Lead Experience Design Strategist (US)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Experience Design Strategist (US)

Company: TD

Location: Mount Laurel, New Jersey, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: Experience Design Strategy / Human-Centered Design

Date Posted: 2026-08-27

Experience Level: 7+ years (with 5+ years preferred)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive industry-leading, integrated end-to-end customer and colleague experiences across multiple product areas, irrespective of channel, by leading and defining comprehensive design strategies.

• Own the planning, development, and implementation of the bank's digital interface design standards, usability guidelines, and accessibility guidelines, ensuring alignment with branding and market positioning.

• Lead user-centered design methodologies and direct the creation of digital assets such as site maps, prototypes, graphics, and icons for TD's digital properties.

• Act as a key subject matter expert in experience design for enterprise-wide initiatives, contributing to risk identification and providing guidance on complex situations.

• Mentor and enable team members, defining best practices, influencing organizational practices, and teaching the craft of Human-Centered Design to foster a culture of quality, innovation, and teamwork.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a highly seasoned professional, indicated by "Lead" in the title and the scope of responsibilities involving strategic direction, cross-functional leadership, and mentorship. The emphasis on "agnostic of channel" suggests a holistic approach to customer journeys, requiring a deep understanding of how different touchpoints integrate. This is a strategic role focused on setting the vision and standards for experience design within the organization, rather than solely executing design tasks.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the definition and evolution of experience design strategy across diverse product portfolios, ensuring cohesive and human-centered end-to-end journeys for enterprise customers and colleagues.

• Develop and maintain comprehensive digital interface design standards, usability guidelines, and accessibility guidelines, ensuring compliance and best-in-class user experience across all digital platforms.

• Oversee the creation of essential design deliverables, including site maps, interactive prototypes, graphics, and iconography, to effectively communicate design concepts and solutions.

• Actively participate in all stages of the product development lifecycle, from ideation and user research through feature planning, design execution, and post-launch evaluation, collaborating closely with Product Owners and Tech Leads.

• Facilitate and direct Human-Centered Design activities, providing thought leadership and setting strategic direction for design pods and cross-functional teams to ensure user needs are at the forefront of development.

• Conduct internal and external research to inform design strategies, support the development of presentations, and contribute to strategic decision-making for management and broader audiences.

• Monitor and analyze service, productivity, and efficiency levels within the experience design function, implementing continuous process and performance improvements.

• Manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders, acting as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert to ensure alignment with enterprise and regulatory requirements.

• Mentor and develop other designers, sharing knowledge, teaching best practices in Human-Centered Design, and fostering a collaborative and innovative team environment.

• Stay abreast of emerging trends, evolving regulatory requirements, and industry best practices in experience design, assessing potential impacts and recommending strategic adaptations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, hands-on design oversight, and team enablement. The "Customer Accountabilities" section specifically details the ownership of design standards and participation in the full product development lifecycle, while "Shareholder Accountabilities" emphasizes risk management, compliance, and continuous improvement. The "Employee/Team Accountabilities" section clearly defines the mentorship and thought leadership expectations for this lead role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent work experience.

• Postgraduate degree in psychology, human factors, design, or a related discipline is preferred. Experience:

• 7+ years of experience in digital design, interaction design, and visual design.

• 5+ years of experience in a leadership capacity or with proven competencies across the user experience lifecycle is preferred.

• Proven track record of leading design teams and successfully prioritizing design resources across a high volume of intakes. Required Skills:

• Deep expertise in developing and executing experience design strategies for complex digital products and services.

• Strong proficiency in user-centered design methodologies and their application throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Demonstrated ability to create and maintain design standards, usability guidelines, and accessibility guidelines.

• Experience in leading cross-functional teams and collaborating effectively with Product Owners, Tech Leads, and other stakeholders.

• Skill in conducting user research, synthesizing findings, and translating them into actionable design insights.

• Ability to create site maps, prototypes, and other design artifacts to communicate complex ideas.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and influencing skills, with the ability to justify design decisions to senior leadership.

