UX Strateeg

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Strateeg

Company: iO

Location: Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: UX Strategy / Digital Strategy

Date Posted: April 8, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead UX strategy for large digital platforms, impacting millions of users daily across diverse sectors like hospitality, public services, and B2B.

• Drive the entire UX process from initial client inquiry and discovery to end-user validation and ongoing development.

• Facilitate workshops, design sprints, and co-creation sessions, effectively synthesizing complex stakeholder needs into actionable strategies.

• Champion a data-driven approach, leveraging research, analytics, and user insights to inform strategic decisions and validate solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior UX Strategy position, requiring significant experience in both hands-on UX execution and high-level strategic planning. The emphasis on "large digital platforms" and "millions of users" suggests a need for scalable solutions and a strong understanding of enterprise-level UX challenges. The company's Dutch origin and focus on Dutch clients mean proficiency in Dutch is essential.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive UX strategies for major digital platforms, ensuring alignment with client business objectives and user needs.

• Lead discovery-phase initiatives, including user research, competitive analysis, and workshop facilitation, to define project scope and strategic direction.

• Translate strategic insights into tangible deliverables such as wireframes, prototypes, and user journey maps.

• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams (design, content, development, strategy) to ensure cohesive and effective execution of UX strategies.

• Define and monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and other metrics to measure the success of digital solutions and identify areas for optimization.

• Build and maintain strong, trust-based strategic partnerships with clients, understanding their evolving needs and identifying opportunities for continued collaboration.

• Mentor and guide junior UX professionals, fostering their development and ensuring the quality of their work.

• Manage complex stakeholder dynamics, effectively communicating strategic recommendations and securing buy-in.

• Champion user-centric design principles and best practices throughout the project lifecycle.

• Identify and articulate commercial opportunities within client engagements, linking them to concrete next steps and future growth for both the client and iO.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, hands-on UX execution, and client relationship management. The emphasis on "driving the process," "leading workshops," and "building strategic partnerships" indicates a senior-level role with significant autonomy and client-facing responsibilities. The mention of "healthy growth for iO" underscores the expectation that this role will contribute to business development and client retention.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Design, Psychology, Computer Science, or a related field; or equivalent practical experience.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in designing and developing solutions for websites and applications.

Required Skills:

• UX Strategy Development: Proven ability to define and articulate clear, actionable UX strategies that align with business goals and user needs.

• Digital Strategy Expertise: Deep understanding of digital product lifecycles and the ability to set strategic direction for complex platforms.

• User Research & Validation: Proficiency in planning and conducting qualitative and quantitative user research, and translating findings into design decisions.

• Workshop Facilitation & Co-creation: Experience in leading productive workshops, design sprints, and co-creation sessions with diverse stakeholders.

• Wireframing & Prototyping: Skilled in creating wireframes, interactive prototypes, and user flows to communicate design concepts effectively.

• Stakeholder Management: Ability to build trust, manage expectations, and influence decision-making across various client and internal stakeholder groups.

• Data Analysis & KPI Definition: Experience in using data, defining KPIs, and establishing objectives to measure business success and user engagement.

• Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively within and lead cross-functional teams.

• Problem-Solving: Aptitude for simplifying complex issues and applying appropriate UX techniques and tools.

• Commercial Acumen: Ability to identify business opportunities and connect them to strategic UX initiatives.

• Language Proficiency: Fluency in Dutch (written and spoken) is essential for client interactions and internal communication.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Design Thinking methodologies.

• Familiarity with content strategy principles.

• Experience in mentoring or leading junior UX professionals.

• Knowledge of common analytics and A/B testing platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement is specific, calling for a blend of foundational UX experience and dedicated digital strategy leadership. The emphasis on Dutch language proficiency is critical for this role, given the company's location and client base. The "5-10 years" AI-derived experience level aligns well with the detailed requirements for leading strategy and mentoring junior staff.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: Showcase 2-4 comprehensive case studies detailing your process and impact on significant digital projects. Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your strategic approach, the methodologies used (research, design, validation), and the measurable outcomes.

• Strategic Impact: Demonstrate how your UX strategies have directly contributed to client business goals, such as increased user engagement, conversion rates, customer satisfaction, or revenue growth. Quantify results whenever possible.

• Process Documentation: Illustrate your ability to document and communicate complex UX processes, from discovery and strategy formulation to user testing and iterative development. Include examples of user journey maps, information architecture diagrams, or workflow analyses.

• Problem-Solving Examples: Include examples where you navigated complex stakeholder environments or overcame significant user experience challenges, highlighting your strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Provide examples of how you have mapped out and optimized user workflows for digital platforms.

