Head of Design (Remote - Work from Anywhere)

Work from anywhere, impact everywhere Diversity is at the heart of who we are at Xapo Bank. We’re a fully distributed team of over 160 Xapiens that work remotely from 50+ countries around the world. Our beginning: A world that enjoys economic freedom and wealth protection,no matter where you live or who is running your country. To achieve that, we search the world for the best people for the job. We work hard, think globally, and inspire each other to learn and grow. We are committed to changing the way things are done. Although we are headquartered in Gibraltar, this is a full time, 100% remote position Work from anywhere! Position overview We are looking for a VP of Design to own the measurable quality of Xapo's end-to-end user experience, not just the aesthetic of it. Sitting as a peer to the VP of Product and CTO, you will be accountable for the metrics that prove design is working: conversion and drop-off rates through onboarding and KYC flows, task-completion and error rates in core journeys, app store ratings, and design-system adoption across teams. You will run the product design function operationally — owning headcount, prioritization, and output — while ensuring our UX safely handles complex payment rails, private banking interactions, and crypto-native features without adding friction. Responsibilities Own design performance metrics Take direct accountability for usability and conversion metrics across core flows — onboarding completion rate, task success rate, time-on-task, support-ticket volume linked to UX issues, and app store ratings (iOS/Android) — and report progress against targets quarterly. Lead and scale the team Line-manage, develop, and performance-manage a remote team of Product and UX/UI Designers, removing single-person dependencies and setting clear output expectations (e.g. prototype turnaround time, design review cycle time). Govern the Xapo Design System Own adoption of the design system as a tracked metric (% of UI built from system components) across mobile, web, and backend-driven features, and hold engineering and design teams accountable for compliance. Operationalize user discovery Set a minimum cadence for usability testing and customer discovery per major release, and require that findings convert into measurable backlog items, not just insights. Partner across Product Groups (PGCs) Embed designers into Stream Aligned Teams (Customer Acquisition, Payments, Wealth Management) with shared friction-reduction targets — e.g. reducing onboarding steps or time-to-first-transaction by a defined percentage. Pressure-test before build Mandate high-fidelity prototyping and usability testing as a gate before engineering handoff, with a target reduction in post-launch UX defects/rework. Hold the quality bar post-launch Review shipped product against platform and app-store benchmarks on a fixed cycle, and own remediation of any flow that falls below agreed thresholds. Govern AI in design responsibly Partner with the CISO and AI engineering teams on a governed framework for AI-assisted design and personalization, with clear approval and monitoring steps before any AI-driven UI ships. Skills needed Executive design leadership 8+ years in design, including 4+ years at Director/VP level owning a design function inside a regulated digital bank, high-scale fintech, or crypto/web3 platform, with direct accountability for measurable UX outcomes. Track record on metrics Demonstrable history of moving specific product metrics (conversion, completion, NPS/CSAT, app store rating) through design changes, with the data to evidence it. Native mobile mastery Deep, evidenced portfolio of native iOS and Android design shipped at scale, with strict platform compliance. Design systems at scale Proven experience building and governing a component-driven design system across multiple engineering teams, including adoption tracking. Complex flow design Experience mapping and shipping multi-step, high-stakes flows — wealth management tools, real-time transaction tracking, security/KYC setups. Quantitative fluency Comfortable defending design decisions to executives using telemetry, funnel data, and research, not just craft rationale. Crypto/fintech literacy Working knowledge of transaction states, card networks, and blockchain payment flows; Bitcoin-native design experience is a strong advantage. Operational leadership style A direct, accountable management style — clear feedback, defined output targets for the team, and removal of bottlenecks/silos. Other requirements A dedicated workspace. A reliable internet connection with the fastest speed possible in your area. Alignment with Our Values and the Xapo Values-Driven Leadership principles. Why work for Xapo? Impact Globally, Work Remotely. Shape the Future Improve lives through cutting-edge technology, work 100% remotely from anywhere in the world. Great work-life balance Build amazing things with a balance of autonomy and collaborative teamwork. Set your own work schedule and make use of a flexible PTO plan when you need to recharge. Expect Excellence Collaborate, learn, and grow with a high-performance team. Learn how you learn best - from books to conferences, you’ll get a yearly budget for your individual learning and development goals. At Xapo, we prioritize consumer protection and adhere to regulatory requirements by ensuring that all Xapiens are accountable for upholding principles of fair treatment, transparency, and ethical conduct in their interactions with customers and stakeholders.