Lead UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UX Designer Company: Clarivate Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: User Experience (UX) / Product Design Operations Date Posted: 2025-08-22T00:00:00 Experience Level: Mid-Senior (5-10 years) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is crucial for driving strategic design thinking and hands-on product design within Clarivate's innovation initiatives, specifically focusing on reimagining student engagement with digital solutions.
• The Lead UX Designer will leverage deep user research methodologies and translate complex, data-rich environments into intuitive user experiences, requiring strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Key responsibilities include end-to-end design ownership, from concept generation and user research to prototyping and collaboration with cross-functional teams, ensuring alignment with both user needs and business objectives.
• The position demands exceptional communication and storytelling abilities to effectively influence product strategy and gain buy-in from diverse stakeholders, including Product, Engineering, and AI teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Lead UX Designer," the description indicates a focus on hands-on design and strategic impact rather than direct people management, suggesting a senior individual contributor role with significant influence. The emphasis on "strategic innovation" and "reimagining student engagement" points towards a role that requires forward-thinking and a deep understanding of user-centric design principles in a business context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive user research, employing methodologies such as surveys, in-depth user interviews, contextual inquiries, and usability testing to gather critical insights that will shape product design strategies.
• Design and develop intuitive, scalable, and user-friendly digital experiences, meticulously translating initial concepts into high-fidelity prototypes and final design specifications.
• Create essential UX artifacts, including detailed user personas, customer journey maps, user flow diagrams, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and robust design systems to effectively communicate design intent and ensure consistency.
• Foster strong, collaborative partnerships with cross-functional teams, including Product Management, Engineering, AI specialists, and Marketing, to ensure seamless integration of user-centered design principles throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Actively contribute to and influence product strategy by leveraging user research findings, aligning UX best practices with overarching business goals, and advocating for the user at every stage of development.
• Champion design thinking and user-centric methodologies across the organization, fostering a culture that prioritizes user needs and data-driven decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic influence and tactical execution, common in senior UX roles. The emphasis on "complex, data-rich environments" and "AI-enabled design" suggests a need for designers who can navigate ambiguity and integrate advanced technologies into their design process. The mention of influencing "product strategy" implies the role will involve significant strategic input beyond just visual design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Psychology, Computer Science, or a closely related field, demonstrating a foundational understanding of user behavior and design principles.
• A Master’s degree in HCI, Design Strategy, or a related discipline is preferred, indicating a deeper level of expertise and advanced research capabilities.

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in User Experience (UX) design, with a proven track record of successfully delivering user-centered digital products.
• A minimum of 7 years of hands-on experience conducting comprehensive user research, including proficiency in qualitative and quantitative methods like surveys, interviews, usability testing, A/B testing, and heuristic evaluations, with a focus on translating insights into actionable design improvements.
• A minimum of 7 years of experience in creating core UX artifacts such as user personas, journey maps, user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and contributing to or managing design systems.

Required Skills:

