NxtWave - Head - Product Designer

Role Overview:

We are in search of a visionary Head of Product Design (HPD) to lead the design vision for our products. This pivotal role involves owning the end-to-end user experience, managing a team of UI/UX Designers, and collaborating with key stakeholders across Product, Technology, and Business. You'll drive the evolution of our design approach to ensure intuitive, visually compelling, and outcome-driven user experiences. As our startup grows, your responsibilities will expand, offering exciting opportunities for increased impact.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Vision & Design Leadership:

1. Shape the overarching design philosophy aligned with NxtWave's mission, values, and strategic goals.

2. Conduct user research to inform strategic direction and ensure user-centered product development.

3. Collaborate with Product Owners and Founders to align design strategy with the overall product vision and roadmap.

4. Refine design processes, introduce tools, and champion methodologies for streamlined workflows.

5. Lead the development and continuous improvement of a robust design system for consistency and scalability.

6. Integrate strategies from relevant books to create engaging, habit-forming products.

7. Continuously evaluate existing products, iterate based on feedback, and integrate latest design trends.

Team Leadership & Development:

1. Build and scale a high-performing product design team, attracting top talent.

2. Provide coaching, guidance, and regular feedback to foster continuous learning and career development.

3. Nurture a collaborative and inspiring design-centric culture within the team.

4. Set clear KPIs and objectives, evaluating performance regularly, and identifying areas for growth.

5. Guide the team in understanding and applying behavioral design principles and product psychology.

6. Develop design solutions that optimize resources and are efficient to implement.

User Experience (UX) Leadership:

1. Drive in-depth user research activities to gather actionable insights and inform design decisions.

2. Plan and conduct diverse UX research to uncover user needs, behaviors, and pain points.

3. Emphasize understanding of user needs, motivations, and pain points across all design initiatives.

4. Oversee the creation and use of detailed user personas and ensure clear, intuitive organization of information.

5. Support in planning and conducting usability testing, analyze results, and identify areas for improvement.

6. Champion usability principles in design and advocate for accessibility and inclusion.

User Interface (UI) Leadership:

1. Oversee the creation of user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs.

2. Provide strong leadership in developing visually appealing interfaces that reinforce NxtWave's brand identity.

3. Oversee interaction design patterns and guide the development of prototypes.

4. Ensure a deep understanding of localization and design considerations for a multi-lingual user base.

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Management:

6. Collaborate closely with engineering and product management teams throughout the development process.

7. Identify primary "North Star" metric aligning with NxtWave's overarching business objectives.

8. Establish key performance indicators tailored for individual product features.

9. Translate high-level product strategy into detailed design execution plans.

10. Actively partner with data analysts to gain insights from user behavior.

Qualities We Value:

Outcome-Oriented, Process-Driven, Growth Mindset, Adaptable & Flexible, Disciplined & Reliable, Detail-Oriented, Ownership Mindset, Effective Communicator, Continuous Learner, Resourceful & Adaptable, Growth Hacker Mentality, Hustle & Ownership, Resilience & Grit, Team Player.

Qualifications & Skills:

1. Bachelor's degree in Design, Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, or related field.

2. Minimum 5 years of experience in Product Design, with at least 2 years in a leadership role.

3. Proven portfolio demonstrating expertise in UX principles, visual design skills, and design process.

4. Certifications in UI/UX design or related fields are advantageous.

Foundational Skills: User Research, UX Foundations, Product Psychology, UI Excellence, Design Systems, Data Analytics Savvy.

Technical Skills: Proficiency in Figma, familiarity with other design tools, prototyping tools, basic understanding of front-end development.

Why work with us?

Transform Lives Through Education, Experience startup energy, Rapid Learning, Career Development Opportunities, Transparency.

Additional Information:

Work Location: Hyderabad, India.

Work Arrangement: Work from the office.

Work Schedule: Daily work timings of 09:00 to 18:30 IST. Weekly schedule consists of 5 effective working days.

Let's Build Something Amazing Together!

If you're passionate about user-centered design, excited by the challenges of a startup, and eager to leave your mark on a growing product, we want to hear from you.