Advanced Specialist, UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Advanced Specialist, UX Designer

Company: Pearson

Location: Hoboken, NJ (Hybrid)

Job Type: Full time

Category: User Experience Design / Product Design

Date Posted: February 26, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Designs end-to-end user experiences for higher education products across web and mobile platforms.

• Creates high-fidelity designs, user flows, and interactive prototypes for seamless engineering handoff.

• Contributes to and expands a scalable, accessible, and consistent design system.

• Leads user research and usability testing to inform design decisions and iterate on solutions.

• Partners with product managers, content strategists, researchers, and engineers in a collaborative, agile environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role title "Advanced Specialist, UX Designer" is explicitly stated to align with a "Senior UX Designer" level, indicating a need for significant experience and a high degree of autonomy and strategic input. The focus on "higher education products" and "learning outcomes" suggests a specialized domain within UX.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design of complex, end-to-end user experiences from discovery through launch and iteration.

• Frame design problems, identify opportunities, and establish success metrics in collaboration with product managers.

• Develop high-fidelity designs, including user flows, screens, and interactive prototypes, with exceptional craft and detail.

• Contribute reusable components and patterns to the design system, ensuring scalability, accessibility, and consistency.

• Plan, facilitate, and synthesize user research and usability testing, translating findings into actionable design recommendations.

• Present design work and strategic recommendations to senior leadership, influencing product direction.

• Facilitate design workshops and collaborative sessions to build stakeholder alignment.

• Leverage data and analytics to validate design decisions and drive improvements through A/B testing and experimentation.

• Mentor junior designers through critiques and feedback to foster their growth.

• Design AI-driven teaching and learning experiences, considering ethical implications and pedagogical effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic leadership, deep craft, and cross-functional collaboration. The inclusion of AI-driven experiences and pedagogical considerations points to a forward-thinking role within the educational technology sector, requiring designers to understand complex learning science principles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 5-8 years of professional product design experience, with a strong emphasis on user-centered design principles.

• Proven experience designing for both web and mobile platforms.

Required Skills:

• User-Centered Design: Deep understanding and application of user-centered design methodologies.

• UX/Product Design: Expertise in creating user flows, wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes.

• Design Systems: Experience in contributing to or building scalable, accessible, and consistent design systems and component libraries.

• User Research & Usability Testing: Proficiency in planning, conducting, and synthesizing user research and usability testing to inform design decisions.

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present design work and advocate for user needs to diverse stakeholders, including senior leadership.

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to frame problems, identify opportunities, and connect design solutions to business goals and learning outcomes.

• Proficiency in Design Tools: Expertise in industry-standard design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, InVision).

Preferred Skills:

• AI & Learning Science: Experience designing AI-driven educational experiences and understanding of learning science or pedagogical principles.

• Data Analysis & A/B Testing: Familiarity with using data analytics and A/B testing to validate design decisions and drive iteration.

• Accessibility Standards: Strong knowledge of WCAG and best practices for designing accessible digital products.

• Mentorship: Experience in mentoring junior designers.

• Agile Methodologies: Experience working within agile development environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 5-8 years of experience and the emphasis on strategic thinking, leadership, and measurable impact align with a senior-level individual contributor role. The specific mention of AI and learning science indicates a need for candidates who can navigate complex, evolving domains within EdTech.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing 5-8 years of product design experience, with a clear emphasis on:
  • Craft Excellence: High-fidelity designs, polished user flows, and compelling interactive prototypes.
  • Strategic Thinking: Evidence of problem framing, user research insights, and how design decisions addressed specific user needs and business objectives.
  • Measurable Impact: Case studies demonstrating the tangible impact of design solutions on user experience, learning outcomes, or business metrics.
  • Cross-functional Collaboration: Examples of working effectively with product managers, engineers, and content strategists.
  • Design System Contribution: Contributions to or management of design systems, showcasing an understanding of scalability, consistency, and accessibility.
  • AI/EdTech Experience (Preferred): Projects related to educational technology, AI-driven features, or learning platforms.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the end-to-end design process, including:
  • Discovery & Research: How you identify user needs, conduct research, and synthesize findings.
  • Ideation & Design: Your approach to brainstorming, wireframing, prototyping, and creating detailed specifications.
  • Testing & Iteration: How you use usability testing and data analytics (e.g., A/B testing) to validate and refine designs.
  • Handoff & Collaboration: Processes for working with engineering and other cross-functional teams.
  • Design System Management: Your approach to contributing to and maintaining design system components.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role. Candidates should prepare detailed case studies that highlight not just the visual design but also the strategic thinking, research methodology, and demonstrable impact of their work, particularly in complex domains like education and AI.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The minimum full-time salary range for this position is between $110,000 - $130,000 USD annually.

