Director, UX Design & Research

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Director, UX Design & Research

Company: Vuori, Inc

Location: Carlsbad, California, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: UX Design & Research Leadership / Digital Product Experience

Date Posted: August 18, 2026

Experience Level: 8+ Years (with 3+ years in management/mentorship)

Remote Status: Onsite

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead comprehensive UX strategy, design, and research across all customer touchpoints, including ecommerce, omnichannel, and retail store experiences, ensuring a unified brand journey.

• Champion the "voice of the customer" by translating user insights into actionable priorities that inform product and design decisions across the organization.

• Build, mentor, and scale a growing team of UX/UI designers and UX researchers, fostering a culture of craft, rigor, and continuous learning.

• Govern and evolve Vuori's design system, ensuring consistency and adoption across evolving channels, tools, and emerging AI-assisted workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a strategic leadership opportunity within Vuori's digital product and experience division. The focus on "building practices, standards, and structure" indicates a significant opportunity to shape the UX function as the company scales, requiring a candidate who is both a visionary leader and a hands-on practitioner. The emphasis on AI-assisted workflows suggests a forward-thinking approach to design processes.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a unified UX strategy that connects the customer journey across ecommerce, omnichannel, and physical retail environments.

• Lead and enhance both generative (discovery) and evaluative (validation) research practices, mentoring researchers and elevating the impact of insights on design and product roadmaps.

• Manage, coach, and develop a team of UX/UI designers and UX researchers, including conducting regular 1:1s, providing constructive feedback, and facilitating career growth planning.

• Drive UX for critical cross-channel initiatives, ensuring seamless integration and consistency with the broader digital and physical retail experience.

• Govern and mature Vuori's design system, establishing standards for consistency, adoption, and scalability as it integrates with new teams, tools, and AI-driven workflows.

• Define and evangelize Vuori's approach to leveraging AI in design processes, from design-to-code workflows to the integration of AI tools into daily practice.

• Present strategic recommendations, design rationale, and research findings to senior stakeholders, effectively articulating value and defending decisions with data and clear logic.

• Manage external agency and contractor relationships, including sourcing, scoping projects, managing budgets, and overseeing quality control to supplement internal team capacity.

• Establish and promote best practices for UX design and research throughout the organization, fostering a customer-centric design culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, team development, hands-on execution, and cross-functional collaboration. The emphasis on "unifying the customer experience across channels" and "evolving and governing Vuori's design system" points to a need for strong systems thinking and process ownership. The mention of AI-assisted workflows indicates a requirement for adaptability and forward-thinking in design technology.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in UX Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 8+ years of experience in UX/UI design and/or UX research, with a minimum of 3 years in a management or mentorship role.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in developing and executing comprehensive UX strategy across multiple channels (ecommerce, omnichannel, retail).

• Fluency in both generative (e.g., user interviews, ethnographic studies) and evaluative (e.g., usability testing, heuristic evaluation) research methodologies.

• Demonstrated experience in building, managing, and coaching design and research teams, fostering talent development and career growth.

• Strong proficiency in Figma; experience with AI-assisted design tools (e.g., Claude Design) is a significant advantage.

• Ability to operate effectively at the intersection of design and code, understanding component libraries, design tokens, and their translation into development.

• Familiarity with or a strong interest in AI's impact on design workflows and design-to-code processes.

• Experience in governing or maintaining a design system in a production environment, with a focus on documentation, adoption, and consistency.

• Demonstrated ability to present and defend design and research decisions to senior leadership, using evidence-based reasoning.

• Experience managing external vendors, agencies, or contractors, including project scoping, budgeting, and quality assurance.

• Systems thinking capabilities to ensure cohesive user experiences across diverse platforms.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly. Preferred Skills:

• Direct experience within the ecommerce, omnichannel, or retail industries.

• Experience in building and scaling UX functions within a growing organization.

