Director, Design Client Experience

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:  

This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of essential job functions, but rather a general overview of the principal responsibilities.  

• Lead and mentor a team of designers, focusing on strategic vision, talent growth, and execution excellence. 

• Excel in one area of design, with strong proficiency in two others, and capability in two additional areas. Use design methods not just to solve execution problems but to identify new opportunities for value creation. 

• Complete the shift to 'program' and work across multiple workstreams, driving the development of new practices that drive increased value and appreciation of design. 

• Frame research initiatives and prioritize when to execute research to inform strategic decisions and identify new opportunities. Take an active role in company-wide leadership initiatives, shaping entire user experiences. 

• Use storytelling and persuasion to connect strategy and vision with day-to-day practicality, driving meetings and stakeholder communication effectively. 

• Develop a holistic understanding of organizational context and line of business strategy. Appreciate broader organizational efforts around culture, work, and values, and articulate a compelling vision for the team. 

• Create the team you need by defining problems with cross-functional leads and managing managers. Coach managers toward strong people management practices and drive broader organizational efforts around culture, work, and values. 

• Recruits, develops, and sustains a high-performing team while promoting a culture of shared accountability, operational excellence, and partnership across the organization. 

• Supports and/or develops an environment in which Thrivent employees and colleagues are focused on continuous improvement, exceptional employee engagement, and an unwavering commitment to our clients.  Shapes and/or supports a culture that represents the Thrivent purpose, promise and values, ensuring that Thrivent’s trust and reputation remain strong with its clients.  

• ​ Models Thrivent’s leadership competencies – Model the Way, Rally the Team, and Deliver Outcomes.  

Describe below the audience this role will interact with and level of influence they will have on those roles.  

• Design Managers and Principal Designers (direct supervision and management) 

• Cross-functional Product and Engineering peers (collaboration) 

• Cross-functional organizational stakeholders (collaboration, presentations) 

• Product, Design, and Engineering VPs and EVPs (presentations) 

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:   

 Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Interaction Design, UI/UX Design, Web Product Design, Web Development or any combination of education and experience which would provide an equivalent background  

• 12+ years of experience in a related field, with 5-8 years of experience in user experience, interaction design, product innovation and research in a product development team required.  

• Proven experience in leading and mentoring design teams, with significant management experience and the ability to recruit and hire top talent. 

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and inspire teams to achieve their goals. 

• Ability to drive the development of innovative practices that drive increased value and appreciation of design with a strategic mindset. 

• Strong strategic communication skills, with the ability to connect vision with day-to-day practicality. 

• Holistic understanding of organizational context and line of business strategy, with the ability to articulate a compelling vision for the team. 

• Experience in talent management; including experience in recruiting, hiring, and professional development. 

• Experience in annual and ad hoc headcount planning for the organization and securing necessary budget. 

Preferred:   

• Strategic design thinking and the ability to contribute to the overall design strategy of the organization.  

• Knowledge and experience working in diversified financial services. 

• Experience working within a product operating model at scale.