Design Director Jobs in New York
Design Director jobs in New York sit at the center of one of the most active creative markets in the world, with demand concentrated in fashion, advertising, publishing, tech, and consumer brands at every level from senior designer making a first leadership move to seasoned creative executives. Most hiring happens in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Jersey City, where studios, agencies, and in-house teams at companies like Condé Nast, Estée Lauder, and NBCUniversal maintain consistent design director headcount. The most in-demand specialties are brand identity, UX and digital product design, and packaging and retail experience. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 60+ Design Director jobs
Company Description
Givebutter is the most-loved nonprofit fundraising and CRM platform, empowering millions of changemakers to raise more, pay less, and give better. Nonprofits use Givebutter to replace multiple tools so they can launch fundraisers and events, use donation forms and donor management (CRM), send emails and text blasts—all in one place. Use of the Givebutter platform is completely free with a 100% transparent tip-or-fee model.
Givebutter has been certified as a Great Place to Work every year since 2021, and is the #1 rated nonprofit software company on G2 across multiple categories.
Our mission is to empower the changemaker in all of us. We believe giving should be fun, so you’ll want to do it again, and we also believe that work should be fun, so that you’ll have the greatest impact. We are excited to hear from talented people who want to work with other talented people in making the world a butter place—and have fun along the way.
Role Description
Givebutter is a joyful brand with a serious mission, helping changemakers raise over US$ 10 billion so far. Over 84,000 nonprofits trust us for their core operations — fundraising, donor management, finances — and we're investing in world-class design to empower the next generation of changemakers.
Design at Givebutter looks different than it did a few years ago. While the role and goals of design have not changed, the craft of designing great experiences is being rewritten in real time. Part of this role is defining what great product design looks like in an AI-native company: which problems AI owns, where human judgment still wins, and how a team works when the tools and workflows shift often.
You'll manage a growing team of product designers across product pods, partnering closely with the VP of Design to set direction, remove roadblocks, and raise the quality and velocity of design across the platform. If you're energized by building teams, shaping design culture, and figuring out what design becomes in this next era, we want to hear from you.
We want to hear from people who…
Are experienced people managers who know how to nurture great design talent, give meaningful feedback, and build a high-performing team.
Think strategically about design — not just what to build, but how design creates business value and drives positive outcomes for our users.
Are natural collaborators who build alignment across Product, Engineering, Brand, and executive leadership.
Hold a strong point of view on craft and quality, and know how to keep the bar high without becoming a bottleneck.
Thrive in high-growth environments where the org is still evolving, and autonomy is the norm.
Are not afraid to get hands-on when needed, and actively explore AI tools and coding agents to improve their craft.
Responsibilities
Lead and develop a team of product designers across multiple product pods, including direct ownership of hiring, performance, and career growth.
Partner with the VP of Design on design strategy, org design, and how the design function scales over time.
Create the conditions for designers to do their best work: align stakeholders, manage cross-functional dependencies, and drive clarity into ambiguous projects.
Set and hold the craft bar across the platform — interaction patterns, visual execution, design system standards, and long-term product quality — keeping it consistent as the team and surface areas grow.
Help define how product design operates at Givebutter, establishing how the team designs with AI tools and for AI-driven product experiences.
Act as a strategic design partner to senior Product and Engineering leaders, shaping cross-functional decisions and aligning teams around shared outcomes.
Influence product strategy through deep insight into our users (fundraisers and donors), turning ambiguous cross-product problems into clear direction for the team.
Make high-stakes design decisions that balance craft, speed, and business impact, with a company-level ownership mindset.
Help evolve Givebutter's design culture as the team grows, establishing practices, norms, and rituals that scale.
Requirements
8+ years of product design experience, with 3–5 years managing other designers
Strong portfolio demonstrating design leadership across complex, multi-surface product environments with clear impact on users and business outcomes.
Proven ability to develop designers at different career stages and build team culture intentionally.
Deep craft sensibility. You can define what "great" looks like across interaction design, visual design, and design systems, and hold that bar across a team.
Experience working closely with Product and Engineering leadership as a strategic partner, influencing roadmap and product direction through design.
Strong judgment on prioritization. You know when to go deep, when to delegate, and how to focus a team on the highest-impact work.
