Lead UI/UX Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UI/UX & Graphic Designer

Company: Hope Enterprise Corporation

Location: Jackson, Mississippi, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Design & Product Development

Date Posted: July 31, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end design initiatives for impactful digital products across web and mobile platforms, ensuring user-centered, accessible, and scalable solutions.

• Drive the evolution and enforcement of the design system to maintain consistency and enable rapid iteration across all digital experiences.

• Mentor and develop junior and mid-level designers through coaching, feedback, and fostering a culture of design excellence and continuous improvement.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, and other stakeholders to shape product strategy, prioritize features, and ensure seamless design delivery.

• Champion user research methodologies to uncover insights and translate them into actionable design recommendations that inform product decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Lead Designer, implying a significant level of autonomy and responsibility for design strategy and execution, alongside team development. The emphasis on a "mission-driven" organization and "underserved user groups" suggests a need for candidates who can balance user needs with social impact.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete design lifecycle for critical digital projects, from initial discovery and concept development through to final delivery and post-launch analysis.

• Create and refine user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups, ensuring a strong focus on usability, accessibility, and performance standards.

• Develop, scale, and maintain comprehensive design systems and component libraries to ensure brand consistency, accelerate design velocity, and enhance product quality.

• Proactively identify user knowledge gaps, define research objectives, and plan/execute usability testing, interviews, and surveys to gather actionable insights.

• Partner with Product Managers to define user problems, translate business requirements into design solutions, and prioritize features that deliver tangible value.

• Work hand-in-hand with engineers to ensure accurate implementation of designs and to effectively navigate technical constraints and feasibility considerations.

• Facilitate design thinking workshops, brainstorming sessions, and co-creation activities with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to foster alignment and gather diverse perspectives.

• Influence product strategy and roadmap planning by providing expert design perspective and advocating for user needs within business and technical constraints.

• Utilize quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate the effectiveness of design solutions and drive iterative improvements for maximum impact.

• Clearly articulate design decisions, rationale, and potential trade-offs to diverse audiences, including technical teams, business leaders, and executive stakeholders.

• Present design concepts and final deliverables persuasively to various internal and external groups, building consensus and driving adoption.

• Advocate for inclusive design principles and accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) throughout the product development process.

• Create compelling documentation and storytelling assets that align teams, build shared understanding, and communicate the value of design initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design execution, strategic thinking, and leadership/mentorship. The emphasis on "design systems," "user research," and "cross-functional collaboration" are key indicators of modern product design practices expected in this role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interaction Design, Visual Design, or a related field.

• Equivalent practical experience will also be considered, demonstrating a strong ability to translate academic knowledge into professional application. Experience:

• Minimum of 5+ years of professional experience in UI/UX design or product design, with a proven track record of delivering successful digital products.

• Demonstrated experience leading design initiatives, managing design projects, or formally/informally mentoring junior team members.

• Proven experience in developing, scaling, or maintaining design systems within complex product ecosystems.

• Hands-on experience with user research methodologies or active collaboration with research functions, including planning and synthesizing findings. Required Skills:

• Expertise in UI/UX and Graphic Design with a strong user-centered, inclusive, and accessible design mindset.

• Proficiency in creating and maintaining design systems and component libraries.

• Ability to connect user needs with business goals to effectively influence product direction and strategy.

• Strong problem-solving skills and comfort navigating ambiguity in fast-paced, iterative environments.

• Proven success working collaboratively within cross-functional teams (product, engineering, marketing, research, etc.).

• Experience mentoring designers, facilitating design critiques, and actively fostering professional growth within a team.

• Ability to balance individual design contributions with team empowerment and shared ownership.

• Comfort and experience in planning, conducting, or applying insights from user research.

• Ability to interpret both quantitative and qualitative data and apply findings to inform design decisions.

• Deep empathy for end users and a demonstrable commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

• Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly.

• Strong presentation skills, capable of presenting work clearly and persuasively to both peer-level and executive audiences. Preferred Skills:

• Experience working within mission-driven organizations or with underserved user groups, demonstrating an understanding of unique user needs and constraints.

• Familiarity with WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and other accessibility best practices.

