Senior Manager, UX/UI Design Lead

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Manager, UX/UI Design Lead

Company: MSD

Location: Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience (UX) / User Interface (UI) Design, Product Management Support

Date Posted: February 10, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design for a critical data and analytics marketplace product, ensuring a user-centric approach to problem discovery and solution design.

• Drive innovation in digital product development by translating complex business needs into intuitive and effective user interfaces and workflows.

• Facilitate collaborative workshops and stakeholder engagements to uncover, define, and prioritize user needs and business problems, leveraging advanced design thinking methodologies.

• Uphold and advance user-centered design principles throughout the entire product development lifecycle, ensuring alignment with industry best practices and MSD's XD standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Manager, indicating a need for leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to influence design direction. The focus on "Problem Discovery" and "Discover Product Line" suggests a role deeply integrated with product strategy and business outcomes, rather than purely execution-focused design. The emphasis on tools like Mural and Figma points to a hands-on approach within a collaborative, digital-first environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and expertly facilitate Problem Discovery workshops, employing methodologies such as design thinking and user research to deeply understand and define business challenges and user needs.

• Collaborate closely with Business Product Managers (BPMs) and Technical Product Managers (TPMs) to translate identified business problems and user requirements into actionable and effective design solutions.

• Develop comprehensive wireframes, detailed mock-ups, interactive prototypes, and compelling demos to clearly articulate design concepts, user flows, and the intended user experience to stakeholders and development teams.

• Provide expert guidance and support to UI teams throughout the design and iteration phases, ensuring interfaces are intuitive, aesthetically pleasing, and fully aligned with defined business priorities and user experience goals.

• Actively partner with MSD's internal Extended Design (XD) teams to integrate the latest UX best practices, emerging trends, and established design standards into product designs, fostering consistency and innovation.

• Champion user-centered design principles and advocate for the user's perspective at every stage of the product development lifecycle, ensuring solutions are both functional and delightful.

• Maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of industry standards, cutting-edge UX/UI design tools, and evolving methodologies to continuously enhance design quality and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic facilitation, hands-on design execution, and cross-functional collaboration. The emphasis on "Problem Discovery" suggests a proactive role in identifying opportunities before solutions are fully defined, requiring strong analytical and strategic thinking alongside design skills. Collaboration with BPMs and TPMs implies a need to bridge business objectives with technical feasibility through design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, or a closely related field is a mandatory requirement.

Experience:

• Demonstrated experience as a UX Lead or Senior UX Designer, with a proven track record in leading design initiatives and mentoring teams, preferably within a dynamic, cross-functional product development environment.

• Significant experience in pharmaceutical or other highly regulated industries is a plus, suggesting an understanding of compliance, data privacy, and complex user environments.

• Familiarity with agile product development methodologies (e.g., Scrum, Kanban) is preferred, indicating an ability to work within iterative and adaptive development cycles.

Required Skills:

• Expert proficiency in Mural: Essential for leading engaging and effective collaborative workshops, including Problem Discovery sessions, ideation, and journey mapping.

• Design Thinking Certification: Mandatory, demonstrating a foundational understanding and application of user-centered problem-solving frameworks.

• Expert-level skills in Figma: Required for creating high-fidelity UI designs, interactive prototypes, design systems, and seamless collaboration with development teams.

• Proficiency in wireframing and prototyping tools: Including Balsamiq, Axure RP, Adobe XD, or similar industry-standard software for rapid ideation and detailed design documentation.

• Strong facilitation skills: For leading workshops, user interviews, and stakeholder meetings, ensuring productive and outcome-driven sessions.

• Excellent visual design skills: Evidenced by a strong portfolio showcasing a range of work, including wireframes, mock-ups, and interactive prototypes that demonstrate aesthetic sensibility and functional design.

• Strong communication and presentation skills: Ability to articulate design rationale, present complex ideas clearly, and effectively influence stakeholders at various levels.

• User Research and Analysis: Experience in conducting user research (qualitative and quantitative) and analyzing findings to inform design decisions.

• User Interface (UI) Design: Deep understanding of UI principles, interaction design, and visual design for creating intuitive and engaging interfaces.

Preferred Skills:

• Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g) UX Certification, UXQB Certified Professional for Usability and User Experience (CPUX), or equivalent: Highly desirable certifications that validate advanced expertise in UX principles and practices.

• Experience with collaboration and project management tools: Such as Jira and Confluence, for workflow management, documentation, and team communication.

• Data Visualization: Ability to design effective data visualizations that communicate insights clearly to users.

• Content Writing: Understanding of how content impacts user experience and ability to contribute to UX writing.

