Senior Manager, Product Design
Summary
Senior design leader at Runna (a running training platform, part of Strava Group): owns design quality and direction across core user journeys, leads a small team of designers while staying hands-on, and partners with Product and Engineering. Hybrid role, 3 days/week in the London office; core focus is design leadership, craft standards, and consumer app design.
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
Runna's product design team has grown quickly, and we're adding a senior design leader to help it scale. As Senior Manager, Product Design, you'll own the craft, quality, and direction of design across several of Runna's core user journeys, leading a small team of designers while staying hands-on in the work yourself. Reporting to our Director of Product Design, you'll be a close partner to Product and Engineering, and help shape what design at Runna becomes as we grow within Strava Group.
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
You'll join Runna's product design team, a group of around 10 designers building the experiences that help runners train, improve, and stay motivated. It's a team that cares deeply about craft and about the runners we serve, and this is a rare moment to help shape its culture and standards as the function scales. You'll work closely with our new Director of Product Design and with Product and Engineering leaders across the business.
What You'll Do
Own the design quality and direction for several of Runna's core user journeys, setting a clear point of view on where the experience should go
Lead and develop a small team of designers (with the potential to manage a manager as the team grows) through consistent coaching, feedback, and 1:1s
Stay hands-on in the craft, giving precise, substantive feedback and setting the standard through your own taste and judgment
Run design reviews and drive alignment on design direction across your journeys
Partner closely with Product and Engineering leaders to shape strategy and ship work at a high bar
Raise the craft bar across the team, establishing standards and a culture where quality is expected and named
Contribute to Runna's broader design system, design culture, and design leadership team
What You'll Bring to the Team
Substantial experience managing and developing product designers, and owning design direction across a multi-product or multi-journey portfolio
A track record of raising craft across a team, setting standards and building a culture where quality is expected and named
Genuine hands-on design ability: a player/coach who sets the craft standard through your own taste and judgment, not management alone
The ability to set and articulate a clear design vision, and bring others along with it
Strong senior partnership with Product and Engineering, including the ability to influence without authority
Experience designing consumer products at scale (an app or platform with a significant user base)
You're based in London, or ready to relocate here
Experience managing other managers is a plus, as this role may grow into a manager-of-managers remit
Experience with health, fitness, sport, or community-driven consumer products, subscription apps, or AI-powered features (like Runna's coaching) is a plus
Compensation & Benefits
We're offering a salary of £117,900 - £131,300 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 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 (which you can take whenever suits you)
📱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!)
🧘 Headspace membership
💸 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!
As published by ashby · 12 questions · 2 written answers
Basics
First & Last Name, Email, Where are you located?, Resume
Short answers (4)
- Please provide your preferred name, if different from your legal name optional
- Phone Number
- Please provide your preferred name (if different from legal name) optional
- We are dedicated to fostering the same safe and inclusive environment for our candidates as our employees. What are your personal gender pronouns? optional
Pick from a list (6)
- If you are not located in London, are you willing to relocate?
- We follow a flexible hybrid model that translates to more than half of your time on-site — three days per week. Are you ok with this requirement?
- Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status?
- Do you have a visa to support your right to work in the UK?
- Have you ever worked at Strava/Runna before?
- I acknowledge that I have read and understood the Strava Candidate Privacy Notice linked below.
Written answers (2)
- Why do you want want to work at Runna?
- LinkedIn Profile optional
