Head of Product Design - London, United Kingdom - Pearson Education

Description

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Job Description

Exciting Opportunity for a Head of Product Design at Mondly by Pearson

Did you know Pearson is one of the 10 most innovative Ed-tech companies of 2022? We create vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. Learning is no longer just a stage of life but a lifelong journey. More than 160 million users worldwide trust Pearson products and services. Our integrated portfolio of products is becoming increasingly digital to meet their evolving learning needs, helping us support more people in the moments that matter throughout their lives. Learn more at We are Pearson.

Join Mondly by Pearson, (About Us - Mondly by Pearson), the leading language learning platform with a global reach of over 100 million users. We're at the forefront of EdTech innovation, committed to revolutionizing language education through cutting-edge technology and engaging content. Be part of our journey to redefine how languages are learned.

About you

As the Head of Product Design at Mondly by Pearson, you will occupy a vital position at the intersection of creativity, technology, and user experience, directly influencing our mission to revolutionize language learning. This senior leadership role involves overseeing the entire design ecosystem, including product designers, graphic designers, illustrators, 3D artists, and user researchers. You will report directly into the product management organization, forming a critical part of our strategic decision-making process alongside product, growth, marketing and product analytics.

In this role, you will be tasked with the management, and evolution of our design system and style guide, ensuring a cohesive and consistent user experience across all Mondly products. Your vision will shape the future of our brand and user interface, making language learning accessible, engaging, and effective for users worldwide.

Your responsibilities will encompass strategic planning, creative execution, and cross-functional collaboration, ensuring that design plays a central role in all product development efforts. You will balance hands-on design work with management responsibilities, setting the standard for high-quality design and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

We're looking for a design leader, someone who lives and breathes products and design and who still is active as a designer - not merely a people manager. The Head of Product Design at Mondly is not just a role; it's an opportunity to lead and inspire a team of talented designers and researchers to shape the future of language learning. You will be instrumental in defining and executing the visual and interactive user experience, propelling Mondly toward achieving its mission and your vision and leadership will directly impact the educational journey of millions of users worldwide.

Key areas of focus

• Leadership and Team Management: Lead and mentor a diverse team of product designers, graphic designers, illustrators, 3D artists, and user researchers, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment. Set clear goals and expectations while managing and developing talent through regular feedback, performance reviews, and career development planning.
• Design Vision and Strategy: Define and implement a cohesive design strategy and vision across all Mondly products, aligning with the company's mission and business objectives. Advocate for design-led thinking within the organization, influencing product strategy and direction with a strong emphasis on user experience and business impact.
• Design Systems and Guidelines: Develop and maintain a scalable design system and style guide to ensure consistency and efficiency in design across all platforms and touch-points. Ensure that all design initiatives are in alignment with the latest industry standards and trends, drawing inspiration from leading tech companies like Uber, Airbnb, Meta, Twitter, and Google.
• Collaboration and Stakeholder Management: Collaborate closely with product management, engineering, marketing, and other departments to ensure a seamless and holistic product development process. Communicate design decisions and rationales to stakeholders at all levels of the organization, ensuring alignment and buy-in for design initiatives.
• User-Centered Design Advocacy: Champion user-centered design principles and methodologies, ensuring that user needs and insights drive product decisions. Oversee the user research process, ensuring insights are translated into actionable design decisions that enhance user satisfaction and engagement.
• Innovation and Continuous Improvement: Foster a culture of innovation and experimentation within the design team, encouraging new ideas, approaches, and technologies. Stay abreast of the latest trends, tools, and technologies in design and product development, integrating best practices to maintain Mondly's competitive edge.
• Execution: Oversee all design projects from concept to delivery, ensuring consistent, high-quality outputs and timely execution within budget constraints. Prioritize and allocate resources effectively, managing multiple projects and initiatives concurrently.
• Impact Measurement and Reporting: Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for the design team, measuring the impact of design decisions on user experience and business outcomes. Report on the progress, achievements, and challenges of the design team to senior management and other stakeholders.

About your experience & skills that will help you to be successful in this role

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field. Advanced degrees or certifications in management or design leadership are a plus.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in product design, with at least 5 years in a leadership role managing design teams.
• Proven track record of successfully leading design projects from concept to completion, showcasing significant positive impacts on user experience and business metrics.
• Extensive experience in creating, implementing, and managing design systems and style guides across a range of platforms and devices.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with a history of building, mentoring, and leading high-performing design teams.
• Ability to foster a collaborative, transparent, and inclusive culture within the design team and across the organization.
• Deep understanding of design principles, techniques, and methodologies, with a portfolio demonstrating excellence in both UX and visual design.
• Expertise in using design tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, and other industry-standard software.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to align design strategies with business goals and user needs, translating complex challenges into actionable plans.
• Experience with data-driven design decision-making and familiarity with metrics that drive user engagement and retention.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills, capable of effectively articulating design vision and strategy to all levels of the organization.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and Customer Success.
• A track record of fostering innovation within a design team, encouraging experimentation and risk-taking. Adaptability to rapidly changing technologies, environments, and user expectations.
• Awareness of current and emerging trends in design, technology, and language learning or EdTech industries.
• Experience working in global or culturally diverse environments is preferred.

What's in it for you?

• Attractive compensation package, including competitive salary, equity and bonus structure.
• Opportunities to collaborate and learn from tech leaders from top and innovative companies.
• Flexibility to work from any location, offering a great work-life balance.
• Generous vacation policy that allows for work-life balance and personal time off.
• Daily challenges and opportunities to make a significant impact on millions of users and shape the future of AI-powered learning.
• A dynamic and fast-paced work environment that encourages growth and personal development.
• Opportunities to work on cutting-edge technologies and be at the forefront of the language learning industry.
• A supportive and collaborative team culture that values creativity, innovation, and teamwork.