Excellent communication. You can tell a clear story to an exec audience and give a junior designer actionable feedback the same day.
Comfortable operating in a high-growth, ambiguous environment where priorities evolve and speed matters.
Genuine fluency with how AI is reshaping design, both the craft of designing AI-driven experiences and the way designers work day to day.
SaaS or B2B product experience required; nonprofit or social impact experience is a plus. Experience designing AI-native, automation, or agentic product experiences is a strong plus..
More about Givebutter
Benefits
Remote Work: Work remotely from one of our 10 hubs (Austin, Denver, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Seattle, and Nashville).
Health Insurance: We offer Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance covered 100% for employees as well as HSA and FSA accounts.
Dependent Care Coverage: We offer coverage for dependents, with 50% of Medical, Dental, and Vision premiums covered for all eligible dependents.
Mental Health: Givebutter health insurance plans come with access to a TalkSpace membership.
401k: We offer a 3% 401k match for all eligible employee's.
Vacation and Holidays: Givebutter offers a Flexible PTO policy with uncapped vacation days and company-recognized holidays.
Wellness Week: Givebutter closes for one week each summer to prioritize rest and recharge for the entire team.
Parental Leave: We offer 12 weeks of paid leave for all parents and comprehensive leave planning management through Aidora.
Family Care Support: Access a company-paid UrbanSitter membership plus care credits to book trusted, background-checked caregivers for childcare, senior care, pet care, and household support when you need it most.
Home Office Stipend: Upgrade your home office with company-sponsored expenses, including high-quality laptops, monitors, and modern technology.
Coworking Stipend: Enjoy a monthly stipend that gives you the freedom to work from coworking spaces or cafés whenever you need connection, community, or a change of scenery.
Charitable Giving: Employees are encouraged to donate up to $50/month to any verified nonprofit they wish to support on Givebutter.
Professional Development: We offer learning and development reimbursement opportunities.
Love What You Do: We are a mission-driven company serving the charitable sector. Feel good about the work you're doing and the company you work for.
Interview Process
Below is a high-level outline of our standard interview process
Recruiter Screen: A 30-minute conversation to learn more about your background, walk through the role, and ensure mutual alignment on expectations, values, and logistics.
Hiring Manager Interview: A deeper dive into your relevant experience, skillset, and working style. This is your first opportunity to connect directly with the person who may be your future manager.
Assessment (technical or non-technical): This stage will vary based on the role. It could involve a live coding session, case study, or take-home project. Some roles may include two parts to this stage to evaluate both practical skills and problem-solving approaches
Values Interview: A conversation with team members focused on how you align with our core values and leadership principles.
References: We connect with a few folks you’ve worked closely with to get a better picture of your working style and impact.
Offer: If all goes well, we’ll move to the offer stage!
Please note, we will have an AI note-taking tool join most of our interviews.
Hi potential new butterslice! A recent study from LinkedIn showed that most women apply to jobs only when they meet 100% of the requirements, whereas men will hit the apply button if they hit 60%. Givebutter is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. So to the women and nonbinary folks out there feeling unsure if you're a perfect fit, we strongly encourage you to apply!
Compensation Range: $200K - $225K
Company Description
Givebutter is the most-loved nonprofit fundraising and CRM platform, empowering millions of changemakers to raise more, pay less, and give better. Nonprofits use Givebutter to replace multiple tools so they can launch fundraisers and events, use donation forms and donor management (CRM), send emails and text blasts—all in one place. Use of the Givebutter platform is completely free with a 100% transparent tip-or-fee model.
Givebutter has been certified as a Great Place to Work every year since 2021, and is the #1 rated nonprofit software company on G2 across multiple categories.
Our mission is to empower the changemaker in all of us. We believe giving should be fun, so you’ll want to do it again, and we also believe that work should be fun, so that you’ll have the greatest impact. We are excited to hear from talented people who want to work with other talented people in making the world a butter place—and have fun along the way.
Role Description
Givebutter is a joyful brand with a serious mission, helping changemakers raise over US$ 10 billion so far. Over 84,000 nonprofits trust us for their core operations — fundraising, donor management, finances — and we're investing in world-class design to empower the next generation of changemakers.
