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We at Selecto are looking for a Design Director who will take ownership of our design practice — developing the team, setting the creative direction, and working hand in hand with the CEO to drive presales and expand the business.
What we expect: * Strong experience in agency/outsource design (5+ years); product background is a plus * Leadership track record (2+ years as design lead/art director in an agency or outsource environment) * Strategic mindset: seeing design as a business growth tool * Proven experience working with international clients and fluent English at C1 level or above.
Selecto works with startups and enterprises in fintech, healthcare, and other innovation-driven sectors across Dubai and the US. If you want to shape products that matter and build design as a true business partner — let’s talk!
Requirements:
A strong candidate should think not as a “head designer” but as a business partner.
Hard skills * Experience in creating digital products (web, mobile) * Proficiency in modern UX research methodologies (user research planning, CJM, JTBD, discovery, usability testing) * Experience in building design systems and guidelines * Ability to work with data: analytics, design metrics, A/B testing * Advanced Figma proficiency * Fluency in AI design tools and techniques (automation, design generation, context management)
Soft skills * Leadership & mentorship: ability to grow designers into strong specialists * Strategic thinking: seeing design as a business growth tool * Strong communication: explaining design value to clients and team * Ability to make tough decisions and maintain quality under pressure * Effective stakeholder management * Design workshops facilitation * Fluent English
Experience * 5+ years in agency/outsource design * 2+ years in a design lead, art director, or similar leadership role * Proven track record working with international clients
Responsibilities:
Team Leadership * Hiring and developing designers (mentorship, growth plans, promotion & recognition), resource allocation, and cultivating company values within the team * Team coaching and knowledge sharing * Mentorship, leadership development within the team * Keeping methodologies, approaches, and tools up to date for designers’ work
Operational * Quality control of all Selecto projects, especially key clients * Collaboration with clients at critical or strategic project stages (discovery, strategy, workshops) * Leading critical negotiations with clients as the face of the company’s design * Setting up and documenting design workflows for each new project, including task stages, review checkpoints, and escalation to Design Director
Hands-On * Launching new projects, conducting design discovery when necessary * Readiness to step into project delivery and support the team when needed
Business & Communication * Supporting our CEO in shaping the company brand * Supporting our Sales in demonstrating design value to potential leads and estimating new projects
