Senior Product UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product UX Designer

Company: National University

Location: Remote, California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX) Operations

Date Posted: 2025-10-28

Experience Level: 6+ Years (Senior Level)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design of prospective student journeys across National University's (NU) digital ecosystem, focusing on modern, intuitive, and impactful prospect-facing web experiences.

• Translate user insights, data, and business objectives into elegant, accessible, and conversion-driven design solutions tailored for the prospect lifecycle.

• Contribute to the evolution of NU's design system, emphasizing scalability and personalization for diverse prospect audiences.

• Collaborate closely with UX research, content strategy, marketing, and engineering teams to bring prospect-focused designs to life through iterative development and data-informed optimization.

• Leverage AI and personalization platforms to enhance user experiences and drive engagement for prospective students.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a "Product Design / User Experience (UX) Operations" category, indicating a focus on the operationalization of design principles and systems to drive consistent and effective user experiences across digital platforms. The emphasis on "prospect-facing web experiences" and "conversion-driven design solutions" highlights a direct link to revenue generation and student acquisition operations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Prospect Experience Design & Strategy:

  • Spearhead the design of key prospective student journeys across NU’s website and digital touchpoints, ensuring a cohesive and engaging experience from initial exploration to enrollment.
  • Develop wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups that effectively communicate design concepts and interaction patterns for prospect audiences.
  • Define and document UX principles, guidelines, and best practices for prospect-facing digital products, contributing to a standardized and high-quality user experience.
  • Conduct user research, usability testing, and competitive analysis to gather insights that inform design decisions and identify areas for improvement.

• Design Execution & Collaboration:

  • Design modular components, templates, and interaction patterns that support a cohesive prospect experience at scale, aligning with NU's evolving design system.
  • Ensure all designs adhere to accessibility standards (WCAG), responsive design principles, and performance best practices across various devices and browsers.
  • Foster strong collaborative relationships with UX researchers, content strategists, marketing specialists, product managers, and engineering teams to ensure seamless design implementation and alignment with business goals.
  • Present design concepts and rationale clearly and persuasively to cross-functional stakeholders, incorporating feedback to refine solutions.

• Testing, Optimization & Personalization:

  • Support and actively contribute to A/B testing and personalization experiments aimed at enhancing prospect engagement, conversion rates, and overall user satisfaction.

  • Analyze user behavior data and performance metrics from digital platforms to identify friction points and opportunities for design optimization.

  • Stay abreast of emerging trends in digital experience, personalization technologies (including AI), user behavior, and the higher education landscape to inform and innovate prospect design strategies.

  • Champion a data-informed design approach, using insights from testing and analytics to iteratively improve the prospect journey.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic thinking and hands-on execution, typical for a senior role. The focus on "conversion-driven design solutions" and "optimization efforts" directly ties the UX function to business outcomes, aligning with GTM and revenue operations objectives. The mention of AI and personalization indicates a forward-looking approach to user experience strategy.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Six (6) or more years of progressive experience in Product Design, UX Design, or UI Design.

• Demonstrated experience designing for high-impact, customer-facing, or prospect-facing web experiences, with a portfolio showcasing complex digital ecosystems.

• Experience within the higher education sector, EdTech, or environments serving multiple audience types is highly preferred.

• Proven ability to translate user research, data insights, and business requirements into effective, user-centered design solutions.

Required Skills:

• User-Centered Design: Deep understanding and practical application of user-centered design principles and methodologies throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design, including experience with component libraries and design systems.

• Design Systems: Experience in contributing to, or working within, structured design systems to ensure consistency, scalability, and efficiency in design execution.

• Accessibility & Responsive Design: Solid understanding and practical application of WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and responsive design principles for multi-device compatibility.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Exceptional ability to collaborate effectively with UX research, content strategy, marketing, product management, and engineering teams.

• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale, present concepts, and influence stakeholders across diverse constituencies.

• Data-Informed Design: Familiarity with experimentation frameworks (e.g., A/B testing) and data analysis to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to balance high-level strategic vision with meticulous, detailed design execution.

Preferred Skills:

• AI & Personalization Design: Exposure to AI platforms or direct experience designing within systems that leverage AI and personalization for user experiences.

• Higher Education/EdTech Experience: Prior work in the education sector, understanding the unique user journeys and needs of prospective students and educational institutions.

• Prototyping Tools: Proficiency in additional prototyping or animation tools beyond Figma for advanced interaction design.

• User Research: Experience conducting or collaborating on user research activities, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing.