Benefits:

• Participation in an annual incentive program.

• Comprehensive benefits package, details available at pearsonbenefitsus.com.

  • 📝 Enhancement Note: While specific benefits are not listed, typical offerings for a company of Pearson's size and industry include health insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement plans (401k), paid time off, parental leave, and professional development opportunities.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time position, likely around 40 hours per week.

• 📝 Enhancement Note: While the job is described as hybrid, the specific number of days in the office is not detailed, but the role's collaborative nature suggests regular in-office presence would be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a legal requirement for specific US states and represents the minimum. The actual offer could be higher based on the candidate's qualifications and the company's internal compensation structure. The mention of an "annual incentive program" suggests a potential bonus component.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Education Technology, Publishing, Digital Learning

Company Size: Large (18,000+ employees globally)

Founded: 1844 (Pearson)

Team Structure:

• The UX Designer will be embedded within product teams, working closely with Product Managers, Content Strategists, Researchers, and Engineers.

• This role will likely be part of a larger UX/Design organization within Pearson, fostering a community of practice.

Methodology:

• User-Centered Design: A core philosophy driving product development.

• Agile Development: Collaboration with engineering teams implies working in iterative cycles.

• Data-Driven Decisions: Emphasis on using analytics and A/B testing to inform design.

• Design Systems: A commitment to creating scalable, consistent, and accessible UI components.

• Collaborative Environment: Close partnership across disciplines is expected.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Pearson's long history and global presence indicate a stable yet evolving organization. The current focus on digital and AI transformation within Higher Education suggests an innovative and forward-looking culture within its product teams, aiming to redefine learning experiences.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor (equivalent to Senior UX Designer)

Reporting Structure: Likely reports to a UX Design Manager or Director, and works closely with Product Management leads for specific product areas.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts the user experience of Pearson's higher education products, influencing learner engagement, educational outcomes, and ultimately, Pearson's market position in the digital learning space. The strategic nature of the role means designs can shape product direction and long-term strategy.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Design: Opportunity to lead design for significant product initiatives and influence the overall design strategy.

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like AI-driven learning experiences, design systems, and user research methodologies.

• Mentorship: Develop leadership and coaching skills by mentoring junior designers.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain broad experience by working across various product teams and disciplines.

• Industry Influence: Contribute to shaping the future of learning technology and AI in education.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for career progression within UX design, potentially leading to Lead Designer, Principal Designer, or management roles. The focus on emerging areas like AI in education provides opportunities for cutting-edge work and professional development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model.

Office Location(s): Hoboken, NJ (primary mentioned location). Pearson has a global presence, but this role is tied to the Hoboken office for hybrid work.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Expected to work in an environment that fosters collaboration with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Content, Research).

• Technology & Tools: Access to standard design and collaboration software.

• Team Interaction: Regular team meetings, design critiques, and brainstorming sessions.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours, with flexibility expected around project deadlines. The hybrid model allows for a mix of in-office and remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role in Hoboken suggests a balance between focused remote work and collaborative in-office sessions, typical for senior design roles that require deep work and extensive stakeholder interaction.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter call to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing their process, strategic thinking, and impact. A design challenge (e.g., case study analysis, a small design problem) may be given.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Deeper dive into experience, problem-solving approach, and leadership potential.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with peers from Product Management, Engineering, and potentially other designers or researchers to assess collaboration and technical understanding.

• Final Interview/Leadership Interview: Discussion with senior leadership to assess strategic alignment and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Structure portfolio case studies as narratives: problem, your role, process, solution, and impact (quantifiable metrics are key).

• Strategic Focus: Emphasize the "why" behind your design decisions, not just the "what." Show how you translated user needs and business goals into solutions.

• Process Clarity: Clearly articulate your design process, including research, ideation, iteration, and collaboration.

• Craft Quality: Ensure visual polish and a clear demonstration of high-fidelity design skills.

• Relevance: Highlight projects most relevant to educational technology, AI, or complex digital products.

• AI/Learning Context: If applicable, showcase any experience or interest in AI-driven features or the education sector.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to articulate your design process and rationale for decisions within a limited timeframe.

• Focus on user-centered problem-solving and demonstrating strategic thinking.