• Working knowledge of front-end development principles (HTML/CSS/JS) to facilitate better collaboration with engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio demonstrating "systems-level design" and "shipped digital products" is critical. The preference for experience in mission-driven organizations and with underserved user groups points to the company's core values and target audience.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 5 years of professional UI/UX and graphic design work, with a focus on shipped digital products for web and mobile.

• Demonstrations of systems-level design thinking, including examples of design systems, component libraries, or style guides developed and maintained.

• Case studies detailing the end-to-end design process for at least two significant projects, highlighting problem definition, user research, ideation, design solutions, and outcomes.

• Evidence of leadership or mentorship, such as examples of design critiques, team guidance, or contributions to design process improvements.

• Examples of how user research findings were integrated into design decisions and contributed to product success or iteration. Process Documentation:

• Showcase ability to document design processes, including user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and final UI assets, demonstrating clarity and thoroughness.

• Provide examples of how design systems were implemented and maintained, including documentation for component usage, guidelines, and governance.

• Illustrate experience with user research documentation, such as research plans, synthesis reports, and actionable recommendations derived from studies.

• Demonstrate experience collaborating with engineering and product teams, potentially including design handoff documentation or process diagrams for cross-functional workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Lead role, the portfolio must go beyond individual contributions to demonstrate strategic thinking, process ownership, and leadership capabilities. The emphasis on design systems and user research is paramount.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Lead UI/UX & Graphic Designer with 5-10 years of experience in a mid-sized city in the Southeast US, the estimated salary range is $95,000 - $135,000 annually. This range accounts for the leadership responsibilities, the requirement for design system expertise, and the cost of living in Jackson, MS.

Benefits:

• Paid Time Off: Generous Paid Vacation and Sick Time to support work-life balance.

• Holidays: 11 Paid Holidays throughout the year.

• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with a company match, supporting long-term financial security.

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans.

• Financial Flexibility: Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for healthcare and dependent care expenses.

• Income Protection: Disability Benefits (Short-term and Long-term) to provide financial support during unexpected absences.

• Life & Critical Care: Life Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, and Accident Insurance for added security.

• Employee Support: Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering confidential counseling and resources.

• Professional Growth: Tuition Reimbursement and dedicated Professional Development opportunities to support career advancement and skill enhancement.

Working Hours: Full-time, Exempt position, typically requiring approximately 40 hours per week. While standard business hours are expected, flexibility may be available based on project needs and team collaboration, with an emphasis on meeting deadlines and project milestones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on common compensation for similar roles in the specified region and experience level. Actual compensation may vary based on specific qualifications, interview performance, and company budget. The benefits package is comprehensive, reflecting a commitment to employee well-being and development.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services & Community Development. HOPE Enterprise Corporation operates within the financial sector, focusing on providing essential financial services, leveraging resources, and advocating for policies that benefit under-resourced communities in the Deep South. This mission-driven approach is central to its culture.

Company Size: HOPE Enterprise Corporation includes HOPE Enterprise Corporation, Hope Credit Union, and Hope Policy Institute. While specific employee numbers aren't provided, its scale of operations benefiting millions of people and influencing national policy suggests a significant organization, likely in the range of 200-500 employees.

Founded: Founded in 1994, HOPE has a long-standing history of commitment to its mission, providing stability and a deep understanding of the communities it serves.

Team Structure:

• The Lead UI/UX & Graphic Designer reports to the VP, Product Management, indicating a strong integration within the product development lifecycle.

• The role is hands-on and individual contributor focused, with supervisory responsibilities for mentoring other designers rather than direct management of a large team.

• The role requires extensive cross-functional collaboration, particularly with Product Management, Engineering, and potentially Marketing and Policy teams, reflecting a collaborative GTM (Go-To-Market) and product development environment. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on using both quantitative (performance metrics) and qualitative (user research) data to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• User-Centered Approach: A core principle is championing user needs and ensuring designs are usable, accessible, and valuable to the target audience.

• Agile & Iterative Development: Familiarity with agile/scrum methodologies and working in iterative design sprints is expected, allowing for rapid prototyping, testing, and refinement.

• Design Systems Thinking: A strategic focus on building and maintaining scalable design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency across product offerings.

Company Website: https://www.hope-ec.org/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission is a significant cultural driver. Candidates should be prepared to articulate how their design skills can contribute to social impact and serve underserved populations. The reporting structure to Product Management highlights the strategic importance of design in product development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as a Lead Designer, representing a mid