• Agile/Scrum Methodologies: Familiarity with agile development processes and experience working within such frameworks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a strong portfolio demonstrating "user-centered design across complex digital ecosystems" is critical for this role. Candidates should prepare to showcase projects that highlight their ability to manage intricate user journeys and deliver measurable outcomes, particularly in conversion-oriented environments. The mention of AI and personalization suggests a need for candidates to highlight any experience or understanding of these technologies in a design context.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive Case Studies: Present 3-5 detailed case studies that showcase your end-to-end design process for complex, user-facing digital products or features, with a strong emphasis on prospect or customer journeys.

• Problem Definition & User Insights: Clearly articulate the problem you were solving, the target audience (ideally prospects or similar), and the user insights that drove your design decisions.

• Design Process Documentation: Illustrate your design process, including user flows, wireframes, prototypes, high-fidelity mockups, and any user research or testing conducted.

• Collaboration & Iteration: Demonstrate how you collaborated with cross-functional teams (engineering, marketing, research) and how feedback influenced iterative design improvements.

• Measurable Results: Crucially, include quantifiable outcomes or metrics that demonstrate the impact of your designs. This could include improvements in conversion rates, engagement, task completion, or user satisfaction.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Showcase examples where you have designed or optimized user workflows to improve efficiency, reduce friction, and enhance user experience within a digital product.

• System Implementation Standards: Highlight your understanding of how designs integrate with underlying systems, including considerations for accessibility, responsive frameworks, and content management.

• ROI Demonstration: Be prepared to articulate how your design work directly contributed to business objectives, such as student acquisition, lead generation, or enrollment conversion, demonstrating a clear return on investment.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product UX Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It should not only display aesthetic skill but also strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and a clear understanding of how design impacts business objectives like lead generation and conversion, which are key to GTM operations. The request for "ROI demonstration" means candidates must be ready to quantify the business impact of their design work.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $78,496.00 - $105,974.00 USD per year

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Well-Being Benefits: National University offers a holistic approach to employee benefits, focusing on supporting the "whole you" with comprehensive well-being benefits for employees and their families. Specific details can be found at benefits.nu.edu.

• Health Insurance: Likely includes medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Retirement Savings Plan: Typically includes a 403(b) or similar retirement plan, potentially with an employer match.

• Paid Time Off: Includes vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for learning and growth, including potential support for certifications and conferences.

• Tuition Remission: As an educational institution, National University may offer tuition benefits for employees and their dependents.

• Other Perks: Potential for employee assistance programs, life insurance, disability insurance, etc.

Working Hours:

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

• Given the fully remote nature of the role, there may be some flexibility in scheduling, but consistent availability during core business hours for collaboration with teams across different time zones (primarily Pacific Time) will be necessary.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is typical for a Senior Product UX Designer in a remote US-based role, with variations influenced by experience, specific skills, and the candidate's location within the US. Remote roles often command salaries at the higher end of regional ranges due to a broader talent pool. The mention of "state of residency" for minimum salary implies adherence to local wage laws. The benefits package is comprehensive, typical of larger organizations, and should be reviewed in detail by candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Higher Education / Educational Technology (EdTech)

Company Size: 4,500+ employees (Faculty and Staff)

Founded: National University was founded in 1971.

Company Description: National University is a private university dedicated to serving the needs of students, including adult learners and working professionals, through innovative educational solutions. With programs available online and at multiple campus locations, NU aims to meet global education demands and foster a supportive academic and work environment.

Team Structure:

• Operations Focus: While this is a design role, it operates within the broader context of university operations, specifically focusing on the digital experience that drives student acquisition and engagement.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The Senior Product UX Designer will work closely with UX Research, Content Strategy, Marketing, Product Management, and Engineering teams. This indicates a collaborative environment where design is integrated into product development and go-to-market strategies.

• Reporting: This role likely reports into a Head of UX, Director of Product Design, or a similar leadership position within the digital product or technology department.

Methodology:

• User-Centricity: The core methodology emphasizes understanding and serving the needs of prospective students through thoughtful design.

• Data-Informed Design: Design decisions are informed by user insights, data analysis, and experimentation (A/B testing, personalization).

• Iterative Development: Designs are brought to life through iterative development processes, allowing for continuous refinement and optimization.

• Systemic Approach: Focus on designing scalable, modular components and contributing to a cohesive design system for consistency across the digital ecosystem.

Company Website: https://www.nu.edu/

📝 Enhancement Note: National University's mission to serve diverse learners, including adult and working professionals, suggests a focus on user-friendly, accessible, and efficient digital experiences. The "operations" aspect of this role lies in ensuring the digital front door (website) effectively guides prospects through their journey, directly impacting enrollment operations. The company's size suggests established processes but also potential for significant impact through well-designed systems.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product UX Designer. This level signifies a seasoned professional expected to lead complex design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and significantly influence product strategy. The role requires a blend of strategic thinking, deep design expertise, and the ability to drive execution.