• Practice presenting your work concisely and effectively, anticipating questions about trade-offs and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Advanced Specialist" and "Senior UX Designer" implies that the interview process will rigorously assess strategic thinking, leadership potential, and the ability to drive significant design initiatives, not just execute tasks. A strong portfolio that demonstrates impact is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly likely), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), InVision, Axure RP.

• User Research: UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Dovetail, survey tools (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics).

• Collaboration: Jira, Confluence, Slack, Microsoft Teams.

• Design System Management: Figma (component libraries), Storybook (potentially).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how user data flows from products into broader systems is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is almost a given for modern UX roles. Familiarity with collaboration tools and an understanding of analytics platforms are essential for a data-informed design approach. Experience with design system tools is crucial given the role's responsibilities.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Curiosity: A drive to understand users, technology, and the learning domain.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with diverse teams to achieve shared goals.

• Craft Excellence: Commitment to high-quality design execution.

• User Advocacy: Championing the needs of learners and educators.

• Strategic Thinking: Connecting design decisions to broader product and business objectives.

• Persistence: Driving complex projects to completion in a large organization.

• Empathy: Understanding and designing for the diverse needs of learners.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are embedded within product teams, working daily with PMs, engineers, and content.

• Design Crits & Feedback: A culture of constructive feedback to elevate design quality.

• Data-Informed: Decisions are often validated through user research and analytics.

• Agile Mindset: Adaptability and iterative development are key.

📝 Enhancement Note: Pearson emphasizes a blend of innovation ("AI transformation," "reimagining learning") and foundational design principles ("craft excellence," "user advocacy"). The culture appears to value individuals who can be both strategic thinkers and hands-on doers, comfortable navigating a large corporate structure while driving change.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Large Organization: Balancing innovation with established processes and stakeholder alignment in a global company.

• Complex Domain: Designing for the nuances of higher education and learning science requires deep understanding and empathy.

• AI Integration: Designing effective and ethical AI-driven learning experiences is a frontier challenge.

• Balancing User Needs, Business Goals, and Technical Constraints: A constant balancing act inherent in product design.

• Driving Change: Influencing product direction and adopting new technologies and methodologies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Conferences & Training: Opportunities to attend UX and EdTech conferences.

• Internal Workshops & Knowledge Sharing: Learning from peers and subject matter experts within Pearson.

• Exposure to Emerging Technologies: Working with AI and advanced learning technologies.

• Career Pathing: Potential for growth into Lead Designer, Principal Designer, or management roles.

• Mentorship Programs: Formal and informal opportunities for mentorship.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents challenges that are typical for senior positions in large, innovative companies, particularly in the fast-evolving EdTech sector. These challenges are framed as opportunities for growth and making a significant impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex design problem you solved, detailing your process from problem definition to solution and impact." (Focus on strategic framing, research, trade-offs, and outcomes).

• "How do you balance user needs with business objectives and technical constraints?" (Demonstrate pragmatic judgment and negotiation skills).

• "How would you approach designing an AI-powered feature for a learning platform? What are the key considerations?" (Showcase forward-thinking, ethical awareness, and pedagogical alignment).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Pearson's mission in higher education and its digital/AI transformation?" (Research Pearson's recent initiatives and articulate your alignment).

• "How do you contribute to a collaborative, cross-functional team environment?" (Provide examples of your teamwork and communication style).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select 3-4 strong case studies: Prioritize those demonstrating end-to-end ownership, strategic impact, and relevance to education/AI.

• Focus on the "Why": Clearly articulate the problem, your role, the constraints, your design process, the rationale behind key decisions, and the measurable outcomes.

• Quantify Impact: Use data, metrics, and user feedback to demonstrate the success of your solutions.

• Showcase Craft: Present polished visuals, interactive prototypes, and clear specifications.

• Be Prepared for Design Challenges: Practice thinking aloud, breaking down problems, and articulating your design rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills but also strategic thinking, leadership potential, and a deep understanding of the educational technology landscape. Quantifiable results and clear articulation of the design process are critical.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Oracle Cloud HCM.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating end-to-end design ownership, strategic impact, and experience relevant to educational technology or AI.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 5-8 years of experience, key skills (user-centered design, design systems, research), and achievements using keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on storytelling, strategic rationale, and quantifiable impact. Prepare for behavioral questions related to collaboration, problem-solving, and leadership.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Pearson's mission, its current digital transformation initiatives in higher education, and its approach to AI in learning.

⚠️ 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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