Head of Design

dSb Recruitment Consultancy Ltd.; London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 110,000

Job description

Job Description

Head of Design (Web) – Redesign How the World Travels

You don’t just lead design. You shape direction. You turn complexity into clarity, and ambition into action.

If you’ve been waiting for a role where you can make a real impact - not just incrementally improve what exists, but completely reimagine it - this could be the opportunity you’ve been looking for.

Why this role? Why now?

Our client is one of the most recognisable names in global travel. With a strong legacy, a global presence, and millions of customers each year, they’ve long been a leader in how people explore the world.

But now they’re setting their sights on something bigger.

This is a business at a pivotal moment of transformation, consolidating multiple market-specific websites into one unified global platform, and putting digital experience at the heart of how they grow. Not just to keep pace with evolving customer expectations, but to lead the industry into what comes next.

This isn’t about redesigning for the sake of it. It’s about creating something truly world-class: a seamless, intuitive, and empowering experience that connects customers across borders and touch points; before, during, and after their trip.

And that’s where you come in.

They’re looking for a Head of Design for Web who can bring vision, leadership, and craft to a challenge of real scale and complexity. Someone who can inspire a 45+ strong team of Designers and Researchers, navigate a matrixed global environment, and help define what “great” looks like for millions of users around the world.

About the organisation:

You’ll be joining one of the most recognisable travel brands in the world—a company with deep customer trust, decades of heritage, and bold plans for the future.

• Global scale: Millions of customers are served every year, across diverse markets.
• Digital transformation underway: A complete redesign and unification of multiple platforms into one global ecosystem.
• Customer-first ambition: Their mission is to deliver a consistent, empowering digital experience at every stage of the journey—from dreaming and booking to returning home.

With strong backing from the business and a clear appetite for change, this is a rare opportunity to shape something with real global impact.

What you’ll be doing:

This is a role with big impact. Here’s what you’ll own:

• Set the vision – Define what a world-class digital experience looks and feels like across all markets and customer journeys.
• Lead the team – Inspire, mentor, and grow a high-performing team of over 45 designers and researchers.
• Drive unification – Oversee the design of the unified Platform, bringing consistency and cohesion to a global digital estate.
• Make it local – Ensure global experiences are adapted with cultural sensitivity and regional relevance.
• Embed design deeply – Champion a culture of user-centred design, insight-led iteration, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate at scale – Work hand-in-hand with Product, Technology, Ecommerce, Analytics, and local market teams.
• Influence up and across – Present and advocate to senior leaders, including Group Directors and C-level stakeholders (CMO, CIO, CDO).
• Own the roadmap – Lead 12–18 month planning, balancing long-term ambition with short-term delivery.
• Raise the bar – Continuously evolve design culture, process, and practice to drive greater impact.

What we’re looking for:

You don’t need to tick every box. What matters most is your mindset, leadership, and ability to drive outcomes. You might be someone who:

• Has previous experience leading design teams in large-scale, digital-first environments.
• Has led the transformation of complex, multi-market ecosystems.
• Is both strategic and hands-on - you know when to zoom out and when to get in the detail.
• Brings deep understanding of design systems, agile methods, and UX research.
• Builds and nurtures high-performing, inclusive teams.
• Has presented to and influenced C-suite stakeholders in global organisations.
• Thinks globally, acts locally, with the ability to scale experiences across diverse regions.

What’s in it for you?

The Package:

• Salary: Up to £110,000 DOE
• Bonus: Up to 40%
• Car allowance: £5,600
• Enhanced Maternity / Paternity
• Private Medical (Family plan)
• Health Insurance
• And much more...

You’ll also get the rare opportunity to:

• Lead a digital transformation that impacts millions of users worldwide.
• Shape the future of travel experiences at one of the world’s best-known brands.
• Collaborate with a smart, ambitious team that’s hungry to raise the bar.
• Drive both strategy and execution in a role with clear ownership.
• Enjoy a flexible working model and a culture that supports growth, experimentation, and bold ideas.

The Interview process:

1. Intro call – 30 minutes with a peer to explore a fit.
2. Vision task & Presentation – Share your approach and early thinking on the opportunity.
3. Final session – Present your ideas to senior stakeholders (C-level).

Let’s talk:

If this sounds like your kind of challenge, we’d love to hear from you.

Not 100% sure but curious to know more? That’s fine too.

We’re open to conversations, not just applications.

Hit APPLY now.