Lead, UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead, UX Designer

Company: Pearson

Location: Hoboken, New Jersey, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design Leadership

Date Posted: June 08, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic vision and execution for cutting-edge AI-native and proficiency-based learning experiences, driving innovation from concept to scalable delivery.

• Operationalize and scale customer-centered discovery, design, and delivery practices across multiple cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Learning Design, AI, Content).

• Act as a consultative thought partner and player/coach, enhancing team capabilities, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and elevating the overall quality of product experiences.

• Shape pedagogical frameworks, learner profiles, learning data models, and efficacy-informed workflows to advance the future of AI-driven education.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a leadership opportunity within Pearson's product development ecosystem, focusing on the strategic application of UX principles to innovative learning technologies, particularly those leveraging AI. The emphasis on "0→1 product delivery" and "operationalizing high-performing teams" suggests a need for candidates who can not only design exceptional experiences but also build and refine the processes that enable consistent, high-quality product development at scale. The "player/coach" aspect indicates a hands-on leadership style, expected to contribute directly while also enabling others.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• 0→1 Product & AI-Native Learning Experience Delivery:

  • Lead the end-to-end UX strategy and execution for emerging AI-native and proficiency-based learning experiences.
  • Drive 0→1 product initiatives from concept ideation through pilot testing to scalable delivery.
  • Shape pedagogical northstars, learner profile experiences, learning data models, and efficacy-informed workflows.
  • Collaborate closely with Product, Engineering, Learning Design, AI, and Content teams to ensure cohesive and adaptive learning experiences.
  • Balance experimentation, usability, accessibility, and platform scalability while maintaining a strong focus on customer and learner outcomes.

• 4ITB Operational Leadership & Ways of Working:

  • Operationalize customer-centered discovery, design, and delivery best practices across Product, Engineering, Learning Design, AI, and Content (4ITB) teams.
  • Establish scalable operating rhythms, prioritization frameworks, governance models, and collaborative decision-making processes.
  • Guide teams through prioritization decisions, tradeoff analyses, customer insight incorporation, and systems-thinking approaches.
  • Drive alignment and shared understanding across Product, Design, Engineering, Program Management, Learning Design, and AI stakeholders.
  • Strengthen collaboration, delivery confidence, and experience quality across multiple interconnected product squads.

• Cross-Functional Partnership:

  • Serve as a consultative thought partner to leadership within Product, Engineering, Program Management, Learning Design, and Content teams.
  • Build robust partnerships with GTM, Sales, Marketing, Commercial, Support, and Customer Success organizations.
  • Ensure customer insights and business priorities are effectively integrated into product discovery and delivery lifecycles.
  • Translate product strategy into actionable UX direction and scalable execution frameworks.

• UX Craft, Systems Thinking & Capability Building:

  • Elevate UX maturity, systems thinking, interaction quality, and customer centricity across product teams.

  • Develop and implement reusable UX playbooks, AI-native interaction patterns, workflow standards, and scalable design frameworks.

  • Operationalize Voice of Customer (VOC), customer insights, behavioral analytics, and telemetry into actionable product and experience improvements.

  • Drive data-informed, executive-level storytelling that links customer experience quality to learner outcomes, product adoption, efficacy, and overall business impact.

  • Coach and develop managers, senior designers, and emerging leaders to foster organizational capability and leadership depth.

  • Cultivate a collaborative, curious, and high-accountability culture grounded in trust, experimentation, and continuous learning.

  • Function as an innovative player/coach, adept at strategic leadership, team enablement, and hands-on guidance as needed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are structured around four key pillars, highlighting both strategic (0→1 product, partnership) and operational (4ITB leadership, capability building) aspects. The emphasis on "AI-native," "proficiency-based learning," and "pedagogical northstars" clearly defines the domain. The explicit mention of "4ITB" suggests a specific internal operational model Pearson utilizes for product development.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Computer Science, Psychology, or a related field is typically expected for this level of role.

Experience: 10–12+ years of progressive experience in UX, Product Design, Service Design, or analogous disciplines, with a strong focus on leading complex product initiatives.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience shipping 0→1 products, emerging technology platforms, or transformational customer experiences.

• Demonstrated experience operating within highly cross-functional product development environments.

• Strong systems thinking, product strategy, and organizational collaboration skills.

• Experience operationalizing customer-centered discovery, design, and delivery practices.

• Strong people leadership, coaching, and team development capabilities.

