FLEX Director, UX Design - Digital Hotel Activation

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: FLEX Director, UX Design - Digital Hotel Activation

Company: Marriott

Location: Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Job Type: Full time, Temporary

Category: UX Design / Digital Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-02T17:56:10

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end associate content experience, focusing on intuitive workflows for content and asset submission, creation, management, governance, and distribution across Marriott’s digital platforms.

• Drive strategic thinking and implement associate-centered design solutions at an enterprise scale, leveraging best-in-class product design principles from the travel industry and other key innovators.

• Design user experiences that are intuitive, inclusive, and efficient, serving as a consultant and advisor from concept through execution.

• Collaborate closely with discipline experts, product management, and technology colleagues to deliver impactful digital products.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is designated as a temporary position with an assignment duration through September 10, 2027. While the title suggests a "Director" level, the experience requirement of 8+ years with a Bachelor's degree, coupled with the temporary nature, indicates a senior individual contributor or lead role focused on specific project delivery rather than direct team management. The emphasis on "Digital Hotel Activation" suggests a focus on enhancing the digital touchpoints and internal systems used by hotel associates to manage content and guest experiences.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of comprehensive associate user experiences across various digital products, platforms, and touchpoints, ensuring a cohesive and intuitive flow from content submission to final display.

• Develop detailed user journeys, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and interaction designs, adhering to inclusive design principles and established usability best practices.

• Design and optimize associate-focused content workflows, encompassing submission, creation, governance, distribution, and the final presentation of content across all digital channels.

• Conduct thorough research and analysis, alongside engaging with stakeholders, to identify critical associate and business needs, translating these insights into scalable and effective digital solutions.

• Establish and continuously refine design standards, frameworks, tools, and operational processes to enhance consistency, elevate quality, and improve overall team effectiveness in design operations.

• Apply a holistic, cross-platform perspective throughout the design lifecycle to ensure seamless and intuitive experiences across all Marriott digital products.

• Partner effectively with product management, technology, and business units to clearly define requirements, align on priorities, and successfully deliver user-centered digital solutions.

• Simultaneously manage multiple complex initiatives, balancing strategic vision, tactical execution, and delivery commitments across various workstreams.

• Translate intricate business challenges into clear, concise experience strategies, actionable plans, and development-ready design solutions.

• Utilize qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to validate design concepts, measure the effectiveness of solutions, and inform iterative design decisions.

• Leverage data, business objectives, and product priorities to drive continuous improvements in associate experiences and key performance indicators.

• Collaborate closely with engineering teams to ensure design solutions are technically feasible and implemented with high fidelity.

• Influence and guide stakeholders through compelling storytelling, presentations, and detailed design artifacts to foster alignment and support critical decision-making.

• Drive robust cross-functional collaboration and governance mechanisms to accelerate delivery timelines while rigorously maintaining experience quality and brand consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on "design operations" and "workflow optimization" within the context of content management for hotel associates. This indicates a need for the candidate to not only be a strong UX designer but also adept at process improvement and system thinking, particularly concerning how content is managed and displayed across diverse digital assets.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Human-Computer Interaction, Graphic Design, Information Architecture, Computer Science) or equivalent practical experience. Experience:

• Minimum of 8+ years of progressive experience in digital product design, with a proven track record of leading cross-functional UX initiatives across multiple digital platforms.

• Demonstrated success in delivering end-to-end UX design for digital products, with a preference for enterprise-facing or associate-facing applications.

• Solid foundation in UX principles, design thinking methodologies, and an understanding of design operations best practices.

• Experience in creating concepts, user journeys, wireframes, and prototypes across various platforms (web, mobile, app), incorporating inclusive design principles.

• Proven ability to lead design efforts collaboratively with internal teams and external partners. Required Skills:

• UX Design & Interaction Design: Expertise in crafting intuitive and engaging user experiences, with a strong portfolio showcasing complex problem-solving and user-centered design.

• Design Thinking & User-Centered Design: Proficient in applying design thinking frameworks to understand user needs and develop innovative solutions.

• Wireframing & Prototyping Tools: Mastery of industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, or similar for creating detailed wireframes and interactive prototypes.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and business stakeholders, towards a shared vision.

• Digital Product Strategy: Experience in defining and executing UX strategies for digital products, aligning with business objectives and user needs.

• Usability & Accessibility: Deep understanding of usability principles and inclusive design practices to create accessible and user-friendly experiences for all.

Preferred Skills:

• Usability & Transactional Design Expertise: Strong command of best practices in usability testing and transactional design for seamless user flows.

• Associate-Centric Design: Deep understanding of associate needs within the hospitality industry and how to translate these into effective digital solutions.

