Director, Product Design

The Director, Product Design will lead the strategy and vision for design across the company's products. They will be responsible for managing and developing a high-performing design team, as well as producing innovative designs and improving the user experience. The role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams, introducing new product features, and driving the design strategy. The Director will have the opportunity to make a direct impact on the company's products and contribute to shaping the teacher and student experience.

• Lead the strategy and vision for design across products
• Retain, motivate, and develop a high-performing design team
• Foster an environment for helping others learn and grow
• Coach and mentor team members by providing effective performance feedback
• Produce non-obvious user experience insights
• Create innovative designs for Newsela
• Identify ways to improve the user experience visually and by measurable user outcomes
• Independently produce, deliver, and validate high-quality end-to-end products
• Ideate short-term design strategies and features with the product team
• Balance strategic business goals with the needs of clients
• Collaborate with core team members to introduce new product features
• Create a better user experience based on user feedback
• Partner closely with cross-functional team members
• Bring the voice of the customer to every conversation
• Build the org by creating and executing on design vision
• Focus on quality metrics for usability
• Lead the design strategy and influence direction
• Use data, examples, and sway to create the vision for product design
• Have an impact on the design strategy and vision across Newsela's products
• Join a fun team with virtual get-togethers and on-site events
• Shape features and products as a collaborative Product Designer or User Researcher
• Have a direct impact on the customer-obsessed team
• Deeply care about shaping the teacher and student experience
• Scale Newsela's ability to bring engaging, culturally responsive learning content to K-12 classrooms nationwide
• Lead design teams and implement organizational structure and creative development processes
• Use a wide range of design prototyping tools and methods
• Have deep knowledge in 2-3 key areas of design
• Be a thought partner to business leads and Senior VP of Product
• Partner with cross-functional teams across the organization
• Guide designers to communicate and negotiate with cross-functional members
• Foster strong relationships with cross-functional agile teams
• Manage stakeholders through all phases of the design process
• Communicate, present, and negotiate effectively with a broad range of audiences
• Drive end-to-end product design and lead the design strategy of the entire product portfolio
• Engage with executives and update design framework and processes to meet emerging customer and internal needs

• 3+ years of experience leading design teams and a minimum of 7+ years of product design experience
• Skilled at implementing and optimizing the organizational structure and creative development processes that allow the design team to scale with the company
• Experience with a wide range of design prototyping tools and methods like sketching, storyboarding, diagramming, wireframing, prototyping, and user research
• Deep knowledge in 2-3 key areas: UX/Prototyping & Interaction Design, UI/Visual Design, Understanding Human Behavior, Business and Product Strategy, Design Thinking, Accessibility and Inclusive Design, Information Design, Information Architecture, and Design Systems
• Product-minded design leader with the confidence and ability to be a thought partner to business leads and our Senior VP of Product
• Cross-functional partnership experience across the organization, including Product, Engineering, Marketing, Customer Services, Sales, and Leadership
• Ability to effectively guide designers to communicate and negotiate with other cross-functional members
• Proven experience fostering strong relationships with cross-functional agile teams while successfully managing many stakeholders through all phases of the design process
• Excellent communication, presentation, interpersonal, and negotiation skills for a broad range of audiences including leadership
• Ability to drive end-to-end product design and lead the design strategy of the entire product portfolio
• Confidence in engaging with executives and updating the design framework and processes to meet emerging customer and internal needs

• Impact on the design strategy and vision across Newsela's products
• Opportunity for virtual get-togethers and on-site events throughout the year
• Collaborative team of Product Designers and User Researchers
• Direct impact on shaping the teacher and student experience
• Base compensation of $160,000+ with incentive stock options, bonus, and benefits
• Access to healthcare experts and resources for health and wellness
• Work from home option with a tech stipend
• Support for all families with supplemental programs and time off
• Flexible PTO and Sabbatical Leave
• Robust DEIB curriculum and integration of DEIB lens across talent lifecycle processes
• Holistic learning and development programs for professional growth
• Opportunity to make a difference in the future of education and improve the lives of students and teachers