Head of Design

The Head of Design at Bilue blends strategic direction with a hands-on approach to design, actively shaping both the team’s output and the company’s business growth. This role is expected to lead and elevate the design practice, while also contributing to business development by leveraging a passion for selling design services, and deliver design solutions that align with client goals and business needs.

Strong alignment with Bilue’s values of curiosity and helpfulness will also be essential, along with a leadership style that maximises the potential of Bilue’s design team and establishes a scalable culture of design innovation and quality. A collaborative environment that encourages learning, sharing, and professional development within the design team is a critical focus, with a strong emphasis on maintaining a client-focused approach to all projects.

Responsibilities

Design Strategy
The Head of Design must clearly define and articulate a design vision and strategy that aligns with Bilue’s commercial and team growth goals. Strong leadership skills are essential, including the ability to build a strong team culture, leading by example, and enabling others. Mentorship through regular 1:1’s and team meetings should be a priority to guide professional growth and development. The Head of Design should also be a strong listener with empathy, emotional intelligence, and a collaborative mindset, creating conditions for a diverse team to thrive. Additionally, they will be responsible for educating the team on building credibility with clients as trusted advisors, whilst avoiding micromanagement.

Engagement Leadership
The Head of Design is responsible for ensuring projects are set up for success and that practitioners have the necessary processes and direction to deliver outstanding results for clients. They should have a comprehensive understanding of technology and drive productive conversations with internal and external stakeholders. A collaborative mindset is essential, ensuring close teamwork between design, delivery and engineering to successfully ship products and maintain high quality.

Technical Leadership
The Head of Design is responsible for providing direction for their team by presenting informed views on cutting-edge design, technology, and trends. They encourage sharing and learning within the internal community and lead by example by actively showcasing ‘tinker’ projects or presentations in alignment with Bilue’s company value of ‘No cure for curiosity’. Significant experience as a practising designer across mobile and web products (rather than marketing or advertising) is essential.

Business Growth
The Head of Design is required to support the sales team and other senior leaders in growing the business, both through expanding existing relationships and attracting and winning new business. They are responsible for providing subject matter expertise to progress client negotiations, developing design solutions and delivering compelling sales pitches. They will be expected to play a key role in discovery initiatives for both new and existing clients and to engage in some hands-on tasks, such as creating their own design artefacts. Additionally, the Head of Product Design should have commercial experience in estimating projects and defining design scope of work for agile delivery.

Requirements

Requirements

• Extensive experience in senior design leadership with a strong portfolio of successful projects, including native mobile applications and web-based solutions.
• Hands-on expertise in agile product design, with proficiency in the latest design tools, such as Figma, Miro, and other UI/UX software.
• Solid background in UX discovery, research, workshop facilitation, design methodologies, and setting up design operations systems that empower the team and create scalable impact.
• Proven track record in selling design services and managing commercial projects.
• Excellent communication skills, with a talent for storytelling in presentations and pitches.
• Skilled in defining and implementing scalable design systems and processes to enhance team performance.
• Adopts a player/coach leadership style, actively engaging in new business development and discovery work while mentoring the team.

About you

• A tenacious, collaborative, and passionate leader who thrives in a dynamic environment.
• Proven successful in effectively working in partnership across functions and practices, including Engineering, Delivery, Operations, People, and Sales.
• A trusted advisor with innovative ideas and a track record of turning concepts into reality.
• Adaptable to change, with a solution-oriented mindset.
• A confident communicator, able to engage with people from various backgrounds and varied seniority.
• Dedicated to building strong client relationships and scaling the design team for growth.

Additional information

Life at Bilue

Client-focused: We are dedicated to delivering exceptional value to our clients while supporting each other to achieve collective success.

Flexible work: We offer 1-2 days per week in the office, balancing flexibility with the expectation that you'll go the extra mile for our clients when needed.

In-house coaching: We prioritise personal and professional growth, emphasising continuous learning and up-skilling.

Annual events: We organise annual events to foster in-person connection and team collaboration.

Flat structure: We operate with a flat structure, where our casual, approachable executive leadership team (ELT) ensures everyone’s voice is heard.

Internal communities: We build and nurture internal communities for knowledge sharing and collaboration, keeping everyone connected and informed.

Bilue = Big + Blue Ocean. Are you ready to set sail? Apply now!

NB. This is a full-time position based in Sydney. To be considered, candidates must have unrestricted working rights in Australia.