Design at Givebutter looks different than it did a few years ago. While the role and goals of design have not changed, the craft of designing great experiences is being rewritten in real time. Part of this role is defining what great product design looks like in an AI-native company: which problems AI owns, where human judgment still wins, and how a team works when the tools and workflows shift often.
You'll manage a growing team of product designers across product pods, partnering closely with the VP of Design to set direction, remove roadblocks, and raise the quality and velocity of design across the platform. If you're energized by building teams, shaping design culture, and figuring out what design becomes in this next era, we want to hear from you.
We want to hear from people who…
Are experienced people managers who know how to nurture great design talent, give meaningful feedback, and build a high-performing team.
Think strategically about design — not just what to build, but how design creates business value and drives positive outcomes for our users.
Are natural collaborators who build alignment across Product, Engineering, Brand, and executive leadership.
Hold a strong point of view on craft and quality, and know how to keep the bar high without becoming a bottleneck.
Thrive in high-growth environments where the org is still evolving, and autonomy is the norm.
Are not afraid to get hands-on when needed, and actively explore AI tools and coding agents to improve their craft.
Responsibilities
Lead and develop a team of product designers across multiple product pods, including direct ownership of hiring, performance, and career growth.
Partner with the VP of Design on design strategy, org design, and how the design function scales over time.
Create the conditions for designers to do their best work: align stakeholders, manage cross-functional dependencies, and drive clarity into ambiguous projects.
Set and hold the craft bar across the platform — interaction patterns, visual execution, design system standards, and long-term product quality — keeping it consistent as the team and surface areas grow.
Help define how product design operates at Givebutter, establishing how the team designs with AI tools and for AI-driven product experiences.
Act as a strategic design partner to senior Product and Engineering leaders, shaping cross-functional decisions and aligning teams around shared outcomes.
Influence product strategy through deep insight into our users (fundraisers and donors), turning ambiguous cross-product problems into clear direction for the team.
Make high-stakes design decisions that balance craft, speed, and business impact, with a company-level ownership mindset.
Help evolve Givebutter's design culture as the team grows, establishing practices, norms, and rituals that scale.
Requirements
8+ years of product design experience, with 3–5 years managing other designers
Strong portfolio demonstrating design leadership across complex, multi-surface product environments with clear impact on users and business outcomes.
Proven ability to develop designers at different career stages and build team culture intentionally.
Deep craft sensibility. You can define what "great" looks like across interaction design, visual design, and design systems, and hold that bar across a team.
Experience working closely with Product and Engineering leadership as a strategic partner, influencing roadmap and product direction through design.
Strong judgment on prioritization. You know when to go deep, when to delegate, and how to focus a team on the highest-impact work.
Excellent communication. You can tell a clear story to an exec audience and give a junior designer actionable feedback the same day.
Comfortable operating in a high-growth, ambiguous environment where priorities evolve and speed matters.
Genuine fluency with how AI is reshaping design, both the craft of designing AI-driven experiences and the way designers work day to day.
SaaS or B2B product experience required; nonprofit or social impact experience is a plus. Experience designing AI-native, automation, or agentic product experiences is a strong plus..
More about Givebutter
Benefits
Remote Work: Work remotely from one of our 10 hubs (Austin, Denver, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Seattle, and Nashville).
Health Insurance: We offer Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance covered 100% for employees as well as HSA and FSA accounts.
Dependent Care Coverage: We offer coverage for dependents, with 50% of Medical, Dental, and Vision premiums covered for all eligible dependents.
Mental Health: Givebutter health insurance plans come with access to a TalkSpace membership.
401k: We offer a 3% 401k match for all eligible employee's.
Vacation and Holidays: Givebutter offers a Flexible PTO policy with uncapped vacation days and company-recognized holidays.
Wellness Week: Givebutter closes for one week each summer to prioritize rest and recharge for the entire team.
Parental Leave: We offer 12 weeks of paid leave for all parents and comprehensive leave planning management through Aidora.
Family Care Support: Access a company-paid UrbanSitter membership plus care credits to book trusted, background-checked caregivers for childcare, senior care, pet care, and household support when you need it most.
Home Office Stipend: Upgrade your home office with company-sponsored expenses, including high-quality laptops, monitors, and modern technology.
