Remote UX Research & Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Remote UX Research & Design Lead

Company: Jobgether (on behalf of a partner company)

Location: New York, New York, United States (Remote)

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design & Research Operations

Date Posted: April 1, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and mentor a User Experience (UX) team, focusing on performance, career development, and fostering a collaborative environment.

• Drive the strategic refinement and implementation of practical UX processes, ensuring alignment with product lifecycles and organizational culture.

• Establish and maintain high standards for UX quality, with a strong emphasis on usability and WCAG accessibility guidelines.

• Spearhead the development and adoption of a centralized design system to ensure UI component consistency across all digital products.

• Champion the innovative integration of AI-assisted tools within the UX practice to enhance efficiency and creative output.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a lead within the UX function, indicating a blend of strategic oversight, team management, and hands-on contribution. The emphasis on "remote" and "flexibility across time zones" suggests a distributed team structure, requiring strong asynchronous communication skills and adaptability. The mention of "public services" and "B2B/B2G" implies a focus on user needs in regulated or enterprise environments, demanding a rigorous approach to accessibility and stakeholder management.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Guide the UX team through performance assessments, individual development plans, and career pathing discussions to foster talent growth.

• Design, document, and iterate on UX workflows, from initial research and ideation through to design, testing, and implementation, ensuring efficiency and quality.

• Define and enforce UX quality benchmarks, focusing on user-centered design principles, intuitive interactions, and comprehensive accessibility compliance (WCAG).

• Collaborate closely with product management and engineering leaders to establish and govern a unified design system, ensuring consistent branding and user experience.

• Evaluate, pilot, and integrate emerging AI-driven tools and technologies to augment UX research and design capabilities, improving team productivity and output quality.

• Partner with product, engineering, and legal teams to embed accessibility considerations into every stage of the product development lifecycle, ensuring compliance and inclusivity.

• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration sessions to gather insights, align on strategic UX initiatives, and ensure seamless integration of design into product roadmaps.

• Translate complex user needs and business requirements into actionable UX strategies and design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on people leadership and operational excellence within UX. The emphasis on "practical UX processes tailored to our culture" suggests a need for adaptability and a pragmatic approach rather than rigid adherence to theoretical frameworks. The requirement for "centralized design system" and "AI-assisted tools" points to a forward-thinking team looking to scale and standardize its output.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Psychology, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for roles of this caliber. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in UX Research and UX Design, with a strong preference for B2B, B2G, or SaaS application environments.

Required Skills:

• UX Research Expertise: Proven ability to conduct and analyze various research methodologies (e.g., user interviews, usability testing, surveys, ethnographic studies) to derive actionable insights.

• UX Design Proficiency: Demonstrated skill in creating wireframes, prototypes, user flows, and high-fidelity mockups using industry-standard tools.

• Leadership & People Management: Experience in leading, coaching, mentoring, and developing UX professionals, including performance management and career guidance.

• Usability & Accessibility Standards: Deep understanding and practical application of usability principles and WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards.

• Design Tools: Fluency with modern UX/UI design and prototyping tools, with specific mention of Figma, and experience with various research platforms.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Strong ability to partner effectively with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to drive UX initiatives.

• Prioritization & Communication: Proven ability to prioritize UX work effectively, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and communicate complex ideas clearly to diverse audiences (technical and non-technical).

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI-assisted tools in the UX design and research process.

• Familiarity with developing and maintaining design systems.

• Experience working in public sector or government-related digital services.

• Knowledge of A/B testing and conversion rate optimization (CRO) principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5+ years in UX Research & Design" coupled with "2+ years in leadership" firmly places this role at a senior management level. The emphasis on B2B/B2G and SaaS applications, along with WCAG, suggests a need for a systematic, compliance-driven, and enterprise-focused approach to UX. The explicit mention of Figma indicates a primary tool requirement.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated Leadership: A section showcasing your experience in leading and developing UX teams, including examples of mentoring, performance management, and team growth strategies.

