Head of Design

About the role

Fnkt Creative Studio Ltd is a Malta-based digital design and product studio working with local and international clients across iGaming, fintech and hospitality. We are a tight-knit team of designers, developers and strategists based in Sliema and Gżira, delivering high-quality brand, product and UX work for both B2B and B2C products.

The Head of Design will own the end-to-end design function: setting the visual and UX strategy, leading a multidisciplinary team of senior and mid-level designers, mentoring and recruiting talent, and ensuring design output meets commercial and technical requirements. You will work closely with product, engineering and commercial leads to align design with business goals and to raise the studio’s delivery standards.

This is a strategic, hands-on leadership role for an experienced design lead who enjoys shaping processes and culture as well as contributing directly to product work. The position offers exposure to international projects, a hybrid work model, a competitive compensation package and opportunities to grow the design practice within a supportive Maltese studio environment.

Joining Fnkt means working in an international, English-speaking environment where Maltese is also used. The studio values clarity, collaboration and continual learning — ideal for a senior leader who wants to make a visible impact in a compact island market while working on projects with global reach.

About Fnkt Creative Studio Ltd

Fnkt Creative Studio Ltd is an independent digital design agency headquartered in Sliema, Malta. We specialise in product design, brand identity and UX for clients in iGaming, fintech and hospitality. The team blends local market knowledge with international delivery standards.

What you can expect

• Modern seafront office in Sliema with hybrid flexibility
• Competitive senior salary and performance-related bonus
• Professional development budget and conference support
• Clear progression to executive leadership roles
• Opportunity to lead cross-disciplinary teams on international projects

Key responsibilities

• Define and execute the overall design strategy across brand, product and UX for the studio’s portfolio.
• Lead, coach and grow a team of senior and mid-level designers, fostering a strong design culture and regular critique practices.
• Own visual language and design system governance; ensure consistency across products and client deliverables.
• Collaborate with product managers, engineers and stakeholders to convert business objectives into intuitive user experiences.
• Participate in client-facing meetings to present concepts, roadmaps and design rationale.
• Set hiring priorities for the design team and lead recruitment, onboarding and performance reviews.
• Implement processes, templates and KPIs to measure design impact and delivery quality.
• Contribute hands-on to high-priority design work, including UI, UX flows, prototyping and motion where required.

Requirements

• Minimum 7+ years of design experience with at least 3 years in a leadership role (Head/Lead/Design Director).
• Strong portfolio demonstrating product design, UX, visual design and system thinking across web and mobile.
• Proven experience building and managing a multi-disciplinary design team in an agency or product environment.
• Fluency with modern design tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Cloud and prototyping tools.
• Deep understanding of UX principles, user research methods and accessibility best practices.
• Excellent communication skills in English; Maltese language skills are a plus but not mandatory.
• Right to work in Malta or eligibility to obtain work authorisation (candidates must be able to legally work in Malta).
• Availability to work from the Sliema office several days per week as part of a hybrid arrangement.

How to apply

Send your CV, a link to your portfolio and a brief cover note including your current notice period and salary expectations via the application form on our careers page or by email.