• Understanding of design-to-code principles and implementation.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and cross-functional product team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a blend of strategic leadership, deep craft in both design and research, and practical experience with modern design tools and emerging technologies like AI. The preference for retail/ecommerce experience and comfort in a "resource-lean, high-autonomy environment" suggests the company is looking for a proactive leader who can build structure and drive impact with agility.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a strong track record of hands-on UX/UI design and user research craft, showcasing end-to-end project involvement.

• Include case studies that illustrate strategic thinking, problem definition, user research insights, design iterations, and measurable outcomes.

• Showcase experience with design systems, including examples of contribution, governance, or adoption strategies.

• Present examples of cross-channel or omnichannel initiatives, highlighting how user experience was unified across different platforms (e.g., web, mobile, in-store).

• Include evidence of leading or mentoring design/research efforts, even if informal, demonstrating leadership potential and team development capabilities. Process Documentation:

• Examples of research methodologies employed, including how insights were gathered, synthesized, and translated into design recommendations.

• Documentation of design processes, workflow optimization efforts, and how user feedback was incorporated throughout the design lifecycle.

• Demonstration of how design systems were developed, maintained, or implemented, including guidelines, component libraries, and adoption strategies.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the problem, the proposed solution, the research and design process, and the resulting impact on key business metrics (e.g., conversion rates, customer satisfaction, engagement).

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Director-level role, the portfolio should not only showcase individual craft but also strategic thinking, leadership potential, and the ability to build and scale processes. Emphasis should be placed on how candidates have driven impact through user-centered design and research, particularly in complex, multi-channel environments. Demonstrating experience with design systems and emerging technologies like AI will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $181,000 - $220,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance coverage.

• Savings and Retirement Plan options.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for support services.

• Generous employee discount on Vuori products.

• Additional industry-specific perks.

• Paid Time Off (PTO) to support work-life balance.

• Wellness and Fitness benefits to promote employee well-being.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, with an expected 40 hours per week. While the role is onsite, flexibility in daily scheduling may be available, subject to team and business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range of $181,000 - $220,000 USD per year is competitive for a Director-level UX Design & Research role in the Carlsbad, California area, considering the experience requirements and the company's industry. This estimate is based on current market data for similar roles in major metropolitan areas with a high cost of living, factoring in the responsibilities of leading a function and managing a team. The benefits package is robust, offering standard but valuable support for employees' health, financial well-being, and personal life.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Athletic Apparel & Retail, with a strong emphasis on an active, coastal California lifestyle. Vuori aims to integrate fitness, creative expression, and everyday life, reflected in its product design and brand ethos.

Company Size: Vuori is a growing company, indicated by its fast-paced retail environment and the need to build and scale functions like UX. This suggests opportunities for significant impact and direct influence on processes and strategy.

Founded: Vuori was founded with a vision to redefine athletic apparel, drawing inspiration from an active coastal lifestyle. This founding principle likely informs its current culture of enthusiasm, purpose, and fun.

Team Structure:

• The UX Design & Research team is described as "small but growing," reporting to the Senior Director of Digital Product and Experience. This indicates a foundational stage for the UX function, offering a chance to shape its structure and processes.

• The Director will lead a team of UX/UI designers and UX researchers, implying direct management responsibilities and the need to foster collaboration within this specialized group.

• Close partnership is expected with Product, Engineering, Brand & Creative, and Site Experience teams, highlighting a cross-functional, collaborative approach to product development and customer experience. Methodology:

• The company emphasizes a data-driven approach, using customer insights to inform design and product decisions.

• Workflow planning and optimization are key, especially as the company scales and aims to unify experiences across channels.

• The role is expected to establish and evangelize UX best practices, suggesting a focus on continuous improvement and raising the bar for design and research rigor.

• There's an explicit interest in evolving ways of working with AI, indicating a forward-thinking approach to technology adoption and process innovation.

Company Website: https://www.vuoriclothing.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Vuori's culture appears dynamic and growth-oriented, blending an active lifestyle with a professional environment. The UX team's "small but growing" status means the Director will have significant autonomy and responsibility to define the function's direction, processes, and team structure, requiring a proactive and entrepreneurial mindset.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a Director level, signifying a senior leadership position responsible for a critical function within the digital product organization. It requires a blend of strategic vision, team leadership, and hands-on expertise in UX design and research. The scope includes setting vision, building team capabilities, and driving impact across multiple customer touchpoints.