• Measurement Analysis: Ability to define and track key UX metrics to evaluate design effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for a Design Thinking certification and expert-level proficiency in Figma and Mural signifies a strong emphasis on modern, collaborative design workflows and a commitment to user-centric problem-solving. The mention of specific UX certifications like NN/g or UXQB as "highly desirable" suggests a preference for candidates with recognized industry validation of their expertise. The inclusion of "Content Writing" and "Measurement Analysis" within the "Required Skills" context (though listed under "Key Skills" in the raw data) points to a holistic view of UX that extends beyond just visual design and interaction.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate Problem Discovery and Solution Design: Showcase case studies that clearly outline a business problem or user need, the process undertaken to discover and define it (e.g., user research, workshop facilitation), and the resulting design solution.

• Showcase Wireframes, Mock-ups, and Prototypes: Include detailed examples of wireframes, high-fidelity mock-ups, and interactive prototypes that illustrate user flows, information architecture, and UI design for complex applications.

• Highlight Collaboration and Tool Proficiency: Evidence of using collaborative tools like Figma and Mural, and project management tools like Jira, within your design process. Clearly articulate your role in cross-functional teams.

• Quantify Impact and Metrics: Where possible, demonstrate the impact of your design work through metrics, user feedback, or ROI. Explain how you measured success and iterated based on data.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design and Optimization: Provide examples of how you have mapped out and optimized user workflows to improve efficiency, reduce friction, and enhance user satisfaction.

• User-Centered Design Process: Document your approach to user research, persona development, journey mapping, usability testing, and how these activities informed design decisions.

• Design System Contributions: If applicable, showcase experience in developing or contributing to design systems, ensuring consistency and scalability across products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Problem Discovery" and "Quantifying Impact" in the portfolio requirements is crucial for this role. Candidates should prepare to articulate not just what they designed, but why and how it solved a specific business or user problem, backed by data or clear qualitative evidence. The requirement for process documentation implies a need for structured thinking and the ability to articulate design methodologies.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and eligible dependents.

• Retirement Savings Plan: Contributions to a provident fund or similar retirement savings scheme.

• Paid Time Off: Generous leave policies including annual leave, sick leave, and public holidays.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, training, certifications (e.g., advanced UX/UI courses, Design Thinking workshops), and attendance at industry conferences.

• Performance Bonuses: Annual performance-based bonuses tied to individual and company objectives.

• Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid work model allowing for a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Support services for personal and professional well-being.

• Life Insurance: Company-provided life insurance coverage.

Working Hours:

• Standard working hours are typically 40 hours per week, aligning with the full-time employment type. The hybrid work arrangement offers flexibility in structuring the work week, with expectations for core collaboration hours and in-office presence as needed for team meetings and workshops.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate for Hyderabad, India, for a Senior Manager-level UX/UI Design Lead with 5-10 years of experience. This is based on general market data for senior tech roles in India. The benefits listed are typical for large multinational corporations like MSD and are tailored to appeal to professionals in specialized tech roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare (Biopharma), with a strong focus on Digital Technology and Data Analytics. MSD is a global leader in inventing for life, developing medicines, vaccines, and animal health products.

Company Size: Large, global corporation. MSD has a significant number of employees worldwide, indicating a stable, resource-rich environment with established processes and global reach.

Founded: Over 130 years ago, with a legacy of ethical integrity and a forward-thinking approach to innovation in healthcare.

Team Structure:

• Discover Product Line: This role is within the Business Product Management team supporting the "Discover Product Line," which functions as a data and analytics marketplace.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role requires close partnership with Business Product Managers (BPMs), Technical Product Managers (TPMs), UI teams, and MSD's internal Extended Design (XD) teams.

• Global Tech Centers: The position is based in a global Tech Center in Hyderabad, which are integral to MSD's IT operating model, supporting digital transformation and business outcomes through distributed talent.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The company emphasizes using data, analytics, and insights to drive decisions and tackle health challenges.

• User-Centered Design: A core tenet for this role, ensuring products are designed with the end-user in mind.

• Agile Product Development: While not explicitly stated for this role, the mention of collaboration with TPMs and the tech center environment suggests an agile or hybrid approach.

• Innovation & Execution Excellence: A drive to foster innovation and achieve high standards in delivering solutions.

Company Website: https://jobs.msd.com/gb/en

📝 Enhancement Note: MSD's identity as a global healthcare leader, combined with its investment in digital technology and data, positions this role at the intersection of innovation and critical industry impact. The emphasis on Tech Centers suggests a structured approach to global IT operations and talent management, with Hyderabad being a key hub.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Manager, UX/UI Design Lead. This level signifies a leadership role responsible for guiding design strategy, mentoring junior designers, and influencing product direction. It requires a blend of deep technical expertise in UX/UI and strong leadership and strategic planning capabilities.

