Design Lead

We are open to candidates based in the Americas. 

We believe magic happens when thoughtful collaboration and unparalleled expertise come together to turn great ideas into great products. Design Leads at Metalab play a direct role in that magic. They steer projects in the right direction by leading the day-to-day work internally and managing clients' expectations, while also getting into the files themselves. It’s about high-quality output and outcomes.

As a Design Lead, you’ll have a vested interest in helping other designers find their groove. Given that our primary focus is product design,  a deep understanding of what it takes to get digital products out the door is our first non-negotiable. Beyond that, you’ve established yourself as someone people look up to, and you don’t take that privilege lightly. You’ll still deal in pixels, but you’ll also play an integral role in a project’s success with clear direction, leadership, guidance, and encouragement. You believe that good ideas can come from anywhere, and you actively support your team in making sure everyone is heard.

What you’ll do

• Guide the design process throughout the entire project lifecycle
• Drive client presentations and discussions of your team’s work
• Respectfully decline the status quo and push both clients and colleagues outside their comfort zones
• Foster positive client relationships and directly influence client stakeholders
• Work with Product Managers and Client Partners to scope project requirements 
• Help promote an inspiring and inclusive environment for the team
• Coach and mentor Product Designers to determine and work towards desired career growth paths, sharing tailored feedback and guidance, and monitoring overall fulfillment and happiness
• Work hand-in-hand with engineers and product team members to foster innovation and ensure feasibility and fidelity of implementation
• Promote a culture of autonomy balanced with proven ways of working

Requirements

• 5+ years of product design experience at a digital product agency or consultancy, ideally in a Lead role
• Demonstrated mastery of UI/UX principles, best practices, and common design tools (read: Figma)
• Adequate level of interaction design skills to guide the work (think After Effects, Principle, Framer, Origami)
• A portfolio that reflects your strengths in UX and visual design
• A natural inclination to take the lead and help everyone arrive at a deeper understanding and greater appreciation of the work
• Fluent in translating stakeholder goals, user research, and complex user flows into simple UIs
• Passionate about staying ahead of desktop and mobile best practices, developments, and trends in web, mobile, and iOS design
• Communication pro, with the ability to deliver compelling design rationales in both client and internal contexts
• Comfortable with ambiguity and client briefs that lead to more questions than answers
• Motivated by feedback, and by the opportunity to improve in your role, in the work, and in how you work together as a team