Design Manager, Money Canvas

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Lead and manage a cross-functional design team of product designers, UX writers, UX researcher and other required design specialists as needed. Be able to effectively manage people and drive multiple related product areas. 
• Develop processes and approaches for tackling design problems, using known methods and anticipating challenges. Facilitation to engage cross-functional teams. 
• Realize the power of problem-framing, establishing new starting points that lead to quality solutions. Lead the solution of undefined problem spaces, taking a holistic product experience point of view. 
• Communicate design rationale effectively using storytelling techniques, building trust with partners and stakeholders. Comfortably communicate at all levels of the organization, demonstrating confidence. 
• Free resources to drive change by systematically cutting low-return activities. Use understanding of impact and success metrics to focus and reprioritize efforts. 
• Collaborate with cross-functional peers, both downward and across the organization, ensuring alignment and fostering long-term relationships. 
• Recruits, develops, and sustains a high-performing team while promoting a culture of shared accountability, operational excellence, and partnership across the organization. 
• Supports and/or develops an environment in which Thrivent employees and colleagues are focused on continuous improvement, exceptional employee engagement, and an unwavering commitment to our clients.  Shapes and/or supports a culture that represents the Thrivent purpose, promise and values, ensuring that Thrivent’s trust and reputation remain strong with its clients.    

This role will interact with:  

• Cross-functional design team (direct supervision and management) 
• Cross-functional product peers (collaboration) 
• Cross-functional organizational stakeholders (collaboration, presentations) 
• Product, Design, and Engineering Directors (presentations) 
• Product, Design, and Engineering VPs (presentations) 

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:   

 Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Interaction Design, UI/UX Design, Web Product Design, Web Development or any combination of education and experience which would provide an equivalent background  

• 8+ years of experience in a related field, with at least 5 years of experience in user experience, interaction design, product design and research in a product development team required and with at least 3 years with managerial experience.  

• Proven experience in navigating and collaborating with different areas of the enterprise, including Engineering, Product and Business owners, to help prioritize work and identify high impact opportunities for the experience  

• Ability to motivate, inspire and organize a team of 5-8 designers and researcher to deliver goals outlined for the portfolio of products the manager oversees. 

• Manage a team like a business owner making tradeoff and prioritization decisions around how to allocate team members (skill sets and quantity) to meet the goals of the portfolio and products within. 

• Excellent communication and persuasion skills, with the ability to build trust and establish long-term relationships. 

• Understanding of impact and success metrics for any given product to focus and reprioritize design efforts to ensure the greatest impact possible. 

• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional peers and drive change within the organization. 

• Experience in talent management; including experience in recruiting, hiring, and professional development. 

• Strategic mindset with the ability to develop processes and approaches for tackling design problems. 

• Experience working with design systems and agile practices within a product team model. 

Preferred:   

• Strategic design thinking and the ability to contribute to the overall design strategy of the organization.  

• Knowledge and experience working in financial services, ideally wealth management.