Director, Product Design

Heap is on a mission to create product analytics tools that actually make sense to regular people. We’ve done this by taking a fundamentally different, low-code approach to capturing events. The (top secret) innovations we have in the works are exactly what you’ve always wanted as a designer.

We’re looking for an experienced Director of Product Design to join us during the most exciting time the company has ever seen. Over the past 6 months, the Design org has grown from 5 to 12 kind, thoughtful, immensely talented folks. You will manage 2 product design teams (6-8 designers to start), drive high quality design in our most critical product areas, and play a key role in defining what the future of design looks like at Heap.

There are many things that can result in design leadership frustration in tech—lack of cross-functional understanding of design and its value, lack of investment in design and research, a misaligned Product org, not enough time carved out for design process, unclear directives or verdicts you don’t understand, etc. We don’t have any of that here. Improving design is the top company-wide priority (seriously, it’s in the board deck and everything) and the entire company is fully aligned on that goal. Design reports directly to the CEO. There are no uphill battles at Heap. We want to unleash you and empower you to do the best work of your career.

What You’ll Do

Like everything in design: it depends. In many ways, this role will be what you make of it, and its exact scope will be determined by your skillset, experience, and interests. But here’s the gist:

• Manage two remote-first teams of Product Designers (6-8 designers total to start).
• Raise the bar on creativity, craft, quality, and communication.
• Manage design staffing across a wide range of projects.
• Work closely with Product, Engineering, and Research leaders to shape our product roadmap.
• Define and improve design processes and structure (i.e. defining clear and equitable design levels, improving design reviews, design jams, bi-weekly design newsletters, etc.)
• Coach, mentor, and provide career development for team members. Help them get where they want to go.
• Help scale the design team by hiring great product designers.
• As your teams scale, grow designers into managers and leaders.

What We're Looking For

• 8+ years of relevant experience as part of product design teams.
• 3+ years in people management roles. Excellent managerial and operational skills, including experience overseeing large high-performing remote-first teams and driving organizational design, career development, operations and culture.
• You have strong critical thinking, communication, and writing skills.
• You have high standards and an eye for great design. You can rally a team to strive for more.
• Proven track record of strong design thinking, with key contributions to innovative, complex tools (B2B products a plus).
• A nuanced understanding and appreciation of inclusive hiring practices.
• You have a passion for structure and process. You think deeply about why we’re doing things the way we are, and how we can continuously improve.
• Highly organized with consistent follow-through.
• Prior experience managing managers is a plus, but not required.

People are what make Heap awesome. Regardless of age, education, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or any personal characteristics, we want everyone to feel welcome. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive equal opportunity workplace everyone can call home.

Heap has raised $205M in funding from NEA, Y Combinator, Menlo Ventures, SVAngel, Sam Altman, Garry Tan, Alexis Ohanian, Harj Taggar, Ram Shriram, and others. We offer plenty of awesome benefits, and we were named #1 on Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work (SMB). We'd love to hear from you! 

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