Chief UX Designer (m/w/d) | HR SaaS | Full remote DE

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Chief UX Designer (m/w/d)

Company: Kooku Recruiting GmbH (on behalf of GIP – Gesellschaft für innovative Personalwirtschaftssysteme mbh)

Location: Full Remote (Germany, EU upon consultation) / Offenbach am Main / Leipzig

Job Type: Full-time / Part-time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design / HR SaaS

Date Posted: July 30, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote (within Germany/EU) or Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Strategic UX Leadership: Drive the company-wide UX vision and establish overarching product design concepts and UX guidelines for the KIDICAP® HR SaaS platform.

• User-Centric Process Implementation: Define and oversee methodologies for design and implementation, ensuring a user-centered approach across all product development cycles.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as a key liaison between stakeholders, customers, designers, and developers, fostering a shared understanding of user needs and product strategy.

• Agile Integration: Champion and embed Design Thinking principles within Scrum teams, enhancing the integration of UX expertise into agile development processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Chief UX Designer," the responsibilities and experience level suggest a senior individual contributor or lead role rather than a traditional executive chief position. The focus is on hands-on design leadership and process ownership within product development. The "m/w/d" signifies gender diversity inclusion, common in German job postings.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and articulate the overarching UX vision for the company's HR SaaS product suite.

• Create and maintain product-agnostic user experience concepts and establish comprehensive UX guidelines.

• Define, implement, and monitor effective methods for UX design and its integration into the development lifecycle.

• Conduct user research and context analysis to deeply understand end-user needs and translate these into high-level product concepts.

• Engage in stakeholder management, providing UX insights to support product roadmap planning and strategic decision-making.

• Lead and manage cross-product initiatives aimed at unifying and enhancing the overall user experience.

• Actively promote and facilitate the adoption of user-centered Design Thinking within Scrum development teams.

• Ensure design compliance with accessibility standards (BITV/WCAG), particularly for legacy system migrations.

• Collaborate with development teams to integrate AI-driven concepts and tools into the design workflow and product features.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a strategic and leadership-oriented role focused on defining and implementing UX best practices across multiple products within an established HR SaaS ecosystem. The emphasis on stakeholder management, roadmap support, and cross-product initiatives highlights the need for strong communication and strategic thinking.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• A completed university degree in Design, Media Informatics, or a closely related field. Experience:

• Proven professional experience in UX Design, Requirements Engineering, Conceptual Design, Visual Design, and Prototyping.

• Demonstrated experience in organizing and transforming agile organizational structures and processes.

• Experience in managing legacy system migrations from a UX perspective. Required Skills:

• UX Design & Strategy: Expertise in developing UX visions, product-wide concepts, and UX guidelines.

• User-Centered Design: Deep understanding and practical application of the User Centered Design Process and its methodologies (e.g., context analysis, personas, usability testing).

• Design Tools: Proficiency with industry-standard design and prototyping tools, specifically Figma.

• Agile Methodologies: Experience working within agile frameworks, particularly Scrum, and integrating design principles into sprints.

• Accessibility Standards: Knowledge of barrier-free design principles and standards (BITV, WCAG).

• Communication & Stakeholder Management: Strong ability to communicate effectively with customers, stakeholders, designers, and developers.

• AI in Design: Familiarity with leveraging AI both as a tool within the design workflow and for creating AI-supported user concepts.

• Legacy Migration: Experience in managing UX aspects of migrating from older systems to newer platforms.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI-powered design tools and workflows.

• Experience in HR SaaS or enterprise software environments.

• Familiarity with international UX standards and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The combination of required skills—including specific tools like Figma, methodologies like User Centered Design and Design Thinking, and technical knowledge like accessibility and AI in design—points to a need for a seasoned UX professional capable of both strategic leadership and hands-on execution. The mention of legacy migration is a critical differentiator for this role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a strong portfolio demonstrating the development of UX visions and comprehensive product strategies.

• Include case studies that illustrate the application of User Centered Design methodologies and process optimization.

• Provide examples of how you have defined and implemented UX guidelines and design systems.

• Demonstrate experience in managing the UX aspects of legacy system migrations, highlighting challenges and solutions.

• Present examples of AI-driven design concepts or workflows you have developed or utilized. Process Documentation:

• Detail your approach to defining and documenting UX processes from initial concept to implementation and ongoing refinement.

• Illustrate how you have established and monitored methods for design and implementation within agile teams.