• Ability to thrive in ambiguity while bringing structure, alignment, and momentum to teams.

• Expertise in UX strategy, product design, and service design principles.

• Proficiency in user research methodologies, including VOC, behavioral analytics, and telemetry.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas to executive stakeholders. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in EdTech, SaaS, AI products, or complex workflow ecosystems.

• Familiarity with conversational AI, adaptive learning systems, and AI-native UX patterns.

• Experience building platform-like experiences spanning multiple workflows and user types.

• Experience scaling accessibility, usability, and design systems across teams.

• Deep understanding of pedagogical principles and learning science.

• Experience with data modeling for learning experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize leadership, strategic thinking, and operational execution over purely tactical design skills. The "player/coach" dynamic implies a need for both strategic vision and the ability to guide and develop individual contributors. The preferred skills strongly indicate Pearson's focus on AI and educational technology.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate end-to-end ownership of significant product initiatives, showcasing your ability to drive 0→1 product development.

• Provide case studies that illustrate your approach to operationalizing customer-centered discovery, design, and delivery practices within cross-functional teams.

• Highlight examples of systems thinking applied to complex product ecosystems, particularly those involving AI or adaptive learning.

• Showcase your leadership and coaching capabilities, demonstrating how you have enabled teams to improve their UX maturity and collaboration.

• Quantify the impact of your work, ideally linking UX improvements to learner outcomes, product adoption, efficacy, or business metrics. Process Documentation:

• Include examples of UX playbooks, interaction pattern libraries, or scalable design frameworks you have developed or significantly contributed to.

• Detail your approach to integrating customer insights, VOC, behavioral analytics, and telemetry into the product development lifecycle.

• Showcase your ability to establish and refine operating rhythms, prioritization frameworks, and governance models for product teams.

• Present how you translate product strategy into actionable UX direction and execution frameworks.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the leadership and operational focus of this role, the portfolio should emphasize strategic impact, process improvement, and team enablement, rather than solely showcasing individual design artifacts. The ability to demonstrate how a candidate has built or scaled processes and capabilities will be key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $200,000 - $250,000 annually.

Benefits:

• Eligibility for an annual incentive program.

• Comprehensive benefits package (details available via the provided link: pearsonbenefitsus.com).

• Hybrid work arrangement offering flexibility.

• Opportunities for professional development and career growth within a global education leader.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, likely requiring approximately 40 hours per week. The hybrid model allows for a blend of in-office collaboration in Hoboken and remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific to certain US states and cities, including New Jersey. The mention of an "annual incentive program" suggests a performance-based bonus component. The reference to a specific benefits website indicates a robust offering.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Education Technology (EdTech), Publishing, and Digital Learning Solutions. Pearson is a global leader in creating learning content and assessment, with a significant focus on digital transformation and personalized learning experiences.

Company Size: Pearson is a large, publicly traded multinational corporation with thousands of employees worldwide. This scale implies established processes, a global reach, and opportunities for impact across diverse markets.

Founded: Pearson was founded in 1844, giving it a long history and deep expertise in education. Its modern focus is on leveraging technology to enhance learning outcomes.

Team Structure:

• The UX Design team likely operates within a larger product development organization, potentially structured around specific product lines or strategic initiatives.

• This role will report into a senior product or design leadership position and will lead a team of UX designers and potentially managers.

• Close collaboration is expected with Product Management, Engineering, AI Research, Learning Design, Content Development, Program Management, and Go-to-Market (GTM) teams. Methodology:

• Pearson emphasizes a data-informed approach to product development, utilizing customer insights, behavioral analytics, and user feedback to guide decisions.

• The role requires operationalizing agile methodologies and discovery/delivery practices to ensure efficient and effective product creation.

• A strong focus on user-centered design, accessibility, and pedagogical effectiveness is integral to their approach.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Pearson's deep roots in education combined with its aggressive push into digital and AI-driven learning technologies present a unique environment. The company culture likely balances established practices with a drive for innovation, requiring leaders who can navigate both.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership role, equivalent to a Director or Senior Manager level within a UX or Product Design function, focusing on strategic impact and operational excellence. It is positioned as a critical role for driving the future of Pearson's AI-native learning products.

