The role leads the strategy and maturation of FranConnect's design organization, aligning product pillars and mentoring designers across teams. This is an onsite position based in Herndon, VA.
Responsibilities
- Strategically shape and safeguard the Product Design team's vision, guiding the design strategy and roadmap across the organization.
- Build an AI native design practice, integrating AI across discovery, prototyping, and delivery to accelerate iteration and scale impact across squads.
- Mentor and develop a team of skilled Product Designers to achieve excellence.
- Champion collaboration and innovation within the design team, improving workflow integration throughout the organization.
- Govern the development of a comprehensive design system, establishing scalable and uniform design principles.
- Monitor and adopt cutting edge design trends, tools, and methodologies to affirm FranConnect's leadership in design.
- Forge meaningful connections with key stakeholders, leveraging customer and partner insights to refine product design.
- Harness data and insights to shape and align the product roadmap with business objectives.
- Collaborate with engineering leadership to envision, design, and deliver user centered products that deliver value.
- Excel in a dynamic and adaptive work setting, tackling design challenges across a diverse product portfolio.
- Engage with Customer Success and Go-to-Market teams, incorporating feedback to meet and exceed design requirements.
- Attract, nurture, and retain a high-caliber team, fostering a culture of performance and innovation.
- Balance visionary thinking with meticulous attention to detail.
- Advocate for product design throughout the organization and with customers.
- Receive constructive feedback to iterate and improve the product.
- Perform other duties as assigned to drive the product and teams forward.
Requirements
- Experience working in B2B SaaS is required.
- Demonstrated experience applying AI tools to the design process and building or scaling a design system that unifies experience across a multi-product platform to enable squads to execute effectively.
- 7+ years of hands-on experience as a Product Designer or in a similar design role.
- 5+ years of proven leadership experience, specifically as a Design Director or Manager is a plus.
- Experience at a high-growth SaaS/tech company with a complex, multi-modular product stack is required.
- A strong portfolio of work you have led, designed, and shipped.
- Strong business insight and judgment with a team-first, collaborative and inclusive working style.
- Excellent verbal, written and presentation communication skills, able to convey sophisticated technical issues effectively to executives and stakeholders.
- Professional stature and gravitas to collaborate with and influence executives, leaders, and team members with credibility and confidence.
- High professional standards and expectations for self and others.
- Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science or an equivalent degree or combination of education and applicable work experience.
About FranConnect
FranConnect is a leading franchise and multi-unit management software provider. For 20 years, the FranConnect platform has served as the sales, operations, and marketing backbone for more than 1,500 brands worldwide. FranConnect serves customers across sizes, growth phases, and industries, enabling them to drive growth and operational performance.
Why Join Us
FranConnect prioritizes culture, collaboration, and continuous learning. The team is passionate, transparent, and driven by a shared mission to empower franchise and multi-location businesses with the tools they need to thrive. The company fosters an environment where employee growth and well-being are valued, and where every voice is heard and ideas are welcomed.
About the Role
As the Director of Product Design, you will shape the future of franchise management by driving new initiatives and setting a high standard for excellence across the design organization. You will collaborate with a multidisciplinary leadership group and work to mature the Design Organization, coordinating designers across product pillars to align the broader company product suite. You will also mentor designers across teams to foster growth and impact.
