Director, UX Design and Operations

**Enhanced Job Description** **📍 Job Overview**

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Director, UX Design and Operations

Company: Sallie Mae

Location: Newton, MA & Newark, DE

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: UX/UI Design

Date Posted: June 6, 2025

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid

**🎨 Role Summary**

🎨 Role Summary

• Lead and mentor a team of UX/UI designers while developing the overall UX/UI strategy for Sallie Mae's digital products.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to create exceptional digital experiences that support students throughout their education journey.
• Balance strategic leadership with hands-on design execution, contributing to key projects approximately 50% of the time.
• Establish design standards, methodologies, and best practices, ensuring consistent application across all digital touchpoints.
• Foster a team environment that balances creativity with business objectives, driving improvements in conversion rates and funnel progression metrics.

**🖼️ Primary Responsibilities**

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

• Leadership & Team Management: Lead, mentor, and develop a small team of UX/UI designers, fostering a culture of design excellence and continuous improvement. Conduct performance reviews and support career development for team members. Participate in hiring and team building initiatives to grow design capabilities. Collaborate with the Senior Director to establish team priorities and resource allocation. Foster a team environment that balances creativity with business objectives.
• Strategic Direction & Standards: Develop and drive the overall UX/UI strategy for Sallie Mae's digital products and services. Define design standards, methodologies, and best practices in collaboration with team and leadership. Ensure consistent application of design principles across all digital touchpoints. Establish design processes that improve efficiency and quality of output. Balance innovation with practical implementation consideration.
• Design Execution: Contribute as an individual designer on key strategic projects (approximately 50% of role). Create high-quality design solutions for complex user experience challenges. Review and provide constructive feedback on team deliverables. Maintain hands-on design skills and stay current with emerging design trends. Demonstrate design excellence through your own work that serves as inspiration for the team.
• Cross Functional Collaboration: Work in lockstep with business and product stakeholders to understand initiatives and translate them into design solutions. Balance creative possibilities with platform constraints and timeline requirements. Partner with development teams to ensure successful implementation of designs. Build strong relationships with key stakeholders across the organization. Advocate for user-centered design across the company.
• Business Impacts & Results: Drive improvements in conversion rates and funnel progression metrics. Accelerate speed to market for new features and products. Connect design decisions to business outcomes and ROI. Identify opportunities to enhance user experience that drive measurable business results. Develop metrics to evaluate design effectiveness and impact.

**🎓 Skills & Qualifications**

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience in design, HCI, or related field

Experience: 7+ years of experience in UX/UI design, with at least 1-3 years in a leadership capacity. Proven track record of leading design teams and developing design talent. Strong portfolio demonstrating both individual design excellence and team leadership.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in UX/UI design, with a strong portfolio showcasing individual design excellence and team leadership.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with tactical execution, with a focus on driving business impact.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proficiency with design tools including Figma and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Experience establishing or maintaining design systems.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Passion for education and financial services.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in financial services or education technology.
• Knowledge of design thinking methodologies and workshop facilitation.
• Knowledge of agile development processes.
• Background in conversion optimization.
• Experience leading digital transformation initiatives.

**🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements**

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a strong portfolio showcasing individual design excellence and team leadership, with a focus on driving business impact through exceptional digital experiences.
• Include case studies that highlight your ability to balance strategic thinking with tactical execution, with a clear explanation of your design process, methodology, and the results achieved.
• Showcase your proficiency in design tools such as Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, with a focus on establishing or maintaining design systems.
• Demonstrate your understanding of user-centered design principles, with examples of user research, prototyping, and testing processes.

Process Documentation:

• Include documentation of your design process, methodology, and best practices, highlighting your ability to establish design standards and ensure consistent application across all digital touchpoints.
• Provide examples of your ability to collaborate with stakeholders, balancing creative possibilities with platform constraints and timeline requirements.
• Demonstrate your ability to measure and evaluate design effectiveness and impact, with specific metrics and success criteria.