Reporting Structure: The Director reports to the Senior Director of Digital Product and Experience. This positions the role within a broader digital product leadership framework, offering opportunities for strategic alignment and influence at a higher organizational level.

Operations Impact: The Director's work will directly influence customer discovery, shopping behavior, and brand engagement across all channels. By championing the customer and unifying experiences, this role will be instrumental in driving customer satisfaction, loyalty, and ultimately, revenue growth for Vuori. The ability to define and govern the design system also impacts development efficiency and brand consistency, contributing to overall business performance.

Growth Opportunities:

• Functional Leadership: Opportunity to build and scale the UX Design & Research function from a foundational stage, defining its processes, standards, and team structure for future growth.

• Strategic Influence: Direct impact on the company's digital product strategy and customer experience vision, with regular interaction with senior leadership.

• Skill Development: Potential to deepen expertise in AI-assisted design workflows, omnichannel strategy, and leading high-performing creative teams.

• Career Progression: A successful tenure could lead to broader leadership roles within digital product, experience, or even executive positions, depending on company growth and individual performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role represents a significant opportunity for a UX leader to make a substantial impact and shape a core function within a rapidly growing company. The emphasis on building practices and scaling capabilities suggests a career path that involves significant professional development and influence.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "Onsite," indicating a primary work location within Vuori's office facilities. This suggests a collaborative environment where in-person interaction is valued for team cohesion and brainstorming.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is 5600 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad, CA 92008, United States. This location is in San Diego County, California, a region known for its vibrant business and lifestyle scene.

Workspace Context:

• The onsite environment is likely to foster strong team collaboration, enabling spontaneous discussions and knowledge sharing among designers, researchers, product managers, and engineers.

• Access to the necessary tools and technology, including Figma and potentially emerging AI design tools, will be provided to support efficient workflow and innovation.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Brand & Creative, Site Experience) are inherent in the role, facilitating a holistic approach to customer experience design.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week, consistent with full-time employment. While the role is onsite, the company culture, inspired by an active lifestyle, may offer some degree of flexibility in daily working hours, provided business needs and team collaboration are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Onsite" work arrangement in Carlsbad, CA, suggests a company culture that values in-person collaboration, essential for a Director leading a growing team and driving cross-functional initiatives. Candidates should be prepared for regular office presence and engagement with colleagues.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess alignment with the core requirements, focusing on leadership experience, UX/UI design craft, research acumen, and experience with design systems.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the Senior Director of Digital Product and Experience to delve into strategic thinking, leadership philosophy, team-building approach, and understanding of omnichannel experiences.

• Team/Peer Interviews: Meetings with potential team members (UX designers, researchers) and key cross-functional partners (e.g., Product Managers, Engineering Leads, Brand Managers) to evaluate collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Presentation/Case Study: A comprehensive presentation of your portfolio, likely focusing on 2-3 key projects that demonstrate your strategic approach, problem-solving skills, research methodologies, design process, leadership, and impact. Expect to discuss challenges, decisions, and outcomes in detail.

• Executive Interview: A final conversation with senior leadership to assess strategic vision, business acumen, and alignment with Vuori's overall company goals and culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your leadership, strategic thinking, and hands-on craft across design and research. Prioritize case studies that involve complex problems, cross-channel experiences, or design system development.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the business problem, your role, the user research conducted, the design process and iterations, key decisions made, and the measurable impact on users and the business. Quantify results whenever possible.

• Highlight Leadership: Include examples of how you've mentored, coached, or managed designers/researchers, or how you've influenced strategy and processes. Demonstrate your ability to build and develop talent.

• Showcase Systems Thinking: Present projects that demonstrate your understanding of design systems, consistency, and how UX integrates across different platforms (web, mobile, retail).

• Address AI Integration: If applicable, include examples of how you've explored or implemented AI tools in your design or research workflow, or how you envision doing so.

