Sr. UX Architect

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr. UX Architect

Company: Compassion International

Location: Colorado, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: User Experience (UX) / Product Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-04-07

Experience Level: Senior (10+ years)

Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• Leads and mentors IT development teams in applying creativity and skill to maximize user experience across complex design engagements.

• Establishes and maintains design guidelines, best practices, and standards, leveraging up-to-date and emerging design patterns and trends.

• Drives a consistent design language across products by ensuring uniformity in visual elements and user behavior.

• Conducts complex user research and evaluates user feedback in collaboration with cross-functional teams and business leaders.

• Develops and manages user personas to accurately design products for Compassion users, including employees and sponsors.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior UX Architect, indicating a leadership and mentorship capacity within the User Experience discipline. The focus on "complex design engagements" and leading "multiple countries" suggests a strategic and broad impact, requiring a strong understanding of GTM and product development lifecycles from a user-centric perspective. The emphasis on child protection and ministry values is a unique aspect of this non-profit role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, mentorship, and guidance to IT development teams to enhance user experience in design and development.

• Train software developers on creating and improving wireframes, prototypes, user flows, mockups, style guides, and other UX artifacts.

• Define and implement design guidelines, best practices, and standards based on current and emerging design patterns and trends.

• Ensure design consistency across all products by maintaining uniformity in visual elements and interactive behavior.

• Collaborate with product managers, business leaders, and other development team members to conduct comprehensive user research and analyze user feedback.

• Develop and maintain detailed user personas for key user groups, such as employees and sponsors, to inform product design decisions.

• Coach and provide expert guidance to other UX professionals and support staff, potentially overseeing their work on significant projects.

• Contribute to the strategic vision for user experience within the organization, aligning design initiatives with ministry objectives and user needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design work and strategic leadership. The emphasis on training developers and establishing standards points to a role focused on scaling UX capabilities and ensuring a unified design approach across GTM and internal product development. The unique ministry context requires integrating user needs with the organization's mission.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Computer Science, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.

Experience: 10+ years of progressive experience in User Experience (UX) design, with a strong emphasis on UX architecture, product design, and user research within a technology-driven environment. Proven experience in leading design initiatives and mentoring design professionals.

Required Skills:

• UX Architecture & Strategy: Deep understanding of UX principles, information architecture, and user-centered design methodologies. Ability to translate complex business requirements into intuitive user experiences.

• Design Tools Proficiency: Expertise in industry-standard design software such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD), and prototyping tools (e.g., InVision, Axure).

• Wireframing & Prototyping: Demonstrated ability to create detailed wireframes, interactive prototypes, and user flows that effectively communicate design concepts.

• User Research & Analysis: Experience planning and conducting various user research methods (e.g., interviews, surveys, usability testing) and synthesizing findings into actionable design insights.

• Design Systems & Guidelines: Proven ability to establish, document, and maintain design systems, style guides, and best practices to ensure design consistency and scalability.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Strong coaching and leadership skills with the ability to guide and inspire other UX designers and cross-functional teams.

• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively present design concepts and rationale to stakeholders at all levels, including technical and non-technical audiences.

Preferred Skills:

• Agile/Scrum Methodologies: Experience working within Agile development environments and collaborating closely with product managers and developers in iterative design cycles.

• Cross-functional Team Leadership: Experience leading diverse teams, including developers, product managers, and business analysts, towards a shared UX vision.

• Child Protection Advocacy: Understanding and commitment to child protection principles and the ability to integrate these considerations into design solutions.

• Non-profit/Ministry Experience: Familiarity with the unique challenges and opportunities of designing for non-profit organizations or ministry contexts.

• Experience with Global Audiences: Demonstrated experience designing for diverse international user bases, considering cultural nuances and accessibility requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 10+ years of experience positions this as a senior-level role, emphasizing strategic contributions and leadership. The inclusion of child protection advocacy as a preferred skill is critical for this non-profit organization and signals a need for candidates who can align professional expertise with organizational values.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive Case Studies: Showcase at least 3-5 detailed case studies demonstrating end-to-end UX design process from discovery through implementation. Each case study should highlight a significant challenge, the design approach taken, your specific contributions, and the resulting user experience improvements.

• User-Centered Design Examples: Include examples of user personas, user journey maps, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups that clearly illustrate your design thinking and problem-solving skills.

• Design System Contributions: If applicable, provide examples of contributions to design systems, style guides, or component libraries, demonstrating your ability to drive consistency and scalability.

