Head of UX Quality & Consumer Experience Assurance

Signify
Full-timeEindhoven, Netherlands

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Head of UX Quality & Consumer Experience Assurance

Company: Signify

Location: Eindhoven, Netherlands / Amsterdam, Netherlands

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Quality Assurance / User Experience

Date Posted: April 28, 2026

Experience Level: Senior/Lead (10+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

  • Establish and lead a new, independent UX Quality & Consumer Experience Assurance capability within the Consumer Business to elevate user experience standards.

  • Act as a critical quality gate, providing independent go/no-go input based on UX readiness and risk assessment throughout development lifecycles.

  • Define, govern, and embed rigorous UX assurance and validation frameworks, methodologies, and standards across product development.

  • Drive a user-centric, quality-driven mindset through strategic leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and compelling communication to protect the consumer experience and brand reputation.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within the Quality organization, granting an independent mandate for UX quality decisions. It is a "build-and-transform" role focused on establishing and scaling a new capability, rather than maintaining an existing one, with a strong emphasis on influencing organizational change and embedding UX as a core quality attribute.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Establish UX as a Formal Quality Discipline: Define and implement UX Quality & Consumer Experience Assurance as a critical, formal quality discipline within the Consumer Business unit.

  • Independent Quality Gating: Provide objective, evidence-based go/no-go recommendations at key development lifecycle gates, assessing UX readiness, identified risks, and overall consumer impact.

  • Framework Development & Governance: Design and govern a comprehensive UX assurance and validation framework, including clear standards and methodologies for requirement validation, usability testing, experience evaluation, and competitive benchmarking.

  • Lifecycle Integration: Embed UX Quality & Assurance principles and practices early and continuously within pre-development and ongoing product development lifecycles, ensuring UX is a proactive consideration, not a reactive check.

  • Research & Feedback Integration: Lead high-impact UX research initiatives (qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods), establish best-in-class UX benchmarks, and set up continuous in-market feedback loops to inform product innovation and improvement.

  • Capability Building & Change Leadership: Build and lead a new, hands-on UX Quality & Assurance team, deploy effective processes and practices, and establish necessary test facilities. Act as a key change agent, fostering collaboration and driving a user-centric mindset across Product Management, Engineering, Design, and R&D.

  • Learning Application: Ensure that learnings from existing portfolio performance, product phase-outs, and in-market feedback are systematically applied to new innovations and product development efforts.

  • Stakeholder Influence: Utilize strong communication and storytelling skills to influence senior leadership, challenge internal assumptions, and advocate for a user-centric, quality-driven approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "independent mandate," "build-and-transform," and "formal quality gate" highlights a strategic leadership role focused on establishing process and driving significant organizational change in how UX is perceived and managed. Responsibilities are geared towards creating structure, driving rigor, and ensuring tangible consumer value.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

  • 10+ years of progressive experience in UX research, UX validation, or experience quality management, specifically within consumer product environments.

  • Demonstrated success in building, scaling, or transforming new capabilities or teams from inception, rather than solely operating within mature, established systems.

  • Proven experience embedding UX considerations and quality assurance processes structurally into complex product development lifecycles and methodologies.

Required Skills:

  • UX Research Expertise: Deep and broad expertise across qualitative, quantitative, and mixed UX research methodologies (e.g., usability testing, user interviews, surveys, heuristic evaluations, A/B testing).

  • Quality Assurance & Validation: Strong understanding of quality assurance principles, validation techniques, and risk management applied to user experience.

  • Strategic Leadership: Ability to define vision, set strategic direction, and build a new functional capability from the ground up.

  • Product Development Lifecycle Acumen: Comprehensive knowledge of product development stages and how to integrate UX quality checkpoints effectively.

  • Stakeholder Management & Influence: Exceptional ability to manage relationships, build consensus, and influence stakeholders across diverse disciplines and seniority levels.

  • Communication & Storytelling: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to translate complex insights into compelling narratives that drive action and senior leadership buy-in.

  • Governance & Risk Assessment: Experience establishing and enforcing governance frameworks and assessing UX-related risks.

  • Benchmarking & Threshold Setting: Ability to define competitive benchmarks and clear quality thresholds for UX performance.

