Senior Manager, Product Designer

Senior Manager, Product Designer

Full-Time 117900 - 131300 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Runna Coach

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead design for our iOS, Android, and Apple Watch apps while mentoring a talented team.
  • Company: Join a fast-growing training platform for runners, recently acquired by Strava.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, health insurance, and wellness support.
  • Other info: Exciting opportunity to work closely with users and make a real impact.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of running training with a passionate team and innovative technology.
  • Qualifications: Experience in design leadership and hands-on contributions, with a strong UX background.

The predicted salary is between 117900 - 131300 £ per year.

We're putting together a talented team to build the #1 training platform for Runners. We help everyday runners become outstanding by building an incredible app providing world‑class training, coaching and community for everyone, whether you're improving your 5k time or training for your first marathon. We’re growing extremely fast! In November 2023 we closed a $6.5M funding round led by JamJar with participation from Eka Ventures, Venrex and Creator Ventures. In 2024, we were selected by Apple as one of three global finalists for the iPhone app of the year, reflecting the innovation and impact of what we’ve built and in 2025 we were acquired by Strava! Our ambition is huge: to become the go‑to global leading training platform for millions of runners everywhere. We’re growing with purpose and looking for people who want to build something meaningful with lasting impact.

The team you’ll join: You’ll join our Product and Engineering organisation at an exciting time of growth. Product Design at Runna is still lean, giving you plenty of ownership and space to help shape how we work. We’re building a world‑class team of ambitious and multidisciplinary designers who love creativity, craft and collaboration. With a close connection to our users, this is a great opportunity to work on a product loved by runners around the world. You’ll report to the Head of Product Design.

What You’ll Be Doing: We are looking for a hands‑on, talented and positive leader to join our highly-skilled team and lead designing our iOS, Android and Apple Watch apps. This position is at the core of our training engine, working closely with founders, running coaches, engineers, PMs and most importantly customers to help shape the future of Runna and running training.

  • Manage and support the growth of 2 product designers through regular coaching and clear feedback
  • Balance hands‑on design work with people leadership, contributing to the most important parts of your squad’s work
  • Lead the design strategy of the Train team who own all of our training, coaching and plans
  • Solve complex design problems with simplicity and beautiful interfaces
  • Prototype and use great storytelling to present the value of your ideas
  • Collaborate with the wider Strava team on shared experiences that go beyond the Runna app
  • Champion accessible design and set a high bar for quality and consistency

What You’ll Bring To The Team:

  • Lead/Manager experience with hands‑on design contribution
  • Previous experience managing at least 2 designers
  • A design generalist: you bring visual craft, accessibility considerations, great interactions and deep understanding of UX
  • Love speaking to users to understand their needs and solve problems effectively
  • Understand how to use quantitative data to solve design problems
  • Exceptional attention to detail that elevates designs to the next level (e.g. interaction, animations, haptics)
  • Advanced Figma & prototyping skills (always learning and open to new tools)
  • Comfortable taking initiative and collaborating in a fast‑paced, iterative environment

Bonus Points If You Have:

  • Worked with React Native teams before and understand its components and design implications
  • Experience with data visualisation
  • Experience designing for wearable devices
  • An interest or background in fitness, running or health

This role might not be for you if…

  • You haven’t led or supported other designers before
  • You want a mostly management role with little hands‑on design
  • You prefer staying high‑level rather than close to the craft

Salary And Benefits: We’re offering a salary of £117,900 - £131,300 per year, depending on experience, plus participation in Strava's long‑term incentive (stock) programs. We’re also committed to continually evolving our benefits to support you as we grow.