Reporting Structure: The UX Lead will partner closely with the Business Product Manager (BPM) and Technical Product Managers (TPMs). The exact reporting line would likely be within a Product Management or Digital Design function, potentially reporting to a Director or Head of Product/Design.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the usability, adoption, and effectiveness of the Discover Product Line, which is a crucial data and analytics marketplace. By ensuring intuitive design and facilitating problem discovery, this role directly influences how efficiently users can access, govern, and utilize data across the enterprise, thereby impacting data-driven decision-making and overall business outcomes.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to move into Director-level roles within UX/UI design or Product Management, leading larger teams or broader product portfolios.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of UX/UI, such as user research leadership, design systems architecture, or accessibility design, within the healthcare domain.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Opportunity to transition into Product Management, Program Management, or even strategic roles within the broader digital transformation initiatives at MSD.

• Mentorship & Training: Access to MSD's global learning and development resources, including advanced training, certifications, and mentorship programs, to continuously enhance UX/UI skills and leadership capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior Manager" title, coupled with the responsibility for leading design and problem discovery, suggests a significant growth trajectory. Candidates should look for opportunities to expand their leadership scope, influence strategic product roadmaps, and potentially mentor a growing design team within MSD's tech centers.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment. This indicates a blend of remote work and in-office presence, designed to foster collaboration and flexibility.

Office Location(s): Primarily based in Hyderabad, Telangana, India, as part of MSD's global Tech Centers. These centers are designed to be hubs for innovation and collaboration.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The Hyderabad Tech Center likely features modern collaborative spaces designed to facilitate workshops, team meetings, and cross-functional interaction.

• Technology-Rich Environment: Access to industry-standard design and collaboration tools (Figma, Mural, Jira, etc.) is expected, supporting efficient digital workflows.

• Global Connectivity: Opportunities to connect and collaborate with colleagues and teams across MSD's global network, fostering a diverse and interconnected work experience.

Work Schedule: The standard 40-hour work week is expected, with flexibility managed through the hybrid arrangement. This allows for effective management of design sprints, workshop scheduling, and balancing individual deep work with team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key differentiator, offering work-life balance while retaining the benefits of in-person collaboration, which is critical for design leadership roles involving workshops and team alignment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and conduct an initial screening call to assess basic qualifications and fit.

• Technical Interview(s): Multiple rounds focusing on UX/UI design principles, problem-solving approaches, tool proficiency (Figma, Mural), and experience with user research and facilitation. Candidates may be asked to walk through specific case studies from their portfolio.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where candidates present a selection of their best work, focusing on problem discovery, design process, collaboration, and impact. This is a critical evaluation point.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: Discussions focused on leadership style, team collaboration, strategic thinking, and cultural fit within MSD's values and the Hyderabad Tech Center environment.

• Final Round: Potentially a discussion with senior leadership or a final assessment of strategic alignment and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 projects that best demonstrate your expertise in problem discovery, user-centered design leadership, and impactful UI/UX solutions relevant to a data marketplace.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role and process, the challenges faced, design decisions made, and the measurable outcomes or impact. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Collaboration: Showcase how you worked with cross-functional teams (Product Managers, Engineers, Researchers) and used collaborative tools.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma, Mural, and other relevant tools, and how they facilitated your design process.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., increased user adoption, improved task completion rate, enhanced data discovery efficiency). If quantitative data is unavailable, use strong qualitative insights.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: Be prepared for a practical design exercise, potentially involving a mini problem-discovery scenario, a wireframing task, or a critique of an existing interface. Focus on your process and rationale.

• Facilitation Scenario: You may be asked how you would approach a specific type of workshop or how you would handle stakeholder disagreements during the design process.

• Strategic Thinking: Prepare to discuss industry trends in UX/UI, data marketplaces, and how you would align design strategy with MSD's business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Problem Discovery" and "Portfolio Presentation" suggests that candidates need to be adept at articulating their design thinking process and demonstrating tangible results, not just presenting aesthetics. The inclusion of specific tools like Figma and Mural in the portfolio tips is crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expert-level proficiency required for UI design, prototyping, collaborative design, and potentially design system management. This is the primary tool for interface creation.

• Mural: Expert proficiency required for leading collaborative workshops, including Problem Discovery, ideation, journey mapping, and brainstorming sessions. Essential for remote and hybrid team collaboration.

• Wireframing & Prototyping Tools: Proficiency in Balsamiq, Axure RP, Adobe XD, or similar for rapid ideation and detailed design documentation.

