Head of Product Design

Piano; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Piano is seeking a Head of Product Design to lead a team of eight designers across Piano Analytics, Subscriptions, Audiences and Activation. You will own design strategy, develop capabilities, and elevate design as a strategic driver of business outcomes.

You’ll shape vision, coach talent, and partner with product and engineering to redefine our product portfolio and drive growth. This role combines leadership with hands-on design influence in a fast-paced, AI-enabled environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years leading design teams in B2B SaaS or similar environments.
• Genuine hands-on proficiency with AI design tools (not just theory).
• Proven ability to mentor designers and build high-performing teams.
• Experience defining design processes, systems, and standards at organizational scale.
• Strong communication and executive presence.
• Comfort balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution.

Responsibilities

• Define design vision and direction across our product portfolio.
• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing design team.
• Establish design standards, practices, and systems that scale.
• Be the strategic design voice in executive conversations (board, leadership, customers).
• Partner closely with product and engineering on product strategy.
• Lead design work on major strategic initiatives and new innovations.
• Drive how AI tools and processes reshape our design workflow and quality.
• Lead strategic design communications (investor pitches, market positioning, executive storytelling).
• Work on complex B2B SaaS challenges and help the team navigate them.
• Be present on key decisions where design shapes business outcomes.
• Create a coaching culture where designers have clear goals and development support.
• Manage performance and resolve team dynamics constructively.
• Attract, develop, and retain excellent talent.

Skills

Leadership

Design leadership

Mentoring

Executive presence

Strategic thinking

Hands-on design

AI design tools

Communication

SAFe experience

Job description

About Piano

Piano is a behavioral intelligence and monetization platform trusted by leading companies across media, e-commerce, financial services, and beyond. We help organizations understand their audiences and grow revenue through data and personalization.

We're looking for a Head of Product Design who can lead our design function through this transformation. This means building design leadership and team capabilities, fostering cross-functional collaboration, enabling adoption of new practices, and positioning design as a strategic function that directly impacts business outcomes.

You’ll lead a team of 8 designers across our product portfolio (Piano Analytics, Subscriptions, Audiences, Activation). You’ll own team development, design strategy, and design culture. You’ll define what design excellence looks like at Piano, set expectations across the organization, and sponsor how design evolves to meet new market demands.

What You'll Own

Design Leadership & Strategy

• Define design vision and direction across our product portfolio

• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing design team

• Establish design standards, practices, and systems that scale

• Be the strategic design voice in executive conversations (board, leadership, customers)

• Partner closely with product and engineering on product strategy

Hands-On Design & Innovation

• Lead design work on major strategic initiatives and new innovations

• Drive how AI tools and processes reshape our design workflow and quality

• Lead strategic design communications (investor pitches, market positioning, executive storytelling)

• Work on complex B2B SaaS challenges and help the team navigate them

• Be present on key decisions where design shapes business outcomes

Organization & Culture

• Create a coaching culture where designers have clear goals and development support

• Manage performance and resolve team dynamics constructively

• Attract, develop, and retain excellent talent

Why This Matters

Product and Engineering output is accelerating. Design needs to scale with it. You'll:

• Scale design output: Use AI tools to help designers deliver significantly more work without scaling the headcount

• Grow the team's impact: Establish design as essential to product strategy and business outcomes

• Shape culture: Build a design organization that develops talent and fosters excellence

• Lead strategically: Be the design voice on product direction, board-level conversations, and competitive differentiation

What You Bring

Essential

• 5+ years leading design teams in B2B SaaS or similar environments

• Genuine hands-on proficiency with AI design tools (not just theory)

• Proven ability to mentor designers and build high-performing teams

• Experience defining design processes, systems, and standards at organizational scale

• Strong communication and executive presence

• Comfort balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution

Highly Valued

• Background in data-heavy and/or personalization products

• Track record of improving team output and quality within constraints

• Experience working with leadership teams on product strategy and business outcomes

• Experience working in agile development practices (SAFe experience a strong plus)