  • Flexible working – we typically spend 3 days a week together in our Vauxhall office
  • 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays
  • Free Runna & Strava subscriptions for you and 3 friends
  • Headspace membership
  • Money every year to spend on gear, events and the gym
  • Private health insurance with Bupa and workplace pension scheme
  • Modern Health is a mental wellness platform and app that combines technology with professional support to improve mental well‑being and reduce stress
  • Carrot fertility support – provides inclusive fertility, hormonal health, and family‑forming benefits to our global employee population

Our Interview Process:

  • Screening call with Josh, Talent Partner (~25 minutes video call)
  • Intro chat with Cleber, Head of Product Design (~30 minutes video call)
  • Take home design task (~2 hours to complete). For candidates with a strong portfolio and track record, we’re happy to swap the take-home task for a case study presentation
  • Design walkthrough and app critique (1 hour video call – presenting the design task above and doing a design critique on an app of your choice)
  • Meet the team (virtual or in‑person chat with founders and rest of the team)

Senior Manager, Product Designer employer: Runna Coach

At Runna, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, especially for those passionate about design and fitness. Our vibrant work culture fosters creativity and collaboration, allowing you to take ownership of your projects while working alongside a talented team dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the running community. With flexible working arrangements, generous benefits, and opportunities for personal and professional growth, joining us now means being part of an exciting journey as we strive to become the leading training platform for runners worldwide.

Runna Coach

Contact Details:

Runna Coach Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Manager, Product Designer

Show Off Your Portfolio

In the world of UX/UI design, your portfolio speaks volumes! Make sure it's packed with your best work and showcases your process, not just the final product. We want to see how you tackle design challenges, so consider adding case studies that reflect your thought process and user-centric approach.

Get Involved in Design Communities

Jump into local or online design meetups and workshops! Places like UXPA or local design events can be goldmines for networking and learning. Plus, mingling with fellow designers can introduce you to potential job openings that might not be listed elsewhere.

Tailor Your Applications

When you find a role that excites you, like the one at Runna Coach for a Senior Manager, Product Designer, make your application count! Highlight specific projects and skills that directly relate to the job description. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who fit into their specific team, so show them you’re the one!

Leverage Social Media

Don't underestimate the power of social media in finding a UX/UI design job! Follow design leaders on platforms like Twitter or Instagram, share your work, and engage in conversations. It’s a great way to get noticed by recruiters and even catch wind of openings at companies like Runna Coach before they go live!

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Manager, Product Designer

Hands-on Design Leadership
Team Management
Visual Design Craft
User Experience (UX) Understanding
Prototyping Skills
Advanced Figma Skills
Accessibility Design

Some tips for your application 🫡

Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Senior Manager, Product Designer at Runna Coach, make sure to include examples that clearly highlight your design process. We want to see not just the final product but also the journey that led you there—wireframes, user personas, and iterations demonstrate your thought process and user-centric approach!

Tailor Your Portfolio:A tailor-made portfolio is crucial for a full-time design role! Curate your best projects that align with the kind of work Runna Coach does. We suggest including 3-5 case studies that showcase a variety of skills such as wireframing, prototyping, and user testing to really make your application pop.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should not just be a summary of your CV. Use it to express why you’re excited about UX/UI Design and what draws you specifically to Runna Coach. Mention any relevant experience, tools you’re proficient in (like Sketch or Figma), and how you can contribute to their projects.

Highlight Collaboration Skills:In the world of UX/UI Design, teamwork is crucial. Make sure to highlight any past experiences where you worked in cross-functional teams. Illustrate how you communicated design decisions and listened to feedback, as this will resonate well with the culture at Runna Coach.

How to prepare for a job interview at Runna Coach

Show Off Your Portfolio

When you're gunning for a full-time UX/UI design role, your portfolio is your best friend! Make sure you've got a solid selection of your work, showcasing not just the final designs, but the process behind them—think wireframes, user flows, and any user research you've conducted. During the interview with Runna Coach, be prepared to discuss your design decisions and how they solve specific user problems.

Prepare for Design Challenges

Expect to face some practical design tasks during your interview. Runna Coach might ask you to tackle a quick design challenge or critique an existing interface. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and try to articulate your thought process as you work through these scenarios. Showing how you approach a design problem is just as important as the final output!

Know the Tools of the Trade

Familiarise yourself with the tools commonly used in the industry—figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch should be second nature to you. Be ready to discuss your preferred tools during the interview and how they've shaped your design process at previous positions. This knowledge could give you an edge at Runna Coach!

Show Passion for User Experience

In a full-time UX/UI design role, having a genuine passion for improving user interactions can set you apart. Be prepared to share instances when you went above and beyond to ensure a great user experience in your previous projects. This will demonstrate that you’re not just a designer, but a user advocate, which is exactly what Runna Coach is looking for.