• Methodology Application: Show evidence of applying various UX methodologies (e.g., Design Thinking, Lean UX, Agile UX) and explain your rationale for selecting specific techniques.

• Research & Validation Artifacts: Include samples of user research plans, usability test reports, or data analysis summaries that demonstrate your approach to validating strategic decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are tailored to a senior strategy role. Candidates are expected to demonstrate not just design skills, but strategic thinking, process leadership, and tangible business impact. The emphasis on "measurable outcomes" and "quantifying results" is crucial for showcasing ROI.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on industry benchmarks for experienced UX Strategists in the Netherlands, particularly in major cities like Rotterdam, and considering the AI-derived experience level (5-10 years), a competitive salary range would likely fall between €65,000 and €95,000 per year. This estimate accounts for the specialized nature of UX strategy, the responsibility of leading large-scale projects, and the cost of living in the Rotterdam region.

Benefits:

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, attending industry conferences, and pursuing certifications to enhance your UX strategy expertise.

• Entrepreneurial Culture: A dynamic work environment that encourages initiative, innovation, and ownership of your projects.

• Learning Opportunities: Access to internal knowledge sharing sessions, training programs, and mentorship from senior experts within iO's creative team.

• Hybrid Work Model: Flexibility to balance remote work with in-office collaboration, fostering a healthy work-life integration.

• Pension Scheme: A comprehensive pension plan to secure your future.

• Travel Allowance: Support for commuting to iO's campus locations.

• Competitive Leave: Generous annual leave allowance.

Working Hours:

The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week. The hybrid work arrangement offers flexibility in managing your schedule, allowing for effective integration of client-facing activities, team collaboration, and focused individual work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on a combination of common salary ranges for senior UX roles in Western Europe and specific Dutch market data for similar positions. The benefits are derived from common offerings for tech and creative agencies and the explicit mentions in the provided AI data. The mention of "campus" locations implies a physical presence is required, supporting the hybrid model.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Digital Transformation, Creative Services, Consulting. iO operates at the intersection of these fields, aiming to create impactful digital experiences for its clients.

Company Size: iO is a significant player in the digital agency space, employing over 100 experts across its creative team. This suggests a robust organization with diverse capabilities and a strong market presence.

Founded: Information on the founding date was not provided, but the company's established presence and expanding network of campuses indicate a history of growth and strategic development.

Team Structure:

• Creative Team: You will be part of a national creative team of over 100 experts, specializing in UX, content, design, and strategy.

• Campus-Based: While the team is national, work is often organized around iO's physical "campus" locations (Utrecht, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Den Bosch), fostering local team cohesion.

• Multidisciplinary Client Teams: You will work within agile, multidisciplinary client teams, collaborating closely with colleagues from various disciplines to deliver integrated solutions.

Methodology:

• Value-Driven Work: iO emphasizes working in a value-driven manner, ensuring that all initiatives are aligned with client objectives and deliver tangible benefits.

• Data-Informed Decisions: A strong reliance on data, research, and user insights to guide strategic choices and validate solutions.

• Collaborative Approach: Emphasis on co-creation, design thinking, and agile methodologies to foster innovation and efficient project execution.

• Customer-Centricity: A core focus on understanding and addressing user needs to create effective and user-friendly digital experiences.

Company Website: https://www.iodigital.com/ (Assuming this is the correct URL for iO Digital)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by a blend of creative expertise, strategic thinking, and a strong emphasis on collaboration and value delivery. The "campus" model suggests a hybrid approach where employees are connected to a central hub but operate within project-specific teams. The focus on "value-driven" work and "data" aligns with operations and GTM principles.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior UX Strategist. It requires a seasoned professional with significant experience in both tactical UX execution and strategic planning. The scope includes leading complex projects, mentoring junior colleagues, and contributing to the company's strategic growth through client partnerships.

Reporting Structure: You will likely report to a Head of UX, Director of Strategy, or a similar senior leadership role within the creative team or a specific business unit. You will also work closely with Project Managers and Client Directors.

Operations Impact: As a UX Strategist, your impact is critical in shaping the success of digital products and platforms. By ensuring user-centricity and strategic alignment, you directly influence user adoption, engagement, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, the achievement of client business objectives. This role plays a key part in driving revenue and ensuring client retention through the delivery of high-value digital solutions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Potential to advance into roles such as Lead UX Strategist, Head of UX, or Director of Digital Strategy, managing larger teams and more significant client portfolios.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like service design, customer experience strategy, or digital transformation consulting.

• Client Relationship Management: Grow into a trusted advisor role for key clients, leading strategic accounts and driving long-term partnerships.