Reporting Structure: The role will report to a design or product leadership figure, likely within a digital product or technology department. Collaboration will extend across various departments, including marketing, admissions, and engineering, highlighting the cross-functional nature of GTM and student acquisition operations.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on the university's student acquisition and enrollment targets. By designing intuitive and persuasive digital experiences for prospective students, the Senior Product UX Designer directly influences lead generation, engagement, and ultimately, conversion rates. Their work is critical to the effectiveness of the university's Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy for attracting new students.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership & Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior UX designers, lead design initiatives, and potentially move into a Lead UX Designer or Design Manager role.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like AI-driven personalization, advanced UX research methodologies, or contributing to the strategic direction of the design system.

• Broader Impact: Influence the overall digital strategy of the university and contribute to new product development initiatives beyond the prospect journey.

• Industry Exposure: Gain valuable experience in the EdTech sector, a growing and dynamic field, potentially leading to opportunities in other educational institutions or related technology companies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies significant autonomy and responsibility. Growth opportunities are likely tied to demonstrating leadership in design strategy, mentoring, and contributing to broader digital transformation efforts. The role's impact is clearly linked to revenue generation (student enrollment), making it a strategic GTM function.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This allows for flexibility and access to a wider talent pool.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, the primary time zone focus is likely Pacific Time (California). Candidates are expected to be based in the United States.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Digital Environment: Expect to work within a digital-first environment utilizing collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Teams, Zoom) for communication and project management.

• Design Tooling: Access to industry-standard design tools like Figma, and potentially other UX research and prototyping software.

• Cross-Functional Interaction: Regular interaction with diverse teams, requiring strong communication and interpersonal skills to navigate different working styles and priorities.

• Agile & Iterative: The work environment likely embraces agile methodologies, encouraging iterative design, frequent feedback loops, and adaptability to changing priorities.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours are expected (approx. 40 hours/week).

• While remote, maintaining consistent availability during core business hours for collaboration with teams across US time zones is crucial. Flexibility may be offered, but responsiveness to team needs and project deadlines is key.

📝 Enhancement Note: A fully remote environment requires strong self-discipline, proactive communication, and excellent time management skills. The emphasis on collaboration and cross-functional interaction suggests that candidates who thrive in a virtual team setting and can effectively articulate their work will be most successful.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and portfolios for basic qualifications and alignment with the role.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, detailing 1-2 key projects. This will assess design thinking, process, problem-solving, and communication skills. Expect questions about your role, challenges, and outcomes.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Deeper dive into experience, leadership potential, collaboration style, and fit with the team and company culture.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with key collaborators (e.g., Product Manager, Engineering Lead, UX Researcher, Marketing representative) to assess teamwork, communication, and ability to integrate design into broader workflows.

• Design Challenge (Potential): A take-home assignment or live design exercise may be given to assess practical design skills, problem-solving abilities, and approach to specific UX challenges relevant to the prospect journey.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership or department heads for final assessment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Structure your case studies as compelling narratives. Clearly define the problem, your approach, your specific contributions, and the impact/results.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. Focus on conversion rates, engagement, or efficiency gains relevant to student acquisition.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes) to illustrate your design process and final solutions.

• Highlight Collaboration: Emphasize how you worked with other teams and stakeholders, and how their input shaped your designs.

• Tailor to the Role: Prioritize projects that showcase experience with complex digital ecosystems, user journeys, and ideally, educational or conversion-focused experiences.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Goal: If given a design challenge, ensure you fully understand the objective and the target user.

• Time Management: Allocate your time wisely between research, ideation, design, and presentation.

• Process Articulation: Be prepared to explain your thought process and design decisions clearly and concisely. Focus on rationale rather than just the final output.

• Stakeholder Empathy: Consider the needs of various stakeholders (students, university administrators, marketing) when approaching a challenge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a senior role is rigorous. Candidates should prepare to not only showcase their design skills but also their strategic thinking, ability to collaborate, and their understanding of how design drives business objectives within the university's GTM strategy. The portfolio presentation is a critical component.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design and prototyping tool. Proficiency is essential for wireframing, high-fidelity design, component creation, and collaborative design.

• Design System Management Tools: Experience with tools or processes for managing and evolving design systems (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook, or Figma's own capabilities).

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other prototyping tools (e.g., InVision, Axure) may be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar platforms to understand user behavior and website performance.

• A/B Testing & Personalization Tools: Experience with platforms like Optimizely, VWO, Adobe Target, or Google Optimize for conducting experiments and delivering personalized experiences.

• Data Visualization Tools: Basic understanding of how to interpret data visualizations or dashboards (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) to inform design.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not a direct CRM administrator role, understanding how user data from CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) influences prospect journeys and personalization is valuable.