  • Change Management: Proven capability to act as a change agent, drive adoption of new processes, and foster a user-centric culture.

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience with establishing test facilities or labs for UX research.

  • Familiarity with data analytics tools and integrating data insights into UX decision-making.

  • Knowledge of consumer electronics, connected devices, or IoT product ecosystems.

  • Experience working in a global, multi-site organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize building and leading a new function, requiring a robust blend of deep UX expertise, strategic leadership, and strong change management capabilities. The "10+ years" experience level suggests a senior role responsible for significant strategic impact and team development.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Capability Building Case Studies: Demonstrate instances where you have successfully built or significantly scaled a new operational capability, process, or team, highlighting the challenges, strategies, and outcomes.

  • Framework Design & Implementation: Showcase examples of UX assurance, validation, or quality frameworks you have designed and implemented, detailing the methodologies, standards, and governance structures.

  • Process Integration Examples: Provide evidence of how you’ve embedded UX quality processes into existing product development lifecycles, illustrating the integration points and impact on development speed and quality.

  • Risk Assessment & Decision-Making: Present case studies where you have conducted UX risk assessments and made critical go/no-go decisions, detailing the evidence used and the rationale behind your recommendations.

Process Documentation:

  • UX Quality Framework Documentation: Documented frameworks for UX requirement validation, usability testing protocols, experience evaluation criteria, and competitive benchmarking.

  • Project UX Charter Templates: Standardized templates for defining UX scope, methods, timing, and deliverables for individual projects.

  • Learning Integration Processes: Documented processes for capturing and applying in-market feedback and portfolio performance learnings into new product development.

  • Research Methodologies & Standards: Comprehensive documentation of approved UX research methods, participant recruitment criteria, and data analysis procedures.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given this is a "build-and-transform" role, the portfolio should strongly emphasize the candidate's ability to conceptualize, design, and implement new processes and frameworks, rather than just executing established ones. Demonstrating impact through structured documentation and clear outcomes is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

  • Continuous Learning & Development: Opportunities for ongoing professional development, training, and skill enhancement relevant to UX, quality assurance, and leadership.

  • Career Progression: Clear pathways for career advancement within Signify's global structure, including potential for broader leadership roles.

  • Coaching & Mentoring: Access to coaching and mentoring programs designed to support personal and professional growth.

  • Inclusive Environment: Commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where all voices are heard and valued.

  • Comprehensive Health & Wellness: Standard benefits often include health insurance, pension plans, and wellness programs.

  • Potential for Performance Bonuses: Often tied to individual and company performance.

Working Hours:

  • Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with flexibility often available to accommodate the hybrid work model and global team collaboration needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimation is based on general market data for senior leadership roles in the Netherlands within the technology sector, considering the specific responsibilities of establishing and leading a new function. Actual compensation will vary based on Signify's compensation structure and the candidate's profile.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Lighting Technology, Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Home & City Solutions. Signify is a global leader in lighting, leveraging its deep heritage and innovation in connected lighting and IoT to drive advancements in data analytics, AI, and smart solutions.

Company Size: Signify is a large, global corporation with over 27,000 employees worldwide, operating in 70+ countries. This scale offers opportunities for broad impact and diverse career paths.

Founded: Signify has a legacy of over 125 years, evolving from Philips Lighting. This long history provides a foundation of expertise and market presence.

Team Structure:

  • The Head of UX Quality & Consumer Experience Assurance will lead a newly established capability, likely building a dedicated team of UX researchers, quality specialists, and validation engineers.

  • This role operates with an independent mandate from within the Quality organization, implying a direct reporting line to a senior quality executive (e.g., VP of Quality, Chief Quality Officer) or a similarly high-level position.

Methodology:

  • Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasis on using evidence from UX research, validation, and in-market feedback to inform quality decisions and strategic direction.

  • Process Optimization: A core focus on defining, refining, and embedding efficient and effective UX assurance processes throughout the product development lifecycle.

  • User-Centricity: A fundamental principle of prioritizing the consumer experience and ensuring products are designed with deep empathy and understanding of user needs and behaviors.

