Manager, UX Design
π Job Overview
Job Title: Manager, UX Design
Company: Elsevier
Location: Philadelphia, PA (Market St) - On-site
Job Type: FULL_TIME
Category: UX Design Management / Product Design Leadership
Date Posted: 2026-05-12
Experience Level: 10+ Years
Remote Status: On-site
π Role Summary
- Lead a high-performing team of UX Designers and Researchers focused on Elsevier's Clinical Solutions portfolio, driving intuitive and accessible user experiences.
- Define and evolve UX vision and strategy, aligning with business goals and integrating AI-driven experiences responsibly.
- Champion human-centered and data-informed design practices, ensuring high-impact outcomes that enhance clinical workflows and patient results.
- Foster a culture of inclusion, continuous learning, and design excellence through effective people management, coaching, and talent development.
- Collaborate closely with Product, Engineering, Data Science, and Clinical stakeholders to deliver impactful solutions.
π Enhancement Note: This role is categorized under UX Design Management and Product Design Leadership due to the explicit requirement for people leadership and strategic UX vision definition within a product context. The emphasis on AI integration and clinical solutions indicates a specialized focus within the broader UX field.
π Primary Responsibilities
- Lead, coach, and mentor a team of UX designers and researchers, fostering their professional growth and ensuring the delivery of high-quality user experiences.
- Develop and execute the UX vision and strategy for Clinical Solutions, ensuring it aligns with Elsevier's business objectives and user needs.
- Drive the integration of AI-driven features into products, focusing on explainable, trustworthy, and ethical human-AI collaboration.
- Establish and promote modern UX practices, including continuous discovery, iterative delivery, and outcome-based measurement to enhance product development.
- Champion inclusive design principles and ensure adherence to accessibility standards (WCAG) across all products within the portfolio.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Data Science, Clinical) to translate user insights into actionable design and product decisions.
- Advocate for user-centered design principles throughout the organization, influencing product roadmaps and strategic initiatives.
- Drive the adoption and consistent application of design systems and interaction patterns across the Clinical Solutions product suite.
- Ensure deep understanding of user needs within clinical, educational, and patient contexts through continuous research and validation.
- Oversee the hiring, performance management, and career development of UX talent, building a robust and skilled design team.
π Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, team management, and hands-on design oversight, particularly concerning AI integration and healthcare applications. The emphasis on coaching and talent development points to a significant people management component.
π Skills & Qualifications
Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Psychology, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for senior UX leadership roles. Experience: 8+ years of progressive experience in UX design, with a minimum of 2 years specifically in people leadership roles. Experience within complex, regulated industries like healthcare or education is highly desirable.
Required Skills:
- UX Design Leadership: Proven ability to lead and manage a team of designers and researchers.
- Human-Centered Design: Deep understanding and application of design thinking, user-centered design principles, and methodologies.
- AI-Driven Experience Design: Experience in leading UX strategy for AI-enabled features, including explainable and ethical AI interactions.
- UX Strategy Development: Ability to define and articulate a clear UX vision and strategy aligned with business goals.
- People Management & Coaching: Demonstrated success in hiring, mentoring, coaching, and developing design talent.
- Accessibility (WCAG): Strong understanding of accessibility standards and experience ensuring WCAG compliance.
- Design Systems: Expertise in establishing and leveraging design systems for consistency and scalability.
- User Research & Validation: Proficiency in conducting and utilizing user research to inform design decisions.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ability to partner effectively with Product, Engineering, Data Science, and clinical stakeholders.
- Modern UX Methodologies: Familiarity with Lean UX, Jobs-to-be-Done, and iterative design processes.
- Proficiency with Design Tools: Expertise in modern design and collaboration tools such as Figma, AI-prototyping tools, and research platforms.
Preferred Skills:
- Healthcare Domain Knowledge: Familiarity with clinical workflows, healthcare systems, and patient engagement tools.
- Data-Informed Design: Experience leveraging data analytics and metrics to guide design decisions and measure impact.
