Senior UX Designer, Vice President

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer, Vice President
Company: Morgan Stanley
Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design
Date Posted: October 9, 2025
Experience Level: 5-10 Years
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the creation of thoughtful, user-centered experiences as Morgan Stanley transitions from legacy systems to Salesforce, a critical GTM and CRM platform.
• Synthesize qualitative and quantitative data through close collaboration with the research team to inform value-driven design decisions and optimize GTM processes.
• Design holistic, seamless solutions that integrate into the Wealth Management product ecosystem, enhancing user adoption and operational efficiency.
• Develop and present an outstanding portfolio showcasing experience in creating impactful user experiences that solve both business and user needs, with a particular focus on CRM interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior UX Designer, Vice President," the core responsibilities and experience requirements (5-7 years) suggest a senior individual contributor role rather than a direct management position. The "Vice President" title likely reflects the seniority and impact within the organization, common in financial services. The emphasis on Salesforce migration and Wealth Management integration points towards a role deeply embedded in GTM and client-facing technology operations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design process for user-centered experiences during the migration from legacy systems to Salesforce, ensuring a smooth transition and enhanced user adoption.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and researchers, to define, design, and deliver intuitive CRM interfaces that drive customer engagement and operational efficiency.
• Conduct comprehensive user research, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to gather insights and validate design decisions.
• Create detailed wireframes, prototypes, and user flows using Figma to effectively communicate design concepts and interaction models.
• Translate complex business requirements and ambiguous project scopes into clear, actionable design solutions that align with the Wealth Management product ecosystem.
• Actively participate in team activities such as brainstorms, design audits, critiques, and whiteboard sessions, contributing to the maturation of design thinking within a large organization.
• Advocate for design thinking principles and best practices across different departments, fostering a culture of user-centricity.
• Manage multiple design priorities concurrently, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality work under tight deadlines.
• Leverage data analysis to inform design decisions and continuously iterate on solutions to improve user experience and business outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong need for strategic thinking and problem-solving in ambiguous environments, crucial for operations roles focused on system migration and process optimization. The direct mention of CRM interfaces and Salesforce migration indicates a deep dive into sales and client relationship management technologies, core to GTM operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field.
• Master's degree in a related field is a plus, indicating a preference for advanced theoretical understanding and research capabilities.

Experience:

• 5-7 years of professional experience as a UX Designer, with a proven track record of contributing to the success of launched products.
• Demonstrated experience in designing intuitive CRM interfaces that enhance user experience and drive customer engagement.
• Proven ability to conduct user research, design effective wireframes and prototypes, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver seamless solutions.

Required Skills:

• User-Centered Design: Deep understanding and application of user-centered design principles and methodologies.
• Figma Proficiency: Mastery of Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design.
• Jira Proficiency: Experience using Jira for workflow management, issue tracking, and cross-functional collaboration.
• User Research & Synthesis: Ability to conduct various forms of user research and synthesize qualitative and quantitative data into actionable insights.
• Wireframing & Prototyping: Skilled in creating detailed wireframes, interactive prototypes, and user flows.
• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a strong ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Design Thinking: A strong grasp of design thinking principles and their application in problem-solving.
• Problem Solving & Ambiguity Tolerance: Ability to navigate and set direction for undefined, complex projects with a high tolerance for ambiguity.

Preferred Skills:

• Finance Industry Experience: Previous work experience in the finance sector is a significant plus, indicating familiarity with industry-specific challenges and user needs.
• Salesforce Design Experience: Specific experience designing within or migrating to Salesforce environments.
• Wealth Management Context: Familiarity with the Wealth Management product ecosystem and its user base.
• Data Analysis for Design: Ability to glean insights from data and incorporate them into design solutions.
• Mentorship/Leadership: Ability to guide and work with less experienced designers, contributing to team development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills are heavily aligned with core UX/Product Design functions, but the specific mention of CRM interfaces, Salesforce, and Finance industry experience positions this role within the GTM and Sales Operations technology stack, requiring an understanding of how design impacts sales processes and customer relationships.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated Impact: An outstanding portfolio is critical, showcasing how you have created user experiences that solved specific business and user needs, with a focus on measurable outcomes.
• System Integration: Examples of designing holistic solutions that integrate seamlessly into larger product ecosystems, such as the Wealth Management platform.
• CRM Interface Design: Specific case studies demonstrating expertise in designing intuitive CRM interfaces that enhance user experience and drive customer engagement.
• Process Optimization: Projects that highlight your ability to improve workflows and operational efficiency through thoughtful UX design.
• Figma & Jira Workflows: Evidence of using Figma for comprehensive design deliverables and Jira for managing design projects and collaborating with engineering teams.

