VP of Design

Merlyn Mind is a "Remote First" VC-backed AI EdTech startup that brings the latest advances in AI to Education to help improve the lives of teachers and ultimately the learning outcomes of their students. Our leadership team includes talents from IBM, Amazon, Facebook, Roku, Broadcom, HP, Allen Institute for AI, and more. We have come together to build on a unified product experience for an extremely urgent mission - building a digital assistant for teachers, to untether teachers from the desk and help them with managing classroom technologies.

We are seeking an experienced, visionary, and dynamic Vice President of Design to lead our design team and drive the creation of compelling, user-centric products. The ideal candidate will bring a strong design background, strategic thinking, and the ability to collaborate across multiple functions with a focus on enhancing our brand and product offerings. Reporting to the SVP of AI Experiences & Chief Designer, the VP of Design will be a key member of our executive team, influencing the direction of our company's design strategies and fostering a culture of Design excellence.  

 

What you'll do:

• Leadership:Build, lead, and mentor a world-class design team. Take responsibility for the professional development and engagement of Designers across various disciplines. 
• Strategy:Craft and articulate design strategies that align with organizational goals and objectives. In collaboration with other areas of the organization, define the future roadmap of Design initiatives and ensure their alignment with the company's strategic vision. 
• Execution:Oversee the design process from concept through to final execution, ensuring that all design deliverables meet the highest standards of quality and user experience. When needed, assume the role of Designer for specific projects. Conceptualize vision projects. 
• Collaboration:Foster collaboration across multiple departments such as product management, marketing, and engineering. Work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure product designs are user-focused and fully integrated into our business strategy. 
• Design Advocacy:Champion the role and value of Design within the organization, promoting design thinking and customer-centric approaches to solve business challenges. 
• Process Improvement:Assess and improve design processes, tools, and workflows to boost productivity, collaboration, and innovation. 
• Budget Management:Develop and oversee the design budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources, and manage investment priorities in line with design objectives. 

Requirements:

• A minimum of 10 years of Design experience, with at least 5 in a management position. A strong portfolio of Design work that showcases a breadth of skills and impact on business outcomes. 
• Proven track record of leading and growing design teams in a fast-paced, innovative environment. 
• Exceptional ability to communicate design vision and strategies at all levels of the organization. 
• Demonstrated success in working with cross-functional teams and executing design strategies that contribute to overarching business goals. 
• Deep understanding of user experience, visual design, and product definition. 
• Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field preferred (or equivalent experience). 

Merlyn Mind is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. We make hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Flexible schedule

Flexible spending account

Health insurance

Health savings account

Life insurance

Unlimited Paid time off

Parental leave

Vision insurance