• End-to-End Project Case Studies: Detailed case studies of complex UX projects (minimum 2-3) that illustrate your end-to-end involvement from research to design and implementation. These should highlight your role, the challenges faced, the methodologies used, and the outcomes achieved.

• Process Innovation: Examples of how you have designed, refined, or implemented new UX processes or improved existing ones to enhance efficiency, quality, or collaboration within a team or organization.

• Design System Contributions: Evidence of involvement in the creation, maintenance, or governance of a design system, showcasing your understanding of component-based design and UI consistency.

• Accessibility Integration: Specific examples demonstrating how you have integrated usability best practices and accessibility standards (WCAG) into your design and research processes.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Showcase examples of documented UX workflows, demonstrating your ability to map out processes, identify bottlenecks, and propose optimizations.

• Methodology Articulation: Clearly articulate the research and design methodologies employed in your case studies, explaining the rationale behind your choices and how they led to successful outcomes.

• Tool Integration Examples: Briefly describe how you have leveraged various UX tools (research platforms, design software like Figma, prototyping tools) and potentially AI-assisted tools to streamline processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a leadership role, the portfolio should not just showcase individual design skills but also strategic thinking, process improvement capabilities, and team development. The emphasis on process documentation and innovation suggests the hiring company values a systematic and scalable approach to UX, likely within a larger organizational context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $110,000 – $170,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Fully Remote Work Environment: Complete flexibility to work from anywhere, eliminating commute time and costs.

• Time Zone Flexibility: While based in New York, the remote nature allows for flexibility across various time zones, promoting work-life balance.

• Coaching and Mentoring Opportunities: Access to internal and external coaching and mentoring programs to support professional development.

• Continuous Learning & Growth Support: Dedicated resources and budget for professional development, including courses, workshops, and conferences.

• Occasional Travel: Up to 10% travel for team gatherings, strategic offsites, and client meetings, providing opportunities for in-person collaboration and networking.

• Competitive Health & Wellness Programs: (Implied, standard for full-time roles) Comprehensive health insurance, mental health support, and other wellness initiatives.

• Paid Time Off: (Implied, standard for full-time roles) Generous PTO, holidays, and sick leave.

Working Hours: While the role is full-time, the emphasis on remote work and flexibility across time zones suggests a focus on asynchronous communication and results rather than strict adherence to a 9-to-5 schedule within a single timezone. Employees are expected to dedicate approximately 40 hours per week to their responsibilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Senior UX Research & Design Lead position in a major metropolitan area like New York, even for a remote role, reflecting the experience and leadership required. The benefits package emphasizes flexibility and professional growth, key attractors for experienced UX professionals. The "up to 10% travel" indicates a hybrid approach to team building and client engagement, balancing remote convenience with in-person connection.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The role is posted by Jobgether for a partner company. The description mentions "digital experiences for public services" and a preference for "B2B/B2G or SaaS applications," indicating the partner company likely operates within the GovTech, Public Sector Technology, or Enterprise SaaS space, focusing on delivering solutions to government entities or large B2B clients.

Company Size: Not explicitly stated, but the need for a "Senior UX Research & Design Lead" and the mention of "partner company" suggest a growing organization that has moved beyond a small startup phase. The focus on scaling UX processes and building a design system implies a company with established products and a strategic outlook on user experience, likely ranging from 50-500 employees, potentially larger if it's a well-established SaaS provider.

Founded: The founding date of the partner company is not provided. However, the emphasis on modernizing processes and adopting AI tools suggests a company that is evolving and looking to innovate within its established market.

Team Structure:

• The UX team likely consists of several UX researchers and designers, reporting directly to this Lead.

• The Lead will report to a higher-level executive, such as a VP of Product, Chief Product Officer, or Head of Engineering, depending on the organizational structure.

Methodology:

• The company likely employs a hybrid agile development methodology, integrating UX research and design activities throughout the product development lifecycle.