**💵 Compensation & Benefits**

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000 - $180,000 per year (based on experience and location)

Benefits:

• Healthcare Benefits: Medical, dental, vision plans
• Financial Well-being: 401K company match, Employee Stock purchase plan, and basic life insurance
• Work-life Balance: Generous paid time off, time off to volunteer, tuition reimbursement
• Family Support: After 6 months of employment, primary caregivers receive 12 weeks of fully paid time off, and secondary caregivers receive 4 weeks for birth or adoption
• Wellness Programs: Fitness center, gym subsidies, free Fitbits with step challenges, and wellness education

Working Hours: Full-time, hybrid working arrangement with flexible hours and remote work options

**🎯 Team & Company Context**

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Financial Services

Company Size: 1,001-5,000 employees

Founded: 1973

Team Structure:

• Small design team with a focus on fostering a culture of design excellence and continuous improvement
• Collaborative, cross-functional team structure with close ties to business and product stakeholders
• Flat hierarchy with a focus on empowering team members and fostering a culture of ownership and accountability

Methodology:

• User-centered design approach with a focus on balancing creative possibilities with platform constraints and timeline requirements
• Agile development processes with a focus on iterative design and continuous improvement
• Design thinking methodologies and workshop facilitation to drive strategic direction and innovation

Company Website: Sallie Mae

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: Senior-level role with significant leadership responsibilities and the opportunity to drive strategic direction and innovation within the design team

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Senior Director, with close ties to business and product stakeholders

Design Impact: The role has a significant impact on Sallie Mae's digital products and services, with the potential to drive measurable business results and enhance user experience

Growth Opportunities:

• Opportunities to grow and develop design talent within the team, with a focus on fostering a culture of ownership and accountability
• Potential to expand the design team and take on additional leadership responsibilities as the role evolves
• Opportunities to collaborate with cross-functional teams and stakeholders, driving strategic direction and innovation across the organization

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: Hybrid working arrangement with a focus on empowering team members and fostering a culture of ownership and accountability

Office Location(s): Newton, MA & Newark, DE

Design Workspace Context:

• Collaborative, open-concept workspace with a focus on fostering a culture of creativity and innovation
• Access to state-of-the-art design tools and technology, with a focus on establishing and maintaining design systems
• Opportunities to collaborate with cross-functional teams and stakeholders, driving strategic direction and innovation across the organization

Work Schedule: Full-time, hybrid working arrangement with flexible hours and remote work options

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

• Portfolio review and presentation, with a focus on showcasing individual design excellence and team leadership, with a clear explanation of your design process, methodology, and the results achieved
• Behavioral interviews focused on leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, with a focus on driving business impact through exceptional digital experiences
• Technical interviews focused on design tools, methodologies, and best practices, with a focus on establishing design standards and ensuring consistent application across all digital touchpoints
• Final interviews with senior leadership, focusing on cultural fit, strategic direction, and innovation potential

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight your ability to balance strategic thinking with tactical execution, with a clear explanation of your design process, methodology, and the results achieved
• Showcase your proficiency in design tools such as Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, with a focus on establishing or maintaining design systems
• Demonstrate your understanding of user-centered design principles, with examples of user research, prototyping, and testing processes
• Include case studies that highlight your ability to drive business impact through exceptional digital experiences

Challenge Preparation:

• Prepare for design challenges that focus on balancing strategic thinking with tactical execution, with a clear explanation of your design process, methodology, and the results achieved
• Practice presenting your portfolio and case studies, highlighting your ability to drive business impact through exceptional digital experiences
• Research Sallie Mae's design team, culture, and values, focusing on how your skills and experiences align with the role and organization

ATS Keywords:

• Design Skills: UX/UI design, design strategy, design leadership, design systems, user-centered design, design thinking, agile development, conversion optimization
• Tools: Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, design systems, user research, prototyping, testing
• Methodologies: design thinking, user-centered design, agile development, design sprints, design critiques
• Soft Skills: leadership, communication, problem-solving, collaboration, stakeholder management, strategic thinking, tactical execution
• Industry Terms: financial services, education technology, digital transformation, user experience, user interface, design strategy, design systems

