Design Manager
- Sword Health
- Remote Portugal
Job Description
You will be responsible for executing and optimizing best-in-class experiences while managing and mentoring a team. This position requires expertise in brand visuals and product design, ensuring every touchpoint is both visually compelling and conversion-driven.
Critically, this role operates in a highly matrixed environment, spanning multiple product and engineering teams, as well as marketing and business leadership. Success here requires strong communication, the ability to build alignment without direct authority, and the confidence to navigate competing priorities across organizations.
AI fluency is a core expectation at Sword Health. Every candidate is assessed against our three-level framework — be ready to share real examples of how AI is already part of how you work.
Explorer (Level 1) — Uses AI daily to boost personal productivity
Builder (Level 2) — Creates workflows and tools that elevate the whole team
Integrator (Level 3) — Embeds AI into products and processes at scale
Every hire must demonstrate at least Level 1. The expected level will vary depending on the seniority of the role.
What you’ll be doing:
Own and drive design initiatives that optimize acquisition and conversion across key touchpoints;
Design and iterate on high-impact growth experiences, including campaigns, client emails, landing pages, and onboarding flows;
Balance strong brand storytelling with conversion-driven design principles to maximize performance;
Drive alignment across marketing, product, engineering, and data teams, navigating competing priorities, advocating for design quality, and ensuring work lands with clarity at every level of the organization;
Communicate design strategy and rationale clearly to senior leadership and executive stakeholders, translating design decisions into business impact;
Navigate ambiguity and conflicting priorities across teams, building trust and consensus without direct authority;
Leverage data, A/B testing, and insights to continuously refine and improve user journeys;
Manage, mentor, and inspire a team of designers, ensuring high-quality execution and professional growth;
Ensure insights, assets, and learnings are shared and leveraged across your direct team;
Advocate for user-centered design while balancing growth and performance goals;
Follow experimentation methodologies and frameworks to test and validate design decisions;
Analyze user behavior, conversion rates, and engagement metrics to inform iterative improvements;
Stay up-to-date with industry trends, tools, and best practices in growth and performance design.
What you need to have:
7+ years of experience in design, with at least 3+ years in a growth, marketing, or performance design role;
Strong leadership experience, with the ability to mentor, guide, and inspire a team;
Proven track record of executing high-performing design solutions for acquisition and retention;
Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional partners and senior stakeholders, building alignment, navigating pushback, and communicating design decisions with clarity and confidence;
Experience working in a fast-paced, matrixed environment with multiple product and engineering teams, balancing priorities across stakeholders with different and sometimes competing goals;
Deep expertise in visual and product design, able to balance aesthetics with business impact;
Experience designing across multiple growth channels, including email, social, paid media, websites, and onboarding flows;
Proficiency in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and other relevant design tools;
Strong understanding of A/B testing, CRO (Conversion Rate Optimization), and user analytics tools (Google Analytics, Hotjar, or similar).
