Sr. UX Research & Design Lead (Remote)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr. UX Research & Design Lead

Company: Jobgether (Partner Company)

Location: Connecticut, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience (UX) Leadership / Design Operations

Date Posted: April 1, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5+ years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is a leadership position focused on advancing User Experience (UX) research and design practices within a partner company, managed through Jobgether's platform.

• The incumbent will be responsible for both strategic leadership of the UX team and hands-on execution of research and design tasks, driving improvements in digital experiences for public services.

• Key objectives include modernizing UX processes, enhancing product quality and consistency, and fostering cross-departmental collaboration to shift towards proactive, strategic UX initiatives.

• This position emphasizes building out a centralized design system, integrating accessibility standards (WCAG), and leveraging AI-assisted tools to optimize the UX workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the primary role is UX-focused, the emphasis on "improving digital experiences for public services" and "collaboration with other departments" suggests a strong need for process documentation, stakeholder management, and understanding of GTM (Go-To-Market) implications for product launches, which are core to Revenue and Sales Operations. The requirements for process refinement and system integration also align with operations principles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop the UX team, including performance assessments and career pathing, to foster a high-performing and growth-oriented unit.

• Design, implement, and refine practical UX processes and workflows that align with the company's culture, product lifecycle, and strategic objectives.

• Establish and enforce high standards for UX quality, with a keen focus on usability, user-centricity, and comprehensive accessibility (WCAG standards).

• Drive the creation and maintenance of a centralized design system, ensuring consistency in UI components and user interfaces across all products.

• Champion the innovative adoption and integration of AI-assisted tools within the UX research and design practice to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, and other relevant stakeholders to embed accessibility considerations and best practices throughout the entire product development lifecycle.

• Actively participate in hands-on UX research (e.g., user interviews, usability testing, surveys) and design activities (e.g., wireframing, prototyping, UI design) to maintain deep product understanding and contribute directly to project outcomes.

• Translate user insights and research findings into actionable design recommendations and strategic improvements for digital services.

• Partner with leadership to define UX strategy and roadmap, aligning UX initiatives with broader business goals and GTM strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "Design and refine practical UX processes tailored to our culture and product lifecycles" and "Partner with teams to create a centralized design system" directly implies a need for process documentation, standardization, and system thinking, aligning with operations functions. The emphasis on "improving digital experiences for public services" suggests a complex stakeholder environment requiring strong communication and project management skills, akin to GTM operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Psychology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in UX Research and UX Design roles.

• At least 2 years of direct people management experience, leading and developing UX teams.

• Proven track record of successfully managing UX projects from conception through to implementation, preferably within B2B, B2G, or SaaS application environments.

Required Skills:

• UX Research Expertise: Mastery of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies (e.g., user interviews, usability testing, heuristic evaluations, surveys, persona development, journey mapping).

• UX Design Proficiency: Strong skills in wireframing, prototyping, interaction design, and visual design, with a deep understanding of user-centered design principles.

• Leadership & People Management: Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, coach, and manage a team, fostering professional growth and high performance.

• Design Systems & UI Consistency: Experience in creating, maintaining, and scaling design systems and ensuring UI component consistency across platforms.

• Accessibility Standards: Working knowledge and practical application of WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards.

• Modern UX Tools: Proficiency with industry-standard UX tools, including Figma (or similar), prototyping software, and various user research platforms.

• Strategic Thinking & Prioritization: Ability to define UX strategy, prioritize UX initiatives based on business impact and user needs, and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and other departments.

Preferred Skills:

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

• Familiarity with analytics platforms for tracking user behavior and UX performance.

• Experience in the B2G (Business-to-Government) or public sector digital services domain.

• Understanding of agile development methodologies and their integration with UX processes.

• Strong presentation and storytelling skills to effectively communicate research findings and design rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "proven ability to prioritize UX work and communicate effectively with diverse audiences" is critical for operations roles. This implies a need to translate complex UX needs into business terms and manage competing priorities, mirroring the challenges faced in Sales and Revenue Operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating a strong command of both UX Research and UX Design.

• Case studies showcasing leadership experience, including team management, process improvement initiatives, and strategic UX direction.

• Examples of successful UX projects, highlighting the problem statement, research methodologies employed, design solutions, and measurable outcomes (e.g., improved usability, increased conversion rates, enhanced user satisfaction).

• Documentation of contributions to design systems, including component libraries, style guides, and governance processes.

• Evidence of implementing and refining UX processes, with clear articulation of workflow improvements and their impact.

• Demonstrations of how accessibility standards (WCAG) were integrated into the design and development lifecycle.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of documented UX processes, including user research protocols, design sprint methodologies, and feedback loops.

