Director, Design Management

Microsoft is a company where passionate innovators come to collaborate, envision what can be and take their careers further. This is a world of more possibilities, more innovation, more openness, and the sky’s the limit of thinking in a cloud-enabled world.  

The mission of Learning Product Team in Worldwide Learning (WWL) - is to develop world-class, innovative Skilling Products & Experiences that inspire customers, partners, Microsoft sellers, and future generations to achieve more by skilling, upskilling, and reskilling, thereby reaching 100M+ learners. Our culture is centered on embracing a growth mindset, a theme of inspiring excellence, and encouraging teams and leaders to learn and grow each day. In doing so, we create life-changing innovations that impact billions of lives around the world. 

We are seeking a Director, Design Management to join our team. They will lead a team of talented designers and researchers to create user-centered designs and insights that drive the development of innovative products and services. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product management, engineering, and marketing, to ensure that our products delight our users. 

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond. 

Required Qualifications 

• Master's Degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Human Computer Interaction, User Experience, Interaction Design, or related field AND 6+ years experience working in product or service design OR Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Human Computer Interaction, User Experience, Interaction Design, or related field AND 8+ years experience working in product or service design OR equivalent experience (e.g., demonstrated experience working in product or service design or using design thinking to solve problems).
• 3+ years people management experience.
• 2+ years experience working in emerging technologies and innovations: Passion for staying current with industry trends and continuously seeking opportunities for improvement and innovation in design practices. 
• 2+ years experience handling complex projects end to end, specifically, but not limited to driving vision, strategy and execution taking user research as an input into design.

Preferred/Additional Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Human Computer Interaction, User Experience, Interaction Design, or related field AND 8+ years experience working in product or service design OR Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Human Computer Interaction, User Experience, Interaction Design, or related field AND 12+ years experience working in product or service design OR equivalent experience (e.g., demonstrated experience working in product or service design or using design thinking to solve problems).
• 5+ years people management experience.
• 3+ years experience building consumer experiences.
• 2+ years experience building and driving a design-first culture within an existing organization.

Product Design M5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $139,900 - $274,800 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $188,000 - $304,200 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until July 8, 2025.

#E&OJobs  #WWLJobs

• Leadership and Management: Lead and mentor a team of user experience (UX) designers and researchers, providing guidance, support, and career development opportunities. Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture that encourages creativity and innovation. 
• User-centered Design: Oversee the end-to-end design process, from user research and concept development to prototyping and usability testing. Ensure that all solutions are inclusive and are grounded in a deep understanding of user needs and behaviors. 

• Research and Insights: Drive the UX research strategy, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods to gather insights about users' behaviors, attitudes, and pain points. Translate research findings into actionable design recommendations. 

• Collaboration: Work closely with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to define and prioritize design requirements. Advocate for the user experience throughout the product development lifecycle. 

• Innovation: Stay up-to-date with industry trends and industry-leading practices in UX design and research. Identify opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement in our design processes and methodologies. 

• Project Management: Manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring that design deliverables are completed on time and meet quality standards. Effectively communicate project status and progress to stakeholders. 

• Other

  • • Embody our Culture and Values