UX Designer III (Operations)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer III (Operations) Company: National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC) Location: Lake Saint Louis, Missouri, United States Job Type: Full-Time Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Operations Date Posted: September 10, 2025 Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5+ years) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on owning complex product areas within UX design, requiring independent contribution and minimal oversight to solve advanced user experience challenges.
• The position involves end-to-end user research, from planning and execution to translating insights into actionable design improvements and strategy.
• Key responsibilities include defining user flows, interaction models, information architecture, and developing high-fidelity prototypes to enhance product usability and intuitiveness.
• Collaboration with cross-functional teams, including developers, product managers, and fellow designers, is critical to align UX vision with overall product strategy and design system refinement.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "UX Designer III (Operations)", the core responsibilities and skills describe a traditional Senior UX Designer role focused on product development. The "(Operations)" designation might imply a focus on internal tooling, operational workflows, or supporting the operational efficiency of the product development process through design. Candidates should clarify this during the interview process.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the UX design process for complex product modules, taking ownership from conception through implementation, with a focus on user-centered design principles.
• Conduct comprehensive user research, including usability testing, surveys, and interviews, to gather qualitative and quantitative data that informs design decisions and identifies areas for improvement.
• Develop detailed user personas, user journey maps, information architecture diagrams, wireframes, and high-fidelity interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and solutions.
• Collaborate closely with Product Managers to understand business requirements and translate them into intuitive and effective user experiences, ensuring alignment with product roadmaps.
• Partner with Software Developers throughout the development lifecycle to ensure the accurate implementation of UX designs, providing necessary assets and guidance, and addressing technical constraints.
• Actively contribute to and champion the evolution of NISC's design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and adherence to accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG).
• Facilitate and lead design critique sessions, providing constructive feedback to peers and incorporating feedback from stakeholders and team members to elevate design quality.
• Mentor and provide guidance to junior UX designers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and skill development within the design team.
• Uphold and embody NISC’s Statement of Shared Values in all professional activities and interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a senior-level individual contributor role with an emphasis on ownership, advanced problem-solving, and mentorship, typical of a UX Designer III or Lead UX Designer. The "Operations" aspect could mean focusing on the design of internal tools that support NISC's operations or ensuring the operational efficiency of the design process itself.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in UX Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Interaction Design, Computer Science, Web Development, or a closely related field.
• Equivalent practical experience in a relevant UX design role will be considered in lieu of a formal degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressive professional experience in User Experience (UX) design, with a strong portfolio showcasing complex product design and problem-solving capabilities.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting user research, usability testing, and translating research findings into actionable design recommendations and improvements.
• Proven ability to organize and structure content effectively to create intuitive navigation and enhance overall usability.
• Experience working within iterative design processes and Agile development methodologies.

Required Skills:

• UX Design Expertise: Proficiency in end-to-end UX design, including user research, wireframing, prototyping, and interaction design for complex applications.
• Design Tool Proficiency: Strong command over industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Axure, Adobe XD, Sketch, or similar.
• User Research & Analysis: Solid background in planning and executing user research methodologies (e.g., usability testing, interviews, surveys) and analyzing results.
• Information Architecture: Ability to define clear and logical information architecture and user flows for complex systems.
• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent presentation and storytelling skills to articulate design rationale and effectively communicate with cross-functional teams.
• Accessibility Standards: Working knowledge of accessibility best practices and WCAG compliance to ensure inclusive design.

Preferred Skills:

• Design System Contribution: Experience in contributing to, maintaining, or refining design systems to ensure product consistency and scalability.
• Technical Understanding: Working knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to facilitate effective collaboration with development teams.
• Design Critique Facilitation: Skilled in leading and participating in design critiques and heuristic reviews to improve design quality.
• Mentorship: Experience in providing informal mentorship and feedback to junior designers.
• Agile Methodologies: Deep understanding of iterative design within Agile development frameworks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on complex product design, user research, and design system contribution suggests a need for a candidate who can operate with significant autonomy and contribute strategically to product evolution. The "Operations" aspect might lean towards designing for efficiency or internal processes, which would benefit from an understanding of how users interact with systems to perform tasks.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: A robust portfolio demonstrating at least 3-5 significant UX design projects, with a focus on complex enterprise software or SaaS products. Each case study should clearly outline the problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the design process followed, key challenges, and measurable outcomes.
• Process Documentation: Evidence of your systematic approach to UX design, including examples of user research plans, personas, user journey maps, wireframes, and interactive prototypes. Highlight how you translated research insights into design solutions.
• Design System Contribution: Showcase examples of your involvement with design systems, whether it's contributing new components, refining existing ones, or ensuring adherence to system guidelines.
• Impact & ROI: Quantify the impact of your design work where possible, demonstrating improvements in user satisfaction, task completion rates, efficiency gains, or reduction in support tickets.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Examples of how you've mapped out and optimized user workflows to improve efficiency and reduce friction within a product.
• Usability Testing Reports: Samples of usability testing plans and reports, detailing methodologies, participant recruitment, findings, and recommended design iterations.
• Iterative Design Cycles: Documentation that illustrates your iterative design process, showing how feedback and testing results were incorporated to refine designs over time.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX Designer III role, the portfolio should go beyond just visual mockups. It needs to demonstrate a strategic understanding of user problems, a rigorous design process, and the ability to articulate the impact of design decisions. The "Operations" context might mean showing how your designs improve operational efficiency for users or the business.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• For a UX Designer III with 5+ years of experience in Lake Saint Louis, MO, a competitive salary range is estimated to be between $95,000 and $135,000 annually. This estimate considers the cost of living in the St. Louis metropolitan area, the specific requirements of the role, and industry benchmarks for experienced UX professionals.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with company match, supporting long-term financial planning.
• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays to promote work-life balance.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, conferences, and certifications to enhance UX and design skills.
• Hybrid Work Flexibility: Ability to work remotely up to two days per week after initial training, offering a blend of in-office collaboration and remote work.
• Wellness Programs: Initiatives focused on employee health and well-being.
• Life and Disability Insurance: Protection for employees and their families.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work week, typically 40 hours. The hybrid schedule requires a minimum of three designated days in the Lake Saint Louis office (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), with flexibility to work from the office up to five days per week as needed.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the mid-senior level and hybrid work arrangement, the salary range reflects typical compensation for experienced UX professionals in a suburban Midwestern tech hub. The hybrid work policy, with specific in-office days, is a key benefit for work-life integration and collaborative productivity.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software Development and Technology Services, specifically for utilities and broadband providers. NISC develops enterprise-level and customer-facing software solutions. Company Size: NISC is a significant player in its niche, serving over 960+ utilities and broadband providers. While specific employee count isn't provided, its extensive client base suggests a medium-to-large sized organization with established operational processes. Founded: NISC has a long history, being ranked in ComputerWorld’s Best Places to Work for twenty-two years, indicating a stable and established company culture.

Team Structure:

• The UX Designer III will be part of a design team, working closely with Product Managers and Software Developers. The team likely operates within an Agile framework, with designers embedded in product development squads.
• The reporting structure would typically involve a Design Manager or Lead UX Designer, with the III level expected to contribute independently and offer informal mentorship.
• Cross-functional collaboration is emphasized, requiring designers to integrate seamlessly with product, engineering, and potentially marketing or customer support teams to ensure cohesive product experiences.

Methodology:

• NISC's mission emphasizes delivering technology solutions that are Member-focused, quality-driven, and value-priced, suggesting a strong commitment to user satisfaction and business value.
• The company's long-standing recognition as a "Best Place to Work" indicates a positive and supportive work environment, likely fostering collaboration and professional growth.
• The adoption of Agile development practices means design work will be integrated into iterative development cycles, emphasizing flexibility and continuous improvement.

