Design Manager – IBM
A career in IBM Software means you'll be part of a team that transforms our customer’s challenges into solutions. Seeking new possibilities and always staying curious, we are dedicated to creating the world’s leading AI‑powered, cloud‑native software solutions. Our legacy offers endless global opportunities for IBMers, and the door is always open for those who want to grow their careers. IBM’s product and technology landscape includes Research, Software, and Infrastructure, positioning you at the heart of IBM where growth and innovation thrive. Design is an essential profession and a driver of improved outcomes, contributing significant business value for our clients and IBM. As a Design Manager, you’ll work to create experiences that work together, work the same, and work for our clients. IBMers have a growth mindset and work in teams to include diverse perspectives, driving exceptional outcomes while showcasing ownership and autonomy throughout the design process.
Your Role And Responsibilities
You are a Design Manager passionate about guiding our creative design team and empowering them to deliver exceptional end‑to‑end customer experiences. In this role you will combine people and practice leadership, managing a team of designers, UX researchers, and content professionals, and collaborating with cross‑functional leadership to set and deliver project objectives.
Responsibilities
- Design Leadership and Community Building: cultivate design excellence and accelerate cultural transformation by creating the conditions for the team to do their best work; define and implement strategies to achieve the design vision; lead with an owner’s mentality to deliver market‑differentiating outcomes; manage operational delivery using agile methodologies; make data‑driven decisions; participate in design critiques; and understand modern design thinking and trends.
- Cross‑Functional Collaboration and Alignment: drive alignment by collaborating with developers, marketers, product managers, and other design teams to build a shared understanding of user needs and behaviors; promote positive cross‑discipline product culture on a regional scale.
- People Leadership: shape the design culture by setting a high bar for performance and design excellence; address performance misalignment promptly in a human‑centered manner; promote psychological safety for risk‑taking; review and enhance designs while nurturing team growth and career development; and foster a culture of diversity and transparent collaboration.
Working Hours
Leaders are expected to spend time with their teams and clients and therefore are generally expected to be in the workspace a minimum of three days a week, subject to business needs.
Preferred Education
Master’s Degree
Required Technical And Professional Expertise
- 3+ years experience as a design lead/people manager
- Experience influencing multidisciplinary teams and accurately scoping work to drive action toward business goals
- A portfolio of work samples that demonstrates human‑centered design and a proven track record for driving outcomes and leadership skills
- Excellent listening, written, and verbal communication skills, as well as storytelling and documentation skills
Preferred Technical And Professional Experience
- Sustained record of excellent design work and leadership, while actively contributing to developing the design profession
- Enterprise software experience
- Self‑motivation, an open mind, and experience working with a diverse global team
Seniority Level
Mid‑Senior level
Employment Type
Full‑time
Job Function
Design, Art/Creative, and Information Technology
Industries
IT Services and IT Consulting