Manager, UX Product Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Manager, UX Product Design

Company: Phaedon

Location: Minneapolis, MN

Job Type: Salaried Full-Time

Category: UX/Product Design Leadership

Date Posted: May 21, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the definition and execution of the user experience (UX) strategy for Phaedon's core platform, specifically the Tally product, as the first dedicated UX hire.

• Establish and scale robust UX design processes, workflows, and standards within a product and engineering organization new to formal UX practices, driving organizational maturity.

• Influence product strategy and shape future growth by advocating for user-centered design principles across all levels of decision-making and business operations.

• Drive innovation through the exploration and implementation of new UX tools, methodologies, and AI-assisted experiences to enhance product design and research capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a foundational leadership opportunity, emphasizing the establishment of UX practices from the ground up. The "first dedicated UX hire" aspect suggests a significant impact on shaping the company's design direction and processes, requiring strong strategic thinking and implementation skills. The mention of "Tally product" indicates a focus on a specific segment of Phaedon's offerings.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define, articulate, and champion the product UX vision and strategy, ensuring it aligns seamlessly with Phaedon's overarching business objectives and product roadmap.

• Build and operationalize scalable, repeatable UX design processes, including workflows, feedback loops, and design standards, to foster organizational maturity in UX practices.

• Develop and oversee the execution of a comprehensive UX roadmap, ensuring its integration with product development cycles and key company milestones.

• Drive cross-functional initiatives aimed at enhancing the user experience across all product touchpoints, ensuring a cohesive and consistent user journey.

• Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in UX, leading continuous improvement and innovation within the design function.

• Lead the exploration and implementation of new tools, methodologies, and processes to elevate product UX design and research capabilities, including AI-assisted experiences.

• Serve as the primary advocate for product UX, effectively communicating its value to senior leadership and stakeholders to influence high-level strategic decisions.

• Present UX strategies, research findings, and project outcomes to executive leadership, providing data-informed insights that guide product direction.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management and Engineering teams within agile development environments to ensure UX initiatives are prioritized and executed effectively.

• Identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements within UX deliverables without compromising quality.

• Secure essential resources, including necessary tools, software, and training, to support the ongoing development and success of the product and development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, process development, and hands-on execution. The emphasis on "scalability," "organizational maturity," and "establishing processes from the ground up" indicates a need for a proactive and foundational approach, rather than just maintaining existing structures.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science) or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience in UX design, with a significant portion dedicated to strategic leadership and the management of complex, large-scale projects. Demonstrated experience in building or maturing UX practices within a scaling organization is crucial.

Required Skills:

• Strategic UX Leadership: Proven ability to define and drive a product UX vision and strategy aligned with business goals.

• Process Development & Operationalization: Experience in building and implementing scalable design processes, workflows, and standards from scratch.

• Design Tool Proficiency: Expertise in industry-standard design tools, particularly Figma, with a deep understanding of design systems.

• User Research & Insights: Competency in conducting user research, synthesizing findings, and translating them into actionable design recommendations.

• Stakeholder Management & Communication: Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate UX value, present findings, and influence senior leadership and cross-functional teams.

• Agile Collaboration: Experience partnering closely with Product Management and Engineering teams in agile environments.

• Systems Thinking & Problem-Solving: Strong ability to navigate ambiguity, solve complex problems, and drive alignment across diverse teams.

• Portfolio Demonstration: A robust portfolio showcasing strategic UX leadership, innovation, and successful management of large-scale projects.

Preferred Skills:

• Startup/Growth Stage UX Leadership: Experience as the first UX hire or leading UX transformation in a startup or high-growth technology company.

• Industry Experience: Background in marketing technology, customer engagement platforms, or adjacent SaaS industries.

• Collaborative Environments: Experience working in highly collaborative, cross-functional settings with evolving priorities and rapid iteration cycles.

• AI-Assisted Experiences: Experience integrating AI-assisted features, conversational interfaces, or intelligent workflow design into digital products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio that "demonstrates strategic UX leadership" and "successful management of large-scale projects" points towards candidates who can not only design but also lead and influence. The mention of "Claude or other AI tools" is a specific, forward-looking requirement. The distinction between "required" and "preferred" skills helps candidates prioritize their application focus.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Strategic Leadership Examples: Showcase projects where you defined the UX vision, strategy, and roadmap, demonstrating long-term impact.