• Proficiency in managing multiple projects, prioritizing tasks, and coordinating design resources effectively. Preferred Skills:

• Expertise in design and collaboration tools such as Figma, JIRA, Confluence, and SharePoint.

• Proven competencies across the full user experience lifecycle, including user experience strategy, service design, visual design, and user research.

• Experience in the financial services or banking industry, understanding its unique user needs and regulatory landscape.

• Experience in defining and implementing design systems.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Experience" section clearly indicates a need for both depth of experience in design disciplines and breadth in leadership and lifecycle management. The "Preferred Qualifications" lists specific tools (Figma, JIRA, Confluence, SharePoint) which are critical for collaboration and project management in a large enterprise, and hints at the need for experience in specific domains like financial services and with modern design systems.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end experience design strategy and execution for complex digital products or services.

• Include case studies that highlight the application of user-centered design principles and methodologies, detailing the problem, process, and user impact.

• Present examples of how you have defined and implemented design standards, usability guidelines, or accessibility guidelines, showcasing their effectiveness.

• Provide evidence of leading design initiatives, managing cross-functional collaboration, and influencing stakeholders to achieve desired user experience outcomes.

• Showcase your ability to translate user research and business requirements into tangible design solutions, including site maps, prototypes, and visual designs. Process Documentation:

• Documented experience in defining and refining design processes, from initial concept and user research to prototyping, testing, and implementation.

• Ability to articulate and demonstrate workflow optimization techniques applied to the design process to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

• Experience in collaborating with development teams to ensure seamless integration of designs into the product roadmap and release cycles.

• Evidence of establishing and adhering to best practices for design documentation, including style guides, component libraries, and interaction specifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated as a "portfolio requirement," the role's responsibilities heavily imply the need for a portfolio that demonstrates strategic thinking, leadership in design execution, and process ownership. The enhancement focuses on translating these responsibilities into tangible portfolio expectations for candidates.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $91,000 - $136,240 USD per year

Explanation of Range: This salary range is provided by the employer and is based on factors such as candidate experience, skills, knowledge, geographic location, and other business needs. The range is competitive for a Lead Experience Design Strategist role in the New Jersey area, reflecting the seniority and strategic impact expected.

Benefits:

• Health and well-being benefits

• Savings and retirement programs

• Paid time off (including Vacation PTO, Flex PTO, and Holiday PTO)

• Banking benefits and discounts

• Career development programs and resources

• Reward and recognition programs

Working Hours: 40 hours per week. The role is on-site, requiring continuous concentration and performing multiple tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly provided. The benefits listed are standard for large financial institutions and are elaborated upon to highlight their value to experienced professionals seeking comprehensive support. The mention of "continuous concentration" and "performing multiple tasks" in the "Physical Requirements" section of the original description is integrated into the working hours context to provide a fuller picture of the role's demands.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services / Banking

Company Size: TD is a large, global financial institution, described as the fifth largest bank in North America by branches/stores, with over 95,000 colleagues worldwide. This size implies a structured environment with significant resources, established processes, and opportunities for large-scale impact.

Founded: While the founding date isn't explicitly stated, TD Bank's extensive history as a major North American financial institution suggests a long-standing presence and deep roots in the industry.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the "Human-Centered Design" line of business, indicating a dedicated focus on user experience and design thinking.

• The Lead Experience Design Strategist will take direction from Product Owners, Tech Leads, and the UX Design Lead within their platform/journey, suggesting a matrixed or pod-based team structure common in agile environments.

• This role involves leading cross-functional teams and coordinating design resources, implying collaboration with various departments beyond just design.

• The emphasis on mentorship and teaching the craft suggests a team culture that values knowledge sharing and professional development. Methodology:

• Human-Centered Design: This is the core methodology, emphasizing understanding and prioritizing customer needs in all design and development efforts.

• User-Centered Design: Explicitly mentioned as a key approach for ensuring ideas are accessible and based on customer needs.

