Associate Design Director - Innovation

SUMMARY:

We’re looking for an Associate Design Director to support on high-impact digital initiatives across healthcare, clinical, and enterprise platforms. This role is ideal for a senior design leader who thrives at the intersection of hands-on creative work, design leadership, and delivery excellence.

This is not a Design Lead or purely executional role. While prototyping and execution are part of the work, the primary focus is leading design efforts end-to-end, setting creative direction, mentoring designers, and partnering closely with stakeholders to elevate the overall design portfolio.

PRIMARY DUTIES:

• Lead design strategy and execution across complex digital initiatives, ensuring high standards for usability, accessibility, and visual quality.
• Provide hands-on creative direction across concepts, flows, interaction models, and visual systems.
• Act as the design authority on projects, balancing business goals, scientific complexity, and user needs.
• Actively contribute to hands-on design work, including experience and interaction design, visual design, design systems, and prototyping.
• Step in to execute when needed, particularly on high-visibility
• Guide and mentor junior and senior designers, providing constructive feedback, coaching, and design critiques.
•  Elevate team output through design reviews, shared best practices, and a culture of craft and collaboration.
•  Partner with leadership to advance the design portfolio and raise the bar on quality and impact.

COMPENTENCY:

• Strong design leadership skills with the ability to balance strategy, execution, and mentorship.
• Expertise in experience design, interaction design, visual design, and design systems.
• Proven ability to lead design in complex, regulated, or enterprise environments.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with comfort influencing senior stakeholders.
• Ability to navigate scientific or technical complexity and translate it into clear, user-centered solutions.

REQUIRED EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

EXPERIENCE:

• 8+ years of experience in product, UX, or digital design, with demonstrated leadership responsibility.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating hands-on design execution and creative leadership.
• Experience leading design efforts within healthcare, life sciences, or other regulated or enterprise environments preferred.

REQUIRED EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate design decisions and rationale to diverse audiences.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Hands-on design leader with ownership over creative quality and outcomes.
•  Proven player/coach mindset, balancing execution with direction and mentorship.
•  Demonstrated ability to lead and design, not just manage.
• Experience mentoring designers and elevating team performance.
•  Comfortable partnering closely with stakeholders to deliver high-impact digital

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Dynamic and collaborative. Fast-paced, collaborative, and cross-functional. Engages closely with leadership and partners across Product, Design, Engineering, and Research teams. Focused on delivering high-quality design solutions while fostering a culture of growth and innovation.

EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK:

Full-time, typically 40 hours per week. Flexibility required to meet project timelines across global teams.

TRAVEL:

Occasional travel may be required for team workshops, collaboration sessions, or company events.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: IF REMOTE OR ADMINISTRATIVE, Regular use of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment. Regular, repetitive movements such as typing, mouse movements, and scrolling. Ability to hear and understand spoken communications, both in person and via remote communication tools (e.g., phone, video conferencing). Ability to see and read computer screens and printed documents, as well as adjust focus. This includes prolonged periods of looking at a computer screen.

ADA Statement

To perform the job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

EEO/AA Statement

New Era Technology provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, pregnancy, marital status, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status. 

In addition to federal law requirements, New Era Technology complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.