Reporting Structure: The Lead, UX Designer will likely report to a VP or Senior Director of Product Design, UX, or Product Management. They will directly manage a team of designers and/or design managers, overseeing a significant portion of the product portfolio's user experience.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct and substantial impact on Pearson's revenue and business decisions by shaping the core product experiences that drive customer adoption, learner engagement, efficacy, and ultimately, customer retention and growth. The success of AI-native learning products is critical to Pearson's future strategy.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership: Potential to grow into a VP-level role overseeing larger product domains or the entire UX function for specific business units.

• Domain Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven learning, adaptive systems, and pedagogical innovation, becoming a recognized leader in EdTech UX.

• Organizational Influence: Expand influence across broader product strategy, R&D, and company-wide operational excellence initiatives.

• Mentorship & Team Building: Develop and scale a high-performing design organization, fostering talent and creating a strong design culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "player/coach" aspect suggests that while direct contribution is valued, the primary growth path lies in building and leading teams to achieve greater collective impact. The emphasis on AI and proficiency-based learning indicates a forward-looking career trajectory within EdTech.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment, requiring presence in the Hoboken office on a regular basis for collaboration and team engagement, with flexibility for remote work.

Office Location(s): 221 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. This location is in a vibrant urban area with good transit access.

Workspace Context:

• The Hoboken office likely provides a collaborative workspace designed for team interaction, workshops, and cross-functional meetings.

• Expect access to modern design tools and technologies, with opportunities to influence the team's toolchain and infrastructure.

• The environment fosters collaboration between design, product, engineering, and learning design teams, encouraging a shared sense of ownership and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours/week) with the flexibility afforded by the hybrid work arrangement. The nature of leadership roles may require occasional flexibility to accommodate project deadlines or global team interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key feature, indicating a need for candidates comfortable with both in-office collaboration and remote self-management. The Hoboken location suggests a dynamic, potentially fast-paced work environment common in tech hubs.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Deep dive into experience, leadership style, strategic thinking, and operational approach. Discussion of 0→1 product experience and team management.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: Candidates will present a curated selection of their work, focusing on strategic impact, operationalization of processes, and leadership achievements. Expect to discuss case studies that demonstrate systems thinking, collaboration, and impact on learner outcomes.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Product, Engineering, AI, and Learning Design to assess collaboration skills and alignment.

• Team/Leadership Interviews: Discussions with potential direct reports or peer leaders to evaluate leadership style and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior executive to discuss overall vision and strategic alignment with Pearson's goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Prioritize case studies that clearly demonstrate the business and learner impact of your work, using metrics where possible.

• Showcase Leadership & Operations: Highlight examples of how you've operationalized processes, coached teams, and driven cross-functional alignment, not just individual design contributions.

• Structure for Strategy: Organize your presentation to clearly articulate the problem, your strategic approach, the operational execution, and the measurable outcomes.

• Address AI & EdTech: Be prepared to discuss your experience or perspective on AI-native experiences and the nuances of designing for educational technology.

• Storytelling: Craft a narrative that connects your experiences to the specific requirements of this Lead, UX Designer role at Pearson.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for scenario-based questions related to leading teams through ambiguity, driving innovation, and resolving cross-functional conflicts.

• Anticipate questions about your approach to scaling UX practices, developing design systems, and integrating AI into learning experiences.

• Consider how you would approach the "0→1" challenge of a new AI-native learning product at Pearson, outlining your discovery, strategy, and operationalization plan.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess strategic leadership, operational acumen, and collaborative capabilities, alongside traditional UX expertise. A strong portfolio demonstrating process ownership and team enablement will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), InVision, Axure RP (or similar).

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello, Miro, Mural.

• User Research & Analytics: UserTesting.com, Hotjar, Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey.

• AI/ML Specific Tools: While not explicitly listed, familiarity with platforms that integrate with AI/ML models or allow for prototyping AI interactions would be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Proficiency in interpreting data from product analytics platforms to drive UX decisions.

• Experience with A/B testing and experimental design to validate hypotheses.

• Ability to create clear, concise reports and dashboards for executive stakeholders. CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how user data is managed and utilized within CRM and marketing automation platforms could be beneficial for GTM collaboration.

• Familiarity with systems that support learning management (LMS) or content management (CMS) might be relevant.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role requires a broad understanding of the modern product development technology stack, with a strong emphasis on design and collaboration tools. Familiarity with data analytics platforms is critical for demonstrating impact and informing strategy.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Centricity: Deeply understanding and advocating for learner and educator needs is paramount.

