Associate UX Director

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Associate UX Director | Lead Product Designer

Company: CapTech Consulting

Location: Richmond, Virginia, USA

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design

Date Posted: March 17, 2026

Experience Level: 8+ Years Professional Experience

Remote Status: On-site (with potential for remote flexibility based on client/company needs)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is a senior leadership position within CapTech's Customer Experience (CX) team, focusing on designing sophisticated, intuitive, and impactful digital brand experiences.

• The Associate UX Director will influence user behavior and strengthen customer relationships by guiding the delivery of elegant and engaging digital products and services.

• This position requires a blend of hands-on design work, client-facing leadership, and team mentorship, with a focus on driving client growth and delivering high-quality, end-to-end digital solutions.

• The role emphasizes strategic thinking, a deep understanding of user-centered design principles, and the ability to translate business goals and user needs into innovative design outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Associate UX Director," the description also explicitly mentions "Lead Product Designer," indicating a dual focus on both strategic leadership and hands-on design execution. The required experience level (8+ years) and emphasis on independent client delivery suggest this is a senior individual contributor or a team lead role with significant autonomy, rather than a purely managerial position. The role sits within the Customer Experience (CX) practice, highlighting a holistic approach to client engagement.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the creation of comprehensive design artifacts, including personas, customer journey maps, wireframes, responsive visual designs, and interactive prototypes, adhering to interaction design and usability best practices.

• Manage and mentor project teams, including junior creatives, to nurture their talents and elevate the overall quality of client deliverables, ensuring design excellence.

• Articulate and present design concepts, rationale, and strategies clearly and compellingly to both clients and internal teams, fostering understanding and buy-in.

• Provide insightful and constructive feedback on all aspects of user experience design, including interactions, information architecture, content, layout, and overall alignment with project goals and brand identity.

• Conduct competitive assessments, identify innovative design alternatives, and stay abreast of current design and technology trends to inform project strategies.

• Strategically lead client projects, facilitate design thinking workshops, and develop high-level roadmaps and actionable recommendations based on research, insights, and industry best practices.

• Contribute to the continuous evolution of CapTech's CX methodologies, capabilities, approaches, and toolset, actively participating in team meetings and trainings.

• Advocate for and champion accessible experience and visual design principles, ensuring compliance with WCAG 2.2 standards and promoting Inclusive Design across all platforms (web, OS-native, embedded apps).

• Explore and leverage AI-powered design tools and workflows to enhance creativity, efficiency, and the overall impact of design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly outline a senior role that bridges strategic client engagement, hands-on design execution, and team leadership. The emphasis on "leading the creation," "managing the project team," and "leading client projects strategically" indicates a high degree of autonomy and responsibility for project success. The inclusion of contributing to "evolution of CX methodologies" suggests an expectation of thought leadership and practice development.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 8 years of professional experience, ideally gained within a design consultancy or digital agency environment.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, delivering against scope and budget constraints effectively.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in product strategy, heuristic analysis, information architecture, user research, user interface (UI) design, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing.

• Exceptional strategic thinking capabilities to translate complex business goals and user needs into elegant and impactful design solutions.

• Strong creative insight and drive, with the ability to manage projects from initial research through to final implementation in collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams and clients.

• Excellent client presentation skills, with the ability to confidently communicate design rationale and influence stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire teams of researchers and designers to produce engaging, multi-channel digital solutions, particularly in enterprise-scale environments.

• Proficiency in designing with Figma is mandatory; candidates capable of generating developer-ready visual assets and UI components will be highly regarded.

• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) and presentation software like PowerPoint.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with user research tools such as Optimal Workshop, UserTesting, or SurveyMonkey.

• Experience with collaborative whiteboarding and workshop tools like Miro or FigJam.

• Working knowledge of Agile product development lifecycles and practices.

• Familiarity with WCAG 2.2 Accessibility standards and Inclusive Design principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The distinction between "preferred" and "required" skills is crucial. Figma proficiency is explicitly listed as required, highlighting its importance in CapTech's design workflow. The breadth of preferred skills suggests that candidates with a well-rounded understanding of the entire product development lifecycle, from research to accessibility, will be most competitive. The experience requirement of "8+ years" aligns with an "Associate Director" level.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive online portfolio is mandatory for all applicants.