• Content Management Systems (CMS): Familiarity with how designs are implemented within CMS platforms (e.g., WordPress, Drupal) is beneficial for understanding technical constraints and implementation.

• Project Management Tools: Proficiency in tools like Jira, Asana, Trello, or Monday.com for managing design tasks and collaborating with development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and an understanding of how designs integrate with analytics, A/B testing, and CRM systems are key. This highlights the operational aspect of design – ensuring it's not just aesthetically pleasing but also measurable and contributes to lead generation and conversion goals.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the needs of prospective students, ensuring their digital experience is positive and effective.

• Collaboration: Fostering strong partnerships across departments (Marketing, Admissions, Engineering) to achieve shared goals and deliver cohesive user experiences.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing data, research, and testing to inform design choices and measure the impact of UX initiatives.

• Continuous Improvement: Embracing an iterative approach to design, constantly seeking opportunities to optimize user journeys and enhance overall digital effectiveness.

• Accessibility & Inclusivity: Designing experiences that are accessible to all users, regardless of ability or background, reflecting the university's commitment to serving diverse populations.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role requires active participation and collaboration with individuals from diverse functional areas, ensuring design is a core component of product development and GTM strategy.

• Feedback Exchange: An open culture for giving and receiving constructive feedback on designs, fostering a collaborative environment for problem-solving.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of design best practices, user insights, and learnings across teams to elevate the overall quality of digital experiences.

• Agile and Responsive: Working in a fast-paced environment that requires adaptability, quick iteration, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on collaboration, data-driven decisions, and continuous improvement aligns with modern operational excellence in GTM and product development. Candidates should demonstrate how they embody these values in their work.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Navigating the diverse requirements and priorities of various departments (Admissions, Marketing, IT, Academics) to create a unified and effective prospect experience.

• Scaling Design for a Large Ecosystem: Ensuring design consistency and quality across a complex digital ecosystem with multiple touchpoints and evolving content.

• Leveraging AI/Personalization Effectively: Translating the potential of AI and personalization into tangible, user-centric design improvements that genuinely benefit prospects without feeling intrusive.

• Measuring Design Impact: Clearly attributing improvements in enrollment or engagement directly to UX design efforts in a complex marketing and admissions funnel.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX Techniques: Deepen expertise in areas like advanced user research, behavioral design, and strategic UX planning.

• EdTech Industry Insights: Gain specialized knowledge of the higher education technology landscape, user acquisition strategies, and student lifecycle management.

• AI & Personalization Strategy: Develop a deeper understanding of how to strategically apply AI and personalization to enhance user journeys and drive business outcomes.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to take on more strategic responsibilities, mentor junior designers, and potentially lead design initiatives or teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents opportunities to tackle complex challenges in a dynamic sector, offering significant growth potential for ambitious designers. Successfully navigating these challenges will require strong strategic thinking, collaboration, and a data-driven approach.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the design of a complex user journey from concept to launch. What was your process, what challenges did you face, and what were the measurable outcomes?" (Focus on process, problem-solving, and impact)

• "How do you approach designing for conversion-driven experiences for a target audience like prospective students?" (Focus on user-centricity applied to business goals)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to National University and this specific role?" (Demonstrate research into NU's mission and the role's impact)

• "How do you approach collaboration with non-design teams like marketing and engineering?" (Highlight communication and partnership skills)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select High-Impact Projects: Choose 2-3 projects that best showcase your skills relevant to this role – complex user journeys, conversion optimization, and strategic thinking.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, your process, your design decisions, and the quantifiable results.

• Highlight Collaboration: Be ready to discuss how you worked with others and how their input influenced your work.

• Be Prepared for Technical Questions: Anticipate questions about your tools, processes, and how your designs are implemented.

• Showcase Your Impact: Clearly articulate the business value and user benefits of your designs, using metrics where possible.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not just their design execution skills but also their strategic thinking, understanding of business objectives (like student acquisition), and ability to collaborate effectively within a cross-functional and remote environment. Quantifiable results are key for senior roles.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product UX Designer position:

• Submit Your Application: Apply directly through the National University careers portal via the provided link.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most relevant projects that highlight your experience with complex user journeys, conversion-focused design, and your end-to-end design process. Ensure your portfolio clearly articulates your role, your methodologies, and the measurable impact of your work.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords and experiences mentioned in the job description, such as "user-centered design," "Figma," "design systems," "accessibility," "conversion optimization," "AI/personalization," and "cross-functional collaboration." Quantify achievements whenever possible.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your selected portfolio projects. Be ready to articulate your design rationale, challenges, solutions, and outcomes clearly and concisely. Anticipate questions about your process, collaboration, and strategic thinking.

• Research National University: Understand the university's mission, its target audience, and its strategic goals. Consider how your UX design expertise can contribute to their objectives of student recruitment and retention.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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