Variate

Compensation

Full Description

Remote, US-Based | EST Collaboration | Preference for Bethesda, MD Area Full-time: $180,000–$210,000 Extraordinary brands are built by extraordinary leaders. Variate is looking for a Design Director to lead high-impact programs and elevate the standard of design across our firm. This is not a coordination role. This is a leadership role defined by ownership, clarity, and measurable results. You will shape vision, guide senior designers, partner directly with executives, and ensure every engagement turns hesitation into confident decisions and measurable growth. If you have mastered both craft and leadership, operate with high accountability, and want your work judged by real-world impact, we want to meet you. This is a remote, US-based role with collaboration during Eastern Time working hours. You will partner directly with the leadership team to define excellence across our client work and internal culture. What You Will Do Own the outcome Lead major client programs from discovery to delivery. Define success in business terms. Align teams around measurable metrics. Deliver results that move markets. Lead the vision Set the creative and strategic direction across multiple engagements. Ensure every system, flow, and interaction reflects clarity, precision, and intent. Elevate the team Manage and mentor 2–6 designers. Hold weekly 1:1s focused on growth, mastery, and accountability. Raise the standard of thinking, execution, and ownership. Partner at the highest level Serve as the primary creative and strategic partner for 1–2 active client programs. Present directly to founders, CMOs, product leaders, and executive stakeholders. No layers. No buffers. Make the client the hero Operate with humility and strategic empathy. Ensure our clients receive the spotlight for wins. Design Director success is measured not by personal visibility, but by how confidently and visibly our clients succeed. Build systems, not outputs Ensure design systems, workflows, and governance models scale across teams and programs. Turn excellence into repeatable performance. Move fast with discipline Lead the use of AI as a force multiplier across research, synthesis, ideation, and delivery. Build and refine GPT-driven workflows that enhance clarity and compress timelines without sacrificing quality. Shape the future of the craft Define how AI responsibly amplifies design leadership. Train designers to use these tools intelligently and with discipline. Set the bar for what modern design leadership looks like. Represent Variate publicly Actively contribute to thought leadership. Publish insights, speak at industry events, participate in panels, and articulate a clear point of view on the future of CX, AI, and Decision Design™ on behalf of Variate. What You Bring Proven leadership 8+ years in UX, product, or interaction design, including 3+ years leading designers and owning measurable outcomes. Systems mastery Deep experience in interaction design, scalable design systems, governance models, and operational workflows using tools like Figma. Strategic depth Strong command of user research, content strategy, and how design directly drives business growth. Executive presence Clear, confident communication in high-stakes environments. You can lead executive rooms, defend decisions, and simplify complexity under pressure. Credible soft skills Emotional intelligence. Calm authority. Strategic empathy. The ability to navigate tension, earn trust quickly, and guide clients without ego. You know how to lead without overpowering. Operational rigor Ability to balance creative ambition with timelines, resourcing, and financial accountability. AI fluency Demonstrated experience integrating AI into workflows, building GPT-based tools, or establishing intelligent systems that improve speed, insight, and consistency. Uncompromising standards You expect excellence from yourself and others. Outcomes matter more than opinions. What Sets You Apart • You have directed design for recognized global brands or top-tier agencies. • You have built or scaled a design organization that improved performance and culture. • You have created or deployed AI-driven workflows that improved efficiency or creative output. • You actively publish, speak, or share informed perspectives about the future of design and AI. • You are equally passionate about mentoring designers and delivering world-class results. • You are comfortable being measured by results, not activity. What Success Looks Like in the First 90 Days • Lead at least one major client engagement with clear, measurable business lift. • Establish visible standards for craft, speed, and accountability across the design team. • Strengthen at least one internal system or workflow that improves delivery consistency. • Demonstrate executive-level trust through calm, strategic client leadership. • Contribute one visible piece of thought leadership on behalf of Variate. Who Should Not Apply This role is not for everyone. Do not apply if: • You cannot demonstrate measurable outcomes from your leadership. • You require daily creative direction or struggle to manage others effectively. • You avoid difficult feedback conversations. • You seek personal spotlight over client success. • You are uncomfortable balancing leadership, strategy, and hands-on direction. • You have never owned a client relationship at the executive level. • You are still building foundational leadership experience. This role is for those ready to lead and elevate others. Variate is where experts come to perform. Why Variate Variate designs customer experiences that remove hesitation and create confident decisions. We partner with ambitious brands including Marriott, Carnival, Stanley Black & Decker, and Amerant Bank to transform complexity into clarity and measurable growth. We work in small, senior teams. No B-teams. No handoffs. Leaders at Variate operate as trusted partners embedded directly with client leadership. Our culture balances high standards with genuine support so designers grow faster, perform stronger, and feel seen for their mastery. Clients choose Variate for precision, pace, and partnership. Every engagement demands excellence and rewards it in equal measure. Learn more at https://variate.com/ Interview Selection Criteria Interview invitations will be determined by four factors, in order of importance: 1. Portfolio quality Your portfolio is the primary signal. We are looking for clear evidence of leadership, ownership, and measurable impact at scale. Systems thinking, clarity of rationale, and outcomes must be explicit. 2. Credible soft skills and client philosophy We assess your ability to build trust, demonstrate emotional intelligence, and embody the philosophy of making the client the hero. You should clearly articulate how your leadership elevated your clients and positioned them for visible success. 3. Background experience Experience leading senior designers in high-expectation environments is critical. Prior experience at a respected design agency or consultancy is highly valued. 4. Speaking and thought leadership We value leaders who are comfortable sharing informed perspectives publicly. Demonstrated experience speaking, publishing, or contributing thought leadership on the future of design, CX, or AI is a strong differentiator. We review portfolios first. Soft skills determine trust. Experience reinforces credibility. Public leadership amplifies impact. Preference will be given to candidates living within 60 minutes of Bethesda, Maryland. Compensation We pay for mastery, accountability, and results. Full-time: $180,000–$210,000 NO RECRUITERS