• Mentorship & Training: Develop leadership skills by mentoring junior staff and contributing to iO's internal training and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities are geared towards leadership within the UX and strategy domain, emphasizing the senior nature of this role. The impact on revenue and client retention highlights its strategic importance within the agency's GTM.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: iO operates through "campuses," which are modern, collaborative office spaces designed to foster creativity and teamwork. These are not traditional corporate offices but rather hubs for innovation and client engagement.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Rotterdam, with potential for collaboration across iO's other campus locations in Utrecht, Amsterdam, and Den Bosch.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The campuses are equipped with various meeting rooms, co-creation studios, and open-plan areas designed for team collaboration and client workshops.

• Technology & Tools: Access to a comprehensive suite of design and collaboration tools necessary for UX strategy, prototyping, and research.

• Cross-Disciplinary Interaction: Ample opportunities to interact with experts from design, content, development, and other strategic disciplines, fostering a rich learning and exchange environment.

Work Schedule: The hybrid work model allows for flexibility. While a standard 40-hour week is expected, the arrangement enables individuals to structure their workdays to accommodate client meetings, team collaboration, and focused individual work, whether at home or in the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "campus" concept suggests a modern, flexible, and highly collaborative work environment that blends physical co-location with remote work flexibility. This aligns with current trends in the creative and tech industries.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and portfolio to assess alignment with the role's requirements. Be prepared to discuss your most relevant case studies.

• First Interview (Skills & Experience): This interview, likely with a senior UX professional or team lead, will focus on your technical skills, strategic thinking, and experience with UX methodologies, research, and stakeholder management. Expect to dive deep into your portfolio.

• Workshop/Case Study Exercise: You may be asked to complete a take-home assignment or participate in a live workshop simulation to assess your problem-solving abilities, strategic approach, and facilitation skills in a practical scenario.

• Team & Culture Fit Interview: This interview, potentially with team members from different disciplines, will evaluate your collaborative style, communication skills, and alignment with iO's value-driven culture.

• Final Interview: A meeting with a senior leader to discuss your overall fit, strategic vision, and potential contribution to iO's growth.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 projects that best showcase your UX strategy expertise, client management, and ability to deliver measurable business impact. Prioritize projects similar in scale and complexity to those described in the job posting.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly outline the challenge, your strategic approach, the methodologies you employed, the solutions you developed, and the results achieved. Use visuals where appropriate, but focus on the narrative of your strategic contribution.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, present data and metrics that demonstrate the success of your strategies (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction scores, reduced churn).

• Highlight Process: Detail your thought process, decision-making criteria, and how you navigated challenges or stakeholder complexities. Show your ability to adapt methodologies and tools.

• Prepare for Discussion: Be ready to walk through your portfolio, answer in-depth questions about your role in each project, and defend your strategic choices.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand iO's Work: Research iO's client portfolio and recent projects to understand their approach and the types of challenges they tackle.

• Practice Facilitation: If a workshop exercise is involved, practice facilitating discussions, guiding participants, and synthesizing input under time constraints.

• Strategic Problem-Solving: Prepare to analyze a given business problem, outline a strategic framework to address it, and propose UX-driven solutions, justifying your approach with research and data principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to thoroughly assess strategic thinking, practical skills, and cultural fit. The emphasis on portfolio review and potential case studies highlights the need for candidates to demonstrate their strategic process and impact concretely.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping & Wireframing: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Axure RP. Proficiency in at least one is expected for creating wireframes and interactive prototypes.

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting usability testing, surveys, and interviews (e.g., UserTesting.com, Optimal Workshop, SurveyMonkey, Typeform).

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello for managing workflows and team collaboration.

• Design Systems: Familiarity with or experience in contributing to/using design systems for consistency.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics for tracking user behavior and performance metrics.

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, Looker Studio (formerly Google Data Studio) for creating dashboards and reports to communicate insights.

• A/B Testing Tools: Optimizely, VWO, Google Optimize for experimental design and testing hypotheses.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Understanding of how UX strategy interfaces with CRM data (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) for customer journey mapping and personalization.

• Customer Data Platforms (CDPs): Familiarity with how CDPs aggregate user data to inform strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack reflects a modern digital agency environment. Proficiency in core UX design and research tools is essential, alongside an understanding of analytics and A/B testing for data-driven strategy. Familiarity with project management and CRM systems is also beneficial for understanding the broader business context.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Value-Driven Approach: A core principle of ensuring all work delivers tangible value to clients and their users. This means focusing on impact, not just output.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: Emphasizing the use of research, analytics, and user feedback to guide strategic choices and validate solutions, rather than relying solely on intuition.

