Associate Director - Design

Associate Director, UX Design 

About us 

Material is a global strategy partner to the world’s most recognizable brands and innovative companies. Our people around the globe thrive by helping organizations design and deliver rewarding customer experiences.  

We use deep human insights, design innovation and data to create experiences powered by modern technology. Our approaches speed engagement and growth for the companies we work with and transform relationships between businesses and the people they serve.  

About UX Design at Material 

At the heart of Material’s mission to create transformative customer experiences lies our growing UX design practice - a diverse group of designers, thinkers, and creators spread across the globe. We don't just design; we tell stories, we unravel complexities, and we create omnichannel experiences that resonate. Our projects span from reimagining digital interfaces for Fortune 500 companies to implementing new mobile experiences for fast-growing startups. 

Material’s UX Designers bridge the gap between rich insights and actionable design, turning data points into compelling screen-based user experiences. Rather than relying on trends or personal taste, this team delves into data, user feedback, and business objectives to inform and propose solutions. Then, they partner with technologists, engineers and product managers to bring designs to market through an agile methodology. Projects range in scope and type, from new-to-the-world app and website creation, to feature enhancements and optimizations for existing products, to the creation of new design language systems and more.  

 About the Director, UX Design role 

We are seeking an experienced Director, UX Design and manager to strengthen and grow our UX Design team in India. As a key leader within the Design practice, you will set the standard for high-quality UX design work, ensuring the designs you and your team deliver improve the experience of users and support product and business goals. 

As Director, UX Design you will:  

• Lead and Mentor the team: 

• Hire and attract top talent to the team, creating an environment where designers of all levels can learn, collaborate, and create great work.  

• Manage the team’s time, work plans, and resourcing allocations to fit within budget and  time constraints 

• Stay up-to-date with industry trends, emerging design patterns and technology advancements to drive innovative solutions. A track record of involvement in the Digital industry/community at large (blogs, speaking, teaching etc.) 
   

• Lead and Oversee projects: 

• Guide and/or lead projects for Fortune 500 brands and global businesses, driving all aspects of design execution across releases on multiple platforms. 

• Maintain high quality standards for UX design, ensuring the work you and your team is delivers is strategic, aesthetically appealing, improves the experience of users, and supports product and business goals.  

• Oversee creation of high-fidelity UI/UX designs, prototypes, design language systems and interactive mock-ups to effectively communicate design concepts and interactions. Roll up your sleeves and demonstrate how it’s done when needed.  

• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to align design efforts with business goals and user needs. Communicate insights, design ideas and recommendations clearly and persuasively to create alignment around solutions. 

• Lead and/or participate in UX research to understand user behaviors and perceptions and create more effective design decisions, recommendations and solutions. 
   

• Drive growth for Design: 

• Support new business development and scoping of project work in partnership with Client Partners and Product Managers 

• Provide advice and guidance to clients, coaching them on how to effectively incorporate design into their product strategies to achieve better outcomes.  

• Identify design solutions in project work that are scalable and create new opportunities for Material 

• Create and productize new offerings and project approaches to meet market and/or pipeline needs 

About you:  

• 10+ years of related work experience as a Designer, UI/UX or similar role you  

• Expertise in UX design, visual design, and interaction design, with case study examples of design work across multiple digital platforms. 

• 5+ years of experience managing designers with an exceptional track record of building and empowering your team to help them grow and succeed, including establishing and streamlining workflows and operations 

• Expertise in FIGMA and Adobe suite, and extensive experience in program management tools such as Confluence and Jira and current delivery methodologies (Agile) 

• Knowledgeable in AA WCAG compliance 

• Impeccable written and verbal communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills 

• Excellent presentation and persuasion skills 

• Open for travel & team leadership at client site in various geographies. An expert at cross cultural communication. 

• Expert knowledge of typography, color theory, and layout composition 

• Team spirit; strong communication skills to collaborate and help lead various stakeholders and team members both in person and remotely. Effectively requests and receives feedback, developing cross-disciplinary trusted relationships 

• Experience in facilitating remote and in-person Design Thinking Workshops 

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, ability to translate user needs into effective design solutions 

• Excellent time and project management skills 

• Design consulting experience is a plus 

• Be open to relocation or on site work in the APAC region. 

• Bachelors or Master’s Degree in Design, Computer Science or related field