- Scalable UX Frameworks: Experience designing and implementing scalable UX frameworks.
- Performance Coaching: Advanced skills in providing constructive feedback and guiding career development for team members.
π Enhancement Note: The experience requirements (8+ years UX, 2+ years leadership) combined with the domain-specific needs (healthcare, AI) position this as a senior-level management role. The emphasis on AI and specific methodologies like Lean UX and JTBD is critical for applicants to highlight.
π Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
- Leadership Case Studies: Showcase examples of how you have led design teams to deliver successful, user-centered products, detailing team structure, challenges faced, and outcomes achieved.
- UX Strategy Examples: Present instances where you developed and implemented a comprehensive UX strategy, illustrating alignment with business objectives and user needs.
- AI Integration Projects: Highlight projects where you led the UX design for AI-enabled features, demonstrating your approach to human-AI collaboration, trust, and explainability.
- Process Improvement Documentation: Provide evidence of implementing modern UX practices (e.g., continuous discovery, iterative delivery) and their impact on team efficiency and product quality.
- Design System Contributions: Include examples of your involvement in creating, maintaining, or driving adoption of design systems.
Process Documentation:
- Workflow Design & Optimization: Demonstrate experience in defining and optimizing design workflows, from ideation and research to implementation and iteration, especially within complex environments.
- Human-AI Collaboration Frameworks: Document your approach to designing for human-AI interaction, including methods for ensuring user control, transparency, and feedback loops.
- Metrics & Outcome Measurement: Show how you establish key performance indicators (KPIs) for UX initiatives and measure the impact of design decisions on user behavior and business outcomes.
- Accessibility Integration: Detail processes for embedding accessibility (WCAG compliance) throughout the entire product lifecycle, from design to development.
π Enhancement Note: For a management role, the portfolio should emphasize leadership impact, strategic thinking, and team development, not just individual design execution. Demonstrating a structured approach to AI integration and process optimization is crucial.
π΅ Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range:
- U.S. National Base Pay Range: $118,300 - $219,800 annually.
- New York (State): $130,200 - $241,800 annually.
- New York City: $142,000 - $263,800 annually.
- Rochester, NY: $118,300 - $219,800 annually.
- New Jersey: $143,220 - $228,780 annually.
Benefits:
- Annual Incentive Bonus: Eligibility for an annual incentive bonus, reflecting performance-based compensation.
- Country-Specific Benefits: A comprehensive package tailored to the employee's location, details available via the provided link. This typically includes health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and other wellness programs.
- Health & Wellness Programs: Likely includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, alongside other wellness initiatives.
- Retirement Savings Plan: Typically includes a 401(k) or similar plan with potential company matching.
- Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday policies.
- Professional Development: Opportunities for training, conferences, and continuous learning.
Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with potential for flexibility depending on project needs and team collaboration schedules.
π Enhancement Note: The salary ranges provided are specific to U.S. locations and vary significantly by region, particularly for New York City. The inclusion of an annual incentive bonus and country-specific benefits suggests a competitive compensation package. The base salary ranges for Philadelphia, PA (where the role is based) are not explicitly listed but would likely fall within the broader U.S. national range, potentially closer to the higher end given the NYC/NJ differentials.
π― Team & Company Context
π’ Company Culture
Industry: Information Services, Technology, and Publishing, with a strong focus on Health Markets and Scientific Research. Elsevier is a prominent player in providing data, analytics, and decision tools for professionals in these sectors. Company Size: Employs over 10,000 people worldwide, with over 2,500 technologists. This indicates a large, established global organization with significant investment in technology and innovation. Founded: Over 140 years of history, rooted in publishing, now evolved into a leading provider of digital solutions and analytics. This long history suggests stability, deep domain expertise, and a continuous commitment to adaptation.
Team Structure:
- UX Design Team: This is a dedicated, high-performing team of UX designers and researchers supporting critical products within the Health Markets space.