• Prepare for Q&A: Be ready to discuss your design rationale, research methodologies, and decision-making process in depth. Anticipate questions about how you handle ambiguity, prioritize, and collaborate.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for potential design or research challenges that may involve problem-solving for a specific user scenario or proposing a strategic approach to a given business problem.

• Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, demonstrating how you would apply your skills and methodologies to solve Vuori's specific challenges.

• Focus on how you would gather insights, define problems, ideate solutions, and measure success, especially within a multi-channel retail context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only technical UX/UI and research skills but also strategic leadership, team management, and cross-functional collaboration capabilities. A strong, well-articulated portfolio is critical, especially showcasing how the candidate can translate user needs into business value and build robust UX practices.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UX/UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is a must.

• AI-assisted Design Tools: Familiarity with or eagerness to learn tools like Claude Design is a plus, indicating a forward-thinking approach to design workflows.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, experience with other prototyping tools may be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar for understanding user behavior on ecommerce platforms.

• Product Analytics Tools: Familiarity with tools such as Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Pendo for in-depth user behavior analysis and feature adoption tracking.

• Data Visualization Tools: Ability to interpret data and potentially work with tools like Tableau or Looker to understand user trends and report findings.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Understanding how UX design and research impact customer journeys managed within CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce, though not explicitly mentioned, is common in retail).

• Customer Data Platforms (CDPs): Awareness of how user data is aggregated and utilized to inform customer experience strategies.

• Project Management Tools: Proficiency with tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for managing design and research projects and collaborating with engineering and product teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and AI-assisted design tools highlights Vuori's current and future technology priorities. While not all tools are listed, a strong candidate will demonstrate proficiency in core UX/UI and research tools, with an understanding of how design integrates with analytics, CRM, and project management systems to drive business outcomes.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Centricity: A core value, as evidenced by the emphasis on being the "internal voice of the customer" and designing around real customer problems. This means prioritizing user needs and insights in all decision-making.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on partnering with Product, Engineering, Brand & Creative, and Site Experience teams, suggesting a culture where cross-functional teamwork is essential for success.

• Innovation & Adaptability: The explicit mention of evolving ways of working with AI and building processes in a "resource-lean, high-autonomy environment" points to a value placed on embracing new technologies and proactively developing solutions.

• Craft & Rigor: The goal to "raise the craft and rigor of your team's work" indicates a commitment to high-quality design and research standards.

• Growth & Development: Vuori aims to be an "outlet for opportunity and for personal growth and success," suggesting a culture that supports employee development and career advancement.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The Director will work closely with multiple departments, requiring strong communication and the ability to build consensus across diverse teams with potentially different priorities.

• Process-Oriented: The role involves building and governing processes and standards, indicating a collaborative style that establishes clear guidelines and workflows for the UX team and its partners.

• Feedback-Driven: A culture of mentorship and feedback is implied, suggesting that constructive dialogue and continuous improvement are encouraged within the team and with stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: Vuori's culture appears to be a blend of energetic, lifestyle-driven values with a professional, growth-oriented approach to business. The UX Director will need to embody customer advocacy while fostering collaboration and driving innovation within their team and across the organization.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling the UX Function: As a "small but growing" team, the Director will face the challenge of building out processes, standards, and team capabilities to support Vuori's expansion, requiring strategic planning and resource management.

• Unifying Cross-Channel Experience: Ensuring a consistent and cohesive customer journey across diverse touchpoints (ecommerce, mobile, retail stores) presents a complex design and integration challenge.

• Integrating AI Workflows: Defining and implementing effective ways of working with AI in design and design-to-code processes requires staying ahead of technological advancements and managing potential disruptions.

• Balancing Strategic Vision with Hands-on Execution: As a Director, maintaining a strategic focus while staying close to the team's work and ensuring high-quality craft requires effective time management and delegation.

• Resource Constraints: Operating in a "resource-lean" environment means the Director will need to be highly efficient, prioritize effectively, and potentially manage external vendors strategically.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to hone leadership skills by building and mentoring a team, shaping departmental strategy, and influencing senior stakeholders.