• Process Maturity Initiatives: Include case studies detailing how you established or matured UX processes, workflows, and design standards in a scaling or new-to-UX environment.

• Design System Development: Present examples of your involvement in creating or significantly contributing to design systems, emphasizing their impact on consistency and efficiency.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Highlight projects that required close partnership with Product Management and Engineering, illustrating your ability to integrate UX into agile development cycles.

• Impact Measurement: Demonstrate how you measured the success of UX initiatives, ideally with quantifiable results or clear articulation of business value derived.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Detail how you have designed and optimized end-to-end UX design and research workflows, including feedback mechanisms and iteration loops.

• Scalability & Repeatability: Provide examples of how you ensured processes are scalable and repeatable to support organizational growth and consistent UX delivery.

• Documentation Standards: Illustrate your approach to documenting design decisions, research findings, and process guidelines for team and organizational knowledge sharing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "establishing scalable design processes" and "organizational maturity" means the portfolio should not just showcase design output but also the strategic thinking and process-building behind it. Demonstrating how the candidate has "built or matured UX practices from the ground up" is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $97,000 - $142,000 per year.

Explanation of Range: This range is estimated based on industry benchmarks for a Manager, UX Product Design role in Minneapolis, MN, considering the specified experience level (5-10 years), the foundational nature of the role (first dedicated UX hire), and the hybrid work model. Factors such as specific skills, a candidate's demonstrated impact, and further negotiation will influence the final offer.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage: Providing robust health insurance options for employees and their families.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO): Encouraging work-life balance and personal well-being.

• Paid Holidays: Recognizing and observing national holidays.

• Paid Parental Leave: Supporting new parents during critical family time.

• Retirement Savings Plans: Offering options for long-term financial planning and security.

• Additional Benefits: The company likely offers other standard benefits, which may include life insurance, disability coverage, and professional development opportunities.

Working Hours: Standard 40 hours per week, with a hybrid work model requiring three in-office days per week in Minneapolis.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided based on the information in the job description. The explanation emphasizes the factors considered, including location, experience, and the unique context of being the first UX hire. The benefits listed are directly extracted from the job description, highlighting standard offerings for full-time employees.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: SaaS / Technology (with potential focus on Marketing Technology or Customer Engagement Platforms based on preferred qualifications).

Company Size: Not explicitly stated, but the need for a "Manager, UX Product Design" as a "first dedicated UX hire" and emphasis on "scaling organization" suggests a growing company, likely in the startup to mid-size range (e.g., 50-500 employees). This implies a dynamic environment where an individual can significantly influence processes and culture.

Founded: Not specified, but the company's focus on building out a UX function suggests a phase of strategic growth and product development.

Team Structure:

• The role will likely operate within or closely with the Product and Engineering departments.

• As the first dedicated UX hire, the individual will be responsible for building out the UX function, potentially leading to future team growth.

• Collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially Marketing and Sales teams will be extensive.

Methodology:

• Agile product development methodologies are explicitly mentioned.

• A strong emphasis on user-centered design and data-informed decision-making is expected.

• The company is in a growth phase, likely focusing on iterative development, rapid prototyping, and continuous improvement.

• There's an intent to integrate AI tools into the UX process, indicating a forward-thinking approach to technology adoption.

Company Website: wearephaedon.com (Inferred from domain)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context is inferred from the job description's emphasis on building a UX practice from scratch. This suggests a company that values innovation and is investing in user experience as a key differentiator, likely operating in a competitive SaaS market.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a management-level position focused on establishing and leading a critical function (UX Design) within the product development lifecycle. It represents a significant step into strategic leadership, with the potential to build and manage a team.

Reporting Structure: The Manager, UX Product Design will likely report to a senior executive such as the Head of Product, VP of Product, or CTO. This direct reporting line signifies the strategic importance of this role to the company's leadership.

Operations Impact: The UX Product Design Manager will have a direct and profound impact on the usability, desirability, and overall success of Phaedon's core platform, particularly the Tally product. By ensuring a user-centered approach, this role will influence customer acquisition, retention, satisfaction, and ultimately, revenue growth through improved product adoption and engagement.

