Lead, Design Systems & Design Operations

CIBC; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 103,000 - 133,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Incentive pay

Banking benefits

Defined benefit pension

Employee share purchase plan

Vacation offering

Wellbeing support

MomentMakers recognition program

Purpose Day

Job summary

CIBC is seeking a Lead, Design Systems & Design Operations to shape and evolve design systems across Wealth digital experiences. You will collaborate with Design, Product and Technology to set standards, governance and reusable components, while advancing AI-assisted workflows for faster, higher-quality delivery.

The role emphasizes scalable operations, accessibility, and cross-platform parity across web and mobile, with a compensation range discussed during interviews.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in Product Design, UX/UI, Design Systems or related digital product disciplines.
• Asset if you have Flutter-based design systems or fintech environments.
• Experience leading design systems governance and design operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead design system strategy and governance across Wealth platforms.
• Define reusable components, tokens, and theming for web and mobile.
• Establish scalable design operations across planning, reviews and delivery.
• Partner with Technology and Product to translate design standards into implementation.
• Advance AI-assisted and design-to-code workflows with accessibility and quality in mind.

Skills

Design systems

Design operations

Cross-platform design

Design tokens

Theming

Component architecture

Job description

What You'll Be Doing

The Digital Wealth team is focused on creating intuitive, consistent and scalable experiences that help clients manage their financial goals with confidence. As the Lead, Design Systems & Design Operations, you'll shape and evolve design systems and design operations across CIBC Investor’s Edge and broader Wealth digital experiences. You'll work closely with Design, Product and Technology partners to establish standards, governance and ways of working that support consistency across web and mobile platforms. In this role, you'll lead the adoption of reusable components, patterns and design tokens, while strengthening accessibility, quality and contribution standards. You'll also help advance modern design practices, including artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted workflows and design-to-code approaches that improve speed, quality and consistency across teams.

At CIBC we enable the work environment most optimal for you to thrive in your role. Details on your work arrangement (proportion of on-site and remote work) will be discussed at the time of your interview.

The expected annualized base salary range for this role is $102,700 to $133,200.

The base salary is determined by a variety of factors, including the candidate’s skills, experience, and job-related knowledge, as well as geographic location and specific business needs. Our compensation philosophy supports ongoing growth and development, enabling progression within the salary range as team members advance in their roles.

In addition to base pay, compensation for this role includes participation in an annual discretionary incentive or bonus program.

We are committed to providing fair, equitable, and competitive compensation opportunities for all employees and we encourage open conversations about compensation throughout the recruitment process.

How You'll Succeed

• Design system strategy and governance - Lead the strategy, roadmap, governance and continuous evolution of the Wealth design system to support scalable, consistent digital experiences across products and platforms.
• Standards and platform foundations - Define and maintain reusable components, patterns, design tokens, theming approaches and cross-platform specifications that enable strong parity across web and mobile.
• Design operations excellence - Establish scalable design operations across planning, documentation, reviews and delivery to improve team effectiveness and create clear, repeatable ways of working.
• Partnership and implementation - Partner closely with Technology and Product teams to translate design standards into scalable implementation and shared delivery practices.
• Innovation and continuous improvement - Advance AI-assisted and design-to-code workflows, while promoting accessibility, quality and contribution standards that strengthen reuse across Wealth teams.

Who You Are

• You can demonstrate experience in enterprise design systems, design operations, cross-platform design, design tokens, component architecture, theming and governance. It’s an asset if you have experience with Flutter-based design systems, financial services or fintech environments, and modern design-to-code workflows.You have 8+ years of experience in Product Design, UX/UI, Design Systems or related digital product disciplines.
• You’re a caring and accountable leader. You have experience developing and implementing strategic team goals. You have experience coaching employees and inspiring successful team performance.
• Your influence makes a difference. You know that relationships and networks are essential to success. You inspire outcomes by sharing your expertise.
• You're digitally savvy. You seek out innovative solutions and embrace evolving technologies. You can easily adapt to new tools and trends.
• You know that details matter. You notice things that others don't. Your critical thinking skills help to inform your decision making.
• Values matter to you. You bring your real self to work, and you live our values - trust, teamwork, and accountability.

What CIBC Offers

At CIBC, your goals are a priority. We start with your strengths and ambitions as an employee and strive to create opportunities to tap into your potential. We aspire to give you a career, rather than just a paycheck.

• We work to recognize you in meaningful, personalized ways including a competitive salary, incentive pay, banking benefits, a benefits program*, defined benefit pension plan*, an employee share purchase plan, a vacation offering, wellbeing support, and MomentMakers, our social, points-based recognition program.
• Our spaces and technological toolkit will make it simple to bring together great minds to create innovative solutions that make a difference for our clients.
• We cultivate a culture where you can express your ambition through initiatives like Purpose Day; a paid day off dedicated for you to use to invest in your growth and development.
• Subject to plan and program terms and conditions

What You Need To Know

• CIBC is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all team members and clients feel like they belong. We seek applicants with a wide range of abilities and we provide an accessible candidate experience. If you need accommodation, please contact [e-mail]
• CIBC is committed to clarity in our hiring process. All roles posted are opportunities we’re actively recruiting for, unless stated otherwise.
• You need to be legally eligible to work at the location(s) specified above and, where applicable, must have a valid work or study permit.
• We may ask you to complete an attribute-based assessment and other skills test (such as simulation, coding, French proficiency).
• We use artificial intelligence tools during the recruitment process. Our goal for the application process is to get to know more about you, all that you have to offer, and give you the opportunity to learn more about us.

Job Location

Toronto-81 Bay, 16th Floor

Employment Type

Regular

Weekly Hours

37.5

Skills

Analytical Thinking, Creativity, Data Analysis, Deliverables Management, Group Problem Solving, Human-Centered Design, Innovation, Project Management, User Experience (UX)