- Reporting Structure: The Manager, UX Design will likely report to a Director or VP of Product Design or User Experience, overseeing a team of individual contributors.
- Cross-functional Collaboration: The role necessitates close partnership with Product Management, Engineering, Data Science, and Clinical stakeholders, indicating a highly collaborative and integrated product development environment.
Methodology:
- Human-Centered & Data-Informed Design: The company emphasizes a strong focus on understanding user needs and leveraging data to guide design decisions.
- AI Integration: A key initiative is the responsible and effective integration of AI-driven experiences into products, requiring a forward-thinking design approach.
- Agile & Iterative Development: Modern UX practices like continuous discovery and iterative delivery are central to the team's approach.
- Focus on Impact: The goal is to deliver high-impact outcomes that improve clinical workflows and patient outcomes, underscoring a mission-driven approach.
Company Website: https://www.elsevier.com/
π Enhancement Note: Elsevier's long history and scale suggest a robust infrastructure and established processes, but also a need for agile adaptation in the face of technological advancements like AI. The focus on health markets and clinical solutions implies a mission-critical environment where UX has a direct impact on user well-being and professional effectiveness.
π Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior management position within the UX Design function. It requires a blend of deep UX expertise, strategic thinking, and proven people leadership skills. The scope includes defining UX strategy for a significant product portfolio and managing a team of specialists. Reporting Structure: The Manager, UX Design will likely report into a Director or VP level executive within the Product or Design organization. They will manage a team of UX Designers and Researchers, collaborating closely with peer managers in Product Management and Engineering. Operations Impact: The UX Design Manager has a direct impact on the usability, accessibility, and effectiveness of Elsevier's Clinical Solutions. This influence extends to improving clinical workflows, enhancing patient outcomes, and driving user adoption, ultimately contributing to Elsevier's mission and business success in the health markets.
Growth Opportunities:
- Leadership Advancement: Potential to move into Director or VP-level roles overseeing larger UX teams or broader product portfolios.
- Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the future of UX strategy and AI integration across Elsevier's Health Markets division.
- Domain Expertise: Deepen expertise in healthcare technology and AI-driven design within a leading global organization.
- Mentorship & Development: Continue to mentor and develop design talent, building a legacy of strong design leadership.
- Cross-functional Leadership: Opportunities to lead initiatives that span multiple departments and drive significant business outcomes.
π Enhancement Note: This is a mid-to-senior level leadership role with clear pathways for advancement within a large, global organization. The focus on AI and healthcare presents opportunities for specialized skill development and high-impact contributions.
π Work Environment
Office Type: This role is based in Philadelphia, PA, indicating an on-site work environment. Elsevier likely offers modern office spaces designed to foster collaboration and productivity. Office Location(s): Philadelphia, PA (Market St). The job posting also lists potential coverage or collaboration with teams in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and Delaware, suggesting a broader regional presence or distributed team structure.
Workspace Context:
- Collaborative Environment: Expect an office setting that encourages interaction with Product Managers, Engineers, Data Scientists, and other UX team members.
- Tools & Technology: Access to modern design and collaboration tools (Figma, AI-prototyping tools, research platforms) will be standard.
- Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular team meetings, design critiques, and cross-functional syncs to ensure alignment and shared understanding.
- Focus on Innovation: The emphasis on AI and cutting-edge UX practices suggests an environment that values innovation and continuous improvement.
Work Schedule: Standard full-time work schedule (approx. 40 hours/week). While on-site, there may be some flexibility, but consistent presence is expected for team collaboration and leadership.
π Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Philadelphia, combined with the mention of other regional locations, suggests a primary hub with potential for remote collaboration with distributed team members. The environment is likely dynamic, driven by the rapid evolution of healthcare technology and AI.
π Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process:
- Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter, focusing on leadership experience and relevant UX/AI background.
- Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager to assess your leadership style, strategic thinking, and fit with the team and company culture. Expect questions about your experience managing designers, driving UX strategy, and handling complex projects.
