Design Lead

About the job

Civilla is seeking a Design Lead/Manager who centers equity in their work and has prior management experience. In this role, you will have the opportunity to manage projects from start to finish, using design and equity consciousness to create change within public-serving institutions. Additionally, you will support the growth of researchers/designers by enabling and guiding their career journeys. To advance Civilla's mission, you will work with our government partners to deliver products, services, and experiences that significantly impact and improve the lives of millions of people.  

We use the term “design” throughout this job description. We believe design can mean many things depending on people’s exposure to and experience with it. At its core, it is the ability to conduct research to understand how people navigate a challenge, identify common patterns, and develop solutions that best meet people’s needs. We encourage you to apply even if you are not academically trained in design.

You will have the opportunity to use your experience leading human-centered design projects to:

• Manage a team of researchers/designers through all phases of work (research, design and testing, piloting, implementation) and deliver impactful products, services, and experiences. 

• Support individual development across your team of researchers/designers by identifying opportunities for growth, offering proactive feedback, navigating conflict management, and creating a healthy team culture. 

• Guide an approach to research and design that is rooted in equity, build meaningful relationships with the people most impacted by our work, and check personal biases and assumptions. 

• Lead design strategy by integrating human-centered research into project plans that uniquely reflect our partners' constraints and aspirations while meeting the end-user's needs. 

• Build strong relationships with external project partners to navigate institutional complexity and deliver high-quality products and services. 

• Lead the communications strategy within a project by delivering partner-ready communications. Review, improve, and approve deliverables before sharing with our partners. 

• Partner with Design Directors to support Civilla's business development and growth. Provide input on proposals that lead to new opportunities aligned with our vision and mission.

• Lead efforts that support Civilla’s organizational culture and strategic priorities.

what you’ll need for this role

Mission-alignment - A passion for using your skills to partner with institutions to deliver long-term, systemic change and advocate for people who rely on public services.

Leadership - Experience leading projects and managing a team (ideally a team of 2-4 people for at least 2 years) and enabling their growth through coaching, feedback, and other forms of support. You can effectively collaborate with people and institutions across different sectors, cultures, and power structures. You possess a high degree of emotional intelligence and awareness of self and others. 

Equity consciousness - An equity-centered perspective and approach to design and research. You have the tools, experience, and desire to engage in conversations about race, ability, gender, sexual orientation, equity, and justice.

Relationship building - Experience actively managing and cultivating partner relationships to support effective project delivery and future business development. You have experience building relationships with diverse leaders and community members, particularly with Black and/or Latinx individuals. You can identify opportunities for connection and amplify Civilla’s work.

Project management - Manage project plans with multiple work streams and assess trade-offs between competing needs. Review, improve, and approve design work before sharing with our partners.  

Design leadership experience - Hands-on experience leading and guiding diverse design teams through an end-to-end process (user research, user testing, pilots, and implementation at scale). You can self-manage and effectively prioritize and distribute work across the team while holding a variety of responsibilities.

Guide user research - Teach others how to integrate the research strategy into a larger project plan. You can develop strategies and choose solutions that reflect our partners’ constraints and aspirations while delivering on the needs of the end-user. 

Synthesis - Leverage your strong ability to lead synthesis within a project to support designers through the ambiguity of the process. You can translate research findings into actionable insights, patterns, and frameworks that enable our partners to make key strategic decisions.

Strong communication - Demonstrated ability to communicate across various mediums. You have experience leading communication strategies within a project and delivering client-ready communications. You can review, improve, and approve communications prior to sharing with our partners. 

Growth Mindset - You have an openness to learning, are committed to personal growth, and are proactive about seeking feedback.

what we value

We’re seeking a leader who align with Civilla’s principles and values. Our culture is rooted in twelve organizational principles and our work is grounded in a set of values that reflect our dedication to our mission:

• Optimism - We remain open to the immense potential of our institutions to do good.

• Curiosity - We continuously seek new inputs that can grow our context about what is possible.

• Empathy - We view human-to-human connection as the foundation of our work.

• All In - We regard showing up and seeing work through as essential for leading change.

compensation + benefits

• cash compensation

  • Base salary: $111,300 - $124,450 

  • Bonus: Up to 15% annual bonus 

  • Total cash compensation: $128,000 - $143,200 (base salary + maximum bonus)

• Health Insurance: High quality health insurance (includes medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance).

• Parental Leave: Sixteen weeks of full pay and benefits for births, adoptions, foster care, or court placements.

• Wellness Stipend: $600 annually to support health and fitness goals.

• Technology Stipend: $600 annually to support a high-quality work environment.

• Time off: 48 paid days off per year.

details

• Structure and Timing: This is a full-time position based in Detroit that is scheduled to start Fall 2025.

• Come as you are. Civilla is firmly committed to building a diverse team that is reflective of the communities we serve. We value your unique experiences and strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, women, minorities, people with disabilities, system-impacted people, veterans, and people of all ages to apply.

• Civilla is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.

• Sponsorship. Civilla cannot sponsor applicants for work visas or work visa transfers at this time.

• Background checks. Our contracts with government agencies require that we perform background checks on all Civilla team members. If you are invited to the third interview for this position, we will request your consent to perform one. We will not be able to move forward with your candidacy if you are presently indicted by a government entity for the commission of any crime involving theft, dishonesty, fraud, or assault, or have been convicted of any of the following within the last three (3) years:

  • Fraud in connection with obtaining or performing a public contract;

  • Violation of federal or state antitrust statutes;

  • Commission of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, making false statements, or receiving stolen property; and/or

  • Commission of assault.