Director- Design Systems, Operations and Bank Design at Thrivent in Minneapolis, MN

Job description

The Director - Design Systems, Operations, and Bank Design is responsible for the strategic leadership, governance, and evolution of Thrivent's design system and design operations capabilities. This leader drives the standards, tools, processes, and operating model that enable teams across Thrivent to deliver consistent, high-quality client and advisor digital experiences at scale. This role leads and mentors a team of managers over Design Systems and Design Operations teams, focusing on new value creation, organization-wide leadership, and operational excellence. The role also leads the Bank Design team, reflecting the organization's increasing emphasis on mobile-first experiences and the need for a robust mobile design framework. Through strong leadership, operational excellence, and the thoughtful application of AI-enabled design practices, this leader will strengthen design quality, accelerate delivery, and increase the business impact of design across the enterprise. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: Own Thrivent's enterprise design system strategy, governance model, standards, tooling, and adoption roadmap, ensuring a scalable and consistent experience across digital products, channels, and platforms. Establish and govern enterprise mobile design standards, partnering with Product and Engineering leaders to ensure seamless alignment between web and mobile experiences while advancing a unified design language across Thrivent. Lead the Bank Design team and oversee the evolution of Thrivent's mobile design capabilities. As the Bank expands digital experiences through mobile applications, ensure design patterns, components, accessibility standards, and user experiences are incorporated into the enterprise design system and governance framework. Balances and coordinates experience across both client and advisor products, channels and platforms. Own design operations and the design system for our client and advisor experience — setting standards, governance, and tooling that let teams ship consistent, high-quality design at scale. Lead the Bank product design team, setting direction and ensuring design work aligns with broader product and business strategy. Champion the integration of AI into design workflows and processes — evaluating tools, establishing best practices, and building team capability to work effectively alongside AI. And work with Product and Engineering peers as needed to drive change. Excel in one area of design, with strong proficiency in two others, and capability in two additional areas. Use design methods not just to solve execution problems but to identify new opportunities for value creation. Work across multiple workstreams, driving the development of new practices that drive increased value and appreciation of design. Frame research initiatives and prioritize when to execute research to inform strategic decisions and identify new opportunities. Take an active role in company-wide leadership initiatives, shaping entire user experiences. Use storytelling and persuasion to connect strategy and vision with day-to-day practicality, driving meetings and stakeholder communication effectively. Develop a holistic understanding of organizational context and line of business strategy. Appreciate broader organizational efforts around culture, work, and values, and articulate a compelling vision for the team. Create the team you need by defining problems with cross-functional leads and managing managers. Coach managers toward strong people management practices and drive broader organizational efforts around culture, work, and values. Recruits, develops, and sustains a high-performing team while promoting a culture of shared accountability, operational excellence, and partnership across the organization. Supports and/or develops an environment in which Thrivent employees and colleagues are focused on continuous improvement, exceptional employee engagement, and an unwavering commitment to our clients. Shapes and/or support