• There's a stated intent to shift from "reactive to strategic UX improvements," indicating a move towards proactive, user-centered development informed by data and research.

• Emphasis will be placed on data-driven decision-making, leveraging both qualitative research insights and quantitative analytics to inform design choices.

Company Website: Jobgether's website is jobgether.com. The partner company's website is not directly provided.

📝 Enhancement Note: The context of "public services" and "B2B/B2G" is critical. This means the UX work will likely involve complex user groups, stringent compliance requirements (especially accessibility), and a need for robust, scalable solutions. The "shift from reactive to strategic UX" suggests the company is investing in UX as a core differentiator rather than an afterthought.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a significant step into leadership within the User Experience domain. It's a Senior Management position, responsible not only for tactical execution but also for strategic direction, team development, and process optimization. The scope includes shaping the UX culture and maturity of the organization.

Reporting Structure: The UX Research & Design Lead will manage a team of UX professionals and will likely report to a Director or VP level executive (e.g., VP of Product, CPO). This position will require close collaboration with Product Managers and Engineering Leads as peers.

Operations Impact: The UX Lead's impact will be measured by the improvement in digital experiences for public services, leading to increased user satisfaction, adoption rates, and efficiency for end-users and government agencies. This role directly influences product quality, user engagement, and the overall perception of the partner company's offerings. Strategic UX improvements can also lead to cost savings through reduced support needs and more efficient service delivery.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into a Director or VP of UX/Product role, overseeing a larger design and research organization, or expanding into broader product leadership responsibilities.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the long-term UX vision and strategy for the company, influencing product roadmaps and organizational priorities.

• Specialization & Expertise: Deepen expertise in specific areas like GovTech UX, AI in design, or advanced accessibility implementation, becoming a recognized subject matter expert.

• Mentorship & Coaching: Develop strong leadership and coaching skills, helping to build the next generation of UX talent within the organization and potentially the broader industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is crucial for any organization serious about user-centricity, especially in the public sector where usability and accessibility are paramount. Growth paths are typically tied to expanding team scope, influencing broader product strategy, or moving into executive product leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The position is fully remote, meaning there is no physical office requirement for day-to-day work. However, the company may maintain physical office locations for other departments or for specific team events.

Office Location(s): The primary location listed is New York, NY, United States, which is the basis for salary benchmarking and potential legal/tax considerations for employees residing in that region. However, as a fully remote role, candidates may be considered from other locations within the United States, and potentially globally, depending on the partner company's policies and legal/tax implications.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Setup: Employees are expected to have a dedicated, professional workspace conducive to focused work and virtual meetings, equipped with reliable internet access.

• Collaborative Tools: The environment will heavily rely on digital collaboration tools such as Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Asana, Jira, Figma, and shared document platforms for seamless communication and project management across distributed teams.

• Asynchronous Communication: A strong emphasis on asynchronous communication practices will be necessary to accommodate team members in different time zones, requiring clear documentation and well-structured updates.

Work Schedule: While the role is full-time (approx. 40 hours/week), the "remote with flexibility across time zones" aspect suggests that while core availability for meetings might be expected, there's latitude in daily scheduling. However, given the leadership role and team management, some overlap with core business hours (likely aligned with Eastern Time given the NY location) will be necessary for effective collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "fully remote" nature with "flexibility across time zones" is a significant aspect. Candidates must be comfortable with asynchronous communication, self-management, and leveraging digital tools for all aspects of collaboration. The New York location likely influences the primary timezone for critical meetings, but the flexibility should be clarified during the interview process.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening (Jobgether AI): Your application will be processed by Jobgether's AI for an initial match against core requirements.

• Hiring Manager Screen: A brief introductory call with the hiring manager or a senior member of the UX team to discuss your background, experience, and initial fit for the role. Emphasis will be on leadership experience and strategic thinking.