- Team/Peer Interviews: Meetings with other UX designers, researchers, product managers, and engineering leads. This stage assesses your collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to articulate design decisions.
- Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where you will present case studies from your portfolio, demonstrating your leadership, strategic approach, and specific contributions to impactful UX outcomes, especially in AI and healthcare contexts.
- Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader (Director/VP) to discuss your vision for the UX team and long-term career aspirations.
Portfolio Review Tips:
- Highlight Leadership Impact: Focus on case studies where you led teams, mentored designers, and drove strategic initiatives. Clearly articulate your role and the team's collective achievements.
- Showcase AI & Healthcare Expertise: Prioritize projects demonstrating your experience with AI-driven features and complex, regulated environments like healthcare. Explain your approach to responsible AI design.
- Structure for Clarity: Organize your case studies logically, outlining the problem, your strategic approach, the UX process, your team's execution, and the measurable outcomes.
- Quantify Results: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your team's work on user behavior, clinical workflows, or business objectives.
- Prepare for Design/AI Discussions: Be ready to discuss your UX philosophy, your approach to human-AI collaboration, and how you ensure accessibility and inclusivity.
Challenge Preparation:
- UX Strategy Exercise: You might be asked to outline a strategic approach to a hypothetical UX challenge within Elsevier's Clinical Solutions domain.
- Team Management Scenario: Prepare to discuss how you would handle common team management scenarios, such as performance issues, conflict resolution, or fostering a collaborative environment.
- AI Ethics Discussion: Be ready to discuss the ethical considerations of AI in healthcare UX and how you would address them.
π Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to evaluate not only technical UX skills but also leadership capabilities, strategic vision, and cross-functional collaboration. A strong portfolio presentation that highlights leadership and AI/healthcare experience is critical.
π Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
- Figma: Expected to be the primary tool for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration.
- AI-Prototyping Tools: Proficiency with tools that facilitate the design and testing of AI-driven interfaces is essential.
- Modern Design & Collaboration Tools: This includes other platforms for whiteboarding, brainstorming, and project management (e.g., Miro, Jira, Confluence).
Analytics & Reporting:
- User Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or specialized product analytics platforms for tracking user behavior and measuring UX impact.
- Research Platforms: Experience with tools for user testing, surveys, and qualitative data analysis (e.g., UserTesting.com, Qualtrics).
CRM & Automation:
- CRM Systems: While not directly managed by UX, understanding how CRM data (e.g., Salesforce) informs user segmentation and personalization is beneficial.
- Product Management Tools: Experience with tools like Jira for workflow management and tracking design tasks within development sprints.
π Enhancement Note: The emphasis on modern design and collaboration tools, specifically mentioning Figma and AI-prototyping tools, indicates a commitment to current industry standards and a focus on innovative design approaches.
π₯ Team Culture & Values
Operations Values:
- User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of clinicians, researchers, and patients.
- Innovation & Adaptability: Embracing new technologies like AI and continuously evolving design practices to meet future challenges.
- Collaboration & Inclusivity: Fostering a supportive team environment where diverse perspectives are valued and integrated.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing data and research to inform design choices and measure impact, ensuring effectiveness and efficiency.
- Impact & Purpose: A shared drive to contribute to significant advancements in health, science, and education through impactful product design.
Collaboration Style:
- Cross-functional Partnership: Working closely with Product, Engineering, and Data Science to ensure a unified approach to product development.
- Open Communication: Encouraging transparent dialogue, constructive feedback, and knowledge sharing within the design team and across departments.
- Iterative & Agile: Embracing a flexible and iterative design process that allows for continuous improvement and adaptation based on feedback.
- Shared Ownership: Promoting a sense of collective responsibility for product success, from initial concept through to ongoing optimization.
π Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a blend of user advocacy, technological innovation, and collaborative teamwork, all within the context of Elsevier's mission in health and science. This suggests a culture that is both purpose-driven and forward-looking.
