Director, Product Design

Drake Software is seeking an experienced, visionary Director, Product Design to lead and grow their multi-disciplinary Design and Research team. This role will be essential in defining and executing the user experience strategy across all digital products, ensuring that Taxwell delivers intuitive, accessible, and engaging experiences for customers.

Responsibilities:

• Define and implement a clear vision for a high-performing, best-in-class Product Design and UX Research team, continuously elevating team standards and practices
• Drive a user-first mindset across the organization, ensuring the team is empowered to innovate and push creative boundaries while aligning with business goals
• Provide hands-on guidance and mentorship to designers and researchers, fostering growth, creativity, and professional development within the team
• Lead and manage a multi-disciplinary team of UX designers, researchers, and creative technologists in a fast-paced, agile environment
• Manage team resources, project priorities, and budgets, balancing strategic direction with efficient execution to meet business objectives
• Establish a culture of feedback, accountability, and continuous improvement, encouraging team members to take ownership of their work and develop their careers
• Oversee a structured research program that gathers critical insights into customer needs, behaviors, and pain points, translating these findings into actionable design strategies
• Champion data-driven design, working closely with product and engineering teams to incorporate user feedback throughout the product lifecycle
• Promote continuous learning within the team by staying informed on UX research trends, tools, and best practices
• Act as a liaison between UX and leadership, ensuring alignment with business priorities and fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation
• Partner with cross-functional leaders to define product visions, influence strategies, and set design quality standards that support scalable growth and efficiency
• Align team goals with broader company objectives, working closely with Product, Engineering, and Marketing to deliver seamless, impactful product experiences
• Set a high bar for design thinking and fast execution, guiding the team in delivering user-centered, accessible, and intuitive interfaces across our product
• Oversee concept development, from ideation to execution, ensuring consistency with established design principles and adapting to evolving user needs
• Advocate for a rigorous design process, balancing user insights, technical capabilities, and business goals to deliver outstanding products

Requirements:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in UX Design, Interaction Design, HCI, or a related field
• 10+ years of design experience, with 7+ years in a leadership role managing multidisciplinary UX teams (e.g., UX design, user research)
• Proven track record of leading UX teams in fast-paced, high-growth environments, preferably within consumer or software technology
• Demonstrated experience managing design and research projects from concept to launch, with a history of balancing competing priorities and managing project risks
• Experience building influential relationships at all levels of an organization, presenting to senior leaders, and advocating for UX
• Strategic thinker with a balance of visionary leadership and operational expertise, comfortable with ambiguity and skilled at pivoting as business needs evolve
• Expert in design methodologies, user-centered design principles, and usability best practices, with a passion for driving excellent design
• Strong presentation and communication skills, with an ability to simplify complex concepts and inspire teams and stakeholders alike
• Proficient in design tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, as well as analytics tools like Tableau
• Outcome-oriented leader who drives a culture of fast pace and innovation, empowering the team to deliver creative, high-impact results