• Strategic Design Thinking: Ability to approach design challenges from a strategic perspective, aligning user needs with business objectives and market opportunities.
• User Research Expertise: Proven ability to plan, execute, and analyze various user research methodologies to uncover deep user insights and inform design decisions.
• Prototyping & Wireframing: Mastery in creating detailed wireframes and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate user flows and interaction design.
• Design Systems: Experience in developing, utilizing, or contributing to design systems to ensure consistency and scalability across digital products.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work effectively with Product Managers, Engineers, AI specialists, and other stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
• Communication & Storytelling: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design concepts, research findings, and strategic recommendations clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Figma Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.
• Adobe Illustrator Proficiency: Competence in using Illustrator for graphic design elements and asset creation.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working within early-stage innovation or product discovery teams, navigating ambiguity and shaping new product directions.
• Background working with both internal and external users in both B2B (Business-to-Business) and B2C (Business-to-Consumer) contexts, demonstrating adaptability to different user bases and business models.
• Familiarity with or experience in applying AI-enabled design principles or working with education technology (EdTech) products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirements are substantial, indicating a need for a seasoned professional. The distinction between required and preferred skills provides a clear roadmap for candidates. The specific mention of Figma and Illustrator highlights the essential toolset for this role. Preference for early-stage innovation experience suggests the role operates in a dynamic, forward-looking environment.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing a minimum of 7 years of UX design and user research experience, demonstrating a strong strategic design thinking approach.
• Portfolio pieces that clearly illustrate the design process, from initial problem definition and user research insights to iterative design solutions and final outcomes.
• Demonstrate proficiency in creating key UX artifacts such as user personas, journey maps, wireframes, and interactive prototypes, with clear explanations of the rationale behind design decisions.
• Include case studies that highlight successful collaboration with cross-functional teams and showcase how user needs were balanced with business objectives and technical constraints.
• Evidence of experience in complex, data-rich environments or with AI-enabled products is highly valued.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of user research plans, methodologies used, and key findings that directly informed design iterations and product strategy.
• Documentation of design system components or contributions to design system development, emphasizing consistency and scalability.
• Case studies detailing the problem, the user research conducted, the design solutions proposed, the iterative process, and measurable impact or outcomes.
• Prototypes or case studies that effectively communicate user flows, interaction design, and the overall user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is paramount for this role. Candidates should prepare case studies that not only showcase their design skills but also their strategic thinking, research abilities, and collaborative approach. Highlighting experience with complex data or AI will be a significant differentiator. The emphasis on process documentation underscores Clarivate's focus on a structured and evidence-based design methodology.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for Lead UX Designers with 7+ years of experience in a major tech hub like Ann Arbor, Michigan, and considering Clarivate's position in the information services industry, the estimated salary range is likely between $120,000 and $170,000 annually. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, qualifications, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision coverage to support employee well-being.
• Retirement Savings Plan: 401(k) or similar plan with potential company matching to aid long-term financial planning.
• Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays, allowing for work-life balance.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, conferences, and continuous learning to enhance skills in UX design, research, and emerging technologies like AI.
• Hybrid Work Flexibility: A hybrid work arrangement offering a balance between in-office collaboration and remote work flexibility.
• Life and Disability Insurance: Coverage to provide financial security for employees and their families.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Support services for personal and work-related challenges.

Working Hours:

• Full-time, typically 40 hours per week, adhering to core business hours within the employee's local time zone.
• Flexibility is provided to adjust working hours to accommodate collaboration with global teams across different time zones as needed.
• The role is hybrid, requiring 2-3 days per week in an office location (Ann Arbor, Alexandria, or Philadelphia), with specific days determined by team needs and manager discretion.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimations are based on general market data for similar roles in the specified US location and experience level. Clarivate, as a global information services company, is expected to offer a competitive benefits package that aligns with industry standards for attracting and retaining top talent in specialized roles like Lead UX Designer. The hybrid work requirement necessitates proximity to one of the listed US office locations.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry:

• Clarivate operates within the Information Services and Technology sector, specializing in providing data, analytics, and insights to professionals across scientific, academic, intellectual property, and customer engagement markets. This means the company deals with complex, data-intensive products and services, requiring a strong focus on usability and information architecture. The operations within this industry often involve managing vast datasets and delivering them through sophisticated digital platforms.

Company Size:

• Clarivate is a large, publicly traded company, indicated by its presence on stock exchanges and the scale of its operations. Large organizations typically offer more structured career paths, robust resources, and a wider array of specialized roles. For operations professionals, this can mean access to advanced tools, established processes, and opportunities for collaboration across numerous departments.

Founded:

• Clarivate was established in 2016, emerging from the Information Solutions and Services division of Thomson Reuters. This relatively recent founding as an independent entity suggests a company that is modern in its approach, potentially agile in its decision-making, and focused on innovation and digital transformation. Its heritage from a large, established organization provides a foundation of expertise and market presence.

Team Structure:

• The Lead UX Designer will join the Strategic Innovation team within the A&G (Academic & Government) segment. This team is focused on a high-impact initiative, "Project Nexus," aimed at unifying and enhancing the student experience across platforms.
• The reporting structure is not explicitly detailed, but the role is described as a senior individual contributor, implying it reports to a UX Manager, Director of Design, or Head of Product for the A&G segment.
• Collaboration is highly emphasized, with close interfacing with internal product teams, technology, and AI teams, as well as external user research. This implies a matrixed or project-based work environment where the UX designer must build strong relationships across various functional groups.