• Collaboration & Co-creation: A belief in the power of working together across disciplines and with clients to achieve the best outcomes. Openness to shared ideas and collective problem-solving.

• Entrepreneurship & Ownership: Encouraging individuals to take initiative, own their projects, and contribute to the company's growth and innovation.

• Continuous Learning: A commitment to staying abreast of industry trends, new methodologies, and emerging technologies to maintain a leading edge.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect a highly collaborative environment where UX Strategists work hand-in-hand with designers, content specialists, developers, and project managers.

• Open Communication: A culture that encourages open dialogue, constructive feedback, and transparent communication across all levels and disciplines.

• Agile & Iterative: Work processes are likely to be agile, involving iterative development, regular check-ins, and a willingness to adapt based on feedback and new insights.

• Client Partnership: A focus on building strong, collaborative relationships with clients, treating them as partners in the strategic process.

📝 Enhancement Note: iO's values emphasize a results-oriented, collaborative, and forward-thinking culture. The emphasis on "value-driven" work and "entrepreneurship" suggests an environment where initiative and impact are highly valued.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Complex Stakeholder Landscapes: Large clients often have diverse, sometimes conflicting, interests. Effectively managing these dynamics and building consensus requires strong communication and strategic negotiation skills.

• Balancing Strategic Vision with Tactical Execution: Ensuring that high-level strategies are translated into practical, implementable designs and features requires constant vigilance and cross-functional alignment.

• Quantifying UX Impact: Demonstrating the direct ROI of UX initiatives can be challenging. Developing robust measurement frameworks and effectively communicating value is key.

• Keeping Pace with Evolving Technology & User Expectations: The digital landscape changes rapidly. Continuously updating knowledge and adapting strategies to new trends and user behaviors is an ongoing challenge.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Strategy Workshops: Participation in internal or external training focused on cutting-edge strategic frameworks, service design, or digital transformation.

• Industry Conferences: Opportunities to attend major UX and digital strategy conferences (e.g., UXPA, Nielsen Norman Group, Smashing Conference) to gain insights and network.

• Mentorship Programs: Formal or informal mentorship opportunities with senior strategists and leaders within iO to guide career progression and skill development.

• Cross-Disciplinary Exposure: Working on diverse projects with teams from various disciplines provides continuous learning opportunities in areas like content strategy, front-end development, and data science.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for senior roles in digital strategy agencies, focusing on complexity, measurement, and continuous adaptation. The growth opportunities are well-aligned with advancing expertise and leadership within the field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you developed a UX strategy for a large digital platform. What was your process, what were the key challenges, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your strategic framework, decision-making, and measurable results.)

• "How do you approach understanding and synthesizing complex user needs, especially when stakeholders have differing opinions?" (Highlight your research methodologies, empathy, and stakeholder management skills.)

• "Walk us through a project where you used data and user research to pivot or validate a strategic decision. What tools did you use, and what was the impact?" (Demonstrate your data-driven approach and analytical capabilities.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about iO and this specific role?" (Research iO's work, values, and recent projects. Connect your skills and career goals to their mission.)

• "How do you contribute to a value-driven and entrepreneurial work culture?" (Provide examples of initiative, ownership, and collaboration.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate the "Why" (the problem/opportunity), the "What" (your strategic approach and deliverables), and the "So What" (the impact and results).

• Highlight Your Role: Be specific about your contributions and responsibilities within each project. Use "I" statements for individual contributions and "We" for team efforts.

• Visual Aids: Use clear, concise visuals (screenshots, wireframes, personas, data charts) to support your narrative, but ensure they enhance, not distract from, your strategic story.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your methodology, decision-making rationale, challenges faced, and how you measured success. Be ready to defend your strategic choices.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, process mastery, and the ability to deliver measurable impact, all while fitting into iO's collaborative and value-driven culture.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Strategist position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on the iO Recruitee portal.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience in UX strategy, digital strategy, user research, and stakeholder management. Quantify achievements with specific metrics related to user engagement, conversion rates, or business impact. Ensure keywords from the job description are naturally integrated.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-4 of your strongest case studies that best represent your strategic thinking, process, and quantifiable results for large digital platforms. Ensure your portfolio clearly articulates your role and the impact you delivered.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice walking through your portfolio and answering common interview questions related to strategy, methodology, stakeholder management, and your experience at iO. Be ready to articulate your value proposition clearly.

• Research iO: Familiarize yourself with iO's website, client work, and company values. Understand their approach to digital transformation and how your skills can contribute to their success.

⚠️ 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.