• Omni-Channel Platform Experience: Experience leading the design for large-scale, omni-channel digital platforms, ideally within the global travel or commerce sectors.

• Agile/SAFe Methodologies: Familiarity with Agile development methodologies, particularly SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework), for efficient product development cycles.

• Content Strategy & Governance: Understanding of content strategy principles and governance models for digital platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "10+" experience level derived from AI analysis suggests that while 8+ years are explicitly required, candidates with more extensive experience, particularly in leadership or strategic design roles within complex organizations, will be highly competitive. The emphasis on "enterprise scale" and "associate-facing" applications points to a need for experience in large, complex organizational structures with internal user groups.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End UX Design Showcase: A portfolio demonstrating comprehensive UX design process from initial research and concept ideation through to final design implementation and iteration, with a focus on associate-facing digital products.

• Workflow Optimization Examples: Specific case studies illustrating how you designed or optimized complex workflows, particularly those related to content submission, management, and distribution, highlighting efficiency gains and ease of use for associates.

• System Implementation Experience: Projects that showcase your ability to design solutions that integrate effectively with existing or new enterprise systems, demonstrating an understanding of technical constraints and integration points.

• Impact and ROI Demonstration: Clear articulation of the outcomes and business impact of your design work, using metrics and data to demonstrate improvements in associate efficiency, content accuracy, or user satisfaction.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Documented examples of creating detailed process flows, user journey maps, and system interaction diagrams for associate-facing tools, with a clear focus on identifying bottlenecks and proposing improvements.

• Implementation & Automation Methods: Evidence of contributing to or leading the implementation of design solutions, including how you collaborated with development teams and considered automation opportunities within workflows.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Examples of how you've used data and analytics to measure the performance of designed workflows and digital experiences, and how this data informed subsequent design iterations and optimizations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of a "strong portfolio is critical" and the subsequent description strongly imply that candidates will be evaluated heavily on their ability to present detailed case studies. The focus on "simplicity and ease of use" and "outcomes" means the portfolio should not just show polished UI but also the strategic thinking and measurable results behind the designs, especially concerning internal operational processes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The AI-driven salary estimate for this role in Bethesda, MD, falls within the range of $61.05 to $81.25 per hour. This equates to an annual salary range of approximately $126,984 to $169,000, assuming a standard 40-hour work week. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior UX Design roles with significant leadership and enterprise-scale experience in a high-cost-of-living area like Bethesda, MD. Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Financial Wellness: 401(k) plan, stock purchase plan, commuter benefits, and life/disability/accident insurance.

• Work-Life Support: Employee assistance plan, childcare discounts, adoption expense reimbursements, and paid parental leave.

• Time Off: Paid sick leave, paid time off (PTO), and a minimum of 9 paid holidays annually (Washington applicants specifically mentioned).

• Associate Perks: Discounts at Marriott properties, which is a significant benefit for frequent travelers or those who enjoy hospitality.

• Flexible Spending Accounts: Health care flexible spending account (FSA) and dependent care flexible spending account (FSA).

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work schedule of 40 hours per week.

• The role is designated as "Hybrid," indicating a blend of in-office presence at the Bethesda HQ and remote work. Specific in-office days are not detailed but are expected to be regular.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on the provided AI data. Marriott's comprehensive benefits package is a significant draw, and candidates should pay close attention to eligibility requirements for each benefit. The hybrid work arrangement is standard for HQ roles, implying a need for local residency or willingness to commute regularly.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Hospitality (Hotel & Lodging)

Company Size: Marriott International is the world's largest hotel company, indicating a vast global operation with extensive digital infrastructure and a large workforce. This scale implies opportunities for significant impact but also the need for robust, scalable design solutions.

Founded: Marriott International was founded in 1927, signifying a long-standing history of innovation and customer service in the hospitality sector. This legacy often translates to a culture that values tradition, excellence, and associate development.

Team Structure:

• Operations Focus: The role is within "Digital Hotel Activation," suggesting a team focused on enhancing and deploying digital solutions for hotel operations and associate enablement.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role requires close partnership with Product Management, Technology teams, and other discipline experts, indicating a collaborative environment where UX designers work integrated within larger product development cycles.

• Design Operations Integration: The responsibility to "Establish and evolve design standards, frameworks, tools, and processes" points to a growing emphasis on design operations, aiming for efficiency, consistency, and scalability within the design function.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The role emphasizes using qualitative and quantitative research methods, data, business objectives, and product priorities to inform and validate design decisions, reflecting a modern, evidence-based approach.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: A core aspect of the role involves designing and optimizing complex workflows, particularly for content submission and management, showcasing a focus on operational efficiency.

• **User-