Head of Design

Head of Design eBiz

The Head of Design is responsible for driving the overall aesthetic and user experience vision for all our digital products from our mobile app, website, to our emails as well as future digital products. Build and protect design execution – from discovery, to synthesis, to the product development process. Build and protect a design culture –ensuring that the team understands the importance of our core values, innovation, and collaboration. Develop a strong team of designers – focusing on recruiting, training, and ongoing coaching. This position is responsible for ensuring execution of the product vision – defining and driving the product strategy across the website and mobile app. Develop and implement strategic plans for development, improvement, and distribution of the website and mobile app. Build and protect product execution – from planning, to discovery, to the product development process. Responsible for implementing product development process, developing product goals, strong knowledge of SEO and implementation of best practices, developing and coordinating implementation of acquisition and retention programs, developing and managing growth/penetration, managing monthly forecasts, managing the product profitability, managing products to maximize performance, managing product enhancements, and maintaining or reducing product costs. Partner with the business units on new product introductions; with Marketing for advertising & promoting the product(s); with Information Systems for technology and applications support for the product(s). Monitor profitability, productivity and growth targets of assigned product line and make recommendations/corrections to improve attainment of Club's goals and objectives. Conduct market and competitive research in order to effectively evaluate marketing plans and goals, and to develop optimum sales/service/distribution effectiveness. Negotiate and manage outside vendor contracts. Report findings and recommendations to senior management. Build and protect a product culture –ensuring that the team understands the importance of our core values, innovation, and collaboration. Develop a strong team of product managers, owners, and designers – focusing on recruiting, training, and ongoing coaching.

Job Duties

• Define the design workflow and team structure that will enable streamlined collaboration between designers and the product, marketing, and engineering teams. Ensures execution of the product vision by defining and driving the product strategy for website and mobile app software development. Direct the development, planning and implementation of product and process development for new products. Responsible for developing innovative and creative solutions that meet existing market needs, increase the value of current products and/or introduce new product/service opportunities. Utilizes trends, developments in the market place and customer research to shape product and service offerings. Activities include, but are not limited to, conducting thorough market analysis and research, defining product features and workflows, developing and implementing new product features, developing distribution plans, creating cost-benefit analysis, working with the assigned marketing team to create a marketing plan and appropriate support materials, and interfacing with both internal and external resources to implement programs. Responsible for managing timelines and internal and external resources to launch products.
• Act as the brand steward in ensuring a consistent aesthetic standard across our digital products. Explore, create, and maintain a design style guide and interaction/UX pattern library for all our digital channels. Provide strategic direction for all assigned product lines within the website and mobile app. Determine what products or features to add to the line, marketing/promoting product line; devising sales channel strategies; tracking revenue and margins; product pricing; positioning products in local markets; initiating measures for product cost containment and cost reduction; tracking industry trends, product segment growth, and market share; ensuring cooperative approach, and proactive communication by team members to support overall product and Club objectives.
• Explore, evaluate, and recommend improvement to processes and tooling for an efficient design delivery. Communicate design strategy to the team and ensure efficient and seamless transition to new process. Oversee the implementation of strategic marketing plan for the assigned product line. Research market for business opportunities and ensure integration of product line with the Club’s MRM strategy. Implement the organizational SEO strategy across products.
• Act as senior/lead designer on occasion where needed taking a hands-on approach to supporting the design needs of various project teams. In this capacity, deliver prototypes, wireframes, design comps, and facilitate design sessions to help move the project forward.
• Coach and mentor the design staff and look after their well being as professionals and as creative individuals. Foster an environment of collaboration, inspiration, and shared problem solving.
• Keep up to date with current and emerging design and technology trends and standards, and evaluate potential implementation for the organization. In this capacity, attend design conferences, build a network of designers from similar organizations as AAA to discuss operational challenges and potential solutions, constant reading and intake of design-specific information, and exploring current and emerging industry tools, frameworks, and practices.
• Position requires a high degree of independent decision-making and problem solving skills. Informs the development and implementation of new processes.
• Regularly makes decisions involving the direction of major initiatives. Implements plans that affect the strategic direction of digital product lines. Informs the development and implementation of new processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelors Graphic Design
• 7-9 years User Interface/Experience Design or related experience. Required
• 7-9 years E-Commerce Product Management or related experience. Required
• Strong analytical, communication, and presentation skills.
• Intimate knowledge and experience with industry standard design tools.
• A strong design sensibility as demonstrated with a portfolio of digital design work.
• Familiarity with web and mobile development (feasibility/limitations) required.
• Ability to work with a cross-functional team of product managers/owners, designers, QAs, and software engineers.
• Advanced ability for creating simple and intuitive user interfaces.
• Strong empathy towards the user and their goals.
• Strong presentation skills in presenting ideas and designs to various stakeholders and executive staff.
• Strong product visionary and understanding of SEO, Website and Mobile app development
• Demonstrated experience shipping a product.

Travel Requirements

• Occasional travel to off-site business meetings or conferences. (5% proficiency)

Remarkable benefits:

•    Health coverage for medical, dental, vision

•    401(K) saving plans with company match AND Pension    

•    Tuition assistance

•    Floating holidays and PTO for community volunteer programs

•    Paid parental leave

•    Wellness programs

•    Employee discounts (membership, insurance,

travel, entertainment, services and more!)

Auto Club Enterprises is the largest club within the national AAA federation. We have nearly 17,000 employees in 24 states helping more than 18 million members. The strength of our organization is our employees. Bringing together and supporting different cultures, backgrounds, personalities, and strengths creates a team capable of delivering legendary, lifetime service to our members. When we embrace our diversity – we win. All of Us! With our national brand recognition, long-standing reputation since 1900, and constantly growing membership, we are seeking career-minded, service-driven professionals to join our team.

"Through dedicated employees we proudly deliver legendary service and beneficial products that provide members peace of mind and value.”

AAA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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