Director of Product Design, UX Foundations

Etsy, Inc.; Town of Ithaca (NY); Hybrid; USD 228,000 - 296,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Director of Design for User Experience Foundations to elevate their marketplace experience. In this pivotal role, you will lead a talented team of designers, establish quality standards, and drive the strategic direction of the design system. Your work will directly impact millions of buyers and sellers, ensuring a user-centered approach that aligns with the company's values. If you are passionate about design excellence and fostering innovation, this opportunity offers a chance to shape the future of a dynamic marketplace with a commitment to keeping commerce human.

Benefits

Equity package

Annual performance bonus

Competitive benefits

Flexible work modes

Qualifications

• 12+ years of product design experience with a strong portfolio.
• 5+ years in a leadership role managing and mentoring designers.

Responsibilities

• Define the vision for Etsy's marketplace user experience.
• Lead and mentor a team of designers focused on design systems.
• Establish design quality standards across the organization.

Skills

Product Design

User-Centered Design

Leadership

Design Systems

Communication Skills

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Design or related field

Job description

Company Description
Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. We build, power, and evolve the tools and technologies that connect millions of entrepreneurs with millions of buyers around the world. As an Etsy Inc. employee, whether a team member of Etsy, Reverb, or Depop, you will tackle unique, meaningful, and large-scale problems alongside passionate coworkers, all the while making a rewarding impact and Keeping Commerce Human.

Salary Range:
$228,000.00 - $296,000.00

What’s the role?

As Etsy's marketplace continues to evolve, we need a cohesive design vision that elevates our user experience across all touchpoints. The Senior Director of Design for User Experience Foundations will play a pivotal role in defining and elevating the Etsy marketplace experience, establishing quality standards, and fostering a culture of design excellence.

The Director of Design, User Experience Foundations will lead our design systems team and foundation designers who collectively define the Etsy marketplace experience. Reporting to the VP of Design, this role will be responsible for upleveling the quality bar across the entire design organization while ensuring a consistent, intuitive, and delightful user experience.

You'll oversee the development and evolution of our design system, establish design quality standards, and build a foundation that enables all product teams to create cohesive experiences aligned with Etsy's brand and values.

This is a full-time position reporting to the VP of Design. In addition to salary, you will also be eligible for an equity package, an annual performance bonus, and our competitive benefits that support you and your family as part of your total rewards package at Etsy.

For this role, we are considering candidates based in the United States. Candidates living within commutable distance of Etsy’s Brooklyn Office Hub or in the San Francisco Bay Area may be the first to be considered. For candidates within commutable distance, Etsy requires in-office attendance once or twice per week depending on your proximity to the office. Etsy offers different work modes to meet the variety of needs and preferences of our team.

What’s this team like at Etsy?

As the Director of Design for User Experience Foundations, you'll shape how millions of buyers and sellers experience Etsy. Your work will establish the design foundation that enables our marketplace to grow while maintaining the unique, human-centered experience that defines Etsy. You'll build and nurture a team of exceptional designers who create the systems and components that power our platform's user experience, directly contributing to Etsy's mission of keeping commerce human.

What does the day-to-day look like?

• Help us define the vision of the look, feel and voice of Etsy’s marketplace
• Partner with product, engineering, and marketing leadership to align on a unified vision for the Etsy marketplace experience
• Lead and mentor a team of designers focused on design systems and foundational user experience components
• Define and champion Etsy's design quality standards across the organization
• Drive the strategic direction for Etsy's design system, ensuring it supports both immediate needs and long-term vision
• Foster a culture of design excellence, craftsmanship, and innovation
• Establish processes and workflows that enhance cross-functional collaboration and design efficiency
• Advocate for user-centered design methodologies and accessibility best practices
• Represent design in executive-level discussions, articulating the value and impact of design decisions
• Build and nurture a diverse team of design talent through thoughtful hiring, development, and retention strategies

Qualities that will help you thrive in this role are:

• 12+ years of experience in product design, with a strong portfolio showcasing high crafted experiences
• 5+ years of experience in a leadership role, managing and mentoring designers
• Proven track record of building and scaling design systems for complex digital products
• Experience leading design teams at a marketplace, e-commerce, or consumer technology company
• Strong understanding of user-centered design principles, methodologies, and best practices
• Demonstrated ability to balance business goals with user needs and technical constraints
• Experience partnering effectively with product, engineering, and marketing teams
• History of successful strategic leadership and organizational influence
• Exceptional communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and their impact

Additional Information

What's Next
If you're interested in joining the team at Etsy, please share your resume with us and feel free to include a cover letter if you'd like. As we hope you've seen already, Etsy is a place that values individuality and variety. We don't want you to be like everyone else -- we want you to be like you! So tell us what you're all about.

Our Promise
At Etsy, we believe that a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace furthers relevance, resilience, and longevity. We encourage people from all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and experiences to apply. Etsy is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If, due to a disability, you need an accommodation during any part of the application or interview process, please let your recruiter know. While Etsy supports visa sponsorship, sponsorship opportunities may be limited to certain roles and skills.