• Illustrate how you have standardized design assets and workflows to ensure consistency and scalability.

• Provide examples of metrics and reporting frameworks used to measure the impact of UX initiatives on user experience and business objectives.

• Demonstrate experience in creating and maintaining documentation for design systems, ensuring clarity and accessibility for development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on process documentation and system building within the UX context is highly relevant to operations roles. Candidates should prepare to discuss how they've operationalized UX best practices, managed design system implementation, and measured the ROI of UX initiatives.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

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

Benefits:

• Fully Remote Work Environment: Enjoy the flexibility and autonomy of working from anywhere within the United States.

• Time Zone Flexibility: The role supports remote work with flexibility across different time zones, allowing for better work-life integration.

• Coaching & Mentoring: Opportunities to provide and receive coaching and mentoring within a collaborative team culture, fostering personal and professional development.

• Continuous Learning Support: Access to resources and support for ongoing professional development, including training, workshops, and conferences.

• Team Gatherings & Client Meetings: Occasional travel opportunities (up to 10%) for essential team meetings, strategic planning sessions, and client-facing engagements.

• Competitive Health & Wellness Programs: (Assumed standard for a role of this level and compensation, details would be provided by the hiring company).

• Retirement Savings Plan: (Assumed standard, details would be provided by the hiring company).

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week) are expected.

• The remote nature of the role offers flexibility in scheduling, with a focus on asynchronous communication and meeting core business needs across different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a Senior UX Research & Design Lead role in the US. The benefits emphasize flexibility and professional growth, which are attractive to operations professionals seeking work-life balance and career advancement. The mention of "occasional travel" suggests a need for adaptability and project management skills to coordinate logistics, similar to event planning or field operations.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Software (specifically focusing on improving digital experiences for public services).

Company Size: The Jobgether platform is designed to serve various partner companies; the specific size of the direct hiring company is not provided but is implied to be established enough to require a dedicated UX leadership role. Jobgether itself is a tech platform facilitating hiring.

Founded: The founding date of the partner company is not specified. Jobgether's founding date is also not explicitly stated but operates as a modern hiring platform.

Team Structure:

• UX Team Leadership: This role directly leads and grows the UX team, implying a current team structure that needs strategic direction and operational enhancement.

• Reporting Structure: The UX Lead will likely report to a Director or VP of Product, Design, or Engineering, depending on the partner company's organizational hierarchy.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role requires close partnership with Product Management, Engineering, and potentially Marketing/Sales teams to integrate UX insights into product development and Go-To-Market strategies.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven UX: Emphasis on using research data and user feedback to inform design decisions and strategic improvements.

• Process Optimization: Focus on modernizing UX processes, improving workflows, and ensuring consistency through design systems.

• AI Integration: Encouraging innovative use of AI-assisted tools to enhance UX research and design efficiency and effectiveness.

• Accessibility First: Commitment to integrating accessibility standards into all aspects of the UX practice.

Company Website: https://jobgether.com/ (for Jobgether platform itself; partner company website not provided)

📝 Enhancement Note: The focus on "public services" implies a mission-driven environment that may have unique stakeholder needs and regulatory considerations. This can influence process design and communication strategies, requiring an operations mindset to navigate.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership position within the UX discipline, requiring strategic oversight, team management, and hands-on expertise. It sits at a critical intersection of product development and user advocacy.

Reporting Structure: The Sr. UX Research & Design Lead will likely report to a senior executive (e.g., VP of Product, CTO, or Head of Design) and will manage a team of UX researchers and designers. This structure provides visibility and influence across product and technology departments.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts product success by ensuring user needs are met, driving adoption through intuitive design, and improving user satisfaction. This translates to better customer retention, higher engagement, and potentially increased revenue, particularly in SaaS or B2G contexts where user experience is a key differentiator. By standardizing processes and implementing a design system, the role contributes to operational efficiency and scalability within the product development lifecycle.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership: Opportunity to shape the UX vision and strategy for the company, influencing product roadmaps and business objectives.

• Team Expansion & Development: Grow and mentor a high-performing UX team, developing leadership skills and building a strong internal UX function.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Expand influence by collaborating with senior leaders across Product, Engineering, and potentially Sales/Marketing, gaining broader business acumen.

• Specialization in Public Sector UX: Deepen expertise in the unique challenges and opportunities of designing for public services, a growing and impactful field.