• The portfolio should showcase end-to-end design process, demonstrating your ability to translate business objectives and user needs into successful digital experiences.

• Include case studies that highlight your strategic thinking, problem-solving approach, and specific contributions to project outcomes.

• Showcase proficiency in key design tools, particularly Figma, and demonstrate your ability to create detailed wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate experience in documenting and communicating design processes, including user research methodologies, IA structures, and interaction design specifications.

• Provide examples of how you have facilitated design workshops, brainstormed solutions, and translated insights into actionable design deliverables.

• Showcase your understanding of iterative design processes, including how you incorporate feedback and conduct usability testing to refine designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for an online portfolio is emphasized, and it's crucial for candidates to curate their submissions to align with the responsibilities and required skills. The portfolio should not just display final designs but also the strategic thinking and process behind them, especially demonstrating Figma proficiency and experience with the full human-centered design lifecycle.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Traditional Benefits:

  • Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Health Coverage
  • Disability Insurance
  • Paid Family Leave

• Extended Benefits for Well-being and Lifestyle:

  • Modern Health: A mental health and well-being platform offering 1:1 care, group sessions, and self-serve resources.
  • Carrot Fertility: Inclusive fertility and family-forming coverage (adoption, surrogacy, fertility treatments, pregnancy).
  • Fringe: A company-paid stipend program for personalized lifestyle benefits (e.g., streaming services, student loan repayment, fitness, travel).

• Retirement Savings:

  • 401(k) Matching with no vesting period, supporting long-term financial wellness.

• Professional Development:

  • Learning & Development programs: Certification and tuition support, on-demand digital learning, mentorship, and skill development paths.

• Inclusion and Community:

  • Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) fostering diversity and inclusion.

Working Hours:

• The standard working hours are estimated to be 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time role. While the role is primarily on-site, CapTech offers flexibility where compatible with client and company needs, allowing for remote work possibilities. Employees must be available to work onsite at client locations or CapTech offices as requested.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on typical compensation for senior UX/Product Design roles in consulting in a mid-sized US market. The benefits package is extensive, with a strong emphasis on employee well-being, mental health, family support, and personalized lifestyle choices, which are attractive differentiators for senior professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology Consulting Services. CapTech collaborates with clients, including Fortune 100 companies, mid-sized enterprises, and government agencies, to achieve business objectives through technology.

Company Size: CapTech is a mid-to-large sized consulting firm, indicated by its national presence and diverse client base. This size typically allows for structured career paths and robust internal resources while maintaining a collaborative culture.

Founded: The company was founded with a core principle of building strong, long-lasting relationships with clients. This founding philosophy likely underpins a culture that values partnership, trust, and client success.

Team Structure:

• Customer Experience (CX) Team: This role is part of the CX team, which is dedicated to crafting user-centric digital solutions.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role requires close collaboration with project managers, user researchers, UI designers, content strategists, and developers, reflecting a typical agile, multidisciplinary project team structure.

• Hierarchy: As an Associate UX Director, you will likely report to a senior leader within the CX practice and may lead smaller teams or specific project workstreams.

Methodology:

• Human-Centered Design: The core approach emphasizes understanding user needs and business goals to create impactful digital experiences.

• Agile Development: Familiarity with Agile methodologies is preferred, suggesting iterative development cycles and close teamwork.

• Data-Driven Insights: The role leverages user research, market analysis, and potentially AI tools to inform design decisions and drive strategy.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: CapTech's focus on "award-winning" and "collaborating with clients to achieve what's possible" suggests a results-oriented and client-centric culture. The emphasis on "strong relationships" implies a professional yet personable work environment. The CX team's role is central to delivering value through technology.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Associate UX Director / Lead Product Designer. This position represents a senior individual contributor or a leadership role focused on design strategy and execution. It's a step beyond senior designer roles, involving greater client influence, team mentorship, and strategic project leadership.

Reporting Structure: Typically, this role would report to a Director or VP of UX/CX within CapTech's practice. You will collaborate closely with Project Managers and potentially lead project teams composed of UX/UI designers, researchers, and content strategists.