• Impact and Metrics: Quantify the impact of your design solutions whenever possible, using metrics such as increased user engagement, improved task completion rates, reduced error rates, or positive stakeholder feedback. Focus on demonstrating ROI for design investments.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Showcase your ability to map and optimize user workflows, demonstrating an understanding of how users interact with systems and identifying areas for process improvement.

• Research Synthesis: Present examples of how you've synthesized user research findings into actionable design recommendations and strategic product decisions.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Illustrate how you've collaborated with development, product management, and other stakeholders throughout the design lifecycle, including documentation of design handoffs and feedback loops.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Architect role, a portfolio is crucial. It should not only display visual design skills but also demonstrate strategic thinking, process ownership, and the ability to lead and mentor. The emphasis on impact and metrics is key for showing how UX contributes to business objectives, even within a mission-driven organization.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $123,240.00 - $144,797.60 USD per year.

Geographic Differential: Employees in specific high cost of labor locations in the United States (such as San Francisco, CA and Seattle, WA) may qualify for a geographic differential.

Benefits:

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO): Ample vacation, sick leave, and holiday time to promote work-life balance.

• 403(b) Retirement Fund: A significant 10% contribution from the employer on top of your salary, demonstrating a strong commitment to long-term financial well-being.

• Excellent Healthcare Coverage: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for employees and eligible dependents.

• Short-Term Professional Counseling: Access to free professional counseling services for support with personal and professional challenges.

• Spiritual Growth Opportunities: Participation in regular chapel services, prayer groups, and department devotionals, reflecting the organization's mission-driven culture.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Support services for various personal and work-related issues.

Working Hours: Standard full-time workweek, typically 40 hours. Flexibility may be available depending on team needs and project demands, but core hours are expected for collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is competitive for a senior-level UX Architect in the US. The mention of geographic differentials is important for candidates in high-cost-of-living areas. The benefits package is robust, with a notable 10% 403(b) contribution and emphasis on spiritual growth, aligning with the organization's mission.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Non-profit / Christian Ministry (International Development)

Company Size: Compassion International is a large organization, typically employing between 1,000 and 5,000 employees globally. This suggests a structured environment with established processes, but also potential for cross-departmental impact.

Founded: Compassion International was founded in 1952, indicating a long history and stability, with decades of experience in child development and poverty alleviation.

Team Structure:

• The Sr. UX Architect operates within the IT development teams, likely reporting to a Director or VP of IT/Product/Digital Experience.

• This role involves cross-functional collaboration with Product Managers, Software Developers, Business Analysts, and potentially Marketing and Communications teams.

Methodology:

• User-Centric Design: The core methodology revolves around understanding and advocating for the needs of Compassion's users (employees, sponsors, partners) and, ultimately, the children they serve.

• Agile Development: While not explicitly stated, the collaboration with IT development teams suggests an Agile or iterative development approach, where UX plays a vital role in continuous improvement and feedback loops.

• Data-Informed Decisions: User research and feedback are key inputs for design decisions, emphasizing a data-driven approach to product development.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission to release children from poverty in Jesus' name is a central tenet of its culture. This means candidates must align with Christian values and demonstrate a passion for the organization's cause. The "IT development teams" context suggests a focus on digital products and internal tools that support the ministry's operations.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a Senior Individual Contributor and potential leadership level. As a Sr. UX Architect, you are expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, guide complex projects, and influence strategic design decisions. This level often serves as a bridge between hands-on design work and team leadership or architectural vision.

Reporting Structure: The Sr. UX Architect will likely report to a Director or VP of IT, Digital Experience, or Product Development. They will work closely with Product Managers and engineering leads. There's an expectation of mentoring and potentially overseeing the work of junior UX designers or related staff, indicating a pathway toward formal management or a Principal Architect role.

Operations Impact: The UX Architect's impact is critical for ensuring that Compassion International's digital products and services are effective, user-friendly, and aligned with the organization's mission. This includes improving internal operational efficiency through better tools for staff and sponsors, enhancing donor engagement, and ultimately contributing to the organization's ability to serve more children. Your work directly shapes how users interact with the ministry, influencing their ability to support the mission.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Track: Potential to move into a UX Manager or Director role, formally leading a UX team and setting strategic direction for the discipline.

• Principal Architect Role: Deepen expertise and become a recognized thought leader within the organization, focusing on complex architectural challenges and innovation.