• Portfolio Presentation & Deep Dive: A dedicated session where you will present your portfolio, focusing on 2-3 key case studies that demonstrate your leadership, research, and design capabilities. Be prepared to discuss your process, decision-making, and the impact of your work.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders, likely including Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and potentially other UX team members, to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and cultural fit.

• Leadership/Strategy Interview: A final interview, potentially with a senior executive, to discuss your leadership philosophy, strategic vision for UX, and how you would approach challenges within their organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your leadership, impact, and ability to handle complex B2B/B2G or SaaS challenges. Focus on projects where you had significant influence or led a team.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, outline the problem, your role and responsibilities (especially leadership duties), the process and methodologies used, the challenges encountered, your solutions, and the quantifiable results or impact.

• Highlight Leadership: Explicitly detail instances where you mentored team members, managed performance, influenced strategy, or improved team processes.

• Address Accessibility: Ensure at least one case study prominently features how you addressed accessibility (WCAG) requirements and their impact on the user experience and compliance.

• Be Concise & Visual: Use clear visuals, concise text, and focus on the most impactful aspects of your work. Be prepared to walk through your prototypes or designs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Process Design Exercise: You may be asked to outline how you would approach establishing or improving a UX process within a specific context (e.g., building a design system, implementing a new research methodology).

• Strategic Thinking: Be ready to discuss your vision for UX at the company, how you would measure the success of the UX team, and how you would foster innovation.

• Stakeholder Management: Prepare examples of how you have managed difficult stakeholder conversations, resolved conflicts, or aligned diverse perspectives on UX goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not just technical UX skills but also leadership acumen, strategic thinking, and ability to operate in a remote, cross-functional environment. The portfolio is a critical component, and candidates should tailor their presentations to highlight leadership and process improvement.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (explicitly mentioned), Sketch, Adobe XD. Expect proficiency in creating wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups.

• User Research Platforms: UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, or similar tools for conducting remote usability tests, surveys, and gathering qualitative feedback.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom for communication; Jira, Asana, Trello for task and project tracking.

• Documentation: Confluence, Notion, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets) for creating and sharing process documentation, research findings, and project briefs.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics (or similar) for understanding user behavior on digital platforms.

• Product Analytics: Mixpanel, Amplitude, Pendo for in-depth user behavior analysis within SaaS applications.

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, or native reporting within analytics platforms for creating dashboards and presenting findings to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: Salesforce, HubSpot (or similar) may be relevant for understanding customer segmentation and user profiles if the company uses them for customer success or marketing.

• Automation: While not directly a UX tool, familiarity with how automation impacts user journeys or data collection within applications could be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is paramount. The other tools listed represent standard industry practices for remote, collaborative UX teams working in a SaaS/enterprise environment. The emphasis on analytics and reporting tools indicates a data-informed approach to UX decision-making.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for user needs, ensuring that all design and research efforts are focused on delivering value to the end-user.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering an open environment where ideas are shared freely, feedback is constructive, and cross-functional teams work cohesively towards common goals.

• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Utilizing research insights, analytics, and user feedback to inform design choices and measure the impact of UX initiatives.

• Continuous Improvement: A mindset of ongoing learning, iteration, and process refinement to enhance both the quality of the UX output and the efficiency of the team.

• Accessibility & Inclusivity: A strong dedication to designing inclusive experiences that are usable by everyone, regardless of ability.

Collaboration Style:

• Asynchronous First: With a remote team, communication will prioritize asynchronous methods (e.g., detailed documentation, recorded updates, Slack messages) to ensure inclusivity across time zones.

• Intentional Synchronous Interaction: Scheduled meetings will be purposeful, focusing on brainstorming, critical decision-making, and relationship building, with clear agendas and action items.

