Head Of Design Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship

Head of Design roles in the U.S. qualify for H-1B visa and O-1A visa sponsorship, with design leadership consistently recognized as a specialty occupation. Employers filing LCAs for these positions are common in tech, media, and consumer products. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.

Find Head Of Design Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs625+
Top Visa TypeH-1B
Work Type77% On-site
Top LocationNew York, NY
Most JobsAmazon.com

Showing 5 of 625+ Head Of Design jobs

Colgate-Palmolive
Head of Global Brand Design & Experience
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Colgate-Palmolive
Added 2d ago
Head of Global Brand Design & Experience
Colgate-Palmolive
New York, New York
Brand & Social Media
Creative & Design
Marketing
Brand Marketing
$250k - $275k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Glean Technologies
Head of Product Design
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Glean Technologies
Added 6d ago
Head of Product Design
Glean Technologies
Mountain View, California
Product Management
Creative & Design
Corporate Training & Learning Development
UI/UX Design
$250k - $300k/yr
Hybrid
None

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Cleveland Museum of Art
Head of Exhibition Design
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Cleveland Museum of Art
Added 2w ago
Head of Exhibition Design
Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, Ohio
Project & Program Management
Creative & Design
Project Management
Graphic Designer
$95k - $100k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
201-500

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Dexmate
Head of Industrial Design
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Dexmate
Added 3w ago
Head of Industrial Design
Dexmate
Fremont, California
Product Management
Creative & Design
Brand & Social Media
On-Site
None

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Airwallex
Head of Product Design
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Airwallex
Added 3w ago
Head of Product Design
Airwallex
San Francisco, California
Product Management
Creative & Design
$269k - $385k/yr
On-Site
None

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Tips for Finding Head Of Design Jobs

Frame your portfolio as business evidence

Consular officers and USCIS adjudicators assess specialty occupation claims through documentation. A portfolio that ties design decisions to measurable business outcomes strengthens your petition beyond a standard creative reel.

Target employers with active LCA histories

Companies that have previously filed Labor Condition Applications for design leadership roles are far more likely to sponsor again. Their legal and HR infrastructure is already built for it, which speeds up the process.

Clarify your degree field early in applications

H-1B eligibility requires a bachelor's degree in a field directly related to the role. Graphic design, interaction design, industrial design, and human-computer interaction all qualify. A general arts degree may require supporting documentation.

Understand the O-1A as a parallel path

Design leaders with industry awards, published work, high compensation history, or judging credits may qualify for O-1A status, which has no lottery and no annual cap, making it a strong alternative to H-1B.

Negotiate sponsorship before accepting an offer

Sponsorship conversations are easier before you sign. Once an offer is extended, most employers are motivated to close. Raising visa support during negotiation, not after, avoids ambiguity about who covers legal and filing costs.

Document leadership scope, not just creative output

USCIS specialty occupation determinations favor roles requiring theoretical and practical application of specialized knowledge. Emphasizing team leadership, design systems ownership, and cross-functional accountability strengthens the case over portfolio work alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Head of Design role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?

Yes, in most cases. USCIS evaluates specialty occupation status based on whether the role normally requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field. Head of Design positions at technology companies, agencies, and consumer brands consistently meet this standard, particularly when the role involves design systems, research methodology, or product strategy rather than purely executional work.

What degree do I need to qualify for H-1B sponsorship as a Head of Design?

A bachelor's degree in graphic design, interaction design, industrial design, human-computer interaction, or a closely related field is the standard requirement. Some employers also accept degrees in architecture or fine arts with substantial design specialization. If your degree is in an unrelated field, three years of directly relevant work experience can substitute for each missing year of formal education under USCIS equivalency rules.

How likely are Head of Design H-1B petitions to be approved?

Approval rates for design leadership roles are generally strong when the petition is well-documented. The main risk is an RFE questioning whether the role meets specialty occupation criteria, which is more common when job descriptions include generalist language. Petitions that clearly tie the role to a specific design discipline and articulate why a degree in that field is required tend to avoid additional scrutiny.

Can I find Head of Design jobs that offer visa sponsorship on Migrate Mate?

Yes. Migrate Mate is built specifically for international candidates and filters for employers open to visa sponsorship. Browsing Head of Design listings there surfaces companies with active sponsorship programs, so you're not spending time applying to roles where immigration support isn't on the table.

Can a Head of Design role qualify for an O-1A visa instead of H-1B?

It can, and for senior design leaders it's often worth evaluating seriously. The O-1A requires demonstrating extraordinary ability through criteria like major awards, high compensation relative to peers, judging the work of others, or critical roles at distinguished organizations. Design directors with industry recognition, published thought leadership, or conference speaking history frequently meet multiple criteria without needing the H-1B lottery.

What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Head Of Design jobs?

U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.