• Agile/Iterative Processes: Implied by the involvement in product development lifecycle stages, roadmap planning, and collaboration with Tech Leads and Product Owners within platform/journey teams.

• Data-Driven Decisions: While not explicitly a "methodology," the emphasis on analysis, efficiency, and continuous improvement suggests a data-informed approach to design strategy and execution.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's industry and size are critical context for an operations-focused role. A large financial institution like TD will have complex systems, stringent compliance requirements, and a focus on scale and security, all of which influence how design strategy and operations are executed. The "Human-Centered Design" line of business suggests a strategic investment in UX.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a "Lead" role, signifying a senior individual contributor or a first-level management position focused on strategic direction and team enablement. It requires substantial expertise and the ability to integrate knowledge across multiple functions. It sits above individual contributor designers and below senior leadership within the design hierarchy.

Reporting Structure: The role takes direction from Product Owners, Tech Leads, and the UX Design Lead within their platform/journey. This implies reporting into a UX Design Lead or a Director of Experience Design, with strong cross-functional reporting lines to product and technology leadership.

Operations Impact: The Lead Experience Design Strategist directly impacts the company's ability to deliver seamless, human-centered digital experiences for millions of customers and colleagues. This includes driving customer satisfaction, improving operational efficiency through intuitive interfaces, ensuring brand consistency, and mitigating risks associated with poor user experience or non-compliance. Their work directly influences customer adoption, engagement, and loyalty, thereby impacting revenue and operational costs.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Progression: Potential to advance to a UX Design Lead, Director of Experience Design, or Head of Experience Design roles, managing larger teams and broader strategic portfolios.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like accessibility, service design, or design operations within the financial services domain.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Opportunities to move into Product Management, Program Management, or strategic roles within other business units, leveraging their deep understanding of customer experience and design thinking.

• Mentorship & Training: Continued development through leading mentorship programs, defining best practices, and potentially pursuing advanced certifications or postgraduate studies in related fields.

• Industry Influence: Contributing to industry standards and best practices through thought leadership and external engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is clearly a senior individual contributor or a team lead position. The "Depth & Scope" and "Employee/Team Accountabilities" sections emphasize strategic thinking, mentorship, and influencing organizational practices, which are hallmarks of a lead role. The growth opportunities are framed around advancing leadership within design or expanding into related strategic functions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site" at the Mount Laurel, New Jersey location. This suggests a traditional office environment where in-person collaboration is expected and valued.

Office Location(s): 6000 Atrium Way, Mount Laurel, New Jersey, United States. This is a specific, physical office location.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: As an on-site role within a large financial institution, the workspace likely supports frequent collaboration. This includes team meetings, design reviews, brainstorming sessions, and working closely with cross-functional partners (Product, Tech, Marketing, etc.).

• Tools & Technology: Access to standard office equipment and likely robust digital tools for design, project management, and communication, including Figma, JIRA, Confluence, and SharePoint, as specified in the preferred qualifications.

• Team Interaction: Continuous opportunities for interaction with the immediate design team, product teams, and other stakeholders, fostering a dynamic and communicative work environment.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week. The "Physical Requirements" section notes "Continuous" performance of "Performing multiple tasks" and "Concentrating for long periods of time," indicating a demanding but structured work environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" designation is a key differentiator. For operations roles, this often means dedicated collaboration time, direct access to resources, and a structured work rhythm, which can be beneficial for complex, collaborative projects. The specific location provides tangible context.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely involves a review of resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess foundational qualifications and experience.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, focusing on case studies that demonstrate their strategic thinking, design process, leadership, and impact. Expect detailed questions about their role in specific projects, design decisions, and outcomes.

• Technical/Skills Assessment: May include discussions or exercises related to design methodologies, problem-solving, and proficiency with key tools (e.g., Figma, JIRA).

• Behavioral & Situational Interviews: Questions designed to assess leadership capabilities, collaboration style, problem-solving approaches, and cultural fit. Expect questions about how they handle conflict, manage stakeholders, and mentor teams.

