Lead design strategy for major product areas or cross-product initiatives Drive complex, ambiguous projects from discovery through launch across multiple teams Set design standards, patterns, and best practices that others follow Identify and solve systemic design problems across products Partner with senior product and engineering leadership on strategy Mentor and sponsor senior and mid-level designers (informally, no direct reports) Make critical design decisions that affect multiple teams Contribute significantly to design system strategy and evolution Represent design in organisational planning and cross-functional forums Identify strategic opportunities that weren't on the roadmap