• Provide examples of how you measure the impact and effectiveness of UX initiatives using relevant metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior UX role, a robust portfolio is paramount. It should not only showcase visual design but also strategic thinking, process ownership, and the ability to drive change. Demonstrating a deep understanding of the entire UX lifecycle, from research to implementation and iteration, with a focus on measurable outcomes and adaptability (especially for legacy systems), will be key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Given the "Chief" title, full remote status in Germany (a strong economy), and the specific requirements (5-10 years experience, specialized skills), a competitive salary range is expected. For a Chief UX Designer in Germany with this experience, the range could typically fall between €70,000 and €95,000 annually, depending on exact experience, specific EU location, and negotiation.

• [If not specified, provide region-appropriate operations industry standard range based on role, experience level, and location, with explanation for the estimate and research methodology]

• Methodology: This estimate is based on market data for senior UX/Product Design roles in Germany, considering the high demand for experienced professionals in the HR SaaS sector and the flexibility of a fully remote position within the EU. Data sources typically include industry salary surveys (e.g., Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, local HR consultancies) adjusted for the specified experience level and the nature of the role.

Benefits:

• New Work Philosophy: 100% Home Office option (with occasional travel to clients/conferences), with flexible workspace options at company locations in Offenbach and Leipzig.

• Personal Growth: Challenging role in an agile environment with open communication and a motivated team.

• Flexible Working Hours: Free time management and a family-friendly culture.

• Performance-Based Rewards: Participation in company success through bonuses and premiums.

• Generous Leave: 30 days of vacation plus up to 12 additional days via a working time account.

• Sabbatical Option: Opportunity for extended leave.

• Professional Development: Regular internal/external training and individual learning agreements.

• Employee Discounts: Pluxee Benefits Card and Corporate Benefits discounts.

• On-site Amenities: Canteen available at Leipzig and Offenbach locations.

• Retirement Planning: Employer-funded company pension scheme.

Working Hours:

• Full-time (40 hours/week) or Part-time.

• Flexible working hours with free time management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The benefits package is comprehensive, emphasizing flexibility and employee well-being, aligning with "New Work" principles. The inclusion of performance bonuses and significant vacation days, alongside professional development opportunities, makes this an attractive offer for senior professionals. The salary estimation is based on common market rates for similar roles in Germany.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software Manufacturing (HR SaaS), Public Sector & Social Employers.

Company Size: Approximately 200 employees. This size indicates a stable, established company with room for growth and impact, but not so large as to be overly bureaucratic.

Founded: KIDICAP® has been on the market for 40 years, indicating a long-standing presence and deep expertise in the HR technology space. The company itself, GIP, is a leader in innovative HR systems.

Team Structure:

• The Chief UX Designer will be part of the development teams, working closely with Scrum teams.

• They will likely interact with product management, engineering leads, and potentially customer success or sales teams for stakeholder input.

• The role involves mentoring and guiding Scrum teams, suggesting a leadership presence within the development function. Methodology:

• Agile Development: The company operates with Scrum teams, indicating an agile and iterative approach to product development.

• User-Centric Design: A strong emphasis is placed on understanding user contexts and applying user-centered design principles.

• Data-Driven Insights: While not explicitly stated for UX, the overall context of an HR SaaS provider suggests a reliance on data for product improvement and strategic decision-making.

• Continuous Improvement: The mention of "New Work" and ongoing professional development points to a culture that values evolution and adaptation.

Company Website: https://www.gip-online.de/ (Direct company website, Kooku Recruiting GmbH is the recruitment partner)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company has a long history with a flagship product (KIDICAP®) and serves a significant market (public sector/social employers). This implies a need for robust, reliable, and user-friendly solutions. The "New Work" approach combined with agile methodologies suggests a modern, dynamic, yet established work environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a senior leadership role within UX design, often referred to as "Chief" or "Lead" UX Designer. It signifies a high level of autonomy, strategic influence, and responsibility for defining and executing the user experience strategy across the product portfolio. It's a critical role in ensuring product adoption, user satisfaction, and competitive differentiation for the HR SaaS platform.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Chief UX Designer typically reports to a Head of Product, CTO, or a similar senior product/technology executive. They will, however, work very closely with and provide guidance to multiple Scrum teams.

Operations Impact: The Chief UX Designer's impact is directly tied to the usability, effectiveness, and adoption of the KIDICAP® HR SaaS platform. A strong UX strategy leads to increased customer satisfaction, reduced support costs, improved user efficiency for HR professionals, and ultimately, enhanced market competitiveness and revenue growth. By ensuring a unified and intuitive UX across products, they contribute to a cohesive customer journey and brand perception.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow into a Head of Design or VP of Product role, overseeing larger teams and broader product strategy.