• Cross-functional Specialization: Develop deeper expertise in specific areas like accessibility, international design, or user research methodologies, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Product Strategy Influence: Gain opportunities to contribute more significantly to product strategy and roadmap planning, leveraging UX insights to drive business outcomes.

• Mentorship Programs: Formalize mentorship activities, helping to develop the next generation of UX talent within Compassion.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities highlight a clear path for career advancement within UX, either through people leadership or technical specialization. The role's senior nature means significant influence on product direction and operational effectiveness.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is advertised as "Remote OK" and located in "Colorado, United States." Compassion International also mentions specific high-cost-of-labor locations may receive differential pay, suggesting a distributed workforce model with potential for hybrid arrangements in certain hubs. The primary work environment is remote, requiring self-discipline and strong communication skills.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, the company is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Remote employees are generally expected to be based within the United States, with potential for geographic differentials in specific high-cost areas.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Collaboration: Expect to work primarily through digital collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Jira, Confluence).

• Agile Team Integration: You will be an integral part of agile development teams, participating in daily stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospectives.

• Tools & Technology: Access to a standard suite of design and collaboration software will be provided or expected. The emphasis will be on utilizing these tools to foster seamless communication and project progression.

• Mission-Driven Atmosphere: The work environment is deeply influenced by the organization's Christian mission, fostering a culture of service, compassion, and spiritual engagement.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week. While remote work offers flexibility, adherence to core working hours for team collaboration, meetings, and responsiveness is generally expected. The organization encourages spiritual growth, which may involve participation in optional chapel services or devotionals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature of the role necessitates strong self-management and proactive communication. The integration into agile teams means a fast-paced, collaborative environment where UX is a key player in the development process.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter to assess basic qualifications and fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager to delve deeper into your experience, leadership style, and understanding of UX principles. This may include behavioral questions and scenario-based assessments.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where you will present selected case studies from your portfolio, explaining your process, contributions, and the impact of your design work. Be prepared to discuss your approach to user research, problem-solving, and collaboration.

• Team/Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with potential peers and stakeholders (e.g., Product Managers, Lead Developers) to evaluate your collaboration skills, technical understanding, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Potentially a conversation with senior leadership to discuss strategic alignment and overall fit within the organization's mission and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase your Sr. UX Architect capabilities—problem-solving, strategic thinking, leadership, and impact.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role and process, key decisions made, challenges overcome, and the measurable outcomes. Focus on why you made certain design choices.

• Highlight Leadership: Demonstrate instances where you mentored others, influenced strategy, or led design initiatives. This is crucial for a senior role.

• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics to show the success of your designs. If quantitative data is unavailable, use qualitative feedback and articulate the user benefits clearly.

• Tailor to Compassion: If possible, subtly weave in how your skills and experience can support Compassion's mission and user base.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a take-home design challenge or an in-interview whiteboard exercise focused on a realistic problem. This will assess your problem-solving approach, design thinking, and ability to articulate your process under pressure.

• System Thinking: Practice thinking about how UX fits into a larger system—integrating with backend processes, CRM, and other IT infrastructure.

• Mission Alignment: Prepare to discuss how you would approach designing for a non-profit with a strong Christian mission, considering diverse user needs and ethical considerations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely to be thorough, given the senior nature of the role and the unique mission of Compassion International. A strong portfolio presentation that highlights leadership and strategic impact is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable for modern UX teams), Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, Axure RP.

• User Research Platforms: UserTesting.com, Maze, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello, Microsoft Teams, Slack.

• CRM/Internal Tools: Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics) and internal operational tools will be beneficial, as UX often supports these.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics.

• Product Analytics: Mixpanel, Amplitude, Pendo.

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI (less common for UX focus, but good to be aware of).

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Understanding of how UX impacts CRM usage for internal staff and external users (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics).

• Workflow Automation Tools: Awareness of tools that streamline processes, as UX design can significantly influence the efficiency of automated workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, the role of a Sr. UX Architect typically requires proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools. Familiarity with collaboration platforms and an understanding of how UX supports CRM and operational tools are also key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Integrity & Transparency: Upholding ethical standards in design and business practices, reflecting the organization's commitment to its mission and donors.

• Compassion & Service: Demonstrating a genuine desire to serve others, particularly children, and approaching work with empathy and a servant-leader mindset.

• Excellence & Stewardship: Striving for high-quality outcomes in design and development, responsibly managing resources to maximize impact for the ministry.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Working effectively with diverse teams, valuing contributions, and fostering an environment of mutual respect and support.