Operations Impact: The impact is directly tied to client success. By designing intuitive and impactful digital experiences, this role influences user behavior, enhances brand perception, drives customer engagement, and ultimately contributes to the client's business objectives and CapTech's revenue growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Practice Leadership: Potential to grow into a Director or Senior Director role within the CX practice, taking on more significant client accounts and strategic leadership responsibilities.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas of UX, such as AI-driven design, accessibility, or complex enterprise solutions.

• Mentorship and Training: Develop leadership and mentorship skills by guiding junior talent, contributing to internal training programs, and shaping CapTech's design methodologies.

• Client Relationship Management: Build strong client relationships that can lead to account growth and opportunities for larger, more strategic engagements.

• Professional Development: Access to CapTech's robust Learning & Development programs, including certifications, tuition support, and skill development paths, allowing for continuous learning and career advancement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Associate" title in a consulting context often signifies a level of expertise and responsibility comparable to a senior manager or director in other industries. The growth path is clearly defined towards greater strategic influence, client ownership, and people leadership within the consulting framework.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: CapTech operates a consulting model that involves working both in client offices and at CapTech's own office locations. The culture likely fosters collaboration within these environments.

Office Location(s): The primary on-site requirement is in Richmond, Virginia, USA. However, consulting roles often require travel to client sites as needed.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Expect environments that encourage teamwork, brainstorming, and cross-functional interaction, whether in client settings or CapTech offices.

• Technology Access: Access to industry-standard design tools (Figma, Adobe Suite) and collaboration platforms (Miro, FigJam) is essential.

• Client Interaction: Significant interaction with clients will be a core part of the daily work, requiring strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Work Schedule:

• The role is full-time, with an estimated 40 hours per week. While primarily on-site, the company mentions flexibility and the possibility of remote work when compatible with client and CapTech needs. This suggests a hybrid approach may be possible, but availability for on-site work is a requirement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "on-site" nature of the role is emphasized, but with a caveat for flexibility. Candidates should be prepared for a hybrid or potentially fully on-site engagement depending on client project demands. The collaborative nature of consulting means interaction with diverse teams and stakeholders is constant.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely involves a review of your resume and online portfolio to assess experience, skills, and fit with the role requirements.

• First Round Interview: Typically with a hiring manager or senior team member, focusing on behavioral questions, design philosophy, and experience with the full UX lifecycle. Portfolio walkthrough might be requested here.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: Candidates may be asked to present a detailed case study from their portfolio or complete a take-home assignment/live exercise to assess problem-solving, strategic thinking, and design execution.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with other UX designers, researchers, project managers, or client-facing leaders to evaluate collaboration style and ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.

• Final Round: May involve a presentation to senior leadership or a discussion about career aspirations and alignment with CapTech's culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your experience as a UX Director/Lead Product Designer, highlighting strategic thinking and leadership.

• Showcase Process: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process followed (research, IA, wireframing, prototyping, UI, testing), key decisions made, and the final outcomes/impact.

• Highlight Figma Mastery: Ensure your Figma skills are evident, whether through complex component systems, interactive prototypes, or developer handoff assets.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics or qualitative feedback to demonstrate the success and business value of your design solutions.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies as narratives that engage the reviewer and clearly communicate your problem-solving approach and strategic contribution.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a case study, thoroughly research CapTech's services and client types to understand potential business challenges.

• Focus on Strategy: For any design challenge, prioritize defining the problem, identifying key user needs and business goals, and outlining a strategic approach before diving into detailed design.

• Communicate Rationale: Be prepared to clearly articulate the "why" behind every design decision.

• Time Management: Practice delivering presentations within a set timeframe, ensuring you cover all essential points without rushing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical. It must go beyond showcasing pretty visuals to demonstrating strategic problem-solving, leadership, and a deep understanding of the design process. Being prepared to present a detailed case study is almost certainly expected.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Required for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and creating developer-ready assets. Expect to demonstrate advanced proficiency.

• Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign): Proficiency is required for various design tasks and asset creation.

• Presentation Software (e.g., PowerPoint): Essential for client presentations and communicating design rationale.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Research Tools: Familiarity with tools like Optimal Workshop, UserTesting, and SurveyMonkey is a plus for gathering user insights.

• Data Analysis Tools: While not explicitly mentioned, experience with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel) to understand user behavior post-launch would be beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• Collaboration Tools: Familiarity with workshopping and whiteboarding tools like Miro or FigJam is a plus for facilitating remote collaboration and ideation.