  • Quality by Design: Integrating quality considerations, including UX quality, from the earliest stages of product conception and development.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Signify's focus on innovation, sustainability, and leveraging data/AI suggests a forward-thinking environment where a new UX Quality function can have significant strategic influence. The company's size and global reach present both opportunities for impact and challenges in driving consistent adoption of new standards.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior leadership position, equivalent to a Director or VP level, specifically focused on establishing and leading a critical new function. It is a "build-and-transform" role with significant strategic responsibility and the opportunity to shape organizational processes and culture. The scope extends beyond operational execution to strategic definition and implementation.

Reporting Structure: The Head of UX Quality & Consumer Experience Assurance will likely report into a senior executive within the Quality organization (e.g., VP of Quality, Chief Quality Officer). This reporting line underscores the independence and strategic importance of the UX quality function. Close collaboration and partnership will be required with leaders in Product Management, Engineering, and Design.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is profound and directly tied to consumer satisfaction, brand reputation, and ultimately, business success. By ensuring a high standard of UX quality, this role will:

  • Reduce post-launch issues and support costs related to poor user experience.

  • Enhance customer loyalty and positive brand perception.

  • Drive product adoption and market success through superior user journeys.

  • Ensure that Signify's innovative technologies translate into intuitive and valuable consumer experiences.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Leadership Expansion: Opportunity to grow the UX Quality & Assurance team significantly, developing talent and expanding the function's scope and influence across more business units or product lines.

  • Strategic Influence: Become a key advisor to senior leadership on all matters related to consumer experience and product quality, influencing the overall product strategy and roadmap.

  • Industry Expertise Development: Deepen expertise in cutting-edge UX research methodologies, quality assurance frameworks, and the application of AI/data analytics in consumer product development.

  • Cross-Functional Leadership: Potential to move into broader leadership roles in Product Management, Quality, or even general management, leveraging the unique blend of technical, strategic, and people leadership skills developed in this role.

  • Innovation Contribution: Contribute directly to shaping the future of connected lighting and smart home/city solutions by ensuring they meet the highest standards of user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity for a seasoned professional to build a function from the ground up, with significant autonomy and high-level visibility. The growth potential is substantial, moving from establishing a new capability to potentially influencing broader organizational strategy and leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This role is designated as Hybrid, offering a blend of remote work flexibility and in-office collaboration. The primary office locations are in Eindhoven (HTC 48) and Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Office Location(s):

  • Eindhoven, North Brabant, Netherlands: A significant R&D and innovation hub for Signify.

  • Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands: Another key operational and business center for the company.

Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model encourages collaboration through planned office days, fostering team cohesion and cross-functional interaction. The establishment of a new team will involve setting up suitable collaborative spaces and workflows.

  • Operations Tools & Technology: Access to necessary tools and technologies for UX research (e.g., testing software, survey platforms), quality management, project management, and communication. This may include setting up or utilizing dedicated UX lab facilities.

  • Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with the newly formed UX Quality team, as well as frequent engagement with product, engineering, and design teams, both locally and globally, through virtual and in-person meetings.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with an expected 40-hour work week. The hybrid arrangement provides flexibility in managing work hours and location, balancing individual productivity needs with team collaboration requirements. This flexibility is crucial for managing global stakeholder communication across different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid arrangement in major Dutch tech hubs like Eindhoven and Amsterdam suggests a modern work environment that values flexibility while ensuring essential in-person collaboration for a role focused on building and leading a new team and driving organizational change.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: A review of your resume and application, likely conducted by HR or a recruiter, to assess alignment with the core requirements and experience level.

  • Hiring Manager Interview: An in-depth discussion with the hiring manager (likely a senior executive within Quality) to explore your experience in building capabilities, strategic vision for UX quality, leadership style, and understanding of the role's unique challenges.

  • Cross-Functional Panel Interview: Interviews with key stakeholders from Product Management, Engineering, and Design. This stage assesses your ability to collaborate, influence, and integrate UX quality across different disciplines. Expect scenario-based questions and discussions on how you'd address specific challenges.

  • Portfolio Presentation / Case Study: A critical stage where you will present a curated portfolio showcasing your experience in building new functions, developing frameworks, and driving UX quality improvements. You may be asked to present a specific case study or outline your proposed approach for Signify.

