At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a talented design team to create user-friendly app experiences.
- Company: Skyscanner simplifies travel planning for millions worldwide.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, inclusive culture, and generous parental leave.
- Other info: Join a global brand committed to making travel accessible for all.
- Why this job: Shape the future of travel with a passionate, diverse team.
- Qualifications: 15+ years in product design with strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
About Skyscanner
Skyscanner is a global company that helps travelers quickly find flights, cars, and hotels.
About the role
This is a senior Product Design leadership role within our CX organization. You will own the product design direction for your area, shaping strategy, raising the quality bar, and developing the designers on your team.
You will be a key voice in the product triad—working closely with product and engineering counterparts to ensure design shapes decisions from the earliest stages. You will also partner with other design leaders across CX, including Content and Research, so that your area’s work fits coherently into the broader Skyscanner experience.
This is a role for someone who leads from the front: opinionated on craft, strong on coaching, and energized by the challenge of delivering great experiences at scale in a complex product environment.
What you’ll be doing
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Leading product design for your area: You will set the design direction for your part of the product—defining what good looks like, holding the quality bar, and ensuring your team’s work is consistently excellent and impactful.
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Operating with a company‑wide lens: This role carries scope beyond a single product area. You will bring a cross‑vertical perspective to design decisions, contributing to how design quality and consistency scales across Skyscanner as a whole.
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Driving product strategy through design: You will contribute to the product strategy for your area, helping shape what gets built and why—not just how it looks. You will bring a user perspective to the earliest conversations and advocate for decisions that create real value for travellers.
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Developing your team: You will lead, coach, and develop a team of designers, building a culture of craft, curiosity, and continuous improvement. You will help people grow in their careers and do the best work of their lives.
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Collaborating across disciplines: You will work closely with Product and Engineering leadership in your area, and build strong relationships across Product Design, Research and Content. You will also partner with Brand Design to ensure your work is coherent with wider design standards and language.
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Influencing without authority: You will represent design credibly at a senior level, aligning stakeholders around a shared direction and making the case for design investment when it matters.
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Measuring what matters: You will define success through meaningful outcomes—customer insights, business metrics, and design quality signals—and use those to continuously improve how your team works and what it delivers.
About you
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Experienced product design leader: You have built and led high‑performing design teams within complex digital product environments, and you know how to get the best from designers at every level.
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Strong product instincts: You understand how great design creates business value, and you are equally comfortable in strategic conversations as you are reviewing interaction details with your team.
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Technically confident: You understand how design decisions translate to implementation—front‑end technologies, component thinking, modern tooling—and that lets you partner effectively with engineering.
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AI‑curious and forward‑looking: You are interested in how AI is changing both the products we design and the way we design them, and you are building a point of view on both.
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Influential collaborator: You can navigate complex organisations, build trust with senior stakeholders, and communicate clearly across disciplines and seniority levels.
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People‑first leader: You care about developing talent, creating inclusive environments, and helping teams do the best work of their careers.
Legal and EEO Statement
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and are committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and our products are accessible to all. We are committed to ensuring our application and recruitment processes are inclusive and accessible to everyone. If you require any reasonable adjustments or accommodations for interviews, or wish to apply under the Disability Confident scheme, please let your recruiter know. If you would like more information on any of our policies, such as hybrid working or parental leave, our recruitment team can provide more information.
Director of Product Design employer: SkyScanner
At Skyscanner, we pride ourselves on fostering a vibrant and inclusive work culture that empowers our employees to innovate and grow. As a Director of Product Design, you'll lead a talented team in a hybrid environment, enjoying flexible working arrangements while contributing to a global brand dedicated to transforming travel planning. With a commitment to employee development, competitive parental leave policies, and a focus on user-centric design, Skyscanner offers a rewarding opportunity for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the tech industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Product Design
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Skyscanner's products and user experience. Understanding their app's design and functionality will help you articulate how your vision aligns with their goals during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former Skyscanner employees on platforms like LinkedIn. Engaging with them can provide insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be invaluable in interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you've successfully managed diverse teams in the past. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've fostered innovation and collaboration in your previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on the latest trends in mobile app design and user experience. Being able to speak knowledgeably about current best practices will demonstrate your expertise and passion for the field.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Product Design
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role:Before applying, make sure to thoroughly read the job description for the Director of Product Design role at Skyscanner. Understand the key responsibilities and required skills, so you can tailor your application accordingly.
Tailor Your CV:Customise your CV to highlight relevant experience in product design and leadership. Emphasise your 15+ years of experience, focusing on your achievements in leading diverse teams and delivering high-quality work.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for travel and design. Explain how your vision aligns with Skyscanner's goals and how you can contribute to their mission of becoming the world’s number one travel ally.
Showcase Your Design Expertise:Include a portfolio or links to previous work that demonstrate your design skills, particularly in mobile app design. Highlight projects where you led teams and drove user-centric outcomes, as this will resonate with Skyscanner's focus on user-first experiences.
How to prepare for a job interview at SkyScanner
✨Showcase Your Design Vision
As a Director of Product Design, it's crucial to articulate a compelling design strategy. Prepare to discuss your vision for the app experience at Skyscanner and how it aligns with their objectives. Use examples from your past work to illustrate your strategic thinking.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
You'll be leading a team of designers, so be ready to share your experiences in mentoring and growing teams. Highlight specific instances where you've fostered a culture of innovation and collaboration, and how you navigated challenges in team dynamics.
✨Emphasise User-Centric Thinking
Skyscanner values user-centric design, so prepare to discuss how you've championed this approach in your previous roles. Share examples of how you've run Design Thinking workshops or applied test-and-learn strategies to enhance user experiences.
✨Be Familiar with Tools and Technologies
Since the role requires fluency in tools like Figma and Framer, ensure you're comfortable discussing your experience with these technologies. Be prepared to explain how you've used data and research to inform your design decisions and improve product outcomes.