• Final Round Interviews: Potentially with senior leadership or key cross-functional partners to confirm strategic alignment and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Strategic Impact: Focus on projects where you defined or significantly influenced the overall design strategy, not just executed tasks. Showcase how your strategic decisions led to measurable business or user outcomes.

• Detail the Process: Clearly articulate your approach, from problem definition and user research to iterative design, testing, and implementation. Explain why you made certain decisions.

• Demonstrate Leadership & Collaboration: Include projects where you led design efforts, mentored junior designers, or collaborated effectively with Product, Engineering, and other stakeholders. Quantify your influence where possible.

• Showcase Key Tools: If applicable, subtly integrate examples of your proficiency with Figma, JIRA, Confluence, and SharePoint within your case studies, especially in how they facilitated your workflow or team collaboration.

• Tailor to TD: Research TD's brand, customer base, and recent initiatives. Frame your case studies to show how your skills and experience align with their goals, particularly in financial services.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: Be prepared for a potential design challenge (e.g., a hypothetical problem statement) that requires you to outline a strategic approach, potential user research methods, and key design considerations.

• Stakeholder Management Scenarios: Practice articulating how you would manage differing stakeholder opinions or conflicting priorities in a design context.

• Process Improvement Discussion: Be ready to discuss how you would approach improving the design process within a large organization like TD, focusing on efficiency, collaboration, and quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The original description mentions "Interview Process" briefly. This enhancement expands on typical interview stages for a lead role in a large corporation, focusing on how a candidate's portfolio and strategic approach would be evaluated. The tips are tailored to a "Lead Experience Design Strategist" role, emphasizing strategy, leadership, and relevant tools.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for collaborative interface design, prototyping, and creating design systems. Expect to demonstrate proficiency in creating complex designs, components, and interactive prototypes.

• JIRA: Widely used for project management, issue tracking, and workflow management. Proficiency expected in understanding how design deliverables integrate into JIRA workflows and sprint planning.

• Confluence: Used for documentation, knowledge sharing, and team collaboration. Expect to contribute to or utilize design documentation, research findings, and project plans stored here.

• SharePoint: A platform for document management and collaboration. May be used for broader project documentation, asset sharing, or team communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, experience with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) or data visualization tools to understand user behavior and measure design impact would be beneficial. Understanding how to interpret user data to inform design decisions is key. CRM & Automation:

• Familiarity with CRM systems (though not primary for this role) can be helpful for understanding customer data and journey mapping. Automation tools are less directly relevant but understanding how designs are implemented in automated customer journeys might be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Preferred Qualifications" explicitly lists Figma, JIRA, Confluence, and SharePoint. This section details the likely usage and expected proficiency level for each tool in the context of a Lead Experience Design Strategist role, which is crucial for operations-minded candidates.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Human-Centered: At its core, the function values putting the customer and colleague experience first, driving decisions based on user needs and research.

• Excellence & Quality: A commitment to delivering industry-leading, high-quality digital experiences, reflected in the emphasis on design standards, usability, and accessibility.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering a supportive environment where colleagues work together, share knowledge, and contribute to a positive work culture.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Encouraging new ideas, learning from emerging trends, and consistently seeking ways to optimize processes and enhance user experiences.

• Integrity & Accountability: Upholding ethical standards, managing risks, and taking ownership of responsibilities, particularly in a regulated industry like banking.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role is designed to work closely with Product Owners, Tech Leads, and other business units, requiring a highly collaborative and integrated approach to ensure seamless end-to-end experiences.

• Thought Leadership & Mentorship: The lead role is expected to influence practices across the organization, teach the craft, and actively mentor team members, fostering a culture of learning and shared expertise.

• Proactive Communication: Maintaining open lines of communication, sharing relevant information, and escalating issues appropriately are key to managing complex projects and stakeholder relationships.

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding the company's values and collaboration style is vital for any candidate, especially in operations roles that depend on seamless interaction across departments. This section extrapolates these values from the job description's emphasis on human-centered design, leadership, and teamwork.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation with Regulation: Navigating the complexities of the financial services industry, which requires adherence to strict regulations while fostering innovative and user-friendly designs.

