UX Team Lead

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Team Lead Company: Echo Global Logistics Location: Chicago, IL Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: User Experience (UX) / Product Design Operations Date Posted: July 25, 2025 Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years) Remote Status: Remote OK (with primary office in Chicago, IL)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and manage a team of UX designers responsible for user research, information architecture, interaction design, and usability evaluation within the Shipper Product Domain.
• Drive the strategic user experience vision and execution for a suite of products, with a primary focus on modernizing and enhancing Echo’s Transportation Management System (TMS) to support high-speed, high-volume transactional workflows.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product Management, Product Engineering, Product Ownership, Executive Leadership, and the Carrier UX Team Lead to define and govern an enterprise-wide design system, establishing UI/UX standards and development guidelines.
• Develop deep expertise in the shipper domain, business processes, and Echo’s internal and client-facing technology products to foster a collaborative environment supporting multiple cross-functional delivery teams in an Agile-SCRUM environment.
• Act as a forward-thinking thought leader, influencing the organization on the latest tech, experience, and design trends, while attracting and developing A-list talent for the UX team and supporting administrative programs for organizational skill enhancement.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a leadership opportunity within a growing tech company in the logistics sector. The focus on modernizing a TMS system and driving an enterprise design system suggests a significant impact on operational efficiency and user adoption. The "Remote OK" status indicates flexibility, but the primary office location in Chicago implies potential for hybrid work or team meetups. The reporting structure to the SVP of Product highlights the strategic importance of this UX leadership role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and mentor a team of Shipper UX designers, overseeing user research, information architecture, interaction design, and usability evaluation for shipper-focused product capabilities.
• Actively participate in strategic roadmapping activities, collaborating with Product Management, Product Engineering, Product Ownership, and Executive Leadership to align UX efforts with product roadmaps.
• In partnership with the Carrier UX Team Lead, drive the definition and governance of an enterprise design system, establishing UI/UX standards, development guidelines, frameworks, and tools for all software products and tech capabilities.
• Cultivate deep expertise in the shipper domain and associated business processes, as well as a thorough understanding of Echo’s internal and client-facing technology products.
• Foster a highly collaborative environment, enabling the UX team to effectively support multiple cross-functional delivery teams (Software Engineers, Product Owners, Product Managers, Business Owners/Executives) within an Agile-SCRUM framework.
• Serve as a forward-thinking thought leader, influencing the broader organization on the adoption of the latest technology, user experience, and design trends.
• Ensure the consistent quality, timeliness, and effectiveness of all UX deliverables, aligning them with business goals and stakeholder expectations.
• Attract, recruit, and retain top-tier UX talent, structuring a well-balanced, high-performing, and passionate team.
• Support and drive administrative programs and initiatives, such as training, career frameworks, and recruiting programs, to enhance the skills and capabilities of the UX organization and its members.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of people management, strategic product input, and hands-on design system leadership. The requirement to support multiple Agile teams indicates a need for strong process integration and collaboration skills, critical for efficient Go-To-Market (GTM) operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Marketing, Business, or equivalent practical experience.
• Graduate-level degree in a relevant field is considered a plus.

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in Product UI/UX Design.
• At least 2 years of experience in a lead or management role, demonstrating the ability to guide and develop a design team.
• Proven track record of successfully working in a fast-paced, fluid, and evolving environment, common in rapidly growing tech companies.

Required Skills:

• Strategic UI/UX Vision: Ability to set and articulate a clear strategic UI/UX vision for enterprise-level web-based applications and products.
• User Research & Discovery: Advanced level experience in conducting user research to understand user needs, behaviors, and pain points.
• Information Architecture: Expertise in organizing and structuring digital content and product features for intuitive navigation and usability.
• Interaction Design: Skill in designing meaningful user interactions that enable complex business capabilities and streamline workflows.
• Usability & Accessibility Evaluation: Advanced level experience in evaluating designs for usability, effectiveness, and adherence to accessibility standards (WCAG).
• Prototyping & Wireframing: Advanced level experience with creating prototypes, mockups, wireframes, and user interface designs (tool-agnostic).
• Agile Methodologies: Exposure to and experience within an Agile-SCRUM software development lifecycle.
• Stakeholder Management: Aptitude to connect effectively with all levels of internal and external stakeholders, including executive leadership.
• Communication & Facilitation: Strong communication, meeting facilitation, and organizational skills, with the ability to articulate complex business concepts in both technical and presentation formats.
• Self-Management: Highly self-managed, motivated, organized, and detail-oriented with a proactive approach to task completion.