• Feedback-Rich Environment: Encouraging a culture where constructive feedback is regularly exchanged between team members, with product, and with engineering to ensure alignment and continuous improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Active participation in sharing learnings, best practices, and insights through internal presentations, documentation, and informal discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values likely reflect a growing company that is professionalizing its operations. The emphasis on collaboration, data, and continuous improvement is standard for effective UX teams, particularly in a SaaS or GovTech context where user needs and regulatory compliance are key.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling UX in a Growing Organization: Establishing and scaling robust UX processes, a design system, and a cohesive team culture across a potentially growing or distributed organization.

• Balancing Strategic Vision with Tactical Execution: Effectively leading the team and setting strategic direction while remaining hands-on and involved in key design and research initiatives.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent understanding and buy-in for UX priorities and best practices across various departments (Product, Engineering, Marketing, etc.), especially in a remote setting.

• Integrating AI Tools Effectively: Identifying and implementing AI-assisted tools that genuinely enhance UX workflows without compromising quality or introducing new complexities.

• Navigating Public Sector/B2G Requirements: Understanding and implementing solutions that meet the unique needs and regulatory demands of government and large enterprise clients, particularly around security and accessibility.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Leadership Training: Access to formal leadership development programs, executive coaching, and workshops focused on team management, strategic planning, and organizational influence.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Support for attending leading UX conferences (e.g., UXPA, CHI, IA Summit) and pursuing relevant certifications in UX, accessibility, or product management.

• Mentorship Programs: Opportunities to be mentored by senior leaders within the company or industry, and to mentor junior team members, fostering personal and professional growth.

• Exposure to New Technologies: Working with cutting-edge AI tools and exploring their application in UX, staying at the forefront of industry innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a leadership role in a maturing tech company. The growth opportunities are focused on developing leadership skills and staying current with industry trends, particularly AI and accessibility, which are increasingly critical in the UX field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your philosophy for leading and growing a UX team. How would you foster a high-performing and collaborative remote environment?" (Prepare to discuss team structure, performance management, mentorship, and communication strategies).

• "Walk us through a time you had to shift a team or organization from a reactive to a more strategic approach to UX. What were the key challenges and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on change management, stakeholder buy-in, and process improvement).

• "How would you approach building or scaling a design system for a company like ours? What are the critical steps and potential pitfalls?" (Discuss governance, component libraries, adoption strategies, and cross-functional collaboration).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about our company and the public services sector we operate in? How do you see UX playing a critical role here?" (Research the company's mission, products, and the challenges/opportunities in GovTech or B2G SaaS).

• "How would you assess and improve the collaboration between UX, Product Management, and Engineering in a remote setting?" (Discuss communication protocols, shared tools, and agile integration).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Lead with Impact: Start each case study with a clear statement of the problem and the desired outcome.

• Emphasize Your Role: Clearly articulate your responsibilities as a leader and individual contributor. Highlight decision-making power and influence.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (screenshots, mockups, flow diagrams) to illustrate your points. Walk through interactive prototypes if possible.

• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, present data and metrics that demonstrate the positive impact of your work (e.g., increased conversion rates, reduced error rates, improved task completion times, positive user feedback).

• Address Challenges & Learnings: Be transparent about challenges faced and what you learned from them. This demonstrates resilience and a growth mindset.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating leadership, strategic thinking, process orientation, and a deep understanding of UX within the context of enterprise/government applications. Highlighting experience with remote collaboration and AI tools will be beneficial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided Jobgether link.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight leadership experience, specific UX research and design methodologies, experience with B2B/B2G/SaaS, and your proficiency with Figma and accessibility standards. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best demonstrate your leadership, end-to-end UX process, and impact. Ensure they clearly articulate your role, the problem, your solution, and the results. Prepare to discuss your process and decision-making thoroughly.

• Prepare for Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio, focusing on storytelling, clarity, and conciseness. Be ready to answer in-depth questions about your work and leadership approach.

• Research the Partner Company: While the partner company isn't directly named, research Jobgether's focus and try to infer the types of companies they partner with in the GovTech/B2G/SaaS space. Understand their mission and potential user base to tailor your responses.

⚠️ 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.