We’re a tight-knit and highly-collaborative team of product designers, researchers, product writers, and design ops working closely with engineers and product managers to research, explore, and iterate on well-crafted user experiences that are engaging and useful.
We collaborate regularly through design reviews, work sessions, and presentations to inspire and influence the direction of the product and company as a whole.
We’re user-centric, proud of our mission, and committed to inclusive collaboration and diversity in talent on our team.
About the Role
The VP, Design is the chief visionary of our product at Thumbtack.
The role manages a team of dozens of Product Designers, Researchers, Writers, and Ops and works daily with our Product, Marketing, and other leaders to align the team against product and company goals.
The role and the Design team it manages is the chief guardian of the user journey, the chief internal advocate for our users, and the co-guardian of our brand.
This leader is a pragmatic builder but idealist at heart.
The role balances infrastructure investments with business needs and sees the gaps we need filled today to enable success in 2-5 years.
In addition to driving execution on the Design team and laying the foundation of our product vision, the role is responsible for preparing the team for its next stage of growth and transition.
The role reports to our CEO.
Responsibilities
Develop and communicate inspiring, business-oriented vision for Design team and Thumbtack product
Regularly and clearly communicate inspiring vision for future of the department and Thumbtack product to team and company.
Drive and inspire the vision for Thumbtack’s product 2-5 years out.
Build Design programs that influence the product / company direction.
Deeply immerse yourself in company goals and business needs.
Effectively translate business needs to functional plan for Design and Product Development teams.
Balance Design infrastructure investments with business needs.
Advocate for infra investments as appropriate.
Balance between idealism and pragmatism.
Work regularly and effectively with cross-functional leaders to ensure Design team is supporting Product and company goals.
Share ownership of Product / company-level vision and goals.
Drives stability, integrity, throughput of the product plan alongside execs and other product leaders.
Be a user-centric voice of the customer, the guardian of our brand and product quality
Be an advocate and respected voice for all things Design, brand, quality at exec-level and company-wide.
Advance the discussion of our product vision at the executive level.
Elevate the voice of the Design team company-wide.
Ensure the Design team is the chief voice of the customer company-wide.
Determine, communicate, and hold us accountable to a high product quality bar.
Ensure Design works in lockstep with Research and Analytics to ensure our products are working intuitively for our users.
Anchor your work in user-centricity and functional design.
Architect our product development and operations so brand flows through the product and company.
Build, grow, and manage the Design team for quality and execution
Communicate an inspiring vision for the team and product that attracts and engages great talent.
Be the department’s “Recruiter in Chief”.
Identify a hiring plan and execute against it.
Build on the strong work the Design team has done to showcase its talent, work and values to the broader Design community.
Retain and reinforce the team’s strong commitment to diversity in hiring.
Shape the team’s functions and experience levels to best set team up for success.
Build systems, processes, team that allows Design to navigate company, team, and individual professional growth while maintaining strong culture.
Set ambitious but achievable goals, inspire sense of urgency, expect high standards.
Have a great nose for talent and team / individual performance.
Organizationally savvy.
Successfully navigate across our departments and drive alignment cross-functionally.
Continually identify and fill functional and experience gaps on the team.
Build Design team so it is positioned to drive Product vision and strategy for years to come.
Must-Have Qualifications
If you dont think you meet all of the criteria below but still are interested in the job, please apply.
Nobody checks every box, and were looking for someone excited to join the team.
Has managed a Design team at scale in a technology product
Has a strong command of Design and product usability
Has extensive experience working cross-functionally with a Product Development team
Has set and built towards a Product vision many years out
Is a clear, inspiring communicator
Nice-to-Have Qualifications
Experience working in a marketplace company
Experience managing a remote / distributed team