Design Director – Client Leadership, UX

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in India.

📋 Description

• Establish design direction for intricate healthcare and enterprise products.

• Elevate the quality standards of delivered design work.

• Mentor designers and cultivate them into leads and leaders.

• Manage client relationships and maintain account health.

• Direct a design team across multiple clients or a significant enterprise account, collaborating with designers, researchers, and product managers.

• Take charge of an active client account or team and build client trust.

• Enhance client relationships in terms of scope, influence, and revenue.

• Influence Koru's operations beyond individual projects.

• Challenge project briefs, utilize user and business insights, and formulate design strategies embraced by client leaders.

• Lead practical AI applications and AI experience design, ensuring accountability for delivered work.

• Coach, evaluate, recruit, and develop designers in collaboration with the Head of Design Practice.

• Act as the main point of contact for senior client executives, including VP and CXO stakeholders.

• Oversee account growth, recurring revenue, profit margins, quality, creativity, and timeliness.

• Assist with pitches, proposals, and new client opportunities alongside Koru leadership.

• Contribute to thought leadership through writing, presentations, and design work.

• Allocate resources effectively and ensure project timelines are met.

• Report directly to the CEO.

⛳️ Requirements

• A minimum of 10 years in UX and design, including at least 4 years in leadership roles within client-facing design teams.

• Must be remote within India, with regular overlap with US working hours.

• Proven experience leading design projects for external clients in a consultancy, agency, studio, or design practice within a services firm.

• In-house leadership experience is valued if it includes genuine stakeholder and business outcome ownership.

• Proximity to the craft and ability to enhance the quality of colleagues' work through constructive critique.

• Experience in shaping design strategy, rather than merely executing it.

• Recognized in the design community for design thinking, or have the ambition and perspective to gain that recognition.

• Experience in team building and fostering the development of other leaders.

• Proven track record of taking commercial responsibility for client relationships, not just project delivery.

• Versatile experience across various domains and client types; experience in healthcare or complex enterprise software is a significant advantage.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills for effective interaction with senior stakeholders.

• Demonstrates accountability for outcomes and maintains composure under pressure.

• Proficient in utilizing AI and designing for AI, with a well-informed perspective on the future of design.

• Willingness to travel to meet clients in the US and to attend events in India, quarterly leadership offsites, and team co-working weeks.

🏝️ Benefits

• Significant responsibilities from the outset: you will lead accounts and teams within your initial weeks, rather than undergoing a prolonged ramp-up.

• Direct engagement with the founders: collaborate closely with Koru's leadership and have a genuine influence on decisions.

• Influence an AI-first organization: play a crucial role in shaping the future of design consulting as AI transforms the industry.

• Competitive compensation aligned with your experience level; salary discussions will be transparent once mutual fit is established.

• Opportunities for rapid growth in scope and responsibility.