• Specialization: Deep dive into specific areas like AI in UX, accessibility for complex enterprise systems, or UX research leadership.

• Strategic Influence: Increased involvement in product strategy, business development, and company-wide innovation initiatives.

• Mentorship: Further develop leadership skills by mentoring a growing team of designers and UX professionals.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant opportunity for an experienced UX professional to shape the user experience of a well-established HR SaaS product. The growth potential lies in expanding leadership responsibilities and contributing more broadly to the company's strategic direction.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company offers a hybrid model with options for 100% remote work within Germany/EU, or flexible workspaces at their Offenbach am Main and Leipzig locations. This caters to diverse working preferences.

Office Location(s):

• Offenbach am Main, Germany

• Leipzig, Germany Workspace Context:

• Remote: Full autonomy and flexibility for individuals choosing the 100% remote option.

• Hybrid/Office: Access to flexible workspaces at company locations, suggesting modern, collaborative environments. The mention of "Wohnzimmer" (living room) suggests informal, comfortable meeting or working areas.

• Technology: As a software company, expect a well-equipped technology environment, including access to necessary design tools and collaboration platforms.

• Collaboration: Opportunities for in-person collaboration at company sites or through virtual collaboration tools for remote team members.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time (40 hours) or Part-time.

• Flexible working hours are a key feature, allowing employees to manage their schedules effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "New Work" and flexible arrangements indicates a modern, employee-centric work environment that prioritizes autonomy and work-life balance, which is highly attractive for senior roles.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of CV and portfolio to assess qualifications and experience.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with Annika Andresen (Kooku Recruiting) or a direct hiring manager from GIP to gauge fit and foundational skills.

• Technical/Design Interview: Deep dive into UX methodologies, design process, tool proficiency (Figma), and problem-solving skills. This stage will likely involve presenting portfolio case studies.

• Cross-Functional / Stakeholder Interview: Meeting with key stakeholders (e.g., Product Managers, Engineering Leads) to assess collaboration, communication, and strategic thinking.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss vision, leadership potential, and overall company fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Strategic Impact: Go beyond just visuals. Explain the problem, your process, the constraints, the solution, and most importantly, the measurable impact (e.g., increased conversion, reduced user errors, improved task completion time).

• Highlight Process: Clearly articulate your approach to user research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration. Demonstrate your understanding of User Centered Design and Design Thinking.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma and other relevant design/prototyping tools.

• Address Legacy Migration: If you have experience with legacy system migrations, prepare a case study showcasing how you managed UX challenges in such scenarios.

• Accessibility Focus: Include examples or discuss your approach to designing accessible interfaces (BITV/WCAG).

• AI Integration: Be prepared to discuss how you've used or would use AI in your design workflow or for product features.

• Storytelling: Frame your case studies as compelling narratives that highlight your problem-solving abilities and leadership.

Challenge Preparation:

• Expect a design challenge or case study that requires you to analyze a problem related to HR SaaS, propose UX solutions, and present your approach.

• Be ready to discuss your strategic thinking regarding the company's UX vision and how you would implement it across multiple products.

• Prepare to articulate your understanding of agile development and how you integrate into Scrum teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely structured to assess both deep UX expertise and broader strategic leadership capabilities. A strong portfolio that tells a story of impact, process, and problem-solving is critical. Candidates should prepare to discuss their experience with specific methodologies and tools mentioned in the requirements.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (explicitly mentioned and required). Proficiency in other tools like Sketch, Adobe XD, or InVision may be beneficial but Figma is key.

• User Research & Testing: Tools for user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, SurveyMonkey, Lookback.io).

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence (likely, given Agile/Scrum environment).

• Whiteboarding/Ideation: Miro, Mural (for remote collaboration and Design Thinking workshops).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Tools to track user behavior and product usage (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel).

• Reporting Dashboards: Tools for visualizing data and presenting insights (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Google Data Studio).

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a UX tool, understanding the CRM (likely Salesforce or a similar enterprise CRM) and marketing/sales automation platforms can provide context for user journeys and business goals.

• Integration Tools: Awareness of how different systems connect can be helpful for understanding the broader tech ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a hard requirement. Familiarity with the broader SaaS development toolchain, including agile project management, user research platforms, and analytics tools, is expected for a senior role. The company's own HR SaaS product (KIDICAP®) may also have integrated tools or components that the UX designer will need to work with.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A core value, emphasizing understanding and prioritizing the needs of end-users in all design decisions.