Process Documentation:

• User Research & Validation: Showcasing how you've used user research to inform design decisions and validate assumptions through iterative testing.
• Wireframing to High-Fidelity: Demonstrating a clear progression from initial wireframes and user flows to high-fidelity prototypes and final design specifications.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Highlighting instances where you've effectively collaborated with engineering, product, and research teams throughout the design and development lifecycle.
• Ambiguity Navigation: Presenting projects where you successfully defined and directed solutions for complex, ambiguous problems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are highly specific, emphasizing not just visual design but also the strategic impact of UX on business objectives, particularly within CRM and financial services contexts. This aligns with operations roles where demonstrating ROI and process improvement is paramount.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $110,000 - $180,000 per year.
Explanation of Range: This range reflects the seniority of the "Vice President" title, the required 5-7 years of experience, and the specific skills in UX design, CRM, and financial services. Chicago is a major metropolitan area with a strong demand for specialized tech talent, justifying this compensation band.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Employee Benefits: A wide array of benefits designed to support employees and their families, covering health, wellness, and financial well-being.
• Incentive Compensation: Eligibility for an annual discretionary incentive compensation award, reflecting performance-based rewards.
• Discretionary Bonus: Potential to participate in a business unit's incentive compensation plan, which may include a discretionary bonus component, further aligning compensation with individual and company success.
• Career Mobility: Ample opportunity for internal movement and growth within the business for employees demonstrating passion and grit.
• Retirement Savings Plans: Access to robust retirement savings plans (details available at mybenefits.morganstanley.com).
• Work-Life Support: Programs and resources to support employees' work-life balance.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with potential for extended hours depending on project demands and deadlines, typical for a senior role in a demanding financial services environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is substantial, reflecting the VP title and the critical nature of UX design in migrating core GTM systems. The benefits package is typical for a large financial institution, emphasizing long-term employee support and performance-based incentives.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Investment Banking, Wealth Management, Investment Management, etc.). Morgan Stanley operates at the forefront of global finance, providing a dynamic and high-stakes environment. Company Size: Large Enterprise (over 80,000 employees globally). This scale means extensive resources, established processes, and a wide array of potential career paths, but also requires adeptness in navigating large organizational structures. Founded: 1935. With a long history, Morgan Stanley has a deep-rooted culture and a strong reputation, emphasizing stability, client trust, and innovation.

Team Structure:

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role emphasizes working closely with research teams, product managers, engineers, and potentially sales and client relationship managers to deliver integrated solutions.
• Design Hub: Likely part of a broader UX/Design department within the Wealth Management division, with opportunities to interact with other designers and contribute to design standards.
• Reporting Hierarchy: Reporting likely to a Director or Executive Director of UX Design, with the "Vice President" title indicating a senior level of contribution and influence within the organization.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: A strong emphasis on synthesizing qualitative and quantitative data to make value-driven design decisions.
• Agile & Iterative: While not explicitly stated, the nature of system migrations and product development in large organizations typically involves agile methodologies, continuous feedback loops, and iterative design processes.
• Client-Centricity: A core value, ensuring that all designs ultimately serve the best interests of clients, aligning with GTM objectives.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Morgan Stanley's culture is deeply rooted in client focus, integrity, and excellence. For a UX designer, this translates to a demanding environment where designs must not only be user-friendly but also robust, secure, and aligned with stringent financial regulations and business objectives. The "Vice President" title signifies a high level of responsibility and trust.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor (VP level within UX/Design). This role is for an experienced professional expected to lead complex design projects independently, mentor junior designers, and significantly influence product strategy from a user experience perspective. Reporting Structure: The role reports into a higher-level design leadership (likely Director/Executive Director) within the Wealth Management division. Collaboration will extend across product management, engineering, and potentially business units directly involved in GTM and client servicing. Operations Impact: This UX role directly impacts operational efficiency by streamlining the transition to Salesforce, improving user adoption of CRM tools, and enhancing the overall Wealth Management product ecosystem. This leads to better client engagement, increased sales productivity, and potentially higher client retention.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Design: Potential to grow into a Design Lead or Manager role, overseeing design strategy for specific product areas or teams within Wealth Management.
• Specialization: Deepen expertise in financial services UX, CRM design, or complex system migrations, becoming a subject matter expert.
• Cross-Divisional Mobility: Opportunities to move into UX roles within other Morgan Stanley divisions (e.g., Investment Banking, Technology) given the firm's broad scope.
• Strategic Influence: Contribute to broader GTM technology strategy discussions, influencing the direction of digital transformation efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Vice President" title, even for an individual contributor, signals a high level of trust and potential for advancement. Growth here involves deepening specialized skills and taking on more strategic leadership, directly impacting the firm's technology and GTM capabilities.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site. This indicates a requirement for in-person collaboration, essential for complex design sprints, brainstorming, and team cohesion within a financial services firm. Office Location(s): Chicago, Illinois. This is a major financial hub, offering significant networking opportunities and a vibrant professional ecosystem. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Expect access to modern office spaces designed for collaboration, including meeting rooms, project war rooms, and potentially dedicated design studios.
• Technology Access: Provision of industry-standard design tools (Figma, Jira) and necessary hardware/software for high-fidelity prototyping and data analysis.
• Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with a diverse group of professionals from product, engineering, research, and business units, fostering a dynamic and intellectually stimulating environment.
• Financial Industry Nuances: The environment will be fast-paced, detail-oriented, and adhere to regulatory compliance standards.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) with the expectation of flexibility and commitment to meet project deadlines. This might involve occasional extended hours or weekend work during critical migration phases or product launches.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement underscores the emphasis on in-person collaboration, critical for complex GTM system migrations and ensuring alignment across diverse teams in a regulated industry like finance.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter screen to assess basic qualifications, experience alignment, and cultural fit.
• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the hiring manager to delve deeper into experience, approach to problem-solving, and specific skills.
• Portfolio Presentation: A critical stage where candidates present their portfolio, walking through 2-3 key projects that demonstrate their impact, process, and strategic thinking, especially related to CRM or complex system design.
• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with cross-functional team members (e.g., Product Managers, Engineers, Researchers) to assess collaboration skills and technical understanding.
• Executive/VP Interview: A final interview with senior leadership to discuss strategic thinking, leadership potential, and alignment with Morgan Stanley's values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the business problem, the user needs, your specific role and contributions, the design process followed, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction).
• Showcase CRM/Salesforce Experience: Prioritize projects that demonstrate experience with CRM interfaces, sales workflows, or system migrations, especially if they align with the Wealth Management context.
• Demonstrate Ambiguity Navigation: Include at least one project where you tackled a highly ambiguous problem, showing how you defined the scope, conducted research, and arrived at a viable solution.
• Highlight Collaboration: Explain how you worked with cross-functional teams, managed feedback, and incorporated diverse perspectives.
• Detail Your Process: Clearly outline your design process, from initial research and ideation to wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and final delivery.
• Use Figma & Jira Examples: If possible, show examples of your Figma work (prototypes, design systems) and discuss how you used Jira for project management and collaboration.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a design exercise, which might involve a take-home assignment or an on-site/virtual whiteboard session. This could focus on solving a specific UX problem related to financial services, CRM, or system migration.
• Strategic Thinking: Practice articulating your design strategy, how it aligns with business goals, and how you would measure success.
• Root Cause Analysis: Be ready to discuss how you uncover the root cause of a problem through testing and learning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio presentation, especially with CRM and system migration examples, is crucial. Candidates should prepare to articulate the ROI and operational improvements their designs delivered. The "VP" title suggests a rigorous interview process focusing on strategic impact and leadership potential.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for all aspects of UX design, including wireframing, prototyping, high-fidelity design, and collaboration. Proficiency is expected at a mastery level.
• Jira: Crucial for project management, bug tracking, and agile workflow management. Experience integrating design processes with engineering workflows in Jira is vital.
• User Research Platforms: Experience with tools like UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback, or similar for conducting remote usability testing and gathering user feedback.
• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other prototyping tools might be beneficial for specific use cases.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Tools: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics to understand user behavior and track the impact of design changes.
• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools like Tableau or Power BI to analyze user data and present insights to stakeholders.
• CRM Analytics: Understanding how to leverage CRM-specific analytics to inform design decisions and measure impact on sales or client engagement metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• Salesforce: Direct experience designing for or migrating to Salesforce is a significant advantage, given the project's focus. Understanding Salesforce's architecture and common UI patterns is key.
• Integration Tools: Awareness of how UX designs integrate with backend systems and APIs, though direct experience with integration tools might not be required.
• Design System Tools: Experience with or contribution to design systems for maintaining consistency and efficiency across product lines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and Jira, combined with the Salesforce migration project, points to a highly integrated technology stack. Proficiency in these tools is non-negotiable, and an understanding of how UX design interfaces with CRM and GTM platforms is essential.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Client First: All design decisions must prioritize the client's needs and experience, aligning with Morgan Stanley's core value. This means designs should enhance client interactions, build trust, and support client success.
• Doing the Right Thing: Emphasizes ethical conduct, integrity, and compliance, which translates to designing secure, transparent, and compliant financial products and experiences.
• Leading with Exceptional Ideas: Fosters innovation and encourages designers to bring forward creative, forward-thinking solutions that can differentiate Morgan Stanley's offerings.
• Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: Values a diverse workforce and inclusive environment, expecting designers to create accessible experiences and contribute to an inclusive team dynamic.
• Giving Back: A spirit of community involvement and corporate responsibility that may influence team projects or company-wide initiatives.