β‘ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
- Integrating AI Responsibly: Navigating the ethical considerations and technical complexities of integrating AI into clinical decision support tools, ensuring trust, transparency, and user control.
- Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Managing diverse requirements from clinical stakeholders, product, engineering, and regulatory bodies while advocating for the user.
- Driving Design Adoption: Championing modern UX practices and design systems across a large organization with established processes.
- Talent Development in AI UX: Ensuring the team has the skills and knowledge to design effective human-AI collaborative experiences.
- Navigating Complex Workflows: Designing intuitive experiences for highly specialized and often complex clinical or research workflows.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- AI UX Specialization: Opportunities to lead the charge in designing for human-AI interaction within the healthcare domain.
- Leadership Development Programs: Access to formal training and mentorship programs for advancing leadership skills within a global corporation.
- Industry Conferences & Training: Support for attending relevant UX, AI, and healthcare technology conferences and workshops.
- Cross-functional Exposure: Gaining deeper insights into product management, data science, and clinical operations through close collaboration.
- Mentorship: Opportunity to be mentored by senior leaders and to mentor emerging talent within the UX field.
π Enhancement Note: The role presents significant challenges related to AI ethics and integration, as well as the complexities inherent in the healthcare industry. These challenges also represent substantial growth opportunities for leaders looking to make a tangible impact.
π‘ Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
- "Describe your approach to defining and evolving UX strategy for a complex product portfolio like Clinical Solutions, particularly with the integration of AI."
- "How would you foster a culture of continuous discovery and data-informed design within your team, and how would you measure its success?"
- "Walk us through a time you had to balance competing stakeholder demands (e.g., product, engineering, clinical) while championing user needs. What was the outcome?"
- "What are the key considerations when designing for human-AI collaboration in a clinical context, and how do you ensure trust and transparency?"
Company & Culture Questions:
- "What interests you most about Elsevier's mission in health and science, and how do you see UX contributing to it?"
- "How do you approach building and mentoring a high-performing UX team, especially one that needs to develop skills in emerging areas like AI UX?"
- "Describe your experience working in regulated industries. What are the unique challenges and considerations for UX design in such environments?"
- "How do you ensure accessibility (WCAG compliance) is a priority throughout the product lifecycle, and what strategies have you used to embed it?"
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- Lead with Impact: Start with your most compelling leadership case study, focusing on strategic decisions, team management, and quantifiable business/user outcomes.
- Detail AI/Healthcare Examples: Ensure at least one case study strongly showcases your experience with AI-driven features or complex healthcare/clinical environments. Clearly articulate the problem, your solution, and the impact.
- Explain Your Process: Be prepared to discuss your team's design process, including how you integrate research, leverage data, and collaborate with other functions.
- Highlight Team Development: Discuss how you supported the growth and development of your team members within your case studies.
- Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, technical understanding, and leadership approach.
π Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on articulating strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and hands-on experience with AI and healthcare UX. Quantifiable results and a clear demonstration of a structured, user-centric process are key.
π Application Steps
To apply for this Manager, UX Design position:
- Submit your application through the provided Workday link.
- Tailor Your Resume: Highlight leadership experience, specific UX strategy development, AI-driven design projects, and any experience in healthcare or regulated industries. Use keywords from the job description.
- Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 strong case studies that best demonstrate your leadership, strategic impact, and expertise in AI and healthcare UX. Ensure they clearly articulate problems, solutions, processes, and quantifiable outcomes.
- Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on your leadership role, strategic vision, and the impact of your team's work. Be ready to discuss your approach to AI and accessibility.
- Research Elsevier & Clinical Solutions: Understand the company's mission, its products (especially in the Clinical Solutions space), and current industry trends in health tech and AI. This will help you tailor your responses during interviews.
β οΈ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.
Application Requirements
Requires 8+ years of UX design experience with at least 2 years in people leadership, preferably in healthcare or regulated environments. Must have a proven track record of leading UX strategy for AI-enabled features and a deep understanding of modern UX methodologies.