaling the team, aligning it with GTM operations and strategic execution. The "player-coach" model is a critical differentiator, requiring a candidate who excels both as an individual contributor and a leader.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Drive the end-to-end design of patient and provider experiences across the Mochi Health platform, including the marketplace, pharmacy, and clinical workflows.

• Actively contribute to design efforts in Figma, focusing on interaction design, user flows, and visual design for key features.

• Develop and implement a scalable design system to ensure consistency, efficiency, and brand integrity across all product touchpoints.

• Recruit, hire, mentor, and develop a diverse and talented design team, establishing career frameworks and growth paths.

• Define and enforce design quality standards through rigorous design reviews, ensuring a balance between speed, craft, and patient trust.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, Clinical teams, and executive leadership to translate business goals into compelling design strategies.

• Define metrics and frameworks to measure and report on the impact of design on key business outcomes, such as conversion, retention, and patient satisfaction.

• Foster a design culture that prioritizes user-centricity, data-informed decision-making, and continuous improvement in a fast-paced startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on hands-on design execution and strategic operational leadership. The emphasis on "Design Operations" and "scaling design systems" indicates a need for a candidate who can build the infrastructure for design excellence, not just produce individual designs. This is crucial for a rapidly growing company in a regulated industry like healthcare.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for senior design leadership roles.

Experience:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in product design.

• Minimum of 4+ years in a formal design leadership role, managing and scaling design teams (ideally 15+ people).

• Demonstrated experience in a "player-coach" capacity, comfortable performing individual contributor tasks while leading a team.

• Proven track record of hiring, developing, and retaining senior design talent.

• Experience in fast-paced, high-growth startup environments. Required Skills:

• Deep expertise in user-centered design principles, interaction design, visual design, and comprehensive design systems.

• Proficiency with modern design tools, notably Figma, and familiarity with prototyping and user testing platforms.

• Ability to translate complex business objectives and user needs into actionable design strategies and brand vision.

• Strong data-informed approach to design decisions, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative insights.

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, capable of articulating design rationale to diverse audiences (technical, non-technical, executive).

• Proven ability to build trust, influence, and drive alignment across cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Clinical, Executive Leadership).

• Experience in designing for regulated industries, particularly healthcare, is highly advantageous. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI tools such as Claude.

• Familiarity with UX Research methodologies and their integration into the design process.

• Understanding of how design directly impacts key business metrics (conversion, retention, patient outcomes).

• Experience in defining and implementing design operations and processes that scale.

• Portfolio demonstrating end-to-end ownership of complex, multi-sided products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirements strongly emphasize leadership and hands-on execution, particularly the "player-coach" aspect. The need for experience in regulated industries like healthcare is a key differentiator for operations and risk management considerations within the design function.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase 2-3 complex, end-to-end product design case studies that demonstrate ownership from concept to launch.

• Clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the design process, key decisions, and measurable outcomes.

• Highlight your ability to balance user needs with business constraints and technical feasibility.

• Include examples of how you've contributed to or led the development of design systems, emphasizing scalability and consistency.

• Demonstrate experience with user research, user testing, and how insights informed design iterations. Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your methodologies for establishing design operations, including workflow design and optimization.

• Showcase examples of how you've implemented tools and processes to improve design team efficiency and collaboration.

• Detail your approach to defining and executing design reviews and quality standards.

• Explain how you've measured and reported on design's impact on business metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a VP of Design role with a player-coach and operational focus, the portfolio must demonstrate not only design craft but also the ability to build and scale design processes and teams. The emphasis on "Design Operations" suggests a need for documented processes and system implementations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $300,000 - $350,000 annually.

Benefits:

• Financial: Top-of-market compensation, generous equity packages, 401(k) with company match, pre-tax commuter perks.

• Wellness & Health: High-quality medical, dental, and vision plans, life insurance, unlimited PTO, generous company holidays, weekly mindfulness sessions, group workouts, and fitness perks.

• Work-Life Support: Daily on-site meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), on-site espresso bar, team socials, happy hours, and community events.

• Professional Development: High-impact work, opportunity to shape digital healthcare, collaboration with a world-class team.

Working Hours: Full-time position, expected to be on-site 5 days a week. The standard working hours are assumed to be approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected in a startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided and is considered competitive for a VP-level role in San Francisco, especially within a high-growth startup. The benefits package is extensive, emphasizing employee well-being and work-life integration, which is a significant draw for operations and leadership roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare Technology (HealthTech), focusing on an AI-driven marketplace for healthcare discovery, transparent pricing, and medication access.

Company Size: Growing rapidly, with a team comprised of individuals from top tech and academic institutions (Tesla, SpaceX, Citadel, Harvard, IIT). This indicates a culture that values excellence, innovation, and a high level of talent.

Founded: Mochi Health has been operating for several years, indicating a stage of rapid scaling and market validation beyond the initial startup phase, but still retaining a startup mindset.

Team Structure:

• The design team will be led by the VP of Design and will likely include Product Designers, UX Researchers, and Design Systems specialists.

• Close collaboration is expected with Product Management, Engineering, and Clinical departments, indicating a matrixed and cross-functional operational structure.

