Director, Design

USAA

. Serves as a strategic partner by understanding business and technical models, processes, challenges, and performance metrics so that design efforts balance achieving end user goals with the goals of design's stakeholders.

Posted 5/16/2026full-timeSan Antonio • Colorado, North Carolina, Texas • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $164,780 - $314,960 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Serves as a strategic partner by understanding business and technical models, processes, challenges, and performance metrics so that design efforts balance achieving end user goals with the goals of design's stakeholders.
Champions the value of design and fosters a culture of empathy within the enterprise by building and maintaining trust-based relationships with executive and partner groups across the company.
Oversees the facilitation of cross-organizational, cross-functional understanding of business problems and is accountable for delivering design solutions that achieve program and project objectives.
Directs a creative review process to ensure coherency with design principles and the design language system through contribution and collaboration with the team.
Actively participates in design leadership meetings and work efforts, helping set the vision for the design organization and helping the organization achieve its development goals.
Provides thought leadership to deconstruct complex problems into clear and achievable solutions that increase the value of member, employee, and business outcomes.
Builds and leads a team dedicated to design through recruiting, developing, retaining, coaching, guiding, performance management and managerial activities.
Cultivates an environment and team culture aligned with the USAA mission and core values that motivates team members to perform to the best of their abilities, take pride in their work, be candid and direct in communication, and continually grow their skills.
Ensures risks associated with business activities are effectively identified, measured, monitored, and controlled in accordance with risk and compliance policies and procedures.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree; OR 4 years of related experience (in addition to the minimum years of experience required) may be substituted in lieu of degree.
8 years of relevant, on-the-job experience in a Product Design, UX Design, Service Design or Design Research role delivering complex design systems for web and native applications.
3 years of direct team lead or management experience.
Expert knowledge and experience in human-centered design to direct high-performing cross-functional teams through all phases of the design lifecycle.
Mastery of product design, user interface and interaction design, visual design, storytelling, and prototyping.
Demonstrated knowledge of data analysis and research techniques.
Outstanding people management abilities; creates and sustains environment to succeed.
Proven leadership and ability to influence at all levels of management.
Demonstrated experience working in a distributive and agile work environment.
Subject matter expertise in facilitation, collaboration, and presenting to cross-functional teams and Senior/Executive leaders.
Expert ability to effectively communicate, both orally and in writing, to executive leadership, driving accountability and sense of urgency.

Benefits

Comp & perks

comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans
401(k)
pension
life insurance
parental benefits
adoption assistance
paid time off program with paid holidays plus 16 paid volunteer hours
various wellness programs
career path planning and continuing education

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

human-centered designproduct designuser interface designinteraction designvisual designstorytellingprototypingdata analysisresearch techniquesdesign systems

Soft Skills

people managementleadershipinfluencecommunicationcollaborationfacilitationcoachingtrust-buildingperformance managementteam culture

Certifications

Bachelor's degree