Growth Opportunities:

• Team Building & Leadership: Opportunity to build and lead a UX design team as the company scales, establishing the design culture and hiring future talent.

• Strategic Influence: Shape the long-term product vision and UX strategy, influencing key business decisions at the executive level.

• Process Innovation: Develop and implement cutting-edge UX processes and methodologies, potentially incorporating advanced AI applications into the design workflow.

• Career Advancement: Potential to advance into a Director or Head of Design role as the UX function matures within the organization.

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of UX, such as advanced AI-driven design, complex SaaS user interfaces, or establishing design systems for growth-stage companies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth analysis focuses on the leadership and foundational aspects of the role. The "first dedicated UX hire" status is a significant growth opportunity, allowing the candidate to define their domain and potentially build a department.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in the Designer’s Guild building in Minneapolis' North Loop neighborhood, suggesting a modern, potentially vibrant office setting.

Office Location(s): Minneapolis, MN.

Workspace Context:

• Hybrid Model: The company embraces a hybrid work model, requiring three in-office days per week. This fosters a balance between collaborative in-person work and the flexibility of remote work.

• Collaborative Environment: The office setting and hybrid model are designed to facilitate collaboration, team cohesion, and spontaneous idea exchange among Product, Engineering, and UX teams.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools (Figma) and potentially other necessary software and hardware to support UX design and research activities.

Work Schedule: The role is salaried full-time, with an expected 40-hour work week. The hybrid model provides flexibility on remote workdays, while in-office days are structured for collaborative activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of the office and hybrid model suggests a company that values both in-person collaboration and employee flexibility, aiming to create an engaging and productive work environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess alignment with the role's requirements, particularly your experience in establishing UX practices and strategic leadership.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A deep dive into your experience, leadership philosophy, and approach to building UX functions. Expect questions about your portfolio and specific examples of strategic UX initiatives.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Product Management and Engineering to evaluate collaboration style, understanding of agile development, and ability to integrate UX into product cycles.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where you will present key projects from your portfolio, focusing on strategic impact, process development, and problem-solving. Be prepared to discuss your role, challenges, solutions, and outcomes.

• Executive Interview: A final discussion with senior leadership (e.g., Head of Product, CTO) to assess strategic alignment, cultural fit, and overall vision for UX at Phaedon.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate the business problem, your strategic approach, the UX process followed, your specific contributions, and the measurable impact on users and the business.

• Process Focus: Emphasize how you established or improved UX processes, designed workflows, and implemented standards, especially if you have experience building UX from the ground up.

• Leadership Demonstration: Showcase instances where you influenced product strategy, advocated for users, and managed complex initiatives.

• Tool Proficiency: Briefly mention the tools used (Figma, AI tools) and how they facilitated your work.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to present a curated selection of your strongest work that directly addresses the requirements of this role.

Challenge Preparation:

• Process Design Exercise: You may be asked to outline a proposed UX process for a hypothetical scenario or to improve an existing one, demonstrating your ability to operationalize UX.

• Strategic Thinking Questions: Prepare to discuss how you would approach defining a UX vision for a new product or feature, or how you would measure and communicate UX success in a growing organization.

• Stakeholder Alignment Scenarios: Be ready to discuss how you would handle disagreements or align priorities with Product Management and Engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to assess not only design skills but also strategic leadership, process-building capabilities, and cross-functional collaboration, which are critical for a foundational role like this.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Mandatory for UI design, prototyping, and potentially design system management. Expect proficiency in advanced features, component libraries, and collaborative workflows.

• AI Tools (e.g., Claude): Specifically mentioned for UX and UI research and optimization. This suggests leveraging AI for tasks like user feedback analysis, content generation, or identifying design patterns.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other advanced prototyping tools may be beneficial depending on specific project needs.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Platforms (e.g., Mixpanel, Amplitude, Google Analytics): Essential for understanding user behavior, tracking feature adoption, and measuring the impact of UX changes.

