Experience Design Director

Building a design capability from the ground up isn’t for everyone. But for the right person, it’s a rare opportunity to truly make your mark.

This is a chance to shape products, services, ways of working, and a growing team while also defining and embedding AI-powered experience design into everything this studio does.

We’re looking for a strategic, hands-on leader who thrives in ambiguity, loves to build, and is ready to take ownership of a transformative design function within a fast-growing agency.

This is more than an agency leadership role.

It’s a chance to lead in AI-driven experience design, win exciting new clients, and carve out your own space in the industry.

About the client:

They\’re a technology and transformation consultancy that helps businesses rethink, innovate, and grow. They partner with clients to build AI-powered digital experiences, craft new business models, and develop cutting-edge products and services.

As they continue to expand, they’re looking for someone to establish and grow their Experience Design capability, embedding AI, human-centered design, and future-forward thinking into everything they do.

About the role:

As Experience Design Director, you’ll build and lead the design practice from the ground up. You’ll define how design drives innovation, work with clients to shape new digital experiences, and develop a high-performing team.

You’ll be at the forefront of AI-driven design, embedding intelligent experiences across their work and helping businesses unlock the full potential of emerging technology.

This is a role for someone who wants to shape, not inherit.

You’ll create new ways of working, set the vision for design, and play a key role in winning and delivering major client engagements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build and lead the Experience Design function, setting the vision and strategy for design.
• Embed AI and emerging technology into design processes to create innovative, intelligent experiences.
• Develop and scale a high-performing team, hiring and mentoring exceptional design talent.
• Define and implement new ways of working, ensuring design is at the heart of how they build products and services.
• Partner with clients to shape digital experiences that drive business growth.
• Work closely with leadership to position as a leader in AI-driven design.
• Play a key role in winning new business, shaping proposals and pitches to demonstrate the value of experience design.

Is This You?

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has built and led design teams in an agency or consultancy setting.
• Is comfortable operating at both strategic and hands-on levels.
• Has a strong interest in AI and its role in experience design.
• Can win the trust of clients and shape large-scale design engagements.
• Is a natural leader, mentor, and coach who can inspire and grow a team.
• Has experience working across product, service, and digital experience design.
• Thrives in ambiguity and sees the unknown as an opportunity, not a problem.

What you\’ll want to know:

• Salary circa £110,000 + Benefits
• Office based in Manchester (ideally 3 Days/week on-site)

Interview process:

Stage 1: Meet the Founder – A conversation to understand your vision for Experience Design and theirs for the studio and whether they align.

Stage 2: Meet the Team – An opportunity to discuss ways of working, collaboration, dive deeper on design expertise and your approach to leadership.

Interested in learning more? Hit Apply Now!