Director, Product Design

• Location: This opportunity has the ability to be hybrid in our HQ in Surrey, BC, Canada.
  
• Annual Base Salary: $176,700 - $186,500 CAD
• Please note that employment is contingent upon the successful completion of reference checks and background checks.

Application Instructions:

• Please submit a resume, cover letter, portfolio
• Please upload your application files in PDF format only.

Director, Product Design

Safe Software is looking for a Director Product Design to define and lead Safe Software's overarching UX strategy. Reporting to the VP of Product Development, you will lead Safe Software’s Design team and be responsible for the user experience of our products from conception to launch. This role will be pivotal in transforming our user experience across the platform into an intuitive, and integrated experience that delights new users while driving customer satisfaction and retention.

You will collaborate closely with leadership, product management, development, and design teams to embed user-centric design principles into every aspect of our software development lifecycle. Your mastery of user-centered design, design systems, and technology leadership will help us deliver a product experience worthy of industry-leading standards.

About The Team

As part of the Product Design team, you’ll join a highly collaborative group of UX leads and designers dedicated to crafting intuitive, user-centered experiences. We work closely with Product Management, Engineering, and Marketing to ensure that UX remains a key driver of product success and customer satisfaction.

What You’ll Be Doing

As a Director Product Design, you will:

• Develop and implement a strategic UX vision that aligns with Safe Software’s product and business objectives.
• Lead, mentor, and manage the Design team, overseeing day-to-day operations while cultivating a high-performance culture.
• Champion user-centered design principles throughout all stages of product development to ensure intuitive, engaging user experiences.
• Collaborate closely with Product, Engineering, and Marketing to deliver cohesive and strategic product experiences.
• Drive UX research and design innovation, incorporating emerging technologies and methodologies to enhance user understanding.
• Set the direction for design principles, patterns, and processes to ensure a cohesive product experience across the Safe portfolio.
• Provide both high-level oversight and detailed feedback on design deliverables, maintaining alignment with quality and business goals.
• Establish, refine, and enforce scalable design processes, tools, and workflows.
• Conduct regular design critiques that foster collective growth and elevate the team’s output.
• Serve as the go-to resource for resolving complex design challenges and strategic decisions.
• Represent the UX discipline at the executive level, advocating for strategic investments that enhance user experiences and outcomes.

Qualifications, Skills, and Competencies

Safers come from a variety of backgrounds with a diversity in skills and knowledge. That said, we find that those who are most successful in this role have experience with the following areas.

Required skills:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or related field.
• Experience: 8 years of relevant design leadership experience, including at least 3 years at the director level (or equivalent), where you led and managed other design managers.
• Technical skills:
  • Experience designing for complex, enterprise software (e.g., data integration, analytics, or other B2B/B2E platforms).
  • Experience leading UX teams (including multiple managers or leads) and initiatives at a senior leadership level.
  • Deep expertise in UX principles, research methodologies, and design frameworks.
  • Proficiency in using UX design and prototyping tools.
  • Deep understanding of product development processes (Agile, Lean) and how UX integrates with product management and engineering.
• Proficiency in evaluating design skills, delivery, and ability to provide effective feedback and coaching to lead to growth and favorable outcomes.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and negotiation skills.
• Advocate for UX at the executive level, presenting strategies and insights to C-suite leaders to align user experience with business goals.
• Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to inspire and lead teams with a clear and compelling vision.
• Proven ability to recruit, develop, and mentor designers at different levels (junior through lead).

Nice to have skills:

• Proven track record of leading UX transformation and innovation. Strategic thinker with the ability to align UX strategies with business objectives. Champion for user-centric design culture across the organization.

What You Can Expect

When you choose a career with Safe Software, you’re also choosing…

• Meaningful Work: Make a profound impact across our business, workplace and data integration product.
• A Supportive Environment: Feel empowered to share your ideas and implement them with high autonomy and team support.
• Social Responsibility: Become part of a team that finds meaningful ways to give back. Take paid time off to volunteer for one of our Safe-organized opportunities that align with our core community initiatives.
• Learning & Career Development: We believe in your continuous learning and growth. Take advantage of an annual learning budget and training programs paid for by Safe.
• Flexible Working Hours: Flexible and remote-friendly work arrangements to fit your lifestyle. Work when you want, and how you want to.
• Work-Life Balance: There's no place for burnout at Safe. Maintain a healthy balance of your personal and work life without splitting yourself in two. Enjoy 3 weeks of vacation to recharge, plus an additional paid 6 seasonal days off per year.
• Health & Wellness: Extended health, dental, health or lifestyle spending, and counseling benefits from day 1. That’s right, no waiting period.
• Family is important: We are dedicated to supporting our employees through parenthood and offer a Parental Leave Top-Up Program for new parents through childbirth or adoption.
• Shared Success: Share in Safe’s success with our bi-annual profit sharing and RRSP/TFSA matching program.
• An Accessible Commute: Regardless of your commute method, we’re located close to public transit, and provide complimentary parking and bike storage for our team!

About Safe Software

Safe Software transforms organizations with FME, the only All-Data Any-AI Enterprise Integration Platform connecting all your data, anywhere, at any velocity. With over 30 years of expertise and 25,000+ enterprise customers across 125+ countries, we simplify your data journey, wherever it leads.

Founded in 1993, Safe is headquartered in Surrey, BC with over 200 team members and counting. We’re always looking for talented individuals with diverse backgrounds who are determined to learn and grow. Are you ready to join the team?

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Safe Software is an equal opportunity employer and we truly believe that innovation and strength begin with diversity and inclusion. We welcome all candidates regardless of race, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, ability, disability, national or ethnic origin, political belief, religion, or family status. Should you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact hr_dept@safe.com.