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Vice President of Design & Research

First American
: $230,875 - $307,825 Annual
sick time, 401(k)
United States, California, Santa Ana
1 First American Way (Show on map)
Apr 15, 2025
Who We Are Join a team that puts its People First! Since 1889, First American (NYSE: FAF) has held an unwavering belief in its people. They are passionate about what they do, and we are equally passionate about fostering an environment where all feel welcome, supported, and empowered to be innovative and reach their full potential. Our inclusive, people-first culture has earned our company numerous accolades, including being named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list for ten consecutive years. We have also earned awards as a best place to work for women, diversity and LGBTQ+ employees, and have been included on more than 50 regional best places to work lists. First American will always strive to be a great place to work, for all. For more information, please visit www.careers.firstam.com. What We Do We are seeking a strategic Vice President of Design and Research to lead and elevate our design and user research teams. This role is pivotal in driving user-centered innovation and shaping the overall experience of our products and services. You will work closely with cross-functional leaders, including Product and Engineering to ensure our designs not only meet business goals but also delight our users.
As the VP of Design and Research, you will champion design thinking across the organization, elevate the role of research in decision-making, and create a culture of collaboration and excellence.
*This is a remote role

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership and Strategy

  • Define and execute the vision for design and research in alignment with company goals.
  • Build and lead a world-class team of designers, researchers, and strategists.
  • Advocate for user-centric approaches to problem-solving and decision-making at the executive level.
  • Lead the strategic consolidation of all user-experience research (UXR) teams under a single function, driving user-centered innovation and delivering exceptional experiences across our real estate products and services.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to establish the design and research function as a strategic driver of business outcomes.

Design Excellence

  • Oversee the creation of intuitive, visually appealing, and innovative designs for all products and services.
  • Ensure design systems and processes are scalable, consistent, and reflect our brand identity.
  • Encourage experimentation and innovation in design to stay ahead of industry trends.
  • Promote measurable impact by linking design outcomes to business KPIs and user satisfaction.

Research and Insights

  • Guide the research team in uncovering deep user insights to inform product strategy and innovation.
  • Integrate quantitative and qualitative research methods to validate designs and improve the user experience.
  • Establish frameworks for measuring the impact of design and research initiatives on user satisfaction and business KPIs.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Partner with Product Management and Engineering to ensure cohesive product development cycles.
  • Work with Marketing, Brand and Operations teams to ensure alignment between product and overall brand identity.
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on design and research trends, opportunities, and challenges.

Qualifications:

  • 12+ years of experience in design and user research, with at least 5 years in leadership roles.
  • Proven track record of delivering innovative, user-centered products in a fast-paced environment.
  • Strong expertise in design systems, UX/UI best practices, and modern research methodologies.
  • Demonstrated success in scaling design and research teams.
  • Exceptional leadership, communication, and storytelling skills.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience working in a technology or software company.
  • Background in enterprise, SaaS, or consumer-facing digital products.
  • Familiarity with design tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe Creative Suite.
  • Advanced understanding of data-driven approaches to design and research.

Why Join Us?

  • Be at the forefront of shaping user experiences that impact millions.
  • Collaborate with passionate, driven, and innovative professionals.
  • Enjoy a culture that values creativity, inclusivity, and personal growth.

Pay Range: $230,875 - $307,825 Annually

This hiring range is a reasonable estimate of the base pay range for this position at the time of posting. Pay is based on a number of factors which may include job-related knowledge, skills, experience, business requirements and geographic location.

#ST2

** Note that the following statements only apply to candidates who will be working from an unincorporated area within Los Angeles County. **
First American will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws (e.g., the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act).
First American intends to conduct a review of an applicant's criminal history in connection with a conditional offer. First American reasonably believes that a criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following material job duties for this position potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment: handling of confidential, proprietary or trade secret information belonging to First American or its customers, administrating or facilitating financial transactions, and the ability to meet customer-imposed criminal history requirements.
What We Offer By choice, we don't simply accept individuality - we embrace it, we support it, and we thrive on it! Our People First Culture celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion not simply because it's the right thing to do, but also because it's the key to our success. We are proud to foster an authentic and inclusive workplace For All. You are free and encouraged to bring your entire, unique self to work. First American is an equal opportunity employer in every sense of the term. Based on eligibility, First American offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401k, PTO/paid sick leave and other great benefits like an employee stock purchase plan.
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