Design Manager, 5+ years (Leadership Founding role, Equity-only)

This is a Founding stage Leadership role focused on redefining the retail industry, starting as a part-time, slow-burn, long-term association that complements an existing full-time role; it offers equity in the company rather than a traditional salary, with the potential to grow into the Head of Design across Consumer, Commerce, and Brand verticals. We are seeking a visionary Design Lead to craft innovative user experiences that disrupt traditional retail norms, bridge physical and digital experiences, and revolutionize how people shop. If you are driven by impact, thrive on solving big problems through design, and have a proven track record of creating transformative user-centered designs, this opportunity is for you.

Your Mission

1. Shape the Design Vision - Collaborate with leadership and product to define and articulate a bold design vision that aligns with our mission to disrupt the retail industry.
2. Drive UX Innovation - Lead design ideation and development, creating user experiences that address unmet customer needs and challenge traditional retail models.
3. Own the Design System - Build and maintain a comprehensive design system that ensures consistency and scalability across all platforms.
4. Deliver Exceptional Designs - Oversee end-to-end design development, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality, user-centric, and visually compelling designs.
5. Collaborate Cross-Functionally - Partner with engineering, product, marketing, and business teams to translate ideas into actionable designs and measurable outcomes.
6. Solve Complex User Problems - Use user research, data, and insights to identify opportunities and solve complex user experience challenges in creative, impactful ways.
7. Measure Design Success - Define and track key design metrics (e.g., usability, user satisfaction) to ensure design effectiveness and user impact.

What We’re Looking For

1. Proven Design Innovator - A track record of leading transformative design initiatives that have disrupted industries or created new user experience standards.
2. Visionary UX Problem Solver - Ability to see user experience opportunities where others see obstacles, crafting creative and effective solutions to complex user challenges.
3. Customer-Centric Design Mindset - Deep empathy for user needs and the ability to translate those insights into impactful design features.
4. Strategic Design Thinker - Strong ability to prioritize, align cross-functional teams, and maintain focus on long-term design goals while delivering incremental value.
5. Adaptable and Agile Designer - Thrives in fast-paced, dynamic environments and embraces change as an opportunity to innovate design.
6. Exceptional Design Communicator - Skilled in conveying complex design ideas clearly, rallying stakeholders around a shared design vision, and driving alignment across teams.

Nice to Have

1. Experience in retail, e-commerce, or consumer-focused industries.
2. Background in startups or high-growth organizations where agility and design innovation are key drivers.
3. Familiarity with emerging design technologies and tools, and their application in product innovation (e.g., AR/VR, interactive prototyping).