Design Lead

PROJECT This position is only for a particular project, not a full time inhouse position. In this case, the social package (sick leaves, days off, vacation, necessary equipment provision, etc) is not covered by Selecto. Domain: Sport Broadcasting Description: We are designing a flexible, scalable multi-platform digital experience across responsive web, mobile apps, and connected TV, delivered through a comprehensive design system. The goal is to ensure a consistent and high-quality user experience across all digital touchpoints, compliant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards, and capable of smoothly shifting between lower-intensity "Flame to Flame" periods and peak-demand "Games Time" moments. The experience must serve a global, multilingual audience and perform reliably during major traffic spikes. Team: Design Lead, Multidisciplinary designers (UX, UI, motion, accessibility specialist), Project Manager, Design Directors, Content and Development teams. Timeline: full time, 6 months with the possibility of prolongation

Location:
Madrid, Spain only. There is a possibility of working from the client's office once a week. Languages: Fluent English, Fluent Spanish is a plus. This role is the strategic and creative anchor of project, and the face of the client in Madrid. You own the vision and quality of a multi-platform design system spanning responsive web, native mobile (iOS and Android) and, potentially, connected TV (Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku), across two fundamentally different operating modes: the high-intensity, real-time data environment and the editorial, content-discovery focus. You look at the product as a whole, not ticket by ticket. You set the design direction, govern the design system, guide the team's craft and hold the day-to-day relationship with the client, in person in Madrid, ideally once a week. You bridge strategic intent and hands‐on delivery, so the team works to one vision and the client feels the difference.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy & Client Partnership
* Hold the strategic view of the product and turn its objectives, priorities and brand evolution into a clear design direction and a deliverable plan.
* Anticipate needs and frame decisions proactively; work with the Project Director on scope, estimates and growth opportunities.
* Act as the trusted creative partner to the client: lead day‐to‐day communication, build relationships with Product Managers, manage expectations, take feedback with composure, and present to senior stakeholders in a multi‐vendor environment.
* Be on site in Madrid, ideally weekly, for reviews, workshops and working sessions. Design Quality & Team Leadership
* Set and hold the quality bar: run critiques, review all significant output before it reaches the client, and give direct feedback.
* Manage and coach the remote delivery team (Senior Product Designers and Product Designers across European time zones); grow seniors into leads.
* Set briefs, manage sprint workloads, protect focus, and coordinate with vendors and engineering partners.
* Define quality gates, review workflows and design operations frameworks that scale across engagements.
* Stay hands‐on for explorations, key screens and defining moments. Design System
* Architect and govern an atomic design system (tokens, components, patterns) across responsive web, native mobile and connected TV.
* Design for high‐density real‐time data (live results, schedules, medals), editorial storytelling and content discovery, plus TV‐specific interaction (remote navigation, 10‐foot UI, lean‐back viewing).
* Build in accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA), multilingual support and RTL from the start.
* Define contribution models, handoff protocols, documentation and versioning so client teams and vendors can extend the system safely. Design Engineering & AI
* Work where design meets code: tokens, coded prototypes and the component library as living sources of truth.
* Use AI for prototyping, asset generation, automated QA and routine production; champion adoption with the team and client, with judgement on where craft stays human. Research & Validation
* Shape and support user testing with the client and research partners, turning findings into design decisions.
* Build the evidence base for recommendations: testing, analytics and benchmarks. PROFILE
* Senior design leader (typically 10+ years) experienced in complex, large organisations with many stakeholders, vendors and governance.
* Background in major events, sports, broadcast or streaming preferred; live, real‐time data experience is an advantage.
* Proven track record building and governing enterprise‐scale, multi‐platform design systems (web, native mobile, and TV).
* Fluent English (Spanish a plus), confident presenting to senior stakeholders.
* Based in Madrid, able to be on site ideally weekly (travel costs partially covered).
* Strategic, tasteful, calm under pressure and decisive; comfortable as the mostsenior design voice in the ro