Design Lead

At Catch Design, we help some of New Zealand’s most recognised brands create meaningful, inclusive, and impactful digital experiences. We’re looking for a Design Lead who brings strategic thinking, exceptional UX/UI craft, and a passion for leading design across complex digital engagements.

This is a role for someone who thrives at both the strategic and detailed levels. You’re equally comfortable facilitating research and workshops with senior stakeholders as you are shaping elegant interfaces, mentoring designers, and guiding teams through delivery. You care deeply about creating work that genuinely improves experiences for people—and elevates the standard of digital design.

What you’ll do:

As a Design Lead, you’ll lead design across major projects and accounts, shaping direction from discovery through to delivery. You’ll work closely with clients and cross-functional teams to solve complex problems, align stakeholders, and deliver high-quality digital experiences grounded in insight and executed with craft.

You will:

• Lead the design stream across large-scale or complex digital engagements
• Shape design direction, principles, and approaches aligned to user needs, business goals, and platform requirements
• Plan and lead UX research activities including interviews, usability testing, surveys, and analytics reviews
• Translate strategy and insights into customer journeys, service blueprints, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity UI
• Facilitate workshops and co-design sessions with senior stakeholders and delivery teams
• Maintain high standards across visual design, accessibility, interaction, and design systems
• Collaborate closely with designers, strategists, developers, content specialists, and Producers to deliver cohesive outcomes
• Represent design in strategic conversations, pitches, and client engagements
• Support the growth of client relationships through trusted design leadership.

Mentorship and practice leadership

As a senior leader within the design practice, you’ll help shape how design is done at Catch.

You will:

• Mentor and coach designers to grow their confidence, capability, and autonomy
• Lead critiques and design reviews that uplift quality and consistency across the team
• Contribute to evolving Catch’s design frameworks, systems, tools, and ways of working
• Champion a culture of learning, openness, and continuous improvement
• Share emerging tools, trends, and approaches that keep our work modern and meaningful.

What we’re looking for:

You must already be based in New Zealand and available to work from our office in Auckland.

You’ll bring:

• 6+ years of experience in UX/UI, product, or service design roles
• Proven experience leading complex digital design projects end-to-end
• Deep expertise across user research, design thinking, and interface design
• Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills, with confidence guiding senior clients
• High level of visual design craft across typography, layout, interaction, and accessibility
• Expertise in Figma and experience developing and managing design systems
• Experience working in digital agency, consultancy, or product-focused environments
• A collaborative, thoughtful leadership style and a passion for helping others grow
• The ability to operate strategically while maintaining strong attention to detail.

Most importantly, you’ll embody Catch’s mission: Do good by our team, do good by our clients, and deliver great work.

At Catch, we love what we do and value balance, well-being, and growth. Here’s what you’ll get:

• Flexible working – work from home when you need to, with core hours that fit your lifestyle
• 4 weeks annual leave + 5 ‘Happy days' per year
• Your birthday off!
• Healthcare insurance – including dental and optical, wellness leave, and regular well-being initiatives
• Professional growth – personalised development, learning lunches, and career progression support
• Team culture – central city offices, great snacks, company-wide events

Ready to lead outstanding digital design with a team that cares about quality and impact? Apply now.

To apply, we need the following:

1. A cover letter introducing yourself, telling us why you want to work with us and what excites you most about leading digital design. Please attach or link to your portfolio.
2. An up-to-date CV outlining your relevant experience.
3. At least two references we can contact—direct managers or leads from your recent roles. We won’t call them until things get serious between us... promise.