• AI in Design: Deepen expertise in emerging AI tools and their application in UX design, research, and design-to-code workflows.

• Omnichannel Strategy: Gain extensive experience in designing and managing complex, integrated customer experiences across digital and physical retail environments.

• Design System Maturity: Contribute significantly to the evolution and governance of a maturing design system, impacting scalability and consistency across the organization.

• Industry Exposure: Potential to attend industry conferences or engage with peers in the fast-paced athletic apparel and retail tech sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a Director role in a growing company, offering significant opportunities for professional development and impact. Success will require strong strategic thinking, adaptability, and a proactive approach to building and optimizing processes.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to developing a unified UX strategy across ecommerce, omnichannel, and retail environments. How would you prioritize initiatives?"

  • Preparation: Focus on frameworks for cross-channel strategy, user journey mapping, prioritization matrices, and how to align UX goals with business objectives.

• "How do you foster a customer-centric culture within a design and research team? Provide an example of how you've championed user insights to influence product decisions."

  • Preparation: Discuss methods for integrating user feedback, methods for synthesizing research, and examples of impactful user stories or insights that led to significant product improvements.

• "Imagine we are launching a new AI-powered personalization feature for our website. How would you approach the UX design and research for this feature, considering potential ethical implications and user adoption?"

  • Preparation: Think about iterative design processes, user testing for AI-driven features, ethical AI considerations, and how to gather feedback on novel technology.

• "What is your philosophy on building and mentoring design and research teams? How do you support career growth and skill development?"

  • Preparation: Discuss your management style, approaches to feedback, performance management, and strategies for fostering a collaborative and learning-oriented team environment.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Vuori's brand and our mission?"

  • Preparation: Research Vuori's brand story, values, products, and recent news. Connect your personal values and professional interests to the company's mission and culture.

• "How do you envision the role of UX Design & Research evolving at Vuori as the company scales?"

  • Preparation: Consider how a UX function transitions from foundational to mature, discussing scalability, process standardization, and increasing strategic influence.

• "Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders who had different priorities or perspectives. How did you navigate that situation?"

  • Preparation: Prepare a concise STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) story that highlights your negotiation, communication, and strategic influence skills.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, typically starting with an overview of your leadership philosophy and approach, followed by 2-3 detailed case studies. Conclude with a summary of your vision for Vuori's UX.

• Case Study Depth: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role and responsibilities, the research methodologies used, key insights, the design process (including iterations and rationale), the final solution, and most importantly, the measurable impact and business outcomes.

• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals (mockups, wireframes, research artifacts, data charts) to support your narrative. Ensure clarity and avoid overwhelming your audience with too much detail on any single slide.

• Focus on Impact: Emphasize how your work drove positive change for users and the business. Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction scores, reduced support tickets).

• Address Challenges and Learnings: Be transparent about challenges encountered, how you overcame them, and what you learned from the experience. This demonstrates resilience and a growth mindset.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, research methods, leadership approach, and how your experience aligns with Vuori's specific needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic leadership, a deep understanding of UX/UI and research best practices, and the ability to drive tangible business results. Highlighting experience with cross-channel strategies, design systems, and emerging technologies like AI will be crucial for this role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Director, UX Design & Research position at Vuori:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the SmartRecruiters platform.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight experience in ecommerce, omnichannel, and retail UX, with specific examples of design system contributions, user research leadership, and cross-functional collaboration. Showcase projects that demonstrate strategic thinking and measurable impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 8+ years of UX/UI design and/or research experience, with a strong emphasis on your 3+ years of management or mentorship. Use keywords from the job description, such as "UX strategy," "design systems," "generative research," and "omnichannel."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your leadership philosophy, your approach to building and scaling UX teams, and your vision for customer experience at Vuori. Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for behavioral questions.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Vuori's brand, values, products, and recent company news. Understand their customer base and their position in the athletic apparel market to better articulate your alignment and vision during interviews.

⚠️ 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.