Preferred Skills:

• Design System Governance: Experience in defining, developing, and governing enterprise-level design systems, including UI/UX standards and development guidelines.
• B2B Product Experience: Prior experience designing for Business-to-Business (B2B) products, understanding complex user workflows and enterprise needs.
• E-Commerce Design: Familiarity with e-commerce platforms and user journeys, particularly in transactional environments.
• Logistics/Supply Chain Domain: Experience or a strong aptitude for understanding the nuances of the Logistics, 3PL, or Supply Chain industries.
• Flowcharting: Proficiency in creating flowcharts to map out user journeys, system processes, and information architecture.
• Enterprise Design: Understanding of designing for large-scale, complex enterprise software solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills align with a senior operations-focused UX role, emphasizing process definition, efficiency, and cross-functional collaboration. The preference for B2B, E-commerce, and Logistics experience directly relates to the company's industry and the transactional nature of the TMS product.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design System Case Studies: Showcase examples of contributions to or leadership in the development and governance of an enterprise design system, detailing the process, standards, and impact.
• Process Optimization Examples: Present case studies demonstrating how UX research and design improvements have led to measurable enhancements in user efficiency, task completion rates, or reduction in errors within complex workflows.
• Enterprise Application Design: Include examples of designing for large-scale, complex web-based applications, highlighting the ability to manage intricate information architecture and user flows.
• User Research & Testing Documentation: Provide evidence of rigorous user research methodologies and usability testing processes, including how insights were translated into design decisions.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Illustrate instances of successful collaboration with Product Management, Engineering, and business stakeholders, showing how UX integrated into Agile development cycles.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design and Optimization: Demonstrate experience in mapping, analyzing, and optimizing complex user workflows to improve efficiency and user satisfaction, particularly in transactional environments.
• System Implementation Standards: Show understanding of how to establish and enforce UI/UX standards, development guidelines, and frameworks for software products.
• Measurement and Performance Analysis: Provide examples of how UX metrics and performance data (e.g., task success rates, time on task, error rates) were used to measure impact and inform future design iterations.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio for this role should not only display visual design skills but also evidence of strategic thinking, process ownership, and the ability to influence cross-functional teams. Demonstrating a structured approach to design system development and process optimization will be key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $129,200 - $189,800 per year

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans designed to support employee well-being.
• Retirement Savings Plan: 401(k) plan with potential company match to support long-term financial goals.
• Paid Time Off: Generous PTO policy, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays, to promote work-life balance.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, certifications, and attending industry conferences to foster career growth and skill enhancement.
• Bonus Eligibility: The role is eligible for a bonus based on a combination of personal and business performance, aligning individual contributions with company success.
• Commuter Benefits: Potential for benefits supporting travel to the Chicago office if required.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, typically 40 hours per week. The "Remote OK" status may offer flexibility in daily scheduling, but core collaboration hours will likely be established to facilitate team synchronization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is competitive for a UX Team Lead role in a major metropolitan area like Chicago. The benefits package is standard for a tech company and includes elements that support professional growth, which is crucial for operations leadership roles. The bonus structure incentivizes performance, aligning with the results-oriented nature of operations.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology-Enabled Transportation and Logistics Services. Echo Global Logistics operates as a third-party logistics provider (3PL), simplifying transportation management for clients and carriers by handling crucial tasks. Company Size: Echo Global Logistics is a significant player in its industry, ranked among Built In Chicago's Top 100 Tech Companies, indicating a substantial employee base and a dynamic, growth-oriented environment. The exact size isn't specified but implies a medium to large enterprise. Founded: While the founding date isn't explicitly stated, the company's established presence and ranking suggest a history of growth and innovation in the logistics technology sector.