• The VP of Design will report to executive leadership, likely the CEO or CPO, influencing company-wide strategy. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasizes using both qualitative and quantitative data to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Patient-Centricity: Core to the company's mission, ensuring all design efforts prioritize patient needs and outcomes.

• Agile & Iterative: Operating in a fast-paced startup environment necessitates agile development and iterative design processes.

• AI Integration: Leveraging AI to enhance the healthcare marketplace and patient experience.

Company Website: https://joinmochi.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is described as valuing bold thinking, inclusive collaboration, and meaningful work. The presence of employees from top-tier companies suggests a high-performance, intellectually stimulating environment. The "startup mindset" combined with rapid growth implies a dynamic and adaptable operational framework.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership role (VP level) within the design function, with significant strategic influence and operational responsibility. It requires a blend of individual contribution and team leadership, making it a critical role for scaling the company's product experience.

Reporting Structure: The VP of Design will report to executive leadership (e.g., CEO, CPO) and will manage a team of designers. They will be a key partner to Product and Engineering leadership, contributing to GTM strategy through product experience.

Operations Impact: The design function, under this VP's leadership, is positioned to directly impact critical business outcomes. By creating effortless, trustworthy, and human healthcare experiences, design will influence patient acquisition, engagement, retention, and overall satisfaction, ultimately driving revenue and market position. The ability to translate design impact into measurable business metrics is paramount.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Opportunity to grow the design team significantly as the company scales, potentially creating specialized sub-teams (e.g., research, systems, product lines).

• Strategic Influence: Shape the product roadmap and overall company strategy through design leadership, potentially expanding influence into brand and marketing design.

• Industry Impact: Contribute to a mission-driven company aiming to revolutionize healthcare, offering a unique opportunity for significant personal and professional impact.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning in areas of AI in healthcare, scaling design operations, and leading high-performing teams in a regulated environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique combination of hands-on design, team building, and strategic leadership, providing substantial growth potential for an ambitious design leader looking to make a significant impact in the HealthTech sector. The player-coach model itself is a growth opportunity for individuals looking to refine both their individual craft and leadership skills simultaneously.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Mochi Health operates with a strong emphasis on an in-person, collaborative environment. The role is explicitly 5 days/week onsite at their Downtown San Francisco HQ.

Office Location(s): Downtown San Francisco HQ, conveniently located near BART, Muni, and various dining options.

Workspace Context:

• The office is designed for both deep work and casual collaboration, fostering a dynamic work environment.

• Access to on-site amenities like daily meals, an espresso bar, and meeting spaces supports productivity and team interaction.

• The environment is expected to be fast-paced, high-growth, and intellectually stimulating, attracting top talent.

• Proximity to public transportation facilitates easy commuting for operations professionals.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with an expectation of 5 days per week in the San Francisco office. While core hours are implied, the startup culture suggests flexibility may be available, but the emphasis is on in-person collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mandated 5-day on-site work policy is a critical factor for candidates. It signals a company culture that prioritizes in-person collaboration and team cohesion, which can be a strong positive for those seeking a connected work environment, but a limitation for remote-first candidates.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Review: Submit Resume, Portfolio (PDF or link), and a Cover Letter expressing excitement for the role.

• Recruiter Screen (30 min): Focus on background, interest, and a brief logic/probability question. This assesses critical thinking and problem-solving aptitude relevant to operations.

• Hiring Manager Screen (30 min): Deeper dive into experience, leadership style, and alignment with the player-coach model.

• Portfolio Presentation (60 min): Present 2-3 case studies to Product/Design leadership. This is the core assessment of your design craft, strategic thinking, and ability to articulate impact.

• Onsite Interview: Conversations with cross-functional leaders (Product, Engineering, Clinical) and the CEO to assess cultural fit, strategic alignment, and broader leadership potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Select Impactful Case Studies: Choose projects that showcase end-to-end ownership, complex problem-solving, and measurable business impact within healthcare or similar regulated industries.

• Structure for Clarity: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your specific role and contributions, the design process, key decisions made (and why), and the resulting outcomes (quantified where possible).

• Highlight Player-Coach Aspect: Demonstrate instances where you were both a hands-on contributor and a leader, showing your ability to "get in the weeds" while guiding a team.

• Showcase Design Systems & Operations: Include examples of how you've built or contributed to scalable design systems and implemented design processes that enhance efficiency and consistency.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your leadership philosophy, how you mentor designers, how you handle design critiques, and how you measure design's ROI.

Challenge Preparation:

• Logic/Probability Question: Practice basic logic and probability problems, focusing on clear articulation of your thought process.

• Case Study Presentation: Rehearse your case study presentations to ensure they are concise, engaging, and within the time limit. Focus on storytelling that highlights your strategic thinking and impact.

• Cross-functional Collaboration Scenarios: Be ready to discuss how you've collaborated with Product and Engineering, addressing potential conflicts and driving alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to assess a wide range of skills, from analytical thinking to strategic leadership and hands-on design execution. The portfolio presentation is a critical gate, requiring candidates to effectively communicate their value proposition and impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design: Figma (primary tool for UI/UX design, prototyping, and design systems).