• Process Innovation: Lead initiatives to integrate cutting-edge tools and methodologies, such as AI in UX, and refine operational processes for maximum efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities highlight a path for individuals to expand their operational influence beyond pure design, touching on strategy, team building, and process optimization. This is a strong selling point for ambitious operations professionals looking to leverage their skills in a new domain.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This indicates a distributed team structure where collaboration and communication are primarily digital.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, candidates are expected to be based in or able to work from Connecticut, United States, suggesting potential state-specific HR or tax considerations for the hiring company, or a preference for a specific time zone alignment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Digital Environment: The workspace will be characterized by digital collaboration tools, emphasizing asynchronous communication and virtual meetings.

• UX Tool Integration: Access to modern UX tools such as Figma, research platforms, and potentially AI-assisted design and research software will be standard.

• Team Interaction Opportunities: Regular virtual team meetings, design critiques, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional syncs will facilitate interaction and knowledge sharing.

Work Schedule:

• Approximately 40 hours per week.

• Significant flexibility is offered regarding daily start and end times, provided that core business hours and team collaboration needs are met. This allows for effective cross-time zone collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature requires strong self-discipline, proactive communication, and proficiency with remote collaboration tools, aligning with the demands of remote operations roles. The Connecticut location might suggest adherence to specific state employment laws or a desire to build a localized remote presence.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening (Jobgether AI): Your application will be processed by Jobgether's AI to quickly assess core qualifications against the role requirements.

• Recruiter Screen: A brief call with a Jobgether representative to discuss your background, interest in the role, and alignment with the partner company's needs.

• Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion with the hiring manager (likely a senior leader at the partner company) focusing on leadership experience, team management philosophy, and strategic UX vision. This stage will likely involve discussing your approach to UX process development and optimization.

• Portfolio Presentation & Case Study: A dedicated session where you will present your portfolio, focusing on 1-2 key projects that demonstrate your leadership, research-to-design process, and impact. Be prepared to discuss your role in process refinement and system implementation.

• Team/Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with potential team members (UX designers/researchers) and key cross-functional partners (Product Managers, Engineers) to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and cultural fit.

• Final Executive Interview: A concluding conversation with an executive leader to discuss overall fit, strategic alignment, and long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Quantify Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the solutions implemented, and the measurable business and user outcomes (e.g., "Reduced task completion time by 15%", "Increased user satisfaction scores by 10 points").

• Showcase Process: Detail your approach to UX research and design, emphasizing how you've adapted or created processes to fit specific project needs or team structures. Highlight any contributions to design systems or process documentation.

• Leadership Focus: For leadership roles, emphasize how you've mentored, developed, or guided teams, and how you've influenced strategic direction.

• Accessibility Integration: Clearly articulate how accessibility was considered and integrated throughout your projects.

• Storytelling: Structure your portfolio presentations as compelling narratives that highlight challenges, your strategic thinking, and the successful resolution.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for potential scenario-based questions related to managing team conflicts, prioritizing competing UX requests, or addressing challenges in implementing design systems or accessibility standards.

• Practice articulating your UX strategy and how it aligns with broader business goals, especially concerning public service delivery and GTM.

• Prepare to discuss your experience with AI tools in UX and how you envision their role in future processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on process documentation, system implementation, and measurable outcomes in portfolio reviews is directly aligned with the expectations for operations professionals. Candidates should prepare to discuss their experience in operationalizing UX practices and demonstrating ROI.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and collaborative workflows. Proficiency is a must.

• User Research Platforms: Familiarity with tools like UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Optimal Workshop, or similar for conducting remote usability testing, surveys, and qualitative research.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, experience with tools like InVision, Adobe XD, or Axure RP may be beneficial.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Tools such as Jira, Asana, Trello, or Monday.com are likely used for task management and workflow tracking.

• Communication Platforms: Slack, Microsoft Teams for daily team communication and collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Experience with Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar to understand user behavior on digital platforms.

• Product Analytics: Tools like Mixpanel, Amplitude, or Pendo for in-depth user behavior analysis and feature adoption tracking.

• Data Visualization: Tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Looker for creating dashboards and reports to communicate UX impact to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems (Indirect): While not directly managing a CRM, understanding how UX impacts customer journeys within CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) is valuable, especially for B2B/B2G applications.

• Automation Tools (Indirect): Awareness of how UX design can leverage or integrate with marketing automation or workflow automation tools to enhance user journeys.

• Design System Management Tools: Platforms or repositories for managing design tokens, components, and documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific mention of Figma and various research platforms highlights the need for hands-on technical skills. For operations professionals, understanding how these UX tools integrate with broader business systems (CRM, marketing automation) and impact overall GTM strategy is key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs, driving all design and research decisions.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Valuing strong working relationships with Product, Engineering, and other departments to achieve shared goals.

