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Director Of Design Jobs in Santa Rosa, CA (NOW HIRING)

Pholio

Head of Design

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

This could fit an existing Head or VP of Design, a Design Director ready for more ownership, or a Staff or Principal designer already operating at that level. Pholio is working with a Series B AI ...

Pholio

Head of Design

Sonoma, CA · On-site

This could fit an existing Head or VP of Design, a Design Director ready for more ownership, or a Staff or Principal designer already operating at that level. Pholio is working with a Series B AI ...

Lever Demo 2

Design Director

Bodega Bay, CA · On-site

We've crafted this listing to showcase the functionality of our ATS platform, including s, application processes, and more. While you can explore the application process and features here, please ...

Pacifichospitality

Director of Brand Marketing

Napa, CA

$130K - $165K/yr

Identifystory opportunities tied to culinary, wellness, design, events, team members, and local ... Role Philosophy The Director of Brand Marketing is thelocal ambassador of the brand, ensuring the ...

Sonoma Valley Hospital

Director of I.T.

Sonoma, CA

Director, I.T. - Sonoma Valley Hospital - UCSF Career Site Careers The Sonoma Valley Hospital (SVH ... Demonstrated proficiency with the design of workflow processes integrated with automated systems.

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All JobsOf Design JobsDirector Of Design JobsDirector Of Design Jobs in Santa Rosa, CA

Director Of Design information

See Santa Rosa, CA salary details

$40.5K

$148.4K

$265.7K

How much do director of design jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for director of design in Santa Rosa, CA is $148,434.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $119,700.00 and $178,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a director of design do?

A design director oversees the creative visual team for a marketing firm, advertising firm, or PR agency that produces visual material, such as posters, brochures, manuals, or books. Sometimes the term is also used to describe directors at fashion houses, apparel companies, or interior design firms who oversee clothing or interior design. In communications companies, your duties and responsibilities as the design director are to collaborate with your clients and other marketing and ad workers to determine the type of graphic art; you then execute design projects. The same applies to fashion and interior design.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director of design, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Design, you need deep expertise in visual design, user experience (UX) principles, leadership, and a portfolio demonstrating successful project outcomes, often supported by a degree in design or related fields. Mastery of industry-standard tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and project management platforms, along with familiarity with design systems, is typically required. Excellent communication, strategic thinking, and the ability to inspire and mentor creative teams are standout soft skills for this role. These abilities ensure cohesive design vision, effective team performance, and the delivery of innovative, business-aligned solutions.

What is the difference between Director Of Design vs Product Designer?

AspectDirector Of DesignProduct Designer
ResponsibilitiesOversees design teams, sets strategic vision, manages multiple projectsFocuses on designing specific products or features, user experience, and interface design
Required SkillsLeadership, strategic planning, advanced design skills, team managementStrong UI/UX skills, prototyping, user research, visual design
Work EnvironmentLeadership in design departments, cross-functional collaborationHands-on design work, collaboration with developers and product managers
Common UsageUsed in larger organizations for senior design leadershipUsed across startups and companies for individual product design roles

The main difference between a Director Of Design and a Product Designer lies in scope and focus. The Director Of Design leads the overall design strategy and manages teams, while the Product Designer concentrates on creating specific product interfaces and user experiences. Both roles require strong design skills, but the Director Of Design emphasizes leadership and strategic planning.

How does a director of design typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve project goals?

A Director of Design works closely with product managers, engineers, marketing teams, and executive leadership to ensure design vision aligns with overall business objectives. This role often leads design reviews, provides strategic feedback, and facilitates communication between departments to streamline workflows and resolve challenges. Directors of Design champion user-centric solutions while balancing technical feasibility and business requirements, fostering an environment where creative and technical teams can collaborate effectively. Strong interpersonal and leadership skills are essential for building consensus and driving high-quality project outcomes.
More about Director Of Design jobs
What job categories do people searching Director Of Design jobs in Santa Rosa, CA look for? The top searched job categories for Director Of Design jobs in Santa Rosa, CA are:
What cities near Santa Rosa, CA are hiring for Director Of Design jobs? Cities near Santa Rosa, CA with the most Director Of Design job openings:
Director Of Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Of Design job openings in Santa Rosa, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 81% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $148,434 per year, or $71.4 per hour.

Head of Design

Pholio

Santa Rosa, CA • On-site

Other

Posted 20 days ago

Job description

HEAD OF DESIGN, SERIES B

Location: San Francisco, 4 days per week onsite

Compensation: $320,000–$400,000 base salary plus equity

Level: Head of Design. This could fit an existing Head or VP of Design, a Design Director ready for more ownership, or a Staff or Principal designer already operating at that level.


Pholio is working with a Series B AI company to hire its Head of Design. They’re building an agent workspace for GTM teams. The product is growing, the team is growing, and they need one person who can own design across the company.


This is a hands-on role. You’ll lead a small team, but you’ll still be expected to design, prototype, critique work, and get into the details. The product is complex. It combines AI, dense workflows, and a lot of daily use. The job is to make that complexity feel clear and useful.


WHAT YOU'LL DO

  • You’ll set the design direction for the product and work closely with the founders, product, and engineering.
  • You’ll still be in the work yourself. That means designing and prototyping important workflows, reviewing the details, helping shape the roadmap, and improving the quality and consistency of the product.
  • You’ll also build the design team, hire and manage strong designers, and make design a more important part of how the company makes product decisions.


THE PROFILE

  • You should have at least eight years of product design experience and have led a team or owned a meaningful part of a design function.
  • Experience with complex B2B, enterprise, workflow, or technical products. And a track record of making difficult products easier to understand and use.
  • You should be comfortable working directly with founders and engineers and still want to do hands-on design work. Experience hiring, mentoring, or developing other designers is important.
  • The company is looking for someone with high agency, low ego, and comfort working in an environment that does not come with much structure.

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