Coworking Stipend: Enjoy a monthly stipend that gives you the freedom to work from coworking spaces or cafés whenever you need connection, community, or a change of scenery.
Charitable Giving: Employees are encouraged to donate up to $50/month to any verified nonprofit they wish to support on Givebutter.
Professional Development: We offer learning and development reimbursement opportunities.
Love What You Do: We are a mission-driven company serving the charitable sector. Feel good about the work you're doing and the company you work for.
Interview Process
Below is a high-level outline of our standard interview process
Recruiter Screen: A 30-minute conversation to learn more about your background, walk through the role, and ensure mutual alignment on expectations, values, and logistics.
Hiring Manager Interview: A deeper dive into your relevant experience, skillset, and working style. This is your first opportunity to connect directly with the person who may be your future manager.
Assessment (technical or non-technical): This stage will vary based on the role. It could involve a live coding session, case study, or take-home project. Some roles may include two parts to this stage to evaluate both practical skills and problem-solving approaches
Values Interview: A conversation with team members focused on how you align with our core values and leadership principles.
References: We connect with a few folks you’ve worked closely with to get a better picture of your working style and impact.
Offer: If all goes well, we’ll move to the offer stage!
Please note, we will have an AI note-taking tool join most of our interviews.
Hi potential new butterslice! A recent study from LinkedIn showed that most women apply to jobs only when they meet 100% of the requirements, whereas men will hit the apply button if they hit 60%. Givebutter is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. So to the women and nonbinary folks out there feeling unsure if you're a perfect fit, we strongly encourage you to apply!
Compensation Range: $200K - $225K
See All 60 Design Director Jobs in New York
Find roles in New York that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Director JobsDesign Director Jobs by City in New York
Where New York roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Design Director Job Market in New York
A snapshot from current New York openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Retail
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Education
- Insurance
What New York Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in design director jobs across New York.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in graphic design, industrial design, or a related creative field
- Seven or more years of progressive design experience with at least two in a leadership role
- Portfolio demonstrating brand identity, digital, or product design work at a strategic level
- Proven ability to lead and mentor multidisciplinary design teams across complex projects
- Experience collaborating with marketing, product, and executive stakeholders in New York-scale organizations
- Proficiency in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and presentation tools used in agency or in-house environments
Design Director Jobs in New York: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a design director in New York?
Becoming a design director in New York typically starts with a bachelor's degree in graphic design, industrial design, communication design, or a closely related field from a program accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. New York does not require a state-issued license for design directors. Employers here place the greatest weight on a strong portfolio, progressive leadership experience, and familiarity with the specific industry, whether that is fashion, media, advertising, or technology.
Which companies hire design directors in New York?
Employers hiring design directors in New York right now include NYC Alliance, Faherty Brand, and Victoria's Secret, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. New York's density of global brand headquarters, major media companies, and large advertising agencies means that in-house and agency design director roles open consistently throughout the year.
Which New York cities have the most design director jobs?
New York, Albany, and Aurora have the most design director openings in New York. Manhattan dominates because it is home to the headquarters of major fashion houses, media conglomerates, and advertising agencies, while Brooklyn's growing creative and tech studio scene drives demand there, and other metros reflect the presence of regional corporate campuses and design-focused employers outside the core city.
Are there remote design director jobs in New York?
Yes, and more than most creative leadership roles. About 68% of design director openings tied to New York are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the strategic and screen-based nature of much of the work. Digital product design and brand strategy roles tend to offer the most location flexibility, while roles tied to physical retail, packaging, or on-site production teams are more likely to require a regular presence.
How can I get hired as a design director in New York with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is to move into a design director role from a senior designer or associate creative director position at a New York agency or large in-house team, rather than targeting director titles from the start. Companies like Ogilvy, BBDO, and large retail brands regularly hire senior designers who take on project leadership. Building a portfolio that shows strategic thinking alongside execution, and completing an accredited design program at a New York institution such as Parsons or Pratt, gives candidates a clear edge.
Where can I find and apply to design director jobs in New York?
You can find and apply to design director jobs in New York on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers actively hiring in the state. Find roles that fit your experience and specialization and apply directly to the ones that interest you.
See All 60 Design Director Jobs in New York
Find roles in New York that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Director Jobs