Design Leadership - Future Opportunities

Neo Financial; Calgary; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fintech company in Calgary is seeking a design leader to shape the future of its design organization. This role combines strategic vision and hands-on design work, focusing on building and mentoring a high-performing design team. The ideal candidate has over 8 years of experience in product design within a high-growth startup, is comfortable presenting to executives, and is an expert in Figma. Join us to make a meaningful impact on investors' rewards across Canada.

Benefits

Equity through stock options

Inclusive work environment

Collaborative office atmosphere

Qualifications

• 8+ years in product design, preferably in high-growth startup.
• Proven ability to lead design while being hands-on.
• Ability to present to and influence C-level executives.

Responsibilities

• Define long-term design vision with leadership.
• Create wireframes and prototypes that set quality standards.
• Build and mentor a team of designers.

Skills

Product design

Mentorship

Strategic planning

Figma

Prototyping

Team building

Tools

Figma

Modern design tools

Job description

Join us to build a more rewarding financial future for all Canadians

At Neo, we’re on a mission to build a more rewarding financial future for all Canadians. Life at a rapidly scaling tech startup isn’t for everyone. It’s complex, fast‑paced, high‑pressure, but also incredibly fulfilling. Since its founding in 2019, Neo has gained incredible traction and is one of the fastest‑growing fintech companies in Canada.

• #1 on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 for 2023, 2024, and 2025 — the first company ever to achieve a three‑peat at the top!

• #1 Fastest Growing Company in Canada for 2024 by Globe & Mail

• Top‑ranked mobile apps and credit cards

• Team of 500+ people

• 1M+ customers

• 10K+ retail partners

High Performance at Neo

We recruit, hire, and build our company culture around these attributes:

Teamwork: We trust, respect, encourage, and show up for each other — through good times and hard. We’re on this mission not just for ourselves, but also for the people we work with.

Ownership: We all have a stake in Neo’s success — so we go out of our way to do what needs to get done. We hold ourselves accountable to deliver on our commitments — to our customers, to our partners, and to our team. When we fall short, we find a way to do better in the future.

Professional Integrity: We’re asking millions of Canadians to trust us with their hard‑earned money — so we hold ourselves (and each other) to the highest standards of integrity.

The Role

We’re looking for exceptional design talent to help shape what’s next. In this role, you’ll operate as a true player‑coach — setting the vision while remaining hands‑on — and helping build the future of our design organization. You won't just oversee work; you will be in the trenches with founders and executive leadership, defining the strategic vision for our most critical products. You will balance hands‑on craft, concepting, prototyping, and delivering world‑class experiences with the responsibility of building and mentoring a high‑performing design team. This is a role for a design leader who thrives in the ambiguity of early‑stage problem solving and wants to drive impact at the highest level.

What you’ll be Doing

• Strategic Leadership: Partner directly with Founders, VPs, and Product Directors to define and drive the long‑term design vision and product strategy for a specific pillar.
• Hands‑On Craft: Lead by example, diving into the work to illustrate complex design solutions. You will create process flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high‑fidelity mockups that set the standard for quality.
• Team Building & Mentorship: Build, lead, and mentor a team of 2‑3 high‑potential designers. You will be responsible for elevating their craft, guiding their career growth, and fostering a culture of design excellence.
• Cross‑Functional Influence: Champion the value of design across the organization. You will work seamlessly with Engineering, Product, and Data leads to ensure design is a strategic driver, not just a service.
• System & Scale: evolve our design system to support rapid scaling while maintaining consistency and quality across a growing product suite.
• Design Operations: Help establish and refine our design processes, from discovery to delivery, ensuring the team operates with speed and precision.

Who we are Looking for

• Startup DNA: You have significant experience (8+ years) in product design, with a proven track record of leading design in an early‑stage, high‑growth startup environment. You understand the pace, the pivots, and the “founder mindset.”
• Player‑Coach: You are a seasoned leader who still loves to design. You can seamlessly switch between strategic planning and pushing pixels in Figma.
• Executive Presence: You are comfortable presenting to and debating with C‑level executives. You can articulate the business value of design decisions and influence org‑level strategy.
• Proven Builder: You have experience not just designing products, but building teams. You have hired, mentored, and managed designers, helping them reach their full potential.
• Master of Craft: Your portfolio demonstrates industry‑leading quality in UX and UI. You have deep expertise in systems thinking, information architecture, and prototyping complex workflows.
• Iterative Mindset: You know how to balance the pursuit of perfection with the need for speed. You can deliver high‑quality work iteratively (v1, v2, v3), navigating the “Now, Next, Later” with ease.
• Tool Proficiency: Expert‑level fluency in Figma and modern design tools

Working at Neo

The people who thrive at Neo are resourceful, growth‑oriented, and driven to win. We hold ourselves to high standards because we’re on a mission that matters: to build a more rewarding financial future for all Canadians. As individuals and as a team, we constantly challenge ourselves and each other to raise the bar and deliver exceptional experiences for our customers. Our commitment to customer success drives everything we do, from building world‑class products to providing exceptional support at every step of their journey. If this resonates with you, keep reading.

We trust, respect, and support each other. This means honest conversations, constructive input, and empowering each other to move fast and think big. You’ll be surrounded by people who push you to be your best. We primarily collaborate in person across our Calgary, Winnipeg, and Toronto offices, where ideas move quickly and teams build momentum together. As we continue to scale and evolve, we’re looking for builders, innovators, and problem solvers who thrive on challenge–people who would rather blaze a trail through uncertainty than follow a well‑paved path.

All team members have a stake in Neo’s success and earn meaningful equity through stock options. This ownership mindset is at the heart of everything we do — when Neo grows, we all grow. If you’ve heard that Neo employees work hard, it’s true. We hold ourselves accountable for delivering on our commitments to our customers, partners, and each other. Working at Neo means taking ownership of your work and driving results, knowing that your contributions directly impact the company’s success.

Apply with us

We believe in equal opportunity and are committed to creating an inclusive climate where everyone can thrive. Customers trust us with their finances, so successful candidates for this position will be required to undergo a security screening, including a criminal records check and a credit check.

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