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Figma: Used for design, prototyping, and collaboration, with a focus on establishing and maintaining design systems
• Adobe Creative Suite: Used for design, illustration, and graphic design, with a focus on ensuring consistent application of design principles across all digital touchpoints

Collaboration & Handoff:

• JIRA: Used for project management, issue tracking, and collaboration with development teams
• Confluence: Used for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and documentation of design processes and methodologies

Research & Testing:

• UserTesting: Used for user research, prototyping, and testing, with a focus on balancing creative possibilities with platform constraints and timeline requirements
• Optimizely: Used for A/B testing, conversion optimization, and data-driven decision-making

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

• User-centered design: Focus on balancing creative possibilities with platform constraints and timeline requirements, with a clear explanation of the design process, methodology, and results achieved
• Collaboration: Work closely with business and product stakeholders to create exceptional digital experiences that support students throughout their education journey
• Innovation: Drive strategic direction and innovation within the design team and across the organization, with a focus on driving business impact through exceptional digital experiences
• Continuous learning: Foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement, with a focus on staying current with emerging design trends and best practices

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional collaboration: Work closely with business and product stakeholders to create exceptional digital experiences that support students throughout their education journey
• Design critiques: Foster a culture of design critiques and feedback, with a focus on continuous learning and improvement
• Knowledge sharing: Encourage knowledge sharing and collaboration across the design team, with a focus on establishing and maintaining design systems

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

• Scalability: Design for scalability and accessibility, with a focus on ensuring consistent application of design principles across all digital touchpoints
• Platform constraints: Balance creative possibilities with platform constraints and timeline requirements, with a clear explanation of the design process, methodology, and results achieved
• User expectations: Design for user expectations and preferences, with a focus on creating exceptional digital experiences that support students throughout their education journey

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design leadership: Develop design leadership skills and strategies, with a focus on driving business impact through exceptional digital experiences
• Design systems: Establish and maintain design systems, with a focus on ensuring consistent application of design principles across all digital touchpoints
• User research: Develop user research skills and methodologies, with a focus on balancing creative possibilities with platform constraints and timeline requirements

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

• Design process: Explain your design process, methodology, and the results achieved, with a clear explanation of how you balance strategic thinking with tactical execution
• Design collaboration: Describe your experience working with business and product stakeholders, with a focus on creating exceptional digital experiences that support students throughout their education journey
• Design problem-solving: Provide examples of how you've solved complex design challenges, with a clear explanation of your design process, methodology, and the results achieved

Company Culture Questions:

• Design culture: Explain how your design values and principles align with Sallie Mae's design team and culture
• Design team dynamics: Describe your experience working in a design team, with a focus on collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning
• Design impact measurement: Explain how you measure and evaluate the impact of your design decisions, with a focus on driving business impact through exceptional digital experiences

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Case study structure: Organize your portfolio with clear case study structures, highlighting your ability to balance strategic thinking with tactical execution, with a clear explanation of your design process, methodology, and the results achieved
• Visual presentation techniques: Use visual presentation techniques to communicate your design rationale and articulate design decisions
• Interactive demonstration: Prepare interactive demonstrations to showcase your ability to drive business impact through exceptional digital experiences

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

• Submit your application through the Sallie Mae careers page
• Prepare your portfolio to highlight your ability to balance strategic thinking with tactical execution, with a clear explanation of your design process, methodology, and the results achieved
• Tailor your resume to emphasize your design skills, experiences, and achievements, with a focus on driving business impact through exceptional digital experiences
• Research Sallie Mae's design team, culture, and values, focusing on how your skills and experiences align with the role and organization

Sallie Mae is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, gender identity, disability, Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Click here to view the U.S. Pay Transparency Policy, here to view the California Employee Privacy Notice.

Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation please call (855) 756-2007 and choose option 9. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.