• User Feedback Tools (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform, in-app feedback widgets): For gathering qualitative insights and direct user input.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a UX tool, understanding how UX integrates with CRM (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Marketo) can be beneficial for a holistic product view.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and AI tools like Claude is critical. This signals the company's current and future technology focus. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with these specific tools and how they leverage them in UX practice.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs as the driving force behind product decisions.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: Utilizing analytics, research, and feedback to guide strategy and design choices.

• Collaboration & Communication: Fostering an environment of open dialogue, shared ownership, and effective communication across all departments.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Encouraging exploration of new ideas, technologies, and methodologies to enhance product value and user experience.

• Scalability & Efficiency: Building processes and solutions that can grow with the company while optimizing resource utilization.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role requires seamless collaboration with Product Management and Engineering, operating within an agile framework where UX is an integrated partner, not an afterthought.

• Proactive Advocacy: The UX Manager will need to proactively engage with stakeholders, present findings, and champion user needs to ensure they are prioritized.

• Feedback Culture: An environment that encourages constructive feedback on designs and processes, promoting iterative improvement and shared learning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a proactive, collaborative, and user-focused approach, which is essential for a foundational UX role in a growing company.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Establishing UX from Scratch: Building a formal UX practice, defining processes, and educating an organization unfamiliar with UX principles presents a significant challenge.

• Influencing Product Strategy: Gaining buy-in and integrating UX insights into high-level product and business decisions in a potentially engineering- or product-led environment.

• Balancing Strategic Vision with Execution: Defining a long-term UX vision while also driving immediate product development cycles and delivering tangible results.

• Resource Allocation: Securing necessary tools, budget, and potentially future team members in a growing company.

• Navigating Ambiguity: Operating in a dynamic, scaling environment where priorities can shift and processes are still evolving.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Organizational Design: Opportunity to design the structure and processes of a new UX function.

• Strategic Impact: Directly shape the user experience of a core product and influence company-wide product strategy.

• Leadership Development: Gain experience in building and managing a team, developing leadership skills.

• Industry Trends: Stay at the forefront of UX innovation, particularly in AI-driven design and SaaS product development.

• Mentorship: Potential to receive mentorship from senior leadership and to mentor future UX hires.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges identified are directly related to the "first dedicated UX hire" context, requiring adaptability and strong foundational skills in process creation and stakeholder management.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach defining a UX vision and strategy for Phaedon's Tally product, given you are the first dedicated UX hire?" (Prepare to discuss frameworks, research methods, and alignment with business goals.)

• "Describe your process for building and scaling UX design practices from the ground up within a product and engineering organization." (Focus on repeatable workflows, standards, and adoption strategies.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What are your thoughts on Phaedon's hybrid work model, and how would you foster collaboration within a hybrid environment?" (Relate to your experience and proposed strategies for team engagement.)

• "How do you see AI tools like Claude being leveraged effectively in UX design and research, and what's your experience with them?" (Be specific about applications and your proficiency.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Foundation: Highlight projects where you established processes, defined strategies, or led significant UX initiatives from conception to implementation.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, present metrics demonstrating the business value of your UX work (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced support tickets, increased engagement).

• Strategic Rationale: Clearly articulate why you made certain design decisions, linking them back to user needs and business objectives.

• Process & Collaboration: Detail your UX process and how you collaborated with Product and Engineering. Showcase your ability to work within agile frameworks.

• Concise Storytelling: Be prepared to present 2-3 key projects that best exemplify your strategic leadership and ability to build UX functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, process-building capabilities, and a proactive, collaborative leadership style, aligning with the foundational nature of the role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Manager, UX Product Design position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the rippling.com ATS.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature examples of strategic UX leadership, process development, and experience in scaling or establishing UX practices. Tailor case studies to highlight how you've driven impact in similar environments.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 5+ years of UX design experience, emphasizing leadership responsibilities, process-building achievements, and proficiency with Figma and AI tools. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your UX strategy, process design methodology, and stakeholder management approach. Prepare a compelling presentation of your key portfolio projects, focusing on strategic impact and quantifiable results.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Phaedon, its Tally product, and its industry (SaaS, potentially MarTech/Customer Engagement). Understand their business goals and how UX can contribute to their growth and success.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions to provide a comprehensive overview. All details, including specific responsibilities, requirements, and company culture aspects, should be verified directly with Phaedon during the application and interview process.