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Head Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Pholio

Head of Design

Hayward, CA · On-site

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 ...

Pholio

Head of Design

San Francisco, CA · On-site

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 ...

Pholio

Head of Design

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

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 ...

Intertek

Head of Design

Austin, TX · Remote

$153K - $188K/yr

Head of Design - Remote Intertek, a leading provider of quality and safety solutions to many of the world's top-recognized brands and companies, is actively seeking a Head of Design to join our ...

Altana

Head of Product Design

New York, NY

$169K - $208K/yr

As Head of Design you will shape the product vision of Altana and bring it to life. You will create a consistent, agent-first design system for handling a wide array of information-dense, complex ...

Vanta

Head of Design

$365K - $513K/yr

Vanta is hiring for a Head of Design (VP) to lead our design organization - setting direction for a ~40-person team, shaping the next generation of AI-native product experiences, and building the ...

Altana

Head of Product Design

New York, NY · On-site

$169K - $208K/yr

As Head of Design you will shape the product vision of Altana and bring it to life. You will create a consistent, agent-first design system for handling a wide array of information-dense, complex ...

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Head of Design

New York, NY · On-site

$169K - $208K/yr

As a core member reporting to the Head of Product, you will: * Set the design vision and standards across products; ensure a consistent, high-quality end-to-end experience. * Lead discovery and ...

SUBSCRIBE

Head of Design

New York, NY

$169K - $208K/yr

As a core member reporting to the Head of Product, you will: * Set the design vision and standards across products; ensure a consistent, high-quality end-to-end experience. * Lead discovery and ...

OSI Engineering

Head of Product Design

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$300K - $350K/yr

Head of Product Design/ Director About the Role: You will define and own the physical product experience for a breakthrough stealth-stage neurotechnology and brain-computer interface (BCI) startup ...

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Head of Design

New York, NY · On-site

$169K - $208K/yr

As a core member reporting to the Head of Product, you will: * Set the design vision and standards across products; ensure a consistent, high-quality end-to-end experience. * Lead discovery and ...

Kikoff

Head of Design

San Francisco, CA · On-site

About the Role As Head of Design, you will own the design vision, craft, and execution across the company. You will set the quality bar, rebuild the foundation our product is built on, and be a ...

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All JobsHead Design Jobs

Head Design information

See salary details

$37K

$135.8K

$243K

How much do head design jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for head design in the United States is $135,763.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $109,500.00 and $163,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the highest paying career in design?

In design, roles such as Creative Director, UX Director, or Design Director tend to be the highest paying, often earning six-figure salaries. These positions require extensive experience, leadership skills, and proficiency with design tools like Adobe Creative Suite or Figma.

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

To thrive as a Head of Design, you need extensive experience in design principles, creative direction, and a strong portfolio, often supported by a degree in design or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard design tools (such as Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and Sketch) and experience managing design systems are typically required. Leadership, strategic vision, and excellent communication skills help you inspire teams and collaborate across departments. These skills ensure cohesive brand identity, high-quality output, and alignment with business goals.

How much does a head of design earn?

A head of design typically earns between $100,000 and $180,000 annually, depending on experience, company size, and location. Senior roles may include bonuses, stock options, or other benefits, and strong skills in design tools and leadership are often required.

What is the highest paid design job?

The highest paid design jobs are often executive roles such as Creative Director or Chief Design Officer, with salaries exceeding $150,000 annually, especially in large corporations or tech companies. Specialized fields like UX/UI design, product design, and design consulting can also command high salaries depending on experience and industry demand.

What are Head Design roles and responsibilities?

The Head of Design is responsible for leading and managing the design department within an organization. This role involves setting the overall creative direction, developing design strategies, and ensuring that all design work aligns with the company's brand and business goals. The Head of Design oversees the work of design teams, collaborates with other departments, and often represents the design function in executive meetings. They are also responsible for mentoring team members, fostering innovation, and maintaining high standards of quality across all design outputs.

What does a head designer do?

A head designer oversees the creative process and manages design teams to develop visual concepts for products, branding, or media. They collaborate with clients and other departments, use design software, and ensure projects meet quality standards and deadlines.

How does the Head of Design typically collaborate with other departments to ensure cohesive brand and product experiences?

The Head of Design plays a crucial role in partnering with teams such as product management, engineering, and marketing to align design strategies with overall business objectives. Regular cross-functional meetings and workshops are common, where the Head of Design communicates the vision, gathers input, and ensures consistency across all touchpoints. This collaborative approach helps to streamline workflows, foster innovation, and maintain a unified brand identity throughout the organization.

What is the difference between Head Design vs Design Manager?

AspectHead DesignDesign Manager
Required CredentialsTypically a degree in design, architecture, or related field; extensive portfolioSimilar credentials; often requires leadership experience
Work EnvironmentLeadership role overseeing design teams, strategic planningManages design projects and teams, collaborates with stakeholders
Industry UsageUsed in creative, architecture, and product design firmsCommon in corporate, agency, and in-house design departments

While both roles involve overseeing design work, the Head Design typically holds a higher strategic leadership position, focusing on overall design vision and direction. The Design Manager manages day-to-day project execution and team coordination. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and job expectations in the design industry.

What cities are hiring for Head Design jobs? Cities with the most Head Design job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Design jobs? The most popular types of Design jobs are:
What states have the most Head Design jobs? States with the most job openings for Head Design jobs include:
Head Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Head Design job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $135,763 per year, or $65.3 per hour.

Head of Design

Pholio

Hayward, CA • On-site

Other

Posted 6 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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