Design Director

remote
Vancouver, BC, Canada .
contract . August 21, 2025

Description

Design Director (Contract)

Remote Canada, (PST to EST time zones preferred)

About Us

Rare Days is a multi-disciplinary digital product studio obsessed with helping creators and community-led organizations build lasting legacies. Since 2020, we’ve designed and built products at the intersection of content, community, and commerce — empowering creators and content-led businesses to turn their passion into sustainable platforms.

Our clients range from world-renowned creators like Esther Perel, Colin & Samir, and Sophia Amoruso to global companies like Airbnb and Notion. We specialize in membership platforms, creator tools, and community-driven products — and our edge comes from knowing these audiences as well as we know product design.

We’re a distributed team, based in Canada, and are open to candidates located within 4 hours of PST time zone. Preference will be given to Canadian applicants.

About the Role

We’re hiring a Design Director (Contract) to lead one of our most important accounts — a fast-growing engagement with a household-name tech company. This is initially a 4–6 month contract, with the strong possibility of extension to a year or more.

This role is about owning the big picture: setting product and design strategy, running discovery, aligning stakeholders, and guiding our team through ambiguous and challenging work. You’ll be the face of Rare Days to the client, leading the relationship with confidence, clarity, and empathy — while also ensuring the design team delivers thoughtful, high-impact outcomes.

If you thrive in complex environments, can see both the forest and the trees, and know how to bring clients and teams along with you, this is an opportunity to make a major impact while working on a global stage.

Core Responsibilities

Client & Stakeholder Leadership

Own the day-to-day client relationship, acting as the primary point of contact for a major tech account
Align senior stakeholders around vision, priorities, and design outcomes
Facilitate workshops, discussions, and reviews that keep momentum and buy-in high
Anticipate and manage ambiguity — turning loosely defined needs into clear strategies and actionable plans

Product & Design Strategy

Lead discovery activities and synthesize insights into actionable design direction
Define product strategies that balance user needs, client goals, and market opportunities
Shape and evolve design systems, patterns, and frameworks that scale across the platform
Spot opportunities for differentiation, innovation, and simplification

Team Leadership & Delivery

Provide direction and structure for the design team working on the account
Review and guide work at every stage — from early concepts to final polish
Ensure design outputs meet a high bar for clarity, usability, and craft
Collaborate closely with developers, producers, and internal leadership to ensure delivery is smooth and aligned

What We’re Looking For

10+ years of product design experience, with a track record of leading large, complex engagements
Strong background in agency, studio, or consultancy work — comfortable with ambiguity, multiple stakeholders, and shifting contexts
Demonstrated ability to own client relationships and keep executive-level stakeholders aligned
Deep experience running discovery, defining product strategies, and driving design direction
A portfolio that shows you can balance systems-level thinking with excellent execution
Confidence in presenting, storytelling, and guiding decision-making in high-stakes settings
Thoughtful leadership style — sets high standards but builds trust and support in teams
Bonus: Experience designing for creator platforms, communities, or large-scale membership products

Contract Details

Contract length: 4–6 months (with the possibility of extension to 12+ months)
Location: Remote, within 4 hours of PST time zone
Compensation: Competitive day rate or retainer, based on experience
Start date: ASAP

Compensation

$200,000.00 - $250,000.00 per year

Know someone who would be a perfect fit? Let them know!