• Collaboration & Project Management Tools: Experience with Jira and Confluence is a plus, indicating familiarity with agile workflows, issue tracking, and knowledge management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics): Familiarity with how user behavior data is tracked and analyzed to inform design decisions.

• Data Visualization Tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI): Ability to understand and potentially contribute to the design of dashboards and reports within the data marketplace context.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how user feedback and product usage data might be managed in CRM-like systems or through product analytics platforms would be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of expert-level proficiency in Figma and Mural highlights the critical nature of these tools for this role. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their specific use cases and advanced features within these platforms.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Inventing for Life: A core principle of MSD, driving a mission-oriented culture focused on creating innovative solutions for global health challenges.

• Ethical Integrity: A strong emphasis on ethical conduct and responsible practices in all aspects of work.

• Data-Driven & Analytical: A culture that values data, analytics, and insights to inform decision-making and drive outcomes.

• Collaboration & Inclusion: Fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where teams can come together to achieve common goals.

• Innovation & Forward Momentum: Encouraging new ideas, continuous improvement, and a proactive approach to tackling challenges.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: A collaborative approach is essential, working closely with product management, engineering, and other design teams to deliver cohesive solutions.

• Workshop-Centric: The role requires strong facilitation skills to drive productive collaborative sessions with diverse stakeholders.

• Global Teamwork: Ability to effectively collaborate with distributed teams across different time zones and cultures.

• Feedback-Driven: An open culture for providing and receiving constructive feedback to drive continuous improvement in design and processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission of "Inventing for Life" is likely a significant cultural driver. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they see their UX/UI work contributing to this larger mission, particularly within the context of data and analytics for healthcare.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business/Technical Constraints: Effectively translating complex business requirements and technical limitations into user-friendly designs for a sophisticated data marketplace.

• Driving Adoption of a New Platform: Ensuring the Discover Product Line is intuitive and valuable enough to drive widespread adoption among diverse data users within the organization.

• Navigating a Large Corporate Structure: Working effectively within a large, global organization with established processes and potentially diverse stakeholder interests.

• Staying Ahead of Evolving UX/UI Trends: Continuously adapting design strategies and toolsets to keep pace with rapid technological advancements and user expectations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX/UI Training: Access to MSD's extensive learning resources for specialized training in areas like service design, accessibility, or emerging UX technologies.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Support for attending relevant UX/UI conferences and pursuing advanced certifications (e.g., in Design Thinking, Interaction Design).

• Mentorship Programs: Opportunities to be mentored by senior leaders within MSD's global technology and design organizations, or to mentor junior team members.

• Exposure to Healthcare Innovation: Gaining deep insights into the unique UX challenges and opportunities within the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a senior design role in a large, complex organization. Growth opportunities are framed around advancing leadership, deepening technical expertise, and gaining unique industry experience.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led a Problem Discovery workshop. What was the outcome, and how did it influence the product roadmap?" (Focus on facilitation, user insights, and strategic impact).

• "How do you ensure your UI designs are not only visually appealing but also highly functional and intuitive for complex data platforms?" (Highlight your process, Figma/UI skills, and user-centric approach).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about MSD and our mission to 'Invent for Life'?" (Research MSD's values, recent innovations, and connect it to your passion).

• "How would you contribute to the culture of our Hyderabad Tech Center and foster collaboration within a hybrid work environment?" (Discuss your leadership style, teamwork approach, and experience with hybrid models).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the process (discovery, design, testing), the solution, and the impact.

• Emphasize Collaboration: Detail how you worked with BPMs, TPMs, and other stakeholders. Specifically mention your use of Figma and Mural.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals of wireframes, mock-ups, and prototypes. If possible, include short video demos of interactive prototypes.

• Quantify Results: Present metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the success and value of your design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to articulate their design process with a strong emphasis on problem discovery, user advocacy, and collaborative tool usage, aligning with the specific requirements of this UX Lead role at MSD.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Manager, UX/UI Design Lead position:

• Submit your application through the official MSD careers portal via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight experience in user-centered design, problem discovery, complex data platforms, and proficiency with Figma and Mural. Showcase case studies that demonstrate leadership and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience, key skills (UX/UI, facilitation, strategy), relevant certifications (Design Thinking), and achievements relevant to this role. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, leadership style, and problem-solving approach. Prepare to present your portfolio with a focus on storytelling and quantifiable results. Research MSD's mission and values.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with MSD's business, its role in healthcare, and the purpose of the Discover Product Line as a data and analytics marketplace. Understand the company's commitment to innovation and digital transformation.

⚠️ 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.