Lead Product Designer

Business Overview 

KINESSO is the technology-driven performance marketing agency that sits at the very heart of IPG Mediabrands, providing actionable growth for both our agency partners and clients. We turn 'action' into 'outcome' for our clients, leveraging our unique capabilities in optimization, analytics, AI, and experimentation. KINESSO has brought together the collective power of what was formerly Matterkind, Reprise, P3, and Kinesso under one collective entity that will serve as the most powerful delivery engine in the industry. We have extensive offerings spanning across performance marketing and data and technology. Fueled by a deep understanding of consumer behavior, we offer an end-to-end engine of planning and optimization while also delivering on data-driven strategy for social platforms, actionable growth in e-commerce, and creating curated marketplaces specific to each client's function and needs. The company has more than 6,000 employees operating in more than 60 countries. Learn more at www.KINESSO.com.

The Lead Product Designer for our Activation product group will lead and scale design strategy across multiple interrelated product lines within our larger suite of industry-leading digital solutions. This role is ideal for a strong design individual contributor who leads by example and is highly collaborative, thriving at the intersection of strategy, innovation, and execution. We’re looking for someone who is curious, passionate and ready to grow in bringing a systems-thinking mindset to complex product ecosystems. 

As a product design lead, you will execute and advocate for improved quality of design standards across the team, and mentor a team of diverse designers. Our team is highly people-centered – we are looking for someone who fits in with our culture of strong empathy, desire to understand challenges deeply, eats feedback for breakfast and always innovating on how we can better collaborate and align with each other. You will champion user-centered design practices and ensure a cohesive, state-of-the-art experience across products. You look forward to daily close collaboration with other designers, product, engineering, product solutions, marketing, agency and executive stakeholders to align design with business goals and user needs. 

You will report into the Director of Product Design, supporting and leading a team designers across UX/UI and creative direction needs. You will be involved in every step of the design process - envisioning, creating, maintaining, and evolving products throughout the product life cycle. You take initiative in growing your researching, wireframing, prototyping, designing, and team dynamics practice  - leading by example.  We are looking for a lead that is excited about the opportunity to mentor a small team of designers by leading design reviews and deepen our relationships with product owners. 

Design Execution and Leadership 

• Actively design for multiple subproducts in the Activation product group, identifying common themes and identifying best-practice assets, templates and components for the product group
• Provide hands-on feedback and creative direction to team members on key projects, particularly those with high strategic importance
• Champion human-centered, accessible, inclusive and ethical design practices
• Work with the Director of Product Design on developing forward-looking, holistic design vision across multiple product lines
• Translate company and product roadmaps into actionable design priorities, ensuring scalability, consistency, and excellence
• Advocate for design as a strategic advantage across the Activation product group 

Cross-Functional Collaboration 

• Partner with Product, Engineering, and Data teams to ship features that are intuitive, elegant, and impactful
• Act as the design voice in business and scrum meetings, providing insight into customer needs, usability, and experience metrics
• Work closely with marketing and brand teams to ensure seamless end-to-end user journeys 

Innovation & User Insights 

• Stay ahead of industry trends, tools, and technologies to keep the organization on the cutting edge of design excellence
• Promote research-driven design, balancing qualitative insights and quantitative data to inform decisions
• Bonus: Actively understands and/or uses AI and agentic workflows, bringing insights into both ways of working and product priorities 

• 5+ years in product design (UX/UI)
• Expert in Figma
• Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, design systems, and dual agile development processes
• Strong understanding of atomic design practices and extending design system patterns for new scenarios 
• Facilitates appropriate research/UX/UI activities needed across the design process
• Very organized, strong attention to detail, and high personal standards of design standards and hygiene 
• Eager to learn new skillsets and try new ways of thinking 
• A proactive problem solver 
• Experience mentoring, teaching or instructing junior and peer designers
• Passion for coaching, learning from and inspiring small teams of designers in quality of work and design standards
• Experience balancing design needs across multiple, interrelated product lines.
• Strong portfolio showcasing modern, scalable product experiences for web
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills
• Experience working in fast-paced, cross-functional, product-led organizations 
• A growth mindset and bias toward action

• Experience with B2B SaaS or complex enterprise platforms, especially for media planning / advertising technology products
• Background in design operations, systems thinking, or service design
• Fluency in modern design, prototyping and animation tools (Figma, Adobe)
• Familiarity with analytics and research platforms (analytics, survey, A/B testing tools)
• Experiments with AI platforms and resources (Chat GPT, Runway, Midjourney, Perplexity, Adobe Firefly, etc.)
• Complementary design skillsets such as motion graphics, animation, illustration, 3D/4D/XR, machine learning, data visualization 
• A passion for crafting exceptional product experiences
• A strong design point of view—paired with openness to feedback and iteration
• Empathy for both users and your cross-functional partners 
• Experience or interest in adtech, marcomm or ad agencies 

At IPG Mediabrands, we are unified behind a commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging. Together, we shine through a set of shared values and behaviors. We take pride in our responsibility to our clients, communities, and to each other. We embrace differences and recognize the unique value that each of us brings to our community.  

We encourage you to apply, as unique backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences are welcomed.   

We See You at IPG Mediabrands. 

We offer a Total Rewards package that includes medical and dental coverage, 401(k) plans, flex spending, life insurance, disability, employee discount program, employee stock purchase program and paid family benefits to support you and your family. To give you the ability to better meet your personal needs, and in support of your physical and emotional well-being, you will receive discretionary time off days and company-wide Appreciation Weeks and Wellness Days. 

We also offer a competitive Total Compensation package, including a competitive salary and eligibility for an annual discretionary incentive award or a relevant incentive award. 

The salary range for this position is posted below.  Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position, market considerations, budgetary considerations, tenure and standing with the Company (applicable to current employees), as well as the employee’s/applicant’s skill set, level of experience, and qualifications.   

It is the policy of Mediabrands, division of the Interpublic group, to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, veteran status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law. 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

The employer will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act of 1990. The job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. Essential and other job functions are subject to modification. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

For applicants to jobs in the United States: In compliance with the current Americans with Disabilities Act and state and local laws, if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position with Mediabrands, please email [email protected].

About IPG Mediabrands 

IPG Mediabrands is the media and marketing solutions division of Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). IPG Mediabrands manages over $47 billion in marketing investment globally on behalf of its clients across its full-service agency networks UM, Initiative and Mediahub and through its award-winning specialty business units Healix, Kinesso, MAGNA, Mediabrands Content Studio, Orion Holdings, Rapport, and the IPG Media Lab. IPG Mediabrands clients include many of the world’s most recognizable and iconic brands from a broad portfolio of industry sectors including automotive, personal finance, consumer product goods (CPG), pharma, health and wellness, entertainment, financial services, energy, toys and gaming, direct to consumer and e-commerce, retail, hospitality, food and beverage, fashion and beauty. The company employs more than 18,000 diverse marketing communication professionals in more than 130 countries. Learn more at www.ipgmediabrands.com.