Codal Inc. is hiring : Director of Design in Chicago

Overview Codal is an award-winning web design and development consultancy that helps enterprise organizations solve complex problems and accelerate growth through elegant, data-driven digital solutions. Our areas of expertise include application modernization, eCommerce, UX / UI design, product strategy, data analytics, and artificial intelligence.

At Codal, you’ll collaborate with some of the most innovative organizations in the world and work on cutting-edge technologies that push the boundaries of design and software development. You’ll also be part of a community that promotes long-term success, not just for our clients but for each other. We’ll help you develop a professional roadmap that takes your career to new heights.

Who you’ll be working with Our design team blends strategy, creativity, and craft to uncover and address human needs. We’re detectives who surface unarticulated pain points, facilitators who guide stakeholders through tough conversations, and makers who bring clarity to complex problems. We work hand-in-hand with developers, strategists, and clients to ensure our solutions don’t just look good—but drive measurable impact.

What you’ll be doing As Codal’s Director of Design , you’ll lead a global team of designers and strategists across multiple service lines. Your role will balance people leadership, delivery excellence, service line development, and cross-functional collaboration. You’ll be directly responsible for aligning design to business outcomes while championing empathetic, human-centered practices that create real value for our clients and their customers.

Key responsibilities Oversee team performance, resourcing, and delivery across a portfolio of high-impact projects. Provide mentorship, career development, and growth opportunities through a competency-based framework.

Ensure design quality and consistency through systems, standards, and operational excellence initiatives.

Partner with cross-functional leaders and teams to ensure holistic end-to-end strategy.

Lead pre-sales calls, define design scopes, and build project estimates that reflect both user needs and business objectives.

Develop and facilitate presales and discovery workshops that frame strategy and uncover insights.

Serve as a strategic advisor to clients across strategy, design, brand, and user experience.

Design Practice Guide discovery activities including stakeholder interviews, focus groups, and generative user research.

Direct the creation of service blueprints, journey maps, information architecture, and design documentation. Oversee the translation of concepts into development-ready prototypes, ensuring continuity from vision to execution.

Internal Innovation Drive cross-functional task forces focused on design systems, tooling standards, process improvements, and go-to-market campaigns.

Champion Codal’s human-centered design culture and expand its role as a strategic growth driver.

What you’ll need to be successful (Required Qualifications) Bachelor’s, Master’s, or equivalent experience in a design-related field.

10+ years of design leadership and consulting experience , including product discovery, research, and UX strategy.

Demonstrated expertise in human-centered design and service design methodologies. A track record of building and scaling design systems, operations, or service lines in a consulting or agency environment.

Experience defining scope and strategy for enterprise software, eCommerce, and digital platforms.

A strong portfolio that demonstrates your ability to balance design craft, strategy, and measurable outcomes.

Exceptional communication, facilitation, and collaboration skills with executive stakeholders and cross-functional teams.

Empathy and people-first leadership style, with a focus on empowering teams and clients alike.

Compensation $160,000-$210,000. The rate of pay offered will be dependent upon candidates' relevant skills and experience.

Equal Employment Opportunity Codal is committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

Note : We communicate with candidates through official @codal.com email addresses and never request payment during the hiring process. Please be vigilant regarding recruitment scams.

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