Senior Design Manager

Senior Design Manager Location: Bengaluru About the Team The Product Design team at Navi creates clear, intuitive experiences that put users first. We work end-to-end—across research, interaction, and visual design—to shape products that are simple, fast, and purposeful. Our approach is deeply data-driven, combining user insights and product analytics to continuously refine and improve the user experience. About the Role Navi is seeking a Senior Design Manager to lead and scale our growing design team. This is a critical leadership role for someone who is not just an expert in design, but an expert in building a team that is "ruthless" in its approach to problem-solving. Your core responsibility will be to lead a team of talented designers who are experts in taste, data, and problem-solving, and who act as a force for alignment across the company. You will be instrumental in fostering a culture of relentless pursuit of excellence and pushing for an incredibly high bar for what we ship. You will be responsible for the overall success and strategy of the design function, from defining the "why" to ensuring a high-quality outcome. The ideal candidate has a strong backbone to take a stand for what is right for the customer and the company , but also has a humble heart to listen and learn. What We Expect From You Strategic Leadership: ○ Partner with senior leadership (Product, Engineering, Business) to define the design vision and strategy for all charters, aligning with company goals and product principles. ○ Champion a customer-first mindset, ensuring the team starts with the customer's pain and obsesses over making their lives better. ○ Drive a culture of ruthless prioritization, ensuring the team is focused on doing fewer things, but better. ○ Seek clarity relentlessly to unblock your team and ensure everyone is moving fast with purpose and sense. Team Leadership & Management: ○ Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing team of product designers, fostering their growth and helping them do their best work. ○ Conduct performance reviews, set career goals, and create a clear path for professional development for the team. ○ Instill the core Navi principles of end-to-end ownership and accountability. Design & Process Excellence: ○ Maintain and elevate an incredibly high bar for design quality, simplicity, and taste across all products. ○ Oversee the design process, ensuring it is data-informed and focused on clear outcomes. ○ Establish and evangelize best practices, design patterns, and standards across the organization. Must Haves 7+ years of experience in product design, with a minimum of 2-3 years in a formal management or leadership role. A proven track record of hiring, mentoring, and leading high-performing design teams in a fast-paced, agile environment. A strategic portfolio that demonstrates how your leadership and design vision drove significant business impact and customer value. Deep domain expertise in fintech or a related industry. Expertise in user-centered design principles and methodologies. Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and build consensus at a senior leadership level. Inside Navi We are shaping the future of financial services for a billion Indians through products that are simple, accessible, and affordable. From Personal & Home Loans to UPI, Insurance, Mutual Funds, and Gold — we’re building tech-first solutions that work at scale, with a strong customer-first approach. Founded by Sachin Bansal & Ankit Agarwal in 2018, we are one of India’s fastest-growing financial services organisations. But we’re just getting started Our Culture The Navi DNA Ambition. Perseverance. Self-awareness. Ownership. Integrity. We’re looking for people who dream big when it comes to innovation. At Navi, you’ll be empowered with the right mechanisms to work in a dynamic team that builds and improves innovative solutions. If you’re driven to deliver real value to customers, no matter the challenge, this is the place for you. We chase excellence by uplifting each other—and that starts with every one of us. Why You'll Thrive at Navi At Navi, it’s about how you think, build, and grow. You’ll thrive here if: You’re impact-driven : You take ownership, build boldly, and care about making a real difference. You strive for excellence : Good isn’t good enough. You bring focus, precision, and a passion for quality. You embrace change : You adapt quickly, move fast, and always put the customer first.