• Innovation & Agility: Embracing new work methodologies, agile development, and continuous improvement.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and cross-functional partnerships.

• Quality & Reliability: Given the target market (public sector), a commitment to delivering robust, stable, and high-quality software solutions.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing data and insights to inform design and product strategy.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect to work closely with product managers, developers, QA, and potentially sales/customer success.

• Empathetic Communication: The ability to clearly articulate design rationale and understand feedback from diverse perspectives.

• Mentorship & Guidance: A willingness to share knowledge and guide others, particularly within Scrum teams.

• Iterative Feedback Loops: A culture that encourages regular feedback and iterative refinement of designs and processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to blend the stability of a long-standing enterprise software provider with the dynamism of a "New Work" and agile environment. Key values revolve around the user, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing UX Vision with Technical Constraints: Ensuring the ideal UX vision can be realistically implemented within existing technical architectures and legacy systems.

• Cross-Product Consistency: Maintaining a unified and coherent user experience across a suite of products that may have evolved differently over time.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Managing diverse stakeholder expectations and priorities, ensuring buy-in for UX initiatives.

• Integrating AI Seamlessly: Effectively incorporating AI into the UX without compromising usability or creating user confusion.

• Adapting to Evolving HR Tech Landscape: Staying ahead of trends in HR technology and user expectations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into HR Tech: Gaining in-depth knowledge of the Human Capital Management domain.

• AI in UX Specialization: Developing expertise in leveraging AI for design and user experience enhancement.

• Leadership Development: Honing skills in team leadership, strategic planning, and cross-functional influence.

• Accessibility Expertise: Becoming a go-to expert for accessibility standards and implementation in enterprise software.

• Industry Exposure: Attending relevant conferences and engaging with the broader UX and HR Tech communities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents a significant opportunity to tackle complex UX challenges within a mature product line, with ample room for professional growth and specialization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you define and communicate a company-wide UX vision for a product suite like KIDICAP®?" (Prepare to discuss your framework for vision setting and communication).

• "Describe your process for establishing UX guidelines and ensuring their consistent application across multiple product teams." (Focus on process, governance, and adoption strategies).

• "How do you balance user needs with business objectives and technical constraints, especially when dealing with legacy systems?" (Prepare a case study or hypothetical scenario).

• "What methods do you use to foster a user-centered design culture within agile development teams?" (Discuss Design Thinking, workshops, and collaborative techniques). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What are your initial thoughts on the HR SaaS market and the potential UX challenges/opportunities for a product like KIDICAP®?" (Show your research and strategic thinking).

• "How do you see yourself contributing to our 'New Work' philosophy and agile environment?" (Align your values with theirs).

• "Describe a time you had to manage conflicting priorities from different stakeholders. How did you resolve it?" (Focus on communication, negotiation, and prioritization skills). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the process followed, the solutions implemented, and the measurable outcomes.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics whenever possible (e.g., "reduced task completion time by 20%", "increased user satisfaction scores by 15%").

• Highlight Your Process: Emphasize your UX methodologies (User Centered Design, Design Thinking) and how you adapted them to project constraints.

• Showcase Adaptability: Be prepared to discuss how you handle ambiguity, evolving requirements, and technical limitations, especially relating to legacy systems.

• Visual Clarity: Ensure your presentation is clean, well-organized, and visually appealing, reflecting your design sensibilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared to discuss their strategic thinking, process ownership, and ability to lead and influence. Demonstrating a deep understanding of UX methodologies, agile principles, and the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Chief UX Designer position:

• Submit your application directly through the provided online application form via Workable.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature case studies demonstrating your experience in UX strategy, user-centered design processes, Figma proficiency, accessibility standards, and ideally, legacy system migrations or complex enterprise SaaS projects.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your years of experience, specific UX/design skills, experience with agile methodologies, and any leadership or strategic responsibilities you have held. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your UX philosophy, methodologies, and how you drive user-centricity. Prepare to walk through your portfolio case studies in detail, focusing on impact and process. Research the company and KIDICAP® to understand their market and potential user base.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with GIP – Gesellschaft für innovative Personalwirtschaftssysteme mbh, their mission, the KIDICAP® product, and their commitment to "New Work" and agile principles. Understand the HR SaaS landscape in Germany.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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