This is a temporary contractor role with the potential of becoming a permanent position. This position is fully remote.
As a Design Director, you'll play a central role throughout the entire project — establishing the design vision that delivers benefits both to clients and their users by creating meaningful ways for them to interact, always ensuring that our work has the intended business impact.
Responsibilities
- Lead teams and engage clients through the entire project.
- Plan and run a design process that delivers on core business goals.
- Design solutions that unlock opportunities for teams and clients.
- Explain the value of every decision, win over stakeholders, and fulfill the creative strategy.
- Navigate complex business, user, and team needs with empathy.
About Upstatement
Upstatement is a digital product studio with an editorial mindset. We use the tools of design, engineering, and journalism to enrich lives and create a more just society. Our 40-person team works with established leaders (MIT, ESPN, PBS, Microsoft) and emerging companies who are about to change the world.
What You’ll Do
- Deliver portfolio-worthy work: As a hands-on designer and team leader.
- Engage clients: Demonstrate expertise that builds long-term relationships.
- Collaborate with and develop others: Coach cross-functional teams to achieve their best.
- Drive research: Develop a deep understanding of each client’s goals, business context, user behavior, and opportunities.
- Define the why: Establish a foundational strategy through design that will unlock goals.
- Make from the start: Use your strength as a designer and communicator to synthesize insights.
- Navigate complexity: Resolve tensions between clients, users, and teams effectively.
- Promote expertise: Collaborate with business development and marketing teams.
- Expand capabilities: Make every project more impactful than the last.
- Continuously improve: Plan, run, and refine the way design projects go at Upstatement.
About You
- 7+ years of hands-on design and project leadership experience at a digital agency or equivalent.
- Independent design leader with a portfolio of work demonstrating business impact.
- Expertise in leading research programs that result in impactful design executions.
- Ability to break down complexity and understand business context.
- Strong communicator and active listener with the ability to inspire.
- Ability to motivate and manage a multidisciplinary team.
- Transforms design concepts into user interfaces and establishes comprehensive design systems.
- Sets the pace of velocity and efficiency through every step of the process.
- Support business development initiatives as a creative representative.
Compensation
The appropriate rate will be discussed and determined during the interview process based upon candidate experience and availability.
Interview Process
Our goal is to get to know you in a low-pressure, friendly environment — and to give you ample opportunity to learn more about us, too. Our typical process includes:
- A resume screen and introductory phone/video chat
- A take-home exercise
- Additional conversations with potential future team members
Our interview process is fully remote, conducted via Zoom calls. If we can provide any assistance or accommodations, please let us know at
Interested in applying?
Send us a resume, cover letter, and anything else that helps us understand what makes you awesome. Women, people of color, LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, and members of other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. Upstatement is an equal opportunity employer.
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