  • Senior Leadership / Final Interview: A final discussion with very senior leadership to assess strategic fit, cultural alignment, and overall leadership potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Focus on "Building": Highlight projects where you established new processes, teams, or methodologies. Quantify impact with metrics where possible (e.g., reduction in critical UX defects, improvement in user satisfaction scores, efficiency gains).

  • Demonstrate Framework Design: Clearly articulate the frameworks you've developed for UX validation, quality gates, and risk assessment. Explain the rationale behind their structure and how they were implemented.

  • Showcase Influence & Collaboration: Provide examples of how you've successfully influenced cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders to adopt new UX quality standards or practices.

  • Evidence-Based Decision Making: Present case studies where your UX quality assessments and recommendations led to specific product decisions (e.g., delaying launch, redesigning features) and the resulting positive outcomes.

  • Storytelling: Structure your portfolio presentation as a narrative, explaining the problem, your strategic approach, the execution, and the measurable impact.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Scenario-Based Questions: Be prepared for questions like: "How would you establish UX quality in a team that currently prioritizes speed above all else?" or "What are the first 90 days of your plan to build this capability?"

  • Framework Design Exercise: You might be asked to whiteboard or outline key components of a UX assurance framework for a hypothetical Signify product.

  • Stakeholder Management Scenarios: Prepare for questions on how you would handle disagreements with Product or Engineering leaders regarding UX quality standards.

  • Understanding Signify's Context: Research Signify's current product portfolio, its market position, and any publicly available information on its approach to quality and innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to evaluate not just technical UX skills but also strategic leadership, change management capabilities, and the ability to operate independently within a large organization. A strong, evidence-based portfolio is essential for showcasing the "builder" aspect of this role.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • UX Research Platforms: Tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, usability testing, and prototype evaluation (e.g., UserTesting.com, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Maze, Lookback).

  • Prototyping & Design Tools: Familiarity with tools used by design teams to understand and evaluate prototypes (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).

  • Quality Management Systems (QMS): Experience with or ability to integrate with existing QMS for tracking defects, managing processes, and ensuring compliance.

  • Project Management Software: Tools for managing tasks, timelines, and team collaboration (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello).

Analytics & Reporting:

  • Data Analysis Tools: Proficiency in analyzing quantitative UX data, such as from surveys, analytics platforms, or A/B tests (e.g., Excel, R, Python for statistical analysis).

  • Business Intelligence (BI) Tools: Experience with BI platforms for creating dashboards and reports to visualize UX quality metrics and trends (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker).

  • Product Analytics Platforms: Tools that track user behavior within products (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to identify UX friction points.

CRM & Automation:

  • CRM Systems: Understanding how UX impacts customer relationships managed through CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce), though direct CRM management is unlikely to be a primary function.

  • Workflow Automation Tools: Awareness of how automation can streamline UX validation and reporting processes.

  • Collaboration Tools: Essential for a hybrid/global team (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zoom).

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tool requirements are not explicitly listed, the role implies a need for strong command over UX research and validation tools, alongside data analysis and reporting capabilities. A candidate should be prepared to discuss their experience with a broad range of tools relevant to UX quality assurance and consumer experience measurement.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Consumer-Centricity: A deep-seated commitment to understanding and prioritizing the needs, behaviors, and satisfaction of the end consumer in all product decisions.

  • Quality Excellence: A dedication to upholding the highest standards of product quality, with UX being a non-negotiable attribute.

  • Data-Driven Rigor: A belief in making decisions based on robust evidence and objective data, rather than assumptions or opinions.

  • Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering an environment where teams work together openly, share insights, and communicate challenges and successes transparently.

  • Innovation & Continuous Improvement: A mindset that embraces new ideas, seeks opportunities to optimize processes, and is committed to ongoing learning and adaptation.

  • Accountability: Taking ownership for outcomes, especially concerning UX quality, and having the courage to make difficult decisions when necessary.

Collaboration Style:

  • Bridging Silos: The role is designed to bridge gaps between Design, Product, Engineering, and Quality, fostering a shared understanding and responsibility for UX quality.

  • Evidence-Based Advocacy: Collaborating by presenting clear, data-backed arguments for UX quality standards and improvements.

