Senior Manager, Product Design - Gamification & Social Engagement

📋 Description

• Lead Design Strategy & Execution:

• Own, enhance, and evolve the our DFS gamification experience, focusing on increasing user engagement, social participation, and retention.

• Develop and execute innovative design strategies that align with our customer needs and business objectives.

• Collaborate closely with Product, Marketing and Engineering teams to bring our roadmap and platform vision to life.

• Drive collaborative ideation sessions, design critiques, and feedback loops and champion user-centered design methodologies, ensuring our products meet high standards of UX.

• Explore new gamification trends, user engagement strategies, and social features to continuously innovate and deliver to our brand promise.

• Team Leadership & Development:

• Lead and mentor a team of product designers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing design culture.

• Manage team development through coaching, feedback, and professional growth opportunities.

• Cultivate a user-centered design approach, ensuring the team balances creativity with strategic thinking and business KPIs.

• Operational Excellence & Governance:

• Contribute towards and help sharpen design team practices, structures, and governance for optimal efficiency and effectiveness.

• Lead team meetings, strategic discussions, and contribute to leadership initiatives.

• Maintain high standards of quality, operational excellence, and customer-focused intelligence.

🎯 Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in design, with at least 5 years in management roles leading product design teams, with a track record of shipping impactful products.

• Proven ability to inspire and lead design teams toward ambitious goals, providing critical business context, feedback, and direction.

• Demonstrated experience leading and developing design teams, with a focus on mentorship and career growth.

• A solid grasp of gamification principles, social engagement strategies, and user retention mechanics.

• Exceptional communication and facilitation skills, fostering collaboration across multiple departments.

• Passion for pushing design boundaries, exploring new practices, and maintaining a high bar for design standards.

• Strong analytical skills, leveraging user research, data, and feedback to inform design decisions.

• Creative thinker who stays on top of design trends, emerging technologies, and user behavior insights.

🏖️ Benefits

• Company-subsidized medical, dental, & vision plans

• 401(k) plan with company match

• Bi-annual bonus

• Flexible PTO to encourage a healthy work/life balance (2 weeks STRONGLY encouraged!)

• Generous paid leave programs, including 16-week paid parental leave and disability benefits

• Workplace flexibility and modern work schedules focused on getting the job done, not hours clocked

• Company-wide in-person events and team outings

• Lifestyle enhancement program

• Company equipment provided (Windows & Mac options)

• Annual performance reviews with opportunities for growth and career development