VP, Design & Research

Get to know Okta

Okta is The World’s Identity Company. We free everyone to safely use any technology, anywhere, on any device or app. Our flexible and neutral products, Okta Platform and Auth0 Platform, provide secure access, authentication, and automation, placing identity at the core of business security and growth.

At Okta, we celebrate a variety of perspectives and experiences. We are not looking for someone who checks every single box - we’re looking for lifelong learners and people who can make us better with their unique experiences.

Join our team! We’re building a world where Identity belongs to you.

The Team

The Design and Research team at Okta works cross-functionally to drive world-class customer experiences. The team encompasses Product Design, UX Research, Content Design, and Design Operations (ResearchOps/DesignOps). We own complex, technical product areas and ensure the most seamless customer experience is also the safest one.

The Role

We’re looking for a strategic, people-first leader to grow, elevate, and unify the entire Product Design function (including UX Research, Product Design, Visual Design, and Content Design). This leader will strengthen the influence of user experience and design excellence across all levels of Okta and deepen collaboration with Product and Engineering. This role reports directly to the Chief Product Officer.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and grow the entire organization: Manage and develop managers and ICs across all disciplines (Product Design, UX Research, Content Design, Design Ops & Research Ops) within Okta’s Workforce and Personal product portfolios.
• Be a people-first leader: Foster well-being, belonging, and professional growth across all roles in the Design and Research team.
• Champion inclusion: Build and sustain a diverse, equitable, and inclusive team culture, ensuring inclusive and secure-by-design practices are embedded into the product development lifecycle.
• Expand strategic impact: Partner with Product, Engineering, and executive leaders to embed a cohesive design strategy and user-centered decision-making into product planning, execution, and outcomes.
• Shape team culture and vision: Define and uphold the Design & Research team’s values, direction, and operational excellence, ensuring seamless collaboration between all disciplines.
• Drive scalability and efficiency: Identify and address organizational or process gaps to support the growth and efficiency of the end-to-end design process, including DesignOps and ResearchOps.
• Represent Design and Research internally and externally: Advocate for world-class user-centered design and innovation across Okta and serve as a visible thought leader for the design and research communities.
• Drive Design AI Evolution: Lead the evolution of the Design organization's skill set as Design embeds AI tooling and thinking in the product development process.
• Systems Thinking: Apply advanced systems thinking to map complex customer journeys and product ecosystems, ensuring all design initiatives are holistically integrated, scalable across multiple platforms, and contribute to a unified, cohesive brand experience.

What You’ll Bring

• Proven leadership: 5+ years managing and developing managers and teams across multiple product design disciplines (e.g., UX/Product Design, UX Research, Content Design).
• Deep product design expertise: 10+ years conducting, leading, or directing high-impact, multi-method product design and research work with measurable product and business impact.
• Team builder: Experience hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing, values-driven design and research teams.
• Strategic mindset: Skilled in defining the holistic product design strategy and translating customer insights and design specifications into business and product outcomes.
• Influential communicator: Exceptional storytelling and executive communication skills, with the ability to connect design excellence and research findings to business value.
• Collaborative operator: Proven success partnering cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, and GTM teams to deliver unified product experiences.
• Adaptability: Comfortable leading through growth, transformation, and change.

Leadership Competencies

At Okta, our leaders embody our five core competencies:

• Builds Effective Teams – Creates strong, diverse teams that deliver shared results.
• Demonstrates Self-Awareness – Reflects, listens, and grows from feedback.
• Develops Talent – Invests in people’s growth and career goals.
• Drives Results – Achieves outcomes, even in challenging environments.
• Strategic Mindset – Anticipates future needs and shapes breakthrough strategies.

Aligned with Okta’s values — Love our customers, Empower our people, Never stop innovating, Act with integrity, and Maintain transparency — this role is pivotal in shaping the future of design and research at Okta.