• Excellence & Quality: Upholding high standards for design and research, ensuring usability, accessibility, and aesthetic quality.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Encouraging experimentation, embracing new tools and methodologies (like AI), and constantly seeking ways to refine processes and outcomes.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Relying on research data and user insights to inform strategy, prioritize work, and measure impact.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Active participation in cross-functional team meetings and initiatives, ensuring UX perspectives are integrated early and often.

• Open Feedback Culture: Fostering an environment where constructive feedback on designs and processes is welcomed and acted upon.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting the sharing of research findings, design best practices, and learnings across the UX team and broader organization.

• Agile & Adaptable: Working within agile frameworks, embracing iterative development, and adapting to changing project requirements and business priorities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on data-driven decisions, continuous improvement, and cross-functional collaboration strongly aligns with the core tenets of Revenue and Sales Operations. This role requires an operations mindset to effectively implement and scale UX practices.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Leadership and Hands-on Work: Effectively managing a team while remaining actively involved in hands-on research and design can be demanding. This requires strong time management and delegation skills.

• Shifting to Strategic UX: Transitioning from reactive to proactive and strategic UX improvements requires buy-in from leadership and a clear roadmap, which may involve overcoming organizational inertia.

• Integrating AI Tools: Successfully adopting and integrating new AI-assisted tools into existing workflows requires training, process adaptation, and change management.

• Ensuring Accessibility at Scale: Consistently embedding WCAG standards across all products and updates requires ongoing vigilance, process integration, and cross-team education.

• Navigating Public Sector Nuances: Understanding the unique constraints, stakeholder complexities, and procurement processes often associated with public sector projects.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX Leadership: Develop advanced skills in team building, strategic planning, and influencing organizational change.

• Design Operations Specialization: Gain expertise in "DesignOps," the operationalization of UX processes, systems, and tooling, which is a growing field.

• AI in UX: Become a leader in applying AI technologies to enhance UX research and design workflows.

• Accessibility Expertise: Deepen knowledge and become a subject matter expert in accessibility standards and inclusive design for diverse user groups.

• Cross-Functional Acumen: Broaden understanding of product development, engineering lifecycles, and Go-To-Market strategies through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities highlight a steep learning curve that rewards proactive problem-solving and strategic thinking, traits highly valued in operations roles. The "DesignOps" specialization is a direct link to operationalizing creative and product functions.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your philosophy on leading and developing a UX team. How do you foster growth and high performance?" (Prepare to discuss management style, feedback mechanisms, and career pathing).

• "How would you approach designing and implementing new UX processes within a company that may have established, but perhaps outdated, methods?" (Focus on change management, stakeholder buy-in, and iterative implementation).

• "What is your strategy for ensuring accessibility (WCAG compliance) is a core part of the product development lifecycle, not an afterthought?" (Discuss process integration, team training, and auditing).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about improving digital experiences for public services?" (Research the partner company's mission and the broader impact of digital transformation in the public sector).

• "How do you ensure effective collaboration between UX, Product, and Engineering teams, especially in a remote environment?" (Provide examples of successful cross-functional partnerships and communication strategies).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically: Problem -> Research -> Design Process -> Solutions -> Outcomes/Impact.

• Quantify: Use data and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work. For leadership roles, show how your guidance led to team or organizational improvements.

• Process Focus: Clearly articulate the specific UX processes you followed or developed for each case study. Explain why you chose those methods.

• Role Clarity: Be explicit about your individual contributions, especially in team-based projects. For leadership roles, highlight your strategic influence and team enablement.

• Conciseness: Respect the allotted time. Focus on the most impactful aspects of each project.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should emphasize how UX principles translate into operational efficiency, process standardization, and measurable business outcomes, drawing parallels to operations roles.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-adjacent UX leadership position:

• Submit Your Application: Use the provided link on Jobgether to submit your application. Ensure all required fields are completed accurately.

• Tailor Your Resume: Optimize your resume to highlight leadership experience, process development/refinement, cross-functional collaboration, and quantifiable achievements in UX research and design. Integrate keywords like "UX leadership," "process optimization," "design systems," "accessibility," "stakeholder management," and "remote team management."

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best demonstrate your leadership capabilities, end-to-end UX process experience, and measurable impact. Ensure your portfolio clearly articulates your role, the challenges faced, the solutions you implemented, and the results achieved. Prepare to discuss your process documentation and system-building efforts.

• Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse your portfolio presentation, focusing on clear storytelling, quantitative results, and your strategic approach to UX leadership and process optimization. Be ready to answer behavioral and situational questions with specific examples.

• Research the Partner Company: If possible, research the partner company's mission, products, and any public information available about their digital services. Understand their likely user base and industry context to tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.