Methodology:

• The team operates in an innovation-driven environment, suggesting a methodology that embraces experimentation, rapid prototyping, and agile development cycles.
• Design processes will likely involve a strong emphasis on data analysis and user insights, informing iterative improvements and strategic planning.
• Workflow planning and optimization will be key, especially in the context of Project Nexus, which aims to unify disparate student experiences.
• The team is also expected to engage with automation and efficiency practices, particularly as they relate to enhancing digital platforms and user interactions.

Company Website:

• https://clarivate.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Clarivate's industry and size suggest a professional environment with established processes but also a drive for innovation due to its relatively recent formation as a standalone company. The Strategic Innovation team's focus on Project Nexus indicates a project-oriented work structure where collaboration and clear communication of design rationale will be critical for success. Understanding Clarivate's core business of providing information and analytics will be key to understanding the context of the user experience design work.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level:

• This role is positioned at a Mid-Senior to Senior Individual Contributor level within UX Design. It requires a substantial amount of experience and the ability to lead design thinking and execution for complex projects like Project Nexus. The "Lead" title signifies a high degree of autonomy, strategic input, and the expectation to influence product direction, even without direct reports.

Reporting Structure:

• The Lead UX Designer will likely report to a higher-level design leader (e.g., UX Manager, Director of Design) within the A&G segment or the Strategic Innovation team. While not managing direct reports, the role involves mentoring peers informally and influencing team culture by example and through collaborative design leadership.

Operations Impact:

• The impact of this role is significant, directly influencing how students engage with Clarivate's digital solutions. By reimagining the student experience, the Lead UX Designer can drive user adoption, satisfaction, and retention, which in turn impacts the success of Clarivate's products and services in the academic and government sectors. This role bridges the gap between user needs and business objectives, ensuring that design decisions contribute to revenue growth and market position.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in user research methodologies, complex data visualization, and design for AI-driven features within the education technology space.
• Strategic Influence: Progress to influencing broader product roadmaps, leading design strategy for new initiatives, or potentially transitioning into management roles (e.g., Design Manager) if desired and opportunities arise.
• Industry Exposure: Gain valuable experience in the information services and education technology sectors, understanding the unique challenges and opportunities within these markets.
• Cross-functional Leadership: Develop leadership skills by guiding design direction, mentoring junior designers informally, and influencing stakeholders across Product, Engineering, and AI departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for career growth within UX design, emphasizing influence and strategic contribution over traditional hierarchical advancement. The opportunity to work on a "high-impact initiative" and shape the "student experience" provides significant professional development and resume-building potential. The blend of hands-on design and strategic input is attractive for experienced UX professionals seeking to make a tangible impact.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type:

• The role is Hybrid, requiring 2-3 days per week in an office location. This suggests a collaborative work environment where in-person interaction is valued for brainstorming, team synergy, and stakeholder alignment, balanced with the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s):

• Candidates must live within commuting distance to one of Clarivate's US office locations: Ann Arbor (Michigan), Alexandria (Virginia), or Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). This indicates the company has established physical hubs for its employees.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is designed to foster collaboration, likely featuring open-plan areas, meeting rooms equipped for brainstorming and presentations, and potentially quiet zones for focused work. As a tech-focused company, expect access to modern hardware, software, and collaboration tools.
• The operations team interaction will be frequent, as the UX designer will be closely integrated with Product, Engineering, and AI teams, necessitating a dynamic and communicative workspace.