• Project Management Tools: Experience with Agile methodologies suggests familiarity with tools like Jira or Asana for task management and workflow tracking.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the cornerstone of the toolset. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their advanced Figma workflows, including component libraries, design systems, and collaboration features.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Client Success: A strong emphasis on delivering value and achieving client objectives through technology and design.

• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork and cross-functional partnerships to achieve project goals.

• Innovation & Excellence: Striving for high-quality, impactful solutions and embracing new technologies and approaches.

• Relationships: Building strong, lasting relationships with clients and colleagues.

• Professionalism: Maintaining a high standard of conduct, communication, and delivery.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires seamless collaboration with project managers, researchers, developers, and content strategists, often in fast-paced, client-driven environments.

• Servant Leadership: The description mentions "checking your ego at the door," implying a collaborative leadership style focused on empowering teams and fostering a positive working environment.

• Constructive Feedback: Providing and receiving feedback is integral to the design process and team development.

📝 Enhancement Note: CapTech's culture appears to be a blend of client-centric results orientation and a collaborative, people-focused internal environment. The emphasis on "relationships" and "servant leadership" suggests a desire for team players who can also lead effectively.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Client Demands with Design Integrity: Ensuring high-quality, user-centered design is maintained while meeting client timelines and specific requirements.

• Managing Multiple, Complex Projects: Effectively prioritizing and executing on a diverse portfolio of client engagements simultaneously.

• Influencing Stakeholders: Convincing clients and internal teams of the value of design recommendations, especially when they challenge existing assumptions.

• Adapting to Evolving Technologies: Staying current with new design tools, AI capabilities, and digital trends to maintain a competitive edge.

• Mentoring and Developing Talent: Effectively guiding and growing junior designers within a consulting framework.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Formal Training Programs: CapTech offers certification, tuition support, and digital learning resources to enhance technical and soft skills.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to be mentored by senior leaders and to mentor junior team members, fostering leadership and knowledge transfer.

• Industry Exposure: Working with a diverse range of clients and projects provides broad industry experience and exposure to different business challenges.

• Practice Development: Contributing to the evolution of CapTech's CX methodologies offers a chance to shape the future of the practice.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior consulting roles. The growth opportunities are robust, emphasizing continuous learning and career progression within the organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to defining product strategy and translating business goals into user-centered design solutions.

• Articulate how you lead and mentor design teams, citing specific examples of fostering talent and elevating work quality.

• Explain your process for conducting user research, information architecture, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing, and how these elements inform your strategic decisions.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Research CapTech's client portfolio and recent projects to understand their market presence and typical engagement types.

• Prepare to discuss how your values align with CapTech's emphasis on strong relationships, client success, and collaborative work.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the consulting environment and your ability to thrive in a client-facing, project-driven setting.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each case study, clearly define the problem statement, your specific role and responsibilities, the methodologies used, key design decisions and rationale, challenges encountered, and the final outcomes (quantifiable if possible).

• Visuals: Ensure your presentation is visually appealing and consistent with your design aesthetic, using high-quality mockups, wireframes, and prototypes.

• Storytelling: Craft a narrative around each project that highlights your strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities.

• Figma Demonstration: Be ready to walk through your Figma files, showcasing your proficiency, design system usage, and prototyping capabilities.

• Conciseness: Practice delivering your presentation within a designated time limit, focusing on the most impactful aspects of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on portfolio presentation and strategic thinking. Candidates need to demonstrate not just design skills but also leadership, client management, and business acumen.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Associate UX Director position:

• Submit your application through the provided link: https://jobs.smartrecruiters.com/CapTechConsulting/744000115287603-associate-ux-director

• Curate your online portfolio: Select 3-5 of your most impactful projects that showcase strategic leadership, design process (especially Figma), and measurable results. Ensure it's easily accessible and professionally presented.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight your 8+ years of experience, consulting background, specific UX/product strategy skills, leadership accomplishments, and proficiency in required tools like Figma. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare your case studies: Practice presenting your portfolio projects, focusing on the strategic problem-solving, your role, the process, and the impact of your design decisions. Be ready to discuss your approach to client collaboration and team leadership.

• Research CapTech Consulting: Understand their client base, services, and company culture. Be prepared to articulate how your skills and experience align with their values and business objectives.

⚠️ 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.