  • Constructive Challenge: Encouraging a culture where internal assumptions can be challenged respectfully, driving better product outcomes.

  • Knowledge Sharing: Establishing mechanisms for sharing UX insights, best practices, and learnings across different teams and geographical locations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The cultural values highlight a shift towards a more user-focused and quality-conscious organization. The collaboration style emphasizes influence through data and reasoned argumentation, essential for embedding a new function.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Establishing a New Function: The primary challenge is building a UX Quality & Assurance capability from the ground up within a large, established organization, requiring significant influence and change management.

  • Balancing Speed vs. Quality: Navigating the inherent tension between product development speed and the rigorous validation required for high UX quality, ensuring UX doesn't become a bottleneck but a critical enabler.

  • Driving Mindset Change: Shifting ingrained organizational habits and beliefs to fully embrace UX as a fundamental quality attribute, rather than an optional add-on.

  • Global Standardization: Implementing consistent UX quality standards and practices across diverse R&D teams and product portfolios globally.

  • Resource Allocation: Securing and allocating appropriate resources (budget, talent, tools) for the new capability.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Leadership Development: Opportunity to hone strategic leadership, team-building, and change management skills in a high-impact environment.

  • UX and Quality Innovation: Exposure to and potential leadership in applying advanced UX research techniques, AI-driven quality assessment, and next-generation validation methodologies.

  • Cross-Functional Mastery: Deepening understanding of product management, engineering, and business strategy through close collaboration.

  • Industry Recognition: Potential to shape industry best practices in UX quality assurance for connected consumer products.

  • Mentorship: Opportunities to mentor emerging talent within the UX Quality team and be mentored by senior leaders within Signify.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a "build-and-transform" role, requiring resilience, strategic thinking, and excellent interpersonal skills. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a path for significant career advancement and expertise development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "How would you approach building a UX Quality & Assurance function from scratch within a large, global organization like Signify?"

  • "Describe your philosophy on UX as a quality attribute and how you would embed it structurally into product development lifecycles."

  • "What are the key components of a robust UX validation framework, and how would you tailor it for Signify's consumer products?"

  • "How would you gain buy-in from senior leadership and engineering teams for your UX quality standards, especially if they prioritize speed?"

Company & Culture Questions:

  • "What do you know about Signify's current product offerings and its market position in connected lighting and smart home solutions?"

  • "How do you see UX quality contributing to Signify's broader goals of innovation and sustainability?"

  • "Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders with different priorities. How did you approach it?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Structure Your Narrative: Begin with the "why" – the problem or opportunity you addressed. Detail your strategic approach to building or transforming a capability. Explain the execution, highlighting your leadership and collaboration. Conclude with measurable outcomes and impact.

  • Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your initiatives. Show improvements in user satisfaction, reduction in UX-related issues, efficiency gains, or positive business outcomes.

  • Showcase Frameworks: Visually represent any frameworks, processes, or methodologies you developed. Explain their purpose and how they were implemented.

  • Highlight Leadership & Influence: Emphasize your role in leading teams, influencing stakeholders, and driving organizational change.

  • Tailor to Signify: Briefly research Signify's products and strategic priorities to connect your experience to their specific context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong strategic mindset, proven ability to build and lead, and a deep understanding of UX quality principles in a product development context, all while being able to articulate this effectively to senior leaders.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

  • Submit your application through the provided Workday link.

  • Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 key projects that best demonstrate your experience in building new quality or UX assurance capabilities, designing frameworks, and driving significant improvements in consumer experience. Be ready to present these with clear impact metrics.

  • Optimize Your Resume: Highlight keywords related to UX research, validation, quality assurance, strategic leadership, building new functions, change management, and stakeholder influence. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

  • Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your approach to establishing the UX Quality & Consumer Experience Assurance function at Signify. Be ready to discuss your proposed first 90 days and your vision for the team.

  • Research Signify: Understand Signify's business, its brands (e.g., Philips Hue), its focus on innovation and sustainability, and its market presence. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.

Application Requirements

The role requires extensive experience in UX research and validation within consumer product environments, along with a proven track record in building new capabilities. You must possess strong leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills to influence senior stakeholders and drive quality-based decision-making.