Design Director

About Us

Nu is one of the largest digital financial platforms in the world with more than 122 million customers across Brazil Mexico and Colombia. Guided by our mission to fight complexity and empower people we are redefining financial services in Latin America and this is still just the beginning of the purple future were building.

Listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: NU) we combine proprietary technology data intelligence and an efficient operating model to deliver financial products that are simple accessible and human.

Our impact has been recognized by global rankings such as Time 100 Companies Fast Companys Most Innovative Companies and Forbes Worlds Best Bank. Visit our institutional page the team

This role is part of Nubanks Brazil Design leadership with the objective of defining and centralizing the countrys design strategy. The teams scope includes Investments High Income (Ultravioleta) Core Digital Ecosystem and PJ. The Design Director will collaborate with senior GMs who have design leadership in their domains ensuring consistency across design systems and alignment with the app team. The role operates in a matrix with product-oriented and operational aspects aiming to unify design efforts and ensure cohesive execution across business units.

About the role

The Design Director will lead the Brazil design organization responsible for establishing a consistent design system integrating teams across product areas and balancing strategic vision with hands-on creative direction. This leader will oversee senior design managers work closely with cross-functional partners and ensure design execution aligns with business needs. The position requires strong creative leadership the ability to operate within complex systems and close collaboration without defaulting to consensus. Ideal candidates will demonstrate both exceptional design skills and the capability to lead medium-to-large design teams particularly within global product environments. While experience in Latin American markets is a plus.

Key responsibilities and Expectations

• Define and centralize Brazils design strategy ensuring integration across Investments High Income (Ultravioleta) Core Digital Ecosystem and PJ business units.
• Establish and maintain a consistent design system for Brazil working in close alignment with the app team and product squads.
• Partner with senior GMs Product Engineering Marketing and Business leaders to align design initiatives with company objectives.
• Hire manage and mentor senior-level design leaders fostering a balance between creative excellence and operational effectiveness.
• Lead the unification of design processes ensuring a cohesive approach across medium-to-large team structures and diverse product lines.
• Combine strategic vision with hands-on creative direction contributing to both high-level design frameworks and detailed execution.
• Collaborate closely with stakeholders to develop hiring plans structure proposals and define governance for design in Brazil.
• Balance collaboration with critical decision-making maintaining a clear and confident design point of view.
• Support operational and product-oriented aspects of the core design organization driving both efficiency and creative impact.

Qualifications

Professional Experience & Education:

• Higher education in Design Business Technology or a related field (Industrial Design Fine Arts Engineering Business Administration).
• Extensive experience in design leadership roles within global technology or digital product organizations.
• Proven track record in building restructuring or optimizing design functions in complex multi-stakeholder environments.
• Experience leading medium-to-large design teams including those with design systems spanning multiple products.
• Demonstrated ability to work in global app environments.
• Strong creative direction skills with the ability to be hands on when needed and collaborate effectively across disciplines.
• Familiarity with Latin American markets is a plus.
• Expertise in design systems UX/UI principles and product integration across diverse platforms.

Competences & Attributes:

• Fluency in English is mandatory; Portuguese and Spanish are a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to balance collaboration with confident decision-making maintaining a clear design point of view.
• Proven experience leading senior-level design leaders and design teams ensuring high-quality creative outcomes while integrating operational efficiency.
• Strong capability to shape and communicate a cohesive design vision connecting strategic goals with hands on creative direction.
• Skilled at evaluating and challenging creative work with a focus on evidence of exceptional design quality rather than solely organizational leadership.
• Ability to work effectively across global product environments navigating complex stakeholder landscapes and multiple product areas.
• Comfortable operating at both strategic and tactical levels contributing directly to design when needed while fostering team growth.
• Exceptional at connecting with teams challenging ideas and driving collaboration across senior leadership and cross-functional teams.

Work Model for this Role

Hybrid 2-3 times/week: Our hybrid work model brings us to the office at least twice a week on strategic days designed to maximize team connection and collaboration. For more details visit Experience:

Director