Head of Product Design

About the position

The New York Times is seeking a Head of Product Design to shape the future of the company and define the next chapter of its subscription strategy through extraordinary design and user experience. This role will work at the intersection of design, editorial thinking, and technology, uniting teams around a shared design vision and transforming bold ideas into tangible experiences. The Head of Product Design will orchestrate design work that drives innovation across various lifestyle products and develop tools that empower the newsroom to deliver world-class journalism. The position aims to amplify design as a catalyst for innovation, enhancing user experience while maintaining the trust and editorial excellence that distinguish The Times.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate exceptional taste and craft in design execution, setting a high bar that inspires across the organization.
• Partner with newsroom leadership and cross-functional peers to develop and execute a compelling vision for The Times' end-to-end experience.
• Drive excellence in user experience across the organization, leveraging customer obsession as a core value and competitive advantage.
• Strengthen The Times' distinctive brand through Product Design decisions that increase user trust and reinforce the unique value we provide.
• Champion design thinking methodology and a prototyping culture that leads teams to create experiences that can be effectively tested.
• Participate in The Times' cross-functional product development leadership team, helping to set the strategy for the product and leading Design's role in execution.
• Exercise strong design judgment while building consensus, incorporating diverse perspectives into a cohesive vision that inspires teams and drives results.
• Position Design as an equal partner to Product, Engineering, Data, and Marketing, cultivating relationships and establishing collaborative processes that drive innovation and excellence across our digital experiences.
• Advocate for Design not just as a function, but as a way of thinking that elevates how we work across The Times.
• Serve as a leader on the NYT Design Council pushing creative boundaries across the organization.
• Build and lead a world-class Product Design team through strategic hiring and retention.
• Establish and maintain high standards for design quality across various design disciplines.
• Create and refine scalable design processes and systems that improve team efficiency and drive craftsmanship, innovation, and design excellence.
• Guide design evolution with a focus on the future and emerging technologies like AI.
• Coordinate and cohere Product Design efforts with other internal design teams.

Requirements

• 15+ years of experience in digital design and user experience with a demonstrated understanding of contemporary best practices.
• 10+ years of experience leading design for consumer product experiences or premium subscription products.
• Proven ability to develop long-term product vision that serves as a 'north star' for product teams.
• Experience establishing and maintaining clear product design standards and practices.
• Experience incorporating User Research as part of the Design process.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience building and leading large product design teams at scale.
• Experience navigating complex organizations and building relationships with key stakeholders.
• Proven success in cross-functional collaboration with product management, engineering, editorial, and marketing teams.
• Media and/or editorial product design experience with a deep understanding of editorial processes.
• Exceptional taste and proven ability to serve as a design tastemaker and industry influencer.

Benefits

• $300,000-$350,000 USD annual base pay range.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workforce.
• Equal Opportunity Employer status.