• Innovation & Experimentation: A drive to explore new technologies (especially AI) and learning modalities, with a willingness to test and learn.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Fostering strong working relationships across diverse functions to achieve shared product goals.

• Operational Excellence: Commitment to building scalable, efficient processes that enable high-quality product delivery.

• Impact & Efficacy: Focusing on creating learning experiences that demonstrably improve outcomes for learners.

• Continuous Learning: Encouraging personal and team growth, staying abreast of industry trends and advancements.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively working with Product, Engineering, AI, and Learning Design to ensure a holistic approach to product development.

• Consultative Approach: Providing strategic guidance and expertise to stakeholders, acting as a trusted advisor.

• Feedback-Driven: Cultivating an environment where constructive feedback is shared openly and used for continuous improvement.

• Process-Oriented: Establishing clear communication channels and decision-making frameworks to ensure efficient collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Pearson's culture likely blends the stability of a large, established company with the agility required for innovation in the EdTech space. The emphasis on "player/coach" and "operationalizing" suggests a culture that values both hands-on contribution and enablement.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Leading the development of entirely new AI-native learning experiences requires navigating uncharted territory, requiring strong strategic thinking and adaptability.

• Balancing Innovation & Scalability: Ensuring that novel AI features are not only cutting-edge but also reliable, scalable, accessible, and pedagogically sound.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Driving consensus and collaboration across diverse teams (Product, Eng, AI, Content, Learning Design) with potentially different priorities.

• Operationalizing New Practices: Implementing and scaling new discovery, design, and delivery methods for AI-driven products across an organization.

• Measuring Impact: Defining and tracking meaningful metrics for AI-native learning experiences that connect to learner outcomes and business value.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI & EdTech Expertise: Deepen knowledge in cutting-edge AI applications within education and the latest trends in proficiency-based learning.

• Leadership Development: Enhance skills in team management, coaching, strategic planning, and operational leadership.

• Industry Engagement: Potential to represent Pearson at industry conferences, contribute to thought leadership, and stay at the forefront of UX and EdTech innovation.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunities to shape the long-term product vision and technology roadmap for Pearson's learning solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges related to innovation in a complex domain, but also offers substantial growth opportunities for leaders passionate about the future of education technology and AI.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to leading the '0→1' development of a new AI-native learning experience. What are the key stages, decision points, and operational considerations?"

• "How do you operationalize customer-centered discovery and delivery practices across Product, Engineering, AI, and Learning Design teams? Provide specific examples."

• "Walk us through a time you had to drive significant change in how a team or organization approaches UX or product development. What was your strategy, and what was the outcome?"

• "How do you balance the need for rapid experimentation with the requirements of scalability, accessibility, and platform stability in an EdTech environment?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Pearson and our mission to advance AI-native learning experiences?"

• "How do you foster a collaborative and high-accountability culture within a design team, particularly in a hybrid work setting?"

• "How do you ensure pedagogical effectiveness and learner outcomes are central to the UX design process in an EdTech context?"

• "Describe your experience working with AI researchers or engineers. How do you bridge the gap between AI capabilities and user experience design?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Lead with Impact: Start your presentation with the overarching business and learner impact of your most significant projects.

• Showcase Operationalization: Dedicate a segment to how you've built or improved processes, enabled teams, and driven operational efficiency. Use diagrams or frameworks if helpful.

• Highlight AI/EdTech Relevance: If possible, select case studies that demonstrate experience with complex systems, emerging technologies, or educational contexts.

• Emphasize Leadership: Frame your contributions in terms of leadership, strategic direction, and team enablement, even for individual contributor projects.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your decision-making process, tradeoffs, and how you would apply your experience to Pearson's specific challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, operational leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and a deep understanding of the EdTech and AI landscape. Concrete examples of process improvement and team development will be highly valued.

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📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Pearson careers portal via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your experience in leading 0→1 product initiatives, operationalizing UX processes, and managing cross-functional teams. Emphasize case studies that demonstrate systems thinking and impact on learner outcomes.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 10-12+ years of experience, leadership achievements, and specific skills relevant to AI, EdTech, product strategy, and operational excellence. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your leadership philosophy, operational strategies, and approach to AI-native UX design. Prepare specific examples for behavioral and situational questions. Rehearse your portfolio presentation.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Pearson's current product offerings, their strategic focus on AI and digital learning, and their mission. Understand their approach to hybrid work and their values.

⚠️ 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.