• Faith & Spiritual Integration: Integrating personal faith and organizational values into daily work, contributing to a positive and mission-aligned workplace culture.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Partnership: Works closely with Product Managers to define requirements, with Developers to ensure feasible and high-quality implementation, and with Business Analysts to understand operational needs.

• User Advocacy: Acts as a strong advocate for the user, bringing user insights and design thinking into all team discussions and decision-making processes.

• Constructive Feedback: Engages in open and constructive feedback loops, both giving and receiving input to refine designs and processes.

• Proactive Communication: Maintains open lines of communication, especially in a remote setting, ensuring alignment and transparency across teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Compassion International is deeply rooted in its Christian mission. Candidates should be comfortable with and supportive of this environment. Values like integrity, compassion, and excellence are likely to be paramount in daily operations and team interactions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Mission and User Needs: Effectively designing for diverse user groups (employees, sponsors, potential donors) while ensuring alignment with the organization's core Christian mission and child protection policies.

• Scaling UX in a Large Organization: Establishing and maintaining a consistent, high-quality UX approach across multiple IT development teams and potentially diverse product lines.

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Ensuring effective communication, collaboration, and design alignment within a distributed team environment.

• Advocating for UX Best Practices: Educating and influencing stakeholders who may not have a deep understanding of UX principles, driving adoption of user-centered design.

• Measuring Impact in a Non-Profit Context: Demonstrating the ROI of UX initiatives in a mission-driven organization where traditional profit metrics may not apply.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX Architecture: Deepen expertise in complex information architecture, user journey mapping for enterprise-level systems, and scalable design systems.

• Leadership and Mentorship Training: Develop formal skills in coaching, team building, and people management.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Opportunities to attend UX conferences (e.g., UXPA, Nielsen Norman Group) and pursue relevant certifications.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gain exposure to different aspects of the ministry's operations, product management, and IT infrastructure to foster a holistic understanding.

• Accessibility & Inclusive Design: Develop specialized skills in designing for accessibility and inclusive user experiences for a global audience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for senior roles in established organizations, particularly those with a strong mission. The growth opportunities are robust, offering clear paths for professional development and specialization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex UX design challenge you've faced in a previous role and how you approached it. What was the outcome?" (Focus on problem-solving, strategic thinking, and impact.)

• "How would you establish and maintain a consistent design language across multiple product teams in a large organization?" (Focus on design systems, guidelines, and collaboration.)

• "Walk us through a project where you had to advocate for user needs against business or technical constraints. How did you present your case?" (Focus on communication, negotiation, and user advocacy.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Compassion International's mission, and how do you see your UX expertise contributing to it?" (Assess mission alignment and understanding.)

• "Describe your experience working in a faith-based or non-profit organization. What are the unique considerations?" (Gauge cultural fit and adaptability.)

• "How do you ensure that user needs are met while also respecting organizational values and policies, especially concerning child protection?" (Crucial for this role.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically: Introduction to the project/challenge, your role and process, key decisions and rationale, design solutions (wireframes, prototypes, final UI), user impact/metrics, and lessons learned.

• Highlight Seniority: Emphasize your strategic contributions, leadership moments, and how you influenced the project's direction. Show, don't just tell, your mentorship experience.

• Quantify Outcomes: Be prepared to discuss the measurable results of your work. If hard numbers aren't available, articulate the qualitative improvements and user benefits clearly.

• Engage Your Audience: Make it a conversation. Be ready to answer questions about your process, decisions, and how you'd handle alternative scenarios.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic UX leadership, a deep understanding of user-centered design principles, strong collaboration skills, and alignment with Compassion International's mission and values.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Sr. UX Architect position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link on the Compassion Careers page.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most impactful UX projects that best showcase your senior-level expertise in UX architecture, leadership, problem-solving, and demonstrable results. Ensure these projects highlight your process and strategic thinking.

• Tailor Your Resume: Update your resume to emphasize achievements and responsibilities relevant to UX architecture, team leadership, user research, design systems, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio presentation, focusing on clearly articulating your design process, strategic decisions, leadership contributions, and the measurable impact of your work. Practice answering potential interview questions.

• Research Compassion International: Understand the organization's mission, values, and target audience. Prepare to discuss how your skills and passion align with their work, particularly concerning child protection and their ministry objectives.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details, especially regarding compensation and specific benefits, should be verified directly with Compassion International during the application and interview process. The emphasis on mission and values is critical for success in this role.

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