Overview
BUSINESS TITLE : Associate Director of Product Design
CIVIL SERVICE TITLE/LEVEL : Executive Program Manager
DEPARTMENT : Strategy, Products & Innovation
NUMBER OF POSITIONS : 1
SALARY RANGE : $130,000 - $160,000
POSITION STATUS : Full-Time
JOB ID :
APPLICATION DEADLINE : UNTIL FILLED
Job Description
The Associate Director of Product Design is a senior design leader responsible for driving the execution of user-centered design across digital products and public-facing services. Reporting to the Senior Director of Product, this role translates high-level design vision into actionable product experiences that improve service delivery, accessibility, and trust in government. The Associate Director of Product Design embeds human-centered design practices into cross-functional teams, ensuring policy-driven requirements are transformed into intuitive, equitable, and accessible digital experiences. This role balances strategy and hands-on design oversight, mentoring designers while partnering with product and engineering leadership.
Unlike private sector roles, success in this role is measured by usability, accessibility, adoption, clarity, and public value. This position requires NYC residency within 90 days of starting and in-person presence in the CFB Manhattan office a minimum of 1 day per week.
Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end product design efforts for key digital services and platforms.
- Translate policy, operational, and regulatory requirements into simple, intuitive user experiences.
- Ensure consistent application of design standards, accessibility requirements, and inclusive design principles.
- Oversee user flows, interaction models, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity design outputs.
- Champion user research practices including interviews, usability testing, journey mapping, and accessibility testing.
- Ensure all digital products meet accessibility standards (Section 508, WCAG).
- Embed inclusive design practices that account for language access, digital literacy, disability access, and device constraints.
- Promote scalable, modular design practices across products.
- Advocate for human-centered design within the agency and help non-design teams adopt iterative, user-focused workflows.
- Mentor mid-level and senior designers and support hiring to build a diverse, high-performing design team.
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and mission-driven team culture.
Requirements
- 5+ years of experience in product design, UX/UI, or service design.
- 5+ years of experience designing complex digital services for diverse user populations.
- 5+ years of experience working with cross-functional teams in agile or iterative environments.
- Strong portfolio demonstrating systems thinking, accessibility awareness, and end-to-end product ownership.
- Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG, Section 508) and inclusive design practices.
- Strong facilitation and communication skills, especially with policy or regulatory complexity.
Qualifications
- Candidates must include a portfolio of their work when applying.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Other Behaviors (KSAOs)
Knowledge
- Human-centered design, user research, usability testing, and service design.
- Accessibility standards such as WCAG, Section 508, and ADA considerations.
- Digital product development lifecycles (agile/iterative).
- Design systems, component libraries, and scalable interface patterns.
- Frontend understanding (responsive design, interaction behaviors).
- Inclusive and equity-centered design principles.
- Data-informed design and usability metrics.
Skills
- Simplifying complex policy-driven workflows through high-quality design.
- User research planning and translating findings into improvements.
- Defining and tracking design quality metrics (usability, accessibility audits).
- Leading workshops, stakeholder alignment, and design critiques.
- Facilitating co-design with underserved communities.
- Navigating policy requirements while preserving user experience.
- Proficiency in Figma or comparable tools.
- Strong written and verbal communication for non-technical stakeholders.
- Collaborating across product, engineering, policy, and communications teams.
- Mentorship and people management for career growth.
Abilities
- Build consensus among leadership, legal, and policy teams.
- Create clear design specifications, documentation, and reusable patterns.
- Establish structure and processes within evolving teams.
- Translate design impact into mission-driven language for executives.
- Lead end-to-end design initiatives from concept to implementation.
- Remain flexible under pressure and balance strategic thinking with hands-on work.
- Build trust with diverse internal teams and external communities.
- Creative problem solver.
Other Behaviors
- Provide and receive constructive feedback professionally.
- Attention to detail with senior-level perspective.
- Commitment to public service, transparency, and equitable access.
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion leadership.
- Passion and energy for the agency’s mission.
Minimum Qualifications
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college with relevant coursework and one year of related experience, or a four-year high school diploma and five years of related experience; or education/experience equivalent to the above. See original posting for full details.
Application Process
All applicants must apply through NYC Government Jobs. For the job ID listed above, submit resume and cover letter. Only applicants under consideration will be contacted. Visit the NYC Campaign Finance Board website for more information.
Equal Opportunity & Benefits
The City of New York is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request. The agency offers medical benefits, retirement, tuition reimbursement, and development programs. All individuals are encouraged to apply.
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