Collaboration Style:

• Active Listening & Contribution: Designers are expected to be active participants in group settings, contributing ideas, providing constructive feedback, and engaging in critical discussions.
• Diverse Team Environment: Thrives in a collaborative, explorative environment with a diverse team, valuing the exchange of ideas and constructive criticism to mature design thinking.
• Resilience & Iteration: Embraces challenges with resilience, consistently seeking to validate assumptions and uncover root causes through testing, learning, and iterating.
• Evangelizing Design Thinking: Proactively promotes design thinking principles throughout the organization, advocating for user-centric approaches in all aspects of product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The strong emphasis on Morgan Stanley's values, particularly "Client First" and "Doing the Right Thing," means UX designs must be not only functional and aesthetically pleasing but also ethically sound, compliant, and aligned with the firm's reputation and regulatory obligations. This adds a layer of complexity to the design process, common in financial operations.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Legacy System Migration: Transitioning from outdated systems to modern platforms like Salesforce can be complex, involving data integrity issues, user resistance to change, and the need to replicate or improve upon existing functionalities.
• Ambiguity in Complex Projects: Defining clear design directions for large-scale, undefined projects requires strong analytical skills and the ability to establish foundational frameworks.
• Balancing User Needs with Business/Regulatory Constraints: In finance, designs must meet stringent regulatory requirements and business objectives while still providing an excellent user experience.
• Driving Design Thinking in a Large Organization: Evangelizing and embedding user-centered design principles across various departments can be an ongoing challenge.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Financial Services UX Expertise: Gain in-depth knowledge of Wealth Management products, client needs, and industry trends.
• Master Salesforce Ecosystem: Become an expert in designing for and leveraging the Salesforce platform for GTM operations.
• Strategic Design Leadership: Develop skills in influencing product strategy and leading design initiatives at a senior level.
• Mentorship and Skill Development: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and continuously develop advanced UX methodologies and tools.
• Industry Conferences & Training: Access to professional development resources, potentially including conferences and specialized training relevant to UX, finance, and CRM technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical of large-scale technology transformations in regulated industries. The growth opportunities highlight a clear path for specialization and leadership within the operations and technology functions of a major financial institution.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a complex, ambiguous project. How did you define the scope and set a direction?" (Focus on your process for tackling ambiguity, research methods, and initial framework development.)
• "How would you approach designing a new feature for a CRM system to improve sales team productivity and customer engagement?" (Highlight your understanding of CRM workflows, user needs of sales teams, and how you'd measure success.)
• "Discuss a situation where you had to balance conflicting user needs or business requirements. What was your approach and outcome?" (Emphasize your negotiation skills, ability to find trade-offs, and data-driven decision-making.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do Morgan Stanley's values (Client First, Doing the Right Thing, etc.) align with your approach to UX design?" (Research the values thoroughly and prepare specific examples of how your design philosophy embodies them, particularly client focus and ethical considerations.)
• "Describe your experience working in a large, matrixed organization. How do you effectively collaborate across different teams and departments?" (Focus on your communication strategies, stakeholder management, and ability to build consensus.)
• "How do you measure the success of your UX designs, especially in a financial services context?" (Prepare to discuss KPIs related to user adoption, task completion, customer satisfaction, and potentially impact on sales metrics or operational efficiency.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, use a clear story arc: Problem -> Your Role/Process -> Solution -> Impact/Results.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. If exact numbers aren't available, use qualitative evidence or estimations supported by reasoning.
• Showcase CRM/Salesforce Relevance: If you have relevant projects, explicitly connect them to CRM functionality, sales processes, or system migration challenges.
• Demonstrate Ambiguity Navigation: Highlight a project where you took initiative to define the problem space and drive towards a solution.
• Be Ready to Answer "Why": For every design decision, be prepared to explain the rationale, the user insights, or business drivers behind it.
• Highlight Collaboration: Discuss how you worked with your team and stakeholders, showcasing your ability to integrate feedback and build consensus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize your ability to translate user needs into business value within a regulated financial environment. Be ready to demonstrate strategic thinking, resilience, and a deep understanding of how UX impacts GTM operations and client relationships.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on the Morgan Stanley careers portal.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords and experiences explicitly mentioned in the job description, such as "UX Designer," "Vice President," "Salesforce," "CRM," "Wealth Management," "User Research," "Figma," "Jira," and "User-Centered Design." Quantify your achievements with numbers and data where possible.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that best showcase your experience in CRM design, system migrations, user research, and delivering measurable business impact. Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible (e.g., via a link) and clearly demonstrates your process and results.
• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your experience and portfolio projects concisely, focusing on the problem, your solution, and the quantifiable impact. Be ready to discuss your approach to ambiguous projects and your understanding of client-centric design in finance.
• Research Morgan Stanley: Understand the company's values, its position in the financial industry, and the specific goals of the Wealth Management division. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate cultural fit.

⚠️ 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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