Head of Design

Kira Learning, Inc.; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Kira Learning is seeking a Head of Design to lead its design function across product and brand. This role involves shaping the user experience and visual identity while mentoring a high-performing team. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in product design and a passion for education and AI. Join a rapidly growing startup transforming the LMS space through innovative design.

Benefits

Flexible PTO

Paid parental leave

Top-notch medical, dental and vision coverage

Company 401(k) plan

Qualifications

• 8+ years of product/UX design experience, including 2 years leading teams.
• Portfolio showcasing end-to-end product thinking and elegant UX/UI.

Responsibilities

• Lead and evolve Kira’s design vision across product UI/UX.
• Build, mentor, and scale a team of product and visual designers.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional experiences.

Skills

Communication

Storytelling

Empathy

Job description

About Kira Learning

We live in a world where technology is rapidly changing the educational experiences of students and teachers everywhere, and we have the opportunity to shape how this change takes place. It is Kira Learning’s mission to harness transformative AI technologies to make world-class teaching and learning accessible to everyone.

Kira is a rapidly growing startup backed by top-tier Venture Capital funds including New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and Andrew Ng’s AI Fund.

About this Role

We're looking for a visionary Head of Design to lead Kira Learning’s design function across product and brand. You’ll join as a key member of our leadership team and play a defining role in shaping how learners and educators experience Kira - from our platform’s core UX to the visual identity that represents us in the world.

This is an opportunity to set the creative direction at a company transforming the $32B LMS space through AI. You will play a crucial role in shaping the design of the product, grow and mentor a high-performing team, and collaborate closely with product, engineering, and content to ship experiences that are simple, powerful, and human-centered.

As AI rapidly reshapes both the tools we use and the expectations of our users, you’ll be expected to embrace and adapt to this changing design landscape - leveraging new AI capabilities while maintaining clarity, usability, and trust in the user experience.

The ideal candidate combines hands-on design execution with strategic thinking, thrives in fast-moving environments, and brings deep empathy for users—especially educators and students.

Responsibilities & Duties

• Lead and evolve Kira’s design vision, from product UI/UX to visual identity
• Build, mentor, and scale a team of product and visual designers
• Establish design processes and standards that raise the bar for craft and usability
• Create high-impact designs yourself for core product experiences and new features
• Provide detailed, constructive design feedback to ensure high craft quality across the board
• Collaborate cross-functionally with product, engineering, content, and go-to-market teams to bring exceptional experiences to life
• Partner with stakeholders to ensure design is grounded in user insights and business goals
• Guide the evolution of our design system to support consistency and scalability
• Champion accessibility, inclusivity, and simplicity in everything we build

Experiences & Skills

• 8+ years of product/UX design experience, with at least 2 years leading design teams in high-growth environments
• A portfolio showcasing end-to-end product thinking, elegant UX/UI, and a high standard of craft
• Experience designing for web-based platforms and complex user journeys
• Exceptional communication and storytelling skills—you can align stakeholders and articulate design decisions clearly
• A track record of building and evolving design systems
• Comfort in ambiguity and a bias toward action; you thrive in fast-paced, scrappy environments
• Passion for education and a deep belief in the potential of AI to improve learning outcomes

$180,000 - $220,000 a year

Competitive salary ($180,000 - $220,000) and equity package in a well-funded, high growth company. Compensation is based on a number of relevant factors such as location, professional experience and related skill sets.

Flexible PTO

Paid parental leave

Top-notch medical, dental and vision coverage

Company 401(k) plan

Background Check: Kira Learning will make a conditional job offer in line with local, state and federal laws, and a subsequent criminal, education, and employment history background check will then be issued.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: At Kira Learning, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Kira believes that diversity and inclusion among our employees are critical to our success as a company, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. Selection for employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.