About this Director of Product Design role at Runna
We're putting together a talented team to build the #1 training platform for Runners
We help everyday runners become outstanding by building an incredible app providing world-class training, coaching and community for everyone, whether you're improving your 5k time or training for your first marathon.
We’re growing extremely fast! In November 2023 we closed a $6.5M funding round led by JamJar with participation from Eka Ventures, Venrex and Creator Ventures. In 2024, we were selected by Apple as one of three global finalists for the iPhone app of the year, reflecting the innovation and impact of what we’ve built & in 2025 we were acquired by Strava!
Our ambition is huge: to become the go-to global leading training platform for millions of runners everywhere. We’re growing with purpose and looking for people who want to build something meaningful with lasting impact. With the recent acquisition by Strava accelerating our journey, now is a really magical time to join. 🚀
About This Role
We're looking for a Director of Product Design to lead design across the Runna app and set the craft bar for one of the most loved products in running, especially as AI becomes a larger competitive threat and bigger part of the experience. You'll own the design vision and strategy, elevate quality across every surface from information architecture to interaction to visual design, and grow the design team into a strategic, high-performing function with an emerging design-lead layer. It's a rare opportunity to shape product design at a category-leading, Apple-recognised app at a defining moment, as we grow our global community and integrate more deeply with Strava.
We follow a flexible hybrid model that translates to more than half of your time on-site – 3 days per week in Runna's office based in London, UK.
The Team You'll Join
Product Design sits at the heart of the business, working hand in hand with product management and engineering to turn real runner needs into experiences people love. You'll lead designers embedded across our product squads and own our design system, reporting directly to the Managing Director. It's a team that cares deeply about craft, moves quickly, and has genuine ownership over the experience millions of runners rely on.
What You'll Do
Set the design vision and strategy for Runna, and act as a strategic thought partner to product and engineering leadership.
Lead and develop the product design team, including growing and coaching a design lead as the team scales.
Own the design quality bar across native and web, giving feedback from information architecture through interaction to visual design.
Build out and evolve our design system, partnering with brand, creative, and research to drive consistency and quality.
Translate user needs and business goals into design decisions that move activation, engagement, and retention.
Develop a playbook for shipping quickly without compromising craft, including reducing design-review time.
Assess and uplevel talent, shape the team's operating model, and grow the function as Runna scales.
What You'll Bring to the Team
Substantial experience leading and developing product designers in a consumer (B2C) product environment, including managing through a lead and setting the scalable, strategic foundations of the function.
A track record of translating user needs and business goals into design strategy and shipped outcomes.
Strong command of design systems and a history of driving consistency and quality across a product.
Excellent cross-functional communication and the ability to influence product and engineering leaders.
A portfolio that shows both strong UI craft and sound UX judgment, with evidence of real product impact.
The ability to balance velocity and quality when shipping under real constraints.
Experience in fitness, health, or wellness products is a plus.
Experience scaling design teams and design systems efficiently is a plus.
Compensation & Benefits
We're offering a salary of £150,000 - £160,000, plus participation in Strava's long-term incentive (stock) programs.
We're also committed to continually evolving our benefits to support you as we grow. Here is a brief overview of what we currently offer in the UK 🇬🇧
🏢 Flexible working – we typically spend 3 days a week together in our Vauxhall office
🏝️ 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays
📱 Free Runna & Strava subscriptions for you and 3 of your friends (get ready to be your friends' fave person or save them for holiday presents!)
💸 Money every year to spend on gear, events and the gym!
🏥 Private health insurance with Bupa and workplace pension scheme
💖 Modern Health is a mental wellness platform and app that combines technology with professional support to improve mental well-being and reduce stress
🥕 Carrot fertility support — this benefits provider can provide inclusive fertility, hormonal health, and family-forming benefits to our global employee population and takes the burden off what we know can be a stressful process
Please see more info on our benefits here: Benefits at Runna
Our Interview Process
Our aim is to keep the interview process as straightforward and enjoyable as possible. We'll share the specific stages with you at the start of the process, but you can expect a mix of introductory conversations, role-specific discussions, and the opportunity to meet the team.
Please let us know if there's anything we can do to better accommodate you throughout the interview process. This can range from scheduling interviews around childcare commitments to accessibility requirements. We want you to show your best self in the process, so please speak to your Talent Partner!