Company Website: nisc.coop

📝 Enhancement Note: NISC's focus on serving utilities and broadband providers suggests a B2B or B2B2C software environment. The company's longevity and awards point to a stable culture that values its employees and fosters long-term careers. The "(Operations)" in the job title might hint at a focus on the efficiency and usability of the software from an operational standpoint for their clients.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a UX Designer III position, indicating a senior-level individual contributor role. It requires a high degree of autonomy, expertise in complex design challenges, and the ability to influence design direction. The "Operations" designation may suggest a specialization in designing for operational efficiency, internal tools, or the operational aspects of product management. Reporting Structure: The UX Designer III will likely report to a Design Lead or Manager, working within product-specific teams. They are expected to collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineering leads, influencing product strategy through user-centered design. Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the usability and efficiency of NISC's software products for its utility and broadband clients. By creating intuitive and effective user experiences, this role contributes to client satisfaction, adoption rates, and potentially operational cost savings for those clients. The "Operations" focus could mean designing systems that streamline internal NISC operations or client operational workflows.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Progression into specialized UX areas such as UX research leadership, interaction design specialization, or UX strategy.
• Leadership: Potential to move into a Lead UX Designer or UX Manager role, overseeing design teams and strategic initiatives.
• Cross-Functional Expertise: Opportunities to deepen understanding of product management, software development, and the utility/broadband industry, broadening career applicability.
• Design System Ownership: Potential to lead the development and governance of NISC's design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "UX Designer III" title and emphasis on independent ownership suggest a clear path for growth into leadership or highly specialized individual contributor roles. The "Operations" aspect could be a strategic move to focus on the practical, day-to-day usability and efficiency of software, which is a critical area for long-term client success and retention.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Lake Saint Louis, MO, and follows a hybrid work arrangement. This typically means a professional office environment with shared workspaces, meeting rooms, and collaborative areas. Office Location(s): The primary office is in Lake Saint Louis, MO. Specific details about office amenities or accessibility would need to be confirmed. Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model facilitates a balance between focused individual work at home and collaborative, in-person interaction within the office.
• Expect access to standard office technology, design software, and meeting facilities conducive to cross-functional collaboration.
• Opportunities for interaction with the broader design team, product management, and engineering will be frequent, especially on designated office days.

Work Schedule:

• A standard 40-hour work week is expected.
• The hybrid schedule mandates Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in the office, with flexibility to work remotely on Mondays and Fridays, or to come into the office on those days if project needs or team collaboration requires it. This structure is designed to maximize in-person collaboration while offering some remote flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment is designed to foster both focused individual work and team synergy. The specific office days allow for concentrated collaboration and team building, which is beneficial for complex UX projects.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely review your application, resume, and portfolio for a strong match with the role's requirements.
• Portfolio Review & Discussion: Expect a session where you present your portfolio, walking through key projects, detailing your process, and explaining your design rationale. This is a critical stage to assess your UX expertise, problem-solving skills, and communication abilities.
• Technical/Skills Assessment: This may involve a design challenge, a usability critique exercise, or a deeper dive into your experience with specific UX methodologies and tools.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers and/or Engineers to assess your ability to collaborate effectively within a team and understand technical constraints.
• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership or department heads to discuss cultural fit, strategic thinking, and overall alignment with NISC's values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Effectively: Select projects that best showcase your skills in complex product design, user research, and problem-solving. Ensure a clear narrative for each project.
• Highlight Your Role: Clearly define your contributions, especially in team projects. Use "I" when describing your actions and "We" when discussing team efforts.
• Showcase Process: Walk through your design process step-by-step, emphasizing how you used research to inform design decisions and iterate.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the positive impact of your designs on users or business goals.
• Address "Operations": Be prepared to discuss how your design approach contributes to operational efficiency, either for the end-user or within the development/business process.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Thinking: Practice applying design thinking principles to solve a given problem.
• Heuristic Evaluation: Be ready to critique an existing interface based on established usability heuristics.
• Prototyping Skills: Ensure you are comfortable demonstrating your prototyping skills in a live setting if required.
• Communication: Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, especially under pressure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily weigh your portfolio and your ability to articulate your design thinking and process. Be prepared to specifically address how your UX skills can support or improve operational aspects of NISC's products or internal processes.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping & Design: Proficiency is expected in tools such as Figma, Axure, Adobe XD, or Sketch. Figma is increasingly becoming an industry standard for collaborative design.
• User Research Platforms: Experience with tools for conducting usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback), surveys (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform), and user interviews.
• Design System Management: Familiarity with tools or methodologies for managing and contributing to design systems.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned as a primary tool for UX, an understanding of how to interpret user analytics (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to inform design decisions is beneficial.
• Familiarity with data visualization tools can also aid in presenting research findings.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly involved in CRM management, understanding how UX design impacts user adoption and engagement within CRM or other business process software is valuable, especially given the "Operations" context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Strong proficiency in a modern collaborative design tool like Figma is highly advantageous. An understanding of how to leverage user data and analytics to drive design decisions will be a key differentiator, particularly for a role that may have an "Operations" component.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Member-Focused: Prioritizing the needs and success of NISC's utility and broadband provider members. This translates to understanding client workflows and pain points.
• Quality-Driven: Commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable software solutions. In UX, this means striving for excellence in usability, accessibility, and overall user experience.
• Value-Priced: Delivering solutions that provide significant value to members. UX can contribute by improving efficiency and reducing operational costs for clients.
• Collaboration: Working effectively with cross-functional teams (product, engineering, etc.) to achieve shared goals.
• Innovation: Developing and implementing cutting-edge technology solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• NISC fosters a collaborative environment, as evidenced by its long tenure as a "Best Place to Work." Expect a team that values open communication, constructive feedback, and shared problem-solving.
• The hybrid model encourages intentional in-person collaboration on specific days, complementing remote work for focused tasks.
• Designers are expected to be active participants in team discussions, design critiques, and cross-functional meetings, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Member-Focused" and "Quality-Driven" suggests a culture that values user empathy and meticulous execution. The "Operations" aspect likely reinforces a need for practical, efficient, and results-oriented design solutions that directly benefit the end-users' operational tasks.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Enterprise Software: NISC serves utilities and broadband providers, which often have complex, regulated operational workflows. Designing intuitive experiences for these intricate systems is a significant challenge.
• Balancing User Needs with Business Requirements: Effectively translating diverse user needs and technical constraints into cohesive and functional designs requires strong negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Design System Evolution: Contributing to and maintaining a design system for a large suite of products requires rigorous attention to detail, consistency, and scalability.
• Hybrid Work Integration: Effectively collaborating and maintaining team cohesion within a hybrid work model requires proactive communication and intentionality.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Utility/Broadband Operations: Gain specialized knowledge in the unique operational challenges and needs of the utility and broadband industries.
• Advanced UX Techniques: Opportunities to hone skills in areas like complex information architecture, advanced prototyping, and specialized user research methodologies.
• Design System Leadership: Potential to take on a more prominent role in the strategy and governance of NISC's design system.
• Mentorship: Benefit from and provide mentorship within the design team, fostering professional growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior UX roles in enterprise software. The growth opportunities are significant, particularly for those interested in specializing in a critical industry or taking on leadership responsibilities within the design function.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process for Complexity: "Describe a time you designed a user experience for a complex product or feature. What was your process, what challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?" Focus on illustrating your systematic approach, research methods, and problem-solving skills.
• User Research Impact: "How do you translate user research findings into actionable design recommendations? Provide an example where your research directly led to a significant product improvement." Emphasize your ability to gather, synthesize, and apply user insights.
• Collaboration in Hybrid: "How do you ensure effective collaboration and communication with cross-functional teams in a hybrid work environment?" Prepare to discuss strategies for remote and in-person teamwork, asynchronous communication, and feedback loops.
• Design System Contribution: "What is your experience with design systems? How have you contributed to or utilized them, and what do you consider essential for a scalable design system?" Be ready to discuss consistency, component libraries, and documentation.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Understanding NISC's Mission: "What do you understand about NISC's mission and the industries we serve? How do you see UX contributing to our member-focused approach?" Research NISC's client base and values.
• Handling Design Critiques: "How do you approach receiving and giving feedback during design critiques?" Showcase your ability to be receptive to feedback and provide constructive criticism.
• Mentorship Experience: "Describe your experience mentoring junior designers. What is your approach to fostering their growth?" Highlight any experience guiding or teaching others.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio presentation as a narrative for each project, guiding the interviewer through the problem, your process, your solutions, and the outcomes.
• Focus on "Why": Clearly articulate the rationale behind your design decisions, linking them back to user needs, business goals, and research findings.
• Demonstrate Ownership: For each project, clearly state your specific contributions and responsibilities.
• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to illustrate the impact of your work. If direct metrics aren't available, use qualitative feedback or user testimonials.
• Address "Operations": Be prepared to discuss how your design work impacts operational efficiency, user workflows, or the overall operational success for clients or NISC itself.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare specific examples that demonstrate your ability to handle complex problems, your process-driven approach, and your collaborative skills. Tailor your answers to align with NISC's stated values and the specific "Operations" aspect of the role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-focused UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Greenhouse platform.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating complex problem-solving, user research methodologies, and contributions to design systems. Emphasize any projects that showcase improvements in user workflow efficiency or operational clarity.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 5+ years of UX experience, proficiency in key design tools, and any experience with enterprise software or the utility/broadband sector. Use keywords from the job description such as "UX Design," "User Research," "Prototyping," "Design Systems," and "Agile."
• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio with a focus on storytelling and articulating your design process. Prepare to discuss how your UX skills can contribute to operational efficiency and client success.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with NISC's mission, values, and the industries it serves. Understand how UX design plays a role in supporting their Member-focused approach and the operational needs of their clients.

⚠️ 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.