Work Schedule:

• The standard work schedule is full-time, approximately 40 hours per week, primarily during core business hours within the employee's local time zone.
• There is flexibility to adjust hours to accommodate collaboration with global teams, reflecting the international nature of Clarivate's operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid requirement is a key consideration, necessitating geographic proximity to one of the specified US offices. This setup aims to balance the benefits of in-person collaboration with the flexibility of remote work, a common trend in modern tech companies. The company's investment in physical office spaces suggests a commitment to a structured work environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit. Be prepared to articulate your career trajectory and interest in Clarivate.
• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A dedicated session where you present your portfolio, focusing on 2-3 key projects that best represent your skills in strategic design thinking, user research, and hands-on product design. Expect to walk through your process, design decisions, and the impact of your work.
• Skills-Based Interviews: Interviews with cross-functional team members (e.g., Product Managers, Engineers, fellow Designers) to evaluate your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and collaborative approach. These may include behavioral questions and situational scenarios.
• Design Challenge/Case Study: You may be asked to complete a take-home design challenge or participate in an on-site/virtual case study presentation. This assesses your ability to apply your skills to a specific problem relevant to Clarivate's business or the Project Nexus initiative.
• Final Interview: A meeting with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Design, VP of Product) to discuss strategic alignment, leadership potential, and overall fit with the company culture and team.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your experience in complex, data-rich environments and showcase your strategic design thinking, user research expertise, and end-to-end product design process.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the user research conducted, the design process, key decisions, challenges faced, solutions implemented, and the measurable impact or outcomes. Focus on the "why" behind your design choices.
• Highlight Collaboration: Showcase how you worked with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, AI) and stakeholders, emphasizing your communication and influencing skills.
• Showcase Research: Detail your user research methodologies, findings, and how they directly informed your design solutions. Demonstrate your ability to translate insights into actionable improvements.
• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design philosophy, how you handle feedback, conflict resolution, and how you approach innovation.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Research Clarivate's business, its products, and the specific challenges mentioned in the job description (Project Nexus, student experience).
• Focus on Process: For any design challenge, emphasize your thought process, research approach, and how you would iterate on solutions, rather than solely focusing on a polished final deliverable.
• Data-Informed Design: If applicable, consider how you would leverage data to inform your design decisions and measure success.
• Stakeholder Communication: Practice articulating your design rationale clearly and concisely, as if presenting to business stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely multi-stage, with a strong emphasis on portfolio presentation and practical application of UX skills. Candidates should prepare thoroughly by understanding Clarivate's business and the specific project context. Demonstrating a deep understanding of user research and its impact on business outcomes will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaborative design workflows. Proficiency is a must.
• Adobe Illustrator: Used for creating vector graphics, icons, and other visual assets.
• Prototyping Tools (e.g., InVision, Axure): While Figma covers much of this, familiarity with other prototyping tools can be beneficial for specific use cases.
• User Research Platforms (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback): Experience with tools that facilitate remote usability testing and user feedback collection.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics): Understanding how to interpret user behavior data from analytics platforms to inform design decisions.
• Product Analytics Tools (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel): Familiarity with tools that track user interactions within digital products and provide insights into feature usage and engagement.
• Data Visualization Tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI): Ability to understand or work with data visualizations to identify trends and user pain points.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot): While not a primary design tool, understanding how customer data is managed and how UX impacts CRM interactions can be advantageous.
• Project Management Tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello): Experience using these tools for task management, sprint planning, and tracking design progress within development cycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core requirements revolve around design and prototyping tools, with Figma being paramount. Familiarity with user research platforms and analytics tools is crucial for a data-informed UX approach. While not directly using CRM or automation tools, understanding their role in the broader customer journey is beneficial for a strategic designer.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A core value is placing the user at the center of all design and product decisions, driven by research and empathy.
• Innovation & Agility: The team embraces a forward-thinking mindset, encouraging experimentation, learning from failures, and adapting quickly to new information and technologies.
• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and strong partnerships across teams are vital. Sharing insights, feedback, and design rationale transparently is expected.
• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Leveraging user data and analytics to inform design strategies and measure the impact of design solutions is a key operating principle.
• Excellence & Impact: Striving for high-quality design outcomes that deliver tangible value to users and contribute significantly to business objectives.