Team Structure:

• UX Team: The UX Team Lead will manage a dedicated team of Shipper UX designers, responsible for user research, information architecture, interaction design, and usability evaluation.
• Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the SVP of Product, signifying a high level of strategic involvement and visibility.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role necessitates close collaboration with Product Management, Product Engineering, Product Ownership, Executive Leadership, and the Carrier UX Team Lead, forming a matrixed environment common in Agile tech organizations.

Methodology:

• Agile-SCRUM: The company operates within an Agile-SCRUM framework, requiring UX professionals to integrate seamlessly with development sprints, participate in ceremonies, and adapt to iterative development cycles.
• Data-Driven Design: While not explicitly stated, the emphasis on enhancing transactional workflows and performance suggests a data-driven approach to design, utilizing analytics and user feedback to inform decisions.
• Design System Governance: A key methodology will be the establishment and active governance of an enterprise design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and efficiency across product development.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company operates in a critical industry (logistics) that relies heavily on efficient technology. The culture is likely fast-paced, innovative, and focused on growth, as evidenced by its tech rankings. The UX team's integration into product development and reporting to senior leadership suggests a mature approach to user experience.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a significant step into leadership within the UX and Product Design domain, specifically contributing to operational efficiency through user-centered design. It bridges strategic product thinking with the execution of design systems and team management. Reporting Structure: Reporting to the SVP of Product places this role at a high level within the product organization, offering direct exposure to executive decision-making and strategic planning. This provides a strong foundation for future leadership roles. Operations Impact: The UX Team Lead will have a direct impact on the usability, efficiency, and adoption of Echo's TMS and other shipper-focused products. By modernizing transactional workflows, this role directly contributes to operational streamlining, cost reduction, and enhanced customer satisfaction for shippers, which are critical GTM success factors.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into Director-level UX roles, overseeing broader product portfolios or expanding the design function.
• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the product vision and user experience strategy for a major player in the logistics technology sector.
• Design System Expertise: Deepen expertise in building and scaling enterprise design systems, a highly valuable skill in the tech industry.
• Industry Specialization: Gain specialized knowledge and experience in the logistics and supply chain technology domain, opening doors to unique career paths.
• Mentorship and Team Development: Develop strong people management and mentorship skills by leading and growing a high-performing UX team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for career progression into senior UX leadership or product management, with the added benefit of deep specialization in the logistics tech industry. The direct reporting line to the SVP of Product is a strong indicator of growth potential and influence.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Echo Global Logistics is a technology-enabled company, likely featuring modern office spaces designed for collaboration and innovation. The "Remote OK" status suggests a hybrid-friendly approach or robust remote work infrastructure. Office Location(s): The primary office is located in Chicago, IL, a major hub for technology and business. This location offers access to a rich talent pool and a vibrant professional community.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on cross-functional collaboration implies a workspace that supports team interaction, brainstorming sessions, and shared project work.
• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design and prototyping tools, as well as collaboration platforms, will be essential for the role.
• Operations Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with UX designers, product managers, engineers, and business stakeholders will be frequent, fostering a dynamic and engaging work environment.

Work Schedule:

• While a standard 40-hour work week is expected, the "Remote OK" designation suggests potential flexibility in daily start and end times, provided core meeting and collaboration hours are met. This flexibility is beneficial for managing design processes that may span different time zones or require deep focus work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Chicago location provides a solid base, but the "Remote OK" flexibility is a key differentiator for attracting talent. The collaborative nature of the work suggests an environment where cross-functional teams operate closely together.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit. Be prepared to discuss your leadership experience and UX philosophy.
• Hiring Manager Interview: A deeper dive with the SVP of Product or a designated hiring manager to discuss strategic vision, leadership approach, and understanding of the logistics domain.
• Portfolio Presentation & Case Study: A critical stage involving presenting a portfolio of work, with a focus on leadership examples, design system contributions, and process improvement case studies. Expect to articulate your design process, decision-making rationale, and the impact of your work.
• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders from Product Management, Engineering, and potentially other design leads to assess collaboration skills and technical understanding.
• Team Interviews: Potentially meet with direct reports or peers to evaluate team dynamics and leadership style.
• Final Interview/Offer: A concluding discussion, likely with senior leadership, to finalize the decision and extend an offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Leadership: Showcase projects where you led teams, mentored designers, or significantly influenced product strategy and UX direction.
• Design System Focus: Include detailed case studies on your involvement with design systems, demonstrating your understanding of standards, governance, and implementation.
• Process Improvement Narratives: Select 2-3 key projects that clearly illustrate your ability to identify operational inefficiencies through UX and implement solutions that drive measurable improvements. Quantify impact whenever possible (e.g., % reduction in task time, % increase in conversion).
• Agile Integration: Explain how you integrated UX processes within Agile-SCRUM workflows, including collaboration with product and engineering teams.
• Conciseness and Clarity: Present your portfolio in a structured, easy-to-digest format. Be prepared to walk through each case study, focusing on the problem, your approach, your role, the solution, and the results.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic UX Thinking: Be prepared for questions about setting UX vision, scaling design practices, and influencing product roadmaps at an executive level.
• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Anticipate hypothetical scenarios related to managing a design team, resolving design conflicts, or addressing user feedback on complex features.
• Design System Strategy: Understand how to approach designing, implementing, and maintaining a robust enterprise design system for a growing product suite.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess leadership, strategic thinking, and practical design execution within an operations-focused context. A well-prepared portfolio presentation that highlights process improvements and team leadership is crucial for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping & Design: Expertise is required in tool-agnostic prototyping and design, implying proficiency with leading industry tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar. Figma is increasingly becoming an industry standard for collaborative design systems.
• User Research Platforms: Familiarity with tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey).
• Information Architecture Tools: Experience with tools for creating sitemaps, user flows, and wireframes (e.g., Miro, Lucidchart, Axure RP, Balsamiq).
• Collaboration & Project Management: Proficiency with tools like Jira, Confluence, Slack, and Microsoft Teams for Agile workflow management and cross-functional communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Understanding of web analytics tools like Google Analytics to track user behavior and product performance.
• Data Visualization: Familiarity with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) to present UX research findings and performance metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly responsible for CRM management, an understanding of how CRM systems (like Salesforce) interact with front-end applications and impact user workflows can be beneficial, especially in a B2B context.
• Familiarity with automation principles in design and development processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job description is tool-agnostic for core design, demonstrating proficiency with modern collaborative design tools like Figma and understanding the ecosystem of user research and project management tools is essential for a leadership role in a tech company.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A fundamental commitment to understanding and serving the needs of shippers, carriers, and internal users through thoughtful design.
• Efficiency & Optimization: A drive to streamline processes, improve task completion times, and reduce friction within the user experience, directly impacting operational effectiveness.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: A strong emphasis on working effectively with cross-functional teams to achieve shared product goals and foster a positive team dynamic.
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: An openness to exploring new technologies, design trends, and methodologies to constantly enhance user experiences and product capabilities.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing data and user insights to inform design choices and measure the impact of UX initiatives on business outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teamwork: The UX team is expected to be deeply integrated with product and engineering teams, participating actively in Agile ceremonies and providing design input throughout the development lifecycle.
• Cross-functional Partnerships: A collaborative approach with Product Management, Engineering leads, and business stakeholders is paramount to ensure alignment and successful product delivery.
• Feedback Culture: An environment that encourages open feedback exchange among team members and with stakeholders to refine designs and processes.
