Head of Product Design

BuildOps; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 204,000 - 255,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous equity grant

Comprehensive benefits package

Flexible PTO and hybrid work schedules

One-time work-from-home allowance

Hubs in LA, SF, Toronto, and Raleigh;

Job summary

BuildOps is seeking a Head of Product Design to lead and scale our design team across SaaS platforms. You will shape the design strategy, mentor senior designers, and fuse AI into design workflows and customer experiences.

You will drive cross-functional partnerships, champion design systems, and recruit top talent to deliver enterprise-grade solutions while maintaining an exceptional user experience across web and mobile.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of product design experience with at least 5 years leading design teams in high-growth SaaS environments.
• Proven track record of setting and executing a cohesive design vision.
• Experience designing and shipping high-quality B2B or B2B2C products across mobile and web.
• Strong design instincts with fluency in UX, UI, interaction design, and systems thinking.
• Demonstrated experience scaling teams, mentoring designers, and building high-performing team cultures.
• Expert proficiency in design tools and fluency with AI tools to accelerate synthesis, ideation, prototyping, and rapid software development.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to articulate decisions, influence stakeholders, and present to executive leadership.
• A compelling portfolio that demonstrates excellent product thinking, beautiful execution, and measurable business impact.
• Flexibility to travel for team meetings and customer visits.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a team of talented product designers across multiple product surfaces.
• Set the strategic design vision that aligns with our company and product strategy, ensuring a consistent, intuitive, and delightful user experience.
• Build and scale the design organization: define team structure, hire top-tier talent, mentor and grow the team, and nurture a high-performance design culture.
• Establish strong cross-functional partnerships with Product, Engineering, Marketing, and executive stakeholders.
• Champion design excellence through modern systems, tooling, and processes that scale with the company.
• Partner with Product and Engineering to develop intuitive, enterprise-grade solutions while transforming the platform to support AI-powered user experiences through OpsAI.
• Guide the evolution of our design system and visual language across mobile and web.
• Be a strong voice for the user, leveraging research, customer visits, and data to inform design decisions and prioritize customer outcomes.
• Foster a culture of rapid experimentation, feedback, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Design leadership

Product design

SaaS

UX/UI

Systems thinking

Job description

About The Job

BuildOps is the AI-native platform for commercial contractors.

San Francisco, Toronto, Los Angeles

BuildOps is the AI-native platform for commercial contractors. At BuildOps, we’re building a groundbreaking software solution designed to empower today’s commercial contractors. BuildOps is the leading all-in-one platform for commercial specialty contractors, purpose-built for the trades that keep the world running: HVAC, plumbing, electrical, fire protection, and mechanical. We connect field technicians, dispatchers, and the back office on a single system that handles service, project management, dispatching, and billing, powered by AI-driven automation. Some of the largest and most successful contractors run their operations on BuildOps.

As Head of Product Design, you’ll lead, grow, and scale our design team and practice. Reporting to the Chief Product Officer, you’ll own the end-to-end design function across our products and platform, shaping our user experience and visual language, driving the long‑term design strategy, and embedding AI into both our design workflows and our customer experiences.

This role is perfect for someone who thrives in fast‑paced environments, has a passion for elegant and functional design, and is ready to build a world‑class design organization. Our team thrives on ambition, innovation, and collaboration—qualities we look for in every new hire.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and inspire a team of talented product designers across multiple product surfaces.
• Set the strategic design vision that aligns with our company and product strategy, ensuring a consistent, intuitive, and delightful user experience.
• Build and scale the design organization: define team structure, hire top‑tier talent, mentor and grow the team, and nurture a high‑performance design culture.
• Establish strong cross‑functional partnerships with Product, Engineering, Marketing, and executive stakeholders.
• Champion design excellence through modern systems, tooling, and processes that scale with the company.
• Partner with Product and Engineering to develop intuitive, enterprise‑grade solutions while transforming the platform to support AI‑powered user experiences through OpsAI.
• Guide the evolution of our design system and visual language across mobile and web.
• Be a strong voice for the user, leveraging research, customer visits, and data to inform design decisions and prioritize customer outcomes.
• Foster a culture of rapid experimentation, feedback, and continuous improvement.

What We Look For

• 8+ years of product design experience, with at least 5 years leading design teams in high‑growth SaaS environments.
• Proven track record of setting and executing a cohesive design vision.
• Experience designing and shipping high‑quality B2B or B2B2C products across mobile and web.
• Strong design instincts with fluency in UX, UI, interaction design, and systems thinking.
• Demonstrated experience scaling teams, mentoring designers, and building high‑performing team cultures.
• Expert proficiency in design tools and fluency with AI tools to accelerate synthesis, ideation, prototyping, and rapid software development.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to articulate decisions, influence stakeholders, and present to executive leadership.
• A compelling portfolio that demonstrates excellent product thinking, beautiful execution, and measurable business impact.
• Flexibility to travel for team meetings and customer visits.

Who You Are

• A builder who thrives on complex, ambiguous problems in a fast‑paced environment.
• A self‑starter who takes initiative and drives outcomes without waiting for direction.
• Passionate about design, with a relentless commitment to exceptional user experiences.
• Someone who cares deeply about doing excellent work that makes people’s lives better.
• Collaborative and humble—you build strong cultures and strong cross‑functional partnerships.

Compensation

Toronto: $204000 - 255000 CAD base salary + annual bonus opportunity, depending on location and experience, plus a generous equity grant.

LA/SF: $239000 - 299000 USD base salary + annual bonus opportunity, depending on location and experience, plus a generous equity grant.

What we offer

• Generous equity grant, become an owner in our company!
• A comprehensive benefits package
• Flexible PTO and hybrid work schedules
• One‑time work‑from‑home allowance
• Hubs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto, and Raleigh with hybrid work schedules and lunch provided for in‑office days
• Company events and team‑building activities, both in‑person and virtual
• Fast‑paced, collaborative, and dynamic work environment
• Opportunities for growth and career advancement
• Chance to work with cutting‑edge technology and innovative solutions
• The chance to get in on the ground floor and build something truly groundbreaking for ourselves and our amazing customers

We welcome applicants from across the U.S. where we are registered to do business and able to support employment. Currently, this excludes the following states: Alaska, Hawaii, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming. This list is based solely on operational and compliance considerations and is reviewed from time to time as our footprint grows.

About BuildOps

Join BuildOps, the largest commercial trade platform in the country, as we transform the multi‑billion dollar commercial contracting industry! We’re not just talking incremental improvements—we’re talking a full‑scale revolution, empowering the hardworking heroes who build and maintain the infrastructure that keeps our world running. See why contractors choose Buildops here.

This is your chance to be part of a rocketship. We’re fresh off a $1 billion valuation and a $127M Series C funding round (part of over $275M raised to date) led by industry‑leading investors like Meritech Capital, BOND, and SE Ventures, backed by Schneider Electric (Reuters, TechCrunch, LA Business Journal). Our latest investors join our team of industry heavyweights like Next47, former Twitter CEO Dick Costolo, former Salesforce President Gavin Patterson, and Boost Mobile CEO Stephen Stokols. Their investment is fueling our aggressive growth and our commitment to equipping contractors with AI‑driven tools to conquer chaos, boost efficiency, skyrocket profitability, and ultimately, deliver exceptional service.

At BuildOps, we’re changing the game and doing the best work of our careers. You’ll be a key player in a company that’s truly making a difference for the backbone of our economy. If you’re ready to tackle big challenges, work with a passionate team, and build something extraordinary, BuildOps is the place for you.

BuildOps is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

BuildOps will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act pursuant to applicable local and state laws.