• Managing Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Aligning the design vision with the varied priorities and expectations of multiple product areas, business units, and senior leadership.

• Scaling Design Standards: Ensuring consistent application of design standards and best practices across a large organization with numerous product intakes and evolving needs.

• Driving Change in a Large Organization: Influencing and implementing new design methodologies or standards within a large, established financial institution can be a significant undertaking.

• Keeping Pace with Technological Advancements: Continuously evolving design strategies and toolsets to incorporate new technologies and user expectations in the digital landscape.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepening Financial Services UX Expertise: Gaining specialized knowledge in designing for banking, wealth management, or other financial products.

• Mastering Design Leadership: Developing advanced skills in team management, strategic planning, and influencing organizational change.

• Expanding Technical Tool Proficiency: Becoming an expert in advanced features of Figma, JIRA, and other relevant platforms.

• Industry Engagement: Participating in industry conferences, workshops, and potentially contributing to UX/design communities.

• Mentorship Programs: Both as a mentor and a mentee, fostering continuous growth and knowledge transfer.

📝 Enhancement Note: Identifying potential challenges helps candidates prepare and assess their fit. The growth opportunities are framed around the specific context of a lead role in a large financial institution.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you developed and implemented a comprehensive experience design strategy for a complex product or service. What was your process, what were the key challenges, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on strategic thinking, process, and impact.)

• "How do you ensure that user-centered design principles are embedded throughout the entire product development lifecycle, especially when working with cross-functional teams?" (Assess understanding of user advocacy and collaboration.)

• "Walk us through a project where you had to balance competing stakeholder priorities or business requirements with user needs. How did you navigate this, and what was the resolution?" (Evaluate negotiation, influence, and problem-solving skills.)

• "How would you approach establishing or refining design standards and usability guidelines for a large organization like TD? What metrics would you use to measure their effectiveness?" (Test strategic planning, process definition, and data-driven approach.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your research, what do you see as TD's biggest opportunities or challenges in digital customer experience, and how would your role contribute to addressing them?" (Demonstrate company research and strategic alignment.)

• "How do you foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within a design team, particularly in a regulated industry?" (Assess leadership style and approach to growth.)

• "Describe your experience mentoring junior designers or leading design initiatives. What is your philosophy on developing design talent?" (Evaluate leadership and mentorship capabilities.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role and responsibilities, the strategic approach you took, the process you followed (including research and iteration), the solutions you designed, and the measurable impact/outcomes.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, reduced task completion time, improved customer satisfaction scores).

• Highlight Leadership & Collaboration: Explicitly point out instances where you led teams, influenced decisions, or collaborated effectively with Product, Engineering, or other departments.

• Showcase Tool Proficiency: Briefly mention how tools like Figma, JIRA, or Confluence facilitated your work, especially in collaborative or complex projects.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design decisions, alternative approaches, and the rationale behind your choices.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice by framing potential interview questions that are highly relevant to a Lead Experience Design Strategist role, emphasizing strategic thinking, leadership, and the ability to articulate impact, which are critical for operations-focused roles.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Experience Design Strategist position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on TD's careers portal.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most impactful projects that best demonstrate your experience in strategy development, user-centered design leadership, and successful execution of complex digital experiences, ideally within or relevant to the financial services sector. Ensure your portfolio clearly outlines your role, the challenges, your strategic approach, and the tangible business/user outcomes.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords and experiences directly from the job description, such as "experience design strategy," "human-centered design," "digital design leadership," "Figma," "JIRA," "stakeholder management," and "mentorship." Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your experience and portfolio highlights concisely and impactfully, focusing on strategic contributions and leadership. Be ready to discuss your approach to problem-solving, collaboration, and process improvement.

• Research TD: Understand TD's mission, values, target audience, and recent digital initiatives. Familiarize yourself with their brand and any publicly available information on their customer experience strategy.

⚠️ 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.