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Piano is a behavioral intelligence and monetization platform trusted by leading companies across media, e-commerce, financial services, and beyond. The company helps organizations understand their audiences and grow revenue through data and personalization.
You will lead Piano's design function through a critical transformation phase. This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on design work. You'll lead a team of 8 designers across the product portfolio (Piano Analytics, Subscriptions, Audiences, Activation), owning team development, design strategy, and design culture.
Key responsibilities include:
**Design Leadership & Strategy**
- Define design vision and direction across the product portfolio
- Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing design team
- Establish design standards, practices, and systems that scale
- Serve as the strategic design voice in executive conversations (board, leadership, customers)
- Partner closely with product and engineering on product strategy
**Hands-On Design & Innovation**
- Lead design work on major strategic initiatives and new innovations
- Drive how AI tools and processes reshape design workflow and quality
- Lead strategic design communications (investor pitches, market positioning, executive storytelling)
- Work on complex B2B SaaS challenges and guide the team through them
- Be present on key decisions where design shapes business outcomes
**Organization & Culture**
- Create a coaching culture where designers have clear goals and development support
- Manage performance and resolve team dynamics constructively
- Attract, develop, and retain excellent talent
The role focuses on scaling design output using AI tools to help designers deliver significantly more work without proportional headcount growth, establishing design as essential to product strategy and business outcomes, building a design organization that develops talent and fosters excellence, and leading strategically on product direction and competitive differentiation.
**Requirements**
Essential:
- 5+ years leading design teams in B2B SaaS or similar environments
- Genuine hands-on proficiency with AI design tools (not just theory)
- Proven ability to mentor designers and build high-performing teams
- Experience defining design processes, systems, and standards at organizational scale
- Strong communication and executive presence
- Comfort balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution
Highly Valued:
- Background in data-heavy and/or personalization products
- Track record of improving team output and quality within constraints
- Experience working with leadership teams on product strategy and business outcomes
- Experience working in agile development practices (SAFe experience a strong plus)
