Director of Product Design

📋 Description

• Lead and develop a high-achieving product design team: recruit, mentor, and nurture designers as the team expands.

• Establish and maintain high standards for craftsmanship and quality. Define what excellence looks like at Affinity and ensure the team adheres to it across all deliverables.

• Collaborate with Product and Engineering leadership on strategic initiatives, roadmaps, and operational frameworks that drive sustainable outcomes.

• Provide a well-defined perspective on the evolving design practices in AI-driven products. Transform this perspective into actionable insights for team operations, project deliverables, and quality assessment.

• Oversee the comprehensive design experience across our enterprise product landscape, including core CRM workflows, mobile platforms, MCP, and emerging product areas.

• Implement processes and rituals that empower the team to act swiftly without sacrificing quality.

• Act as a senior leader at Affinity, contributing to strategic planning that extends beyond the design domain.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 10 years of experience in product design, including a minimum of 7 years in building, mentoring, and leading high-performing design and UX teams.

• A strategic approach. You can align design choices with business outcomes, assess trade-offs across both short and long-term perspectives, and influence corporate strategy.

• A clear and thoughtful viewpoint on design practices and their evolution with AI. You have carefully considered the implications of AI as a primary interface and where the standards for craftsmanship should be set.

• Extensive experience in designing enterprise software. You possess a deep understanding of the workflows, complexities, and implications of creating solutions for professional users.

• Proven expertise in interaction design, visual design, research, and product thinking, supported by a portfolio of work you have contributed to or led.

• A history of close collaboration with Product and Engineering leaders on both strategic planning and execution.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. You can inspire a team, influence colleagues, and clearly articulate design concepts to non-design stakeholders.

• High levels of empathy as a manager. You build trust, provide constructive feedback, and foster personal growth.

🏝️ Benefits

• Health Benefits: We cover extended health benefit premiums for you and your dependents and provide flexible personal and sick days to support your well-being.

• Retirement Planning: We offer an RRSP plan to assist you in planning for your future.

• Learning & Development: We provide an annual education budget along with a comprehensive learning and development program.

• Wellness Support: We reimburse monthly expenses for items such as home internet, meals, and wellness memberships/equipment to promote your overall health and happiness.

• Team Connection: Participate in virtual team-building activities and social events to foster connections within our team, recognizing that strong relationships are vital for success.