• Knowledge Sharing: Practices that promote sharing best practices, learnings, and insights within the UX team and across the broader organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values likely center around driving efficiency and innovation within the logistics sector, with a strong emphasis on collaborative problem-solving and user satisfaction.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Modernizing Legacy Systems: The primary challenge will be modernizing and enhancing an existing TMS system to support high-speed, high-volume transactions, requiring a balance between user needs and technical constraints.
• Scaling Design Systems: Developing and governing an enterprise-wide design system requires significant effort in standardization, documentation, and adoption across multiple product teams.
• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Effectively managing the diverse needs and priorities of various stakeholders (shippers, sales, operations teams, executives) while championing user experience.
• Attracting and Retaining Talent: Building and maintaining a high-performing UX team in a competitive tech landscape requires strong leadership and a compelling team culture.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Expertise: Deepen knowledge in the complex and dynamic logistics and supply chain industry.
• Design Leadership: Develop advanced people management, strategic planning, and team-building skills.
• Enterprise Design Systems: Gain hands-on experience in creating, scaling, and maintaining robust design systems for enterprise applications.
• Product Strategy: Contribute directly to the strategic direction of Echo's shipper product domain.
• Executive Visibility: Work closely with senior leadership, providing opportunities for mentorship and exposure to executive-level decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical of a growth-stage tech company looking to scale its operations and product offerings, offering significant opportunities for skill development and career advancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you establish a UX vision for a complex enterprise system like a TMS, and how would you ensure its alignment with business objectives?" (Focus on strategic thinking, user-centricity, and business acumen.)
• "Describe your approach to leading and mentoring a team of UX designers, including how you foster a collaborative environment and drive professional growth." (Highlight leadership style, team management techniques, and focus on talent development.)
• "Walk us through your process for developing and rolling out an enterprise design system. What are the key considerations for governance and adoption?" (Demonstrate understanding of design system lifecycle, standardization, and cross-functional buy-in.)
• "How do you balance user needs with business requirements and technical constraints when designing complex B2B functionalities?" (Emphasize problem-solving, negotiation, and pragmatic design solutions.)
• "What metrics would you use to measure the success of UX initiatives within a transactional workflow, and how would you report on the impact to stakeholders?" (Showcase data-driven approach and ability to quantify value.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Echo Global Logistics and the logistics industry?" (Research company mission, values, and recent news.)
• "How would you integrate the UX team into Echo's Agile-SCRUM development process?" (Discuss collaboration strategies, participation in ceremonies, and iterative design feedback loops.)
• "How do you stay current with the latest UX trends and technologies, and how would you bring that innovation to Echo's design team?" (Showcase continuous learning and forward-thinking approach.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with Leadership: Begin your presentation by highlighting your leadership experience and any projects where you managed or mentored designers.
• Focus on Process & Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem statement (especially if it relates to operational efficiency), your design process, your specific role, the solution, and the quantifiable results.
• Design System Expertise: Dedicate a segment to your experience with design systems, showing examples of components, guidelines, and how they improved consistency and efficiency.
• Storytelling: Frame your case studies as compelling narratives that demonstrate your problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and ability to drive positive outcomes.
• Engage and Interact: Be prepared for questions throughout your presentation and engage in a dialogue with the interviewers.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on articulating leadership philosophy, demonstrating a structured approach to design systems and process optimization, and quantifying the impact of UX on operational efficiency.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-focused UX Team Lead position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link: https://echo.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/Echo_Logistics/job/Chicago-IL/UX-Team-Lead_R3625-1
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight leadership experience, design system contributions, and case studies demonstrating process improvements and operational efficiency gains. Select examples that showcase your work on complex, enterprise-level applications.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 7+ years of UX design experience, with specific emphasis on your 2+ years in a leadership capacity. Use keywords from the job description, such as "user research," "information architecture," "interaction design," "design system," "Agile," and "stakeholder management." Quantify your achievements wherever possible.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your UX vision, leadership approach, and how you would integrate UX into an Agile environment. Prepare your portfolio presentation, focusing on clear storytelling and quantifiable results, especially those related to efficiency and user impact.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Echo Global Logistics, its services, its position in the market, and its recent achievements (e.g., Built In Chicago ranking). Understand the challenges and opportunities within the logistics industry to better align your responses with the company's strategic goals and operational needs.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Echo Global Logistics during the application and interview process before making application decisions.