Associate Design Director

Role Overview: As a Design Director at Parallel, you will play a crucial role in shaping and influencing the design and product innovation culture at Parallel. Your responsibilities will include overseeing projects, mentoring product designers, and improving the practice of work at the organization. You will need to navigate between the big picture and intricate details, interact with clients and design teams effectively, and advocate for the evolution of the Design department. Your ability to lead, mentor, and inspire a 10-12+ person design team will be key to the success of Parallel's projects and overall vision. Key Responsibilities: - Work closely with the founder to lead and manage a 10-12+ person design team. - Collaborate with the Parallel leadership team to maintain high company engagement. - Drive the operations and strategy of the overall Design team. - Advocate for the design team internally to ensure their success. - Provide constructive feedback and continuous evaluation and support to the design team. - Participate in vetting, hiring, and training new members of the design team. - Mentor senior designers and leads within the team. - Engage with the design team daily, both in-person and online, and with clients as required. - Cultivate an open, collaborative, and inclusive environment for the design team. - Partner with the Client Partnerships team to pitch new engagements to clients. - Assist in scoping out the timeline and requirements of design engagements. - Lead multiple project teams simultaneously by actively participating in the work and guiding them effectively. Qualifications Required: - Minimum 8 years of experience in product design and innovation across various industries like B2B, B2C, and SaaS. - Proven track record of leading diverse and high-impact product design projects from initiation to completion. - Previous experience in leading, mentoring, and coaching product design teams. - Proficiency in design principles, best practices, design trends, and common design tools such as Figma. - Demonstrated enthusiastic leadership style that commands respect and inspires others. - Ability to present designs to clients with credibility, clarity, and confidence. - Well-versed in facilitation techniques that promote clarity and alignment within groups. - Understanding of product management and product life cycles, with experience in leading teams through digital project development from scratch. - Capability to be a leader, listener, and mentor for junior designers, actively contributing to their skill development and career growth. - Active involvement in the design community, representing Parallel and attracting new talent and opportunities. - Passion for building impactful products for meaningful challenges alongside a dedicated and passionate team.,