• Prototyping: In-depth knowledge of Figma's prototyping capabilities or related tools.

• User Testing: Experience with platforms for conducting user research and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze).

• AI Tools: Familiarity with AI tools such as Claude for ideation, content generation, or enhancing user experiences.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Understanding of how design impacts analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel).

• Ability to define metrics and frameworks for measuring design impact and user behavior. CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how design integrates with CRM and marketing automation platforms to create seamless user journeys is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is non-negotiable. The mention of AI tools like Claude suggests an innovative approach to design and a willingness to explore cutting-edge technologies within the product development lifecycle.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence & Craft: A commitment to high-quality design that builds trust and delivers exceptional user experiences in a critical industry.

• Collaboration & Inclusivity: Fostering a team environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and cross-functional partnerships are strong.

• Patient-Centricity: A deep-seated focus on understanding and serving the needs of patients, making healthcare more accessible and human.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing insights from data (qualitative and quantitative) to guide design strategy and product development.

• Bold Thinking & Innovation: Encouraging creative problem-solving and pushing boundaries to revolutionize healthcare.

• Ownership & Accountability: Taking responsibility for outcomes and driving initiatives to completion, especially within the player-coach model.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, with strong partnerships expected between Design, Product, and Engineering.

• Emphasis on open communication, constructive feedback, and shared ownership of product success.

• The player-coach model necessitates close working relationships within the design team itself, fostering mentorship and shared learning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture emphasizes a blend of high performance, mission-driven work, and strong interpersonal values. The "world-class team" and emphasis on collaboration suggest an environment where ambitious professionals can thrive and contribute significantly.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Player & Coach: Effectively managing time and energy between hands-on design execution and team leadership responsibilities.

• Scaling Design Operations: Building and maintaining robust design systems and processes that can keep pace with rapid company growth while ensuring quality.

• Navigating Healthcare Regulations: Designing within a highly regulated industry requires a deep understanding of compliance, privacy (HIPAA), and ethical considerations.

• Driving Design-Led Strategy: Influencing executive decision-making and embedding design thinking into the core of the company's strategy.

• Measuring Design Impact: Quantifying the ROI of design initiatives in a complex healthcare ecosystem.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to refine leadership skills, manage larger teams, and influence strategic direction at an executive level.

• HealthTech Expertise: Deepen understanding of the healthcare industry's complexities, regulations, and patient needs.

• AI in Design: Explore and implement cutting-edge AI technologies to enhance product experiences and operational efficiency.

• Design Operations Mastery: Develop expertise in building scalable design systems, processes, and team structures for high-growth companies.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Gain experience working closely with diverse teams (clinical, technical, product) to achieve common goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a senior leadership role in a scaling HealthTech startup. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a path for significant career advancement and impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach building a design system from scratch for a rapidly scaling healthcare platform, considering both user needs and regulatory compliance?"

• "Describe your philosophy on balancing hands-on design work with team management in a player-coach role. What strategies would you employ to ensure both aspects are successful?"

• "How do you measure the impact of design on key business metrics like patient acquisition, retention, and satisfaction in a healthcare context?"

• "How would you foster a design culture that encourages innovation and experimentation while maintaining high standards of quality and patient trust?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Mochi Health's mission to fix healthcare, and how does your design philosophy align with our patient-centric approach?"

• "How have you previously collaborated with Product and Engineering leadership to drive product strategy? Can you provide an example?"

• "Describe a time you had to influence executive leadership with a design-led proposal. What was the outcome?"

• "What are your thoughts on our current product experience, and where do you see the biggest opportunities for design impact?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling is Key: Frame each case study as a narrative – the challenge, your journey, the solution, and the impact.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data (metrics, user feedback, business outcomes) to demonstrate the success of your design solutions.

• Highlight Your Role: Clearly delineate your specific contributions, especially in team leadership and hands-on design.

• Showcase Process: Briefly explain your design process, emphasizing how you adapted it to the specific project needs and constraints.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design decisions, trade-offs, and alternative approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, operational capability in scaling design, and a deep understanding of user-centered design within the healthcare domain. The player-coach aspect is a recurring theme that candidates must be prepared to address.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this VP of Design position:

• Submit your resume, portfolio (PDF or link), and a brief note explaining your excitement for this role and Mochi Health's mission through the provided application link.

• Tailor your resume and portfolio: Highlight experience in product design leadership, scaling design teams, developing design systems, and working in regulated industries like healthcare. Emphasize achievements with quantifiable results.

• Prepare your portfolio case studies: Select 2-3 impactful projects that showcase your player-coach abilities, strategic thinking, and end-to-end design ownership. Practice presenting them concisely and focusing on impact.

• Research Mochi Health: Understand their mission, product, target audience, and the current healthcare landscape. Prepare to articulate how your design leadership will contribute to their strategic goals and operational success.

• Anticipate Interview Questions: Practice answering questions related to leadership, design strategy, operations, problem-solving, and your player-coach experience. Be ready to discuss your approach to building and scaling design teams and processes.

⚠️ 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.