Collaboration Style:

• The team fosters a highly collaborative and cross-functional approach. The Lead UX Designer will work closely with Product Managers to define requirements, Engineers to ensure feasibility, and AI specialists to integrate intelligent features.
• Expect regular design reviews, brainstorming sessions, and joint problem-solving activities. A culture of constructive feedback and open dialogue is encouraged to refine designs and strategies.
• Knowledge sharing is promoted through design critiques, documentation, and informal discussions, aiming to elevate the collective design practice within the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: Clarivate's emphasis on innovation and collaboration suggests a dynamic and engaging team culture. The values highlight a commitment to user needs, data-informed strategies, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. The collaborative style implies that strong interpersonal and communication skills will be as important as design expertise.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Complexity: Designing for "complex, data-rich environments" and "reimagining student engagement" requires synthesizing large amounts of information and understanding intricate user needs and workflows.
• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Effectively aligning the diverse perspectives and objectives of various stakeholders (Product, Engineering, AI, Business) to arrive at optimal design solutions.
• Early-Stage Innovation: Working on "early-stage innovation" or discovery teams means dealing with ambiguity, evolving requirements, and the challenge of defining new product directions.
• AI Integration: Understanding and effectively designing user experiences for AI-enabled features, ensuring they are intuitive, trustworthy, and add real value.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Skill Development: Opportunities to deepen expertise in user research techniques, advanced prototyping, and design for complex systems, particularly within the EdTech and information services domains.
• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Potential support for attending relevant UX conferences, workshops, or pursuing certifications to stay abreast of industry trends and best practices.
• Mentorship & Leadership: Informal mentorship opportunities with senior design leaders and the chance to develop leadership skills by guiding design efforts and influencing team direction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior, strategic design roles focused on innovation. They offer significant opportunities for professional growth by pushing designers to develop new skills and adapt to complex problem spaces. The learning opportunities are geared towards enhancing both technical UX skills and strategic leadership capabilities.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you influenced product strategy through user research. What was the outcome?" - Preparation: Prepare a case study focusing on how your research insights led to a strategic shift or new product direction.
• "How do you approach designing for complex, data-rich environments? Walk us through your process." - Preparation: Detail your methods for information architecture, data visualization, and simplifying complex user flows.
• "How do you collaborate with engineering and product teams to ensure design feasibility and successful implementation?" - Preparation: Provide examples of your collaborative process, communication strategies, and how you manage trade-offs.
• "Tell us about your experience with AI-enabled design or education technology products." - Preparation: Highlight any relevant projects, your understanding of AI interactions, and your perspective on the EdTech landscape.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Clarivate and this specific role on Project Nexus?" - Preparation: Research Clarivate's mission, values, recent news, and connect it to your career aspirations and the project's goals.
• "How do you contribute to team culture and mentor peers informally?" - Preparation: Think about your collaborative style, how you share knowledge, and your approach to constructive feedback.
• "Describe a situation where you had to balance user needs with business objectives. How did you resolve it?" - Preparation: Prepare an example demonstrating your strategic thinking and ability to find win-win solutions.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, the research conducted, key design decisions, the iterative process, and the measured impact. Use a consistent format.
• Focus on Impact: Quantify the success of your designs whenever possible (e.g., increased user engagement, reduced task completion time, higher satisfaction scores).
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively – wireframes, prototypes, user flows, research insights – to illustrate your process and solutions.
• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, research methodologies, and how you handled specific challenges. Be ready to defend your decisions with logic and data.
• Connect to Clarivate: Where possible, draw parallels between your past work and the challenges Clarivate faces or the goals of Project Nexus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on showcasing a blend of strategic thinking, deep UX expertise, strong research skills, and collaborative capabilities. Candidates should be ready to articulate their process, justify their design decisions, and demonstrate how their work drives business value. Understanding Clarivate's business context and the specific project goals will be crucial for tailoring responses.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Clarivate Careers portal.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating strategic design thinking, user research in complex environments, and end-to-end product design for digital solutions. Emphasize case studies that show your impact and collaboration.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 7+ years of relevant UX design and user research experience, using keywords from the job description such as "strategic design thinking," "user research," "prototyping," "Figma," and "cross-functional collaboration." Quantify achievements where possible.
• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio with a clear narrative, focusing on the problem, process, solution, and impact. Prepare answers to common UX and behavioral interview questions, with specific examples ready to share.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Clarivate, its products, its mission, and the specific initiative (Project Nexus) mentioned in the job description. Understand the company's values and how your approach aligns with their culture.

⚠️ 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.