VP of Design

Cleo; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fintech startup in the UK is seeking a VP of Design to oversee the vision and leadership of the design team. The role involves managing a diverse team, shaping design strategy, and driving cross-functional collaboration. Ideal candidates will have over 8 years of leadership experience in design. This position offers a competitive compensation package and benefits, including flexibility in work arrangements.

Benefits

Competitive salary with equity

25 days annual leave plus public holidays

Flexible work arrangements

Online mental health support via Spill

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in design leadership roles.
• Proven ability to operate at the executive level.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary design organizations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a multidisciplinary design team of over 50 designers.
• Define and drive the long-term vision for design at Cleo.
• Champion design craft and ensure quality and consistency across all touchpoints.

Job description

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About Cleo

At Cleo, we're not just building another fintech app. We're embarking on a mission to fundamentally change humanity's relationship with money. Imagine a world where everyone, regardless of background or income, has access to a hyper-intelligent financial advisor in their pocket. That's the future we're creating.

About The Company

About Cleo

At Cleo, we're not just building another fintech app. We're embarking on a mission to fundamentally change humanity's relationship with money. Imagine a world where everyone, regardless of background or income, has access to a hyper-intelligent financial advisor in their pocket. That's the future we're creating.

Cleo is a rare success story: a profitable, fast-growing unicorn with over $200 million in ARR and growing over 2x year-over-year. This isn't just a job; it's a chance to join a team of brilliant, driven individuals who are passionate about making a real difference. We have an exceptionally high bar for talent, seeking individuals who are not only at the top of their field but also embody our culture of collaboration and positive impact.

If you’re driven by complex challenges that push your expertise, the chance to shape something truly transformative, and the potential to share in Cleo’s success as we scale, while growing alongside a company that’s scaling fast, this might be your perfect fit.

Follow us on LinkedIn to keep up to date with new product features and insights from the team.

About The Role

As VP of Design, you'll be responsible for the vision, craft, and leadership of Cleo’s design org. You’ll own the full design function across product, research, content, and brand - bringing cohesion and strategic direction to how Cleo shows up in the world. You’ll be a key voice in the company’s executive team, driving cross-functional alignment and ensuring design is not just represented but leading.

Key Responsibilities

• Org Leadership: Lead, inspire, and manage a multidisciplinary design team of over 50 designers and researchers
• Strategic Vision: Define and drive the long-term vision for design at Cleo-ensuring a unified, high-quality user experience across product and brand.
• Design Excellence: Champion design craft and ensure quality and consistency across all user touchpoints, from our core product to marketing campaigns and brand identity.
• Executive Partnering: Collaborate closely with product, engineering, data, marketing, and customer teams to shape company strategy and deliver business impact.
• Team Development: Attract, retain, and grow exceptional talent. Develop leaders within the org and build a culture of continuous learning, experimentation, and feedback.
• Design Operations: Scale systems, rituals, and tooling to support a high-performing, fast-moving design team as the company grows.
• Voice of the User: Ensure user research and insights play a central role in product and business decisions.
  
  

What We’re Looking For

• 8+ years of experience in design leadership roles, with a track record of building and scaling large, diverse, and high-performing design teams.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary design orgs including product design, research, content, and brand.
• Proven ability to operate at the executive level-partnering with C-level peers and influencing company strategy.
• Strong creative and product instincts with a passion for user experience and storytelling.
• Experience managing managers and coaching senior design leaders.
• Comfortable in fast-paced, high-growth environments and able to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution when needed.
  
  

What do you get for all your hard work?

• A competitive compensation package (base + equity) with bi-annual reviews, aligned to our quarterly OKR planning cycles. You can view our public progression framework and salary bandings here: https://cleo-ai.progressionapp.com/
• Work at one of the fastest-growing tech startups, backed by top VC firms, Balderton & EQT Ventures
• A clear progression plan. We want you to keep growing. That means trying new things, leading others, challenging the status quo and owning your impact. Always with our complete support.
• Flexibility. We can’t fight for the world’s financial health if we’re not healthy ourselves. We work with everyone to make sure they have the balance they need to do their best work
• Work where you work best. We’re a globally distributed team. If you live in London we have a hybrid approach, we’d love you to spend one day a week or more in our beautiful office. If you’re outside of London, we’ll encourage you to spend a couple of days with us a few times per year. And we’ll cover your travel costs, naturally.
  
  

Other Benefits

• Company-wide performance reviews every 6 months
• Generous pay increases for high-performing team members
• Equity top-ups for team members getting promoted
• 25 days annual leave a year + public holidays (+ an additional day for every year you spend at Cleo, up to 30 days)
• 6% employer-matched pension in the UK
• Private Medical Insurance via Vitality, dental cover, and life assurance
• Enhanced parental leave
• 1 month paid sabbatical after 4 years at Cleo
• Regular socials and activities, online and in-person
• We'll pay for your OpenAI subscription
• Online mental health support via Spill
• Workplace Nursery Scheme
• And many more!
  
  

Welcoming Everyone

We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, parents, carers, and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

If there’s anything we can do to accommodate your specific situation, please let us know.

Download the Test Flight

App access for people in the UK & Europe: If you are an iOS user, please use this link to sign up to our TestFlight version of the app, so you can have a play around with the functionality and features: https://testflight.apple.com/join/fDG9hWng

By submitting this application, I confirm that all the information given by me in this application for employment and any additional documents attached hereto are true to the best of my knowledge and that I have not wilfully suppressed any material fact. I confirm I have disclosed if applicable any previous employment with CLEO. I accept that if any of the information given by me in this application is in any way false or incorrect, my application may be rejected, any offer of employment may be withdrawn or my employment with CLEO may be terminated summarily or I may be dismissed. By submitting this application, I agree that my personal data will be processed in accordance with CLEO's Candidate Privacy Notice

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Not Applicable

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Product Management and Marketing

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