Principal UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal UX Designer - Design Operations

Company: Relias LLC (Bertelsmann-Jobs)

Location: Morrisville, North Carolina, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Operations (Design Operations / Product Operations)

Date Posted: 2026-09-18T15:42:09.779

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (Approx. 2 days/week in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• This Principal UX Designer role is pivotal in optimizing and scaling product operations, specifically focusing on User Experience (UX) design processes and workflows across Relias' product portfolio.

• The position requires a strategic leader to enhance efficiency, improve data-driven decision-making, and ensure seamless collaboration between UX, Product Management, Engineering, and other key stakeholders.

• A core function is to lead process innovation, implement strategic initiatives, and proactively drive operational excellence within the product organization, with a strong emphasis on UX design practices.

• The role will involve owning and standardizing UX processes, templates, and operating models to enable consistent and efficient execution at scale, ensuring UX is deeply integrated into the product development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role blends traditional Principal UX Design responsibilities with a strong emphasis on Product Operations and Design Operations. The "Design Operations" aspect is central, focusing on the efficiency, scalability, and strategic implementation of UX practices rather than solely on individual design execution. The AI-generated keywords and responsibilities confirm this focus on process, systems, and operational excellence within the UX domain.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and standardize UX processes, templates, and operating models to enable consistent, efficient execution at scale across the product portfolio.

• Scale and operationalize UX practices across the entire product development lifecycle, ensuring UX is consistently integrated into discovery, planning, and delivery workflows.

• Identify and remove process bottlenecks to enhance team productivity and streamline the UX design workflow.

• Enable and support research operations, including the coordination of research activities, artifact standardization, and improved insight reuse to maximize learning.

• Utilize data-driven methodologies to evaluate user experience design success, identify improvement areas, and provide actionable recommendations for enhancement.

• Drive strong cross-functional alignment across UX, Product Management, and Engineering, ensuring UX work is effectively integrated into overall product planning and execution.

• Ensure data accessibility and transparency for decision-making by collaborating closely with User Experience, Product Management, and Engineering teams.

• Own the definition, tracking, and reporting of key performance indicators (KPIs) across product and product operations initiatives to measure effectiveness and impact.

• Lead the adoption and optimization of product tools, dashboards, and documentation to drive efficiency and alignment, with a primary focus on User Experience Design tools like Figma.

• Own the User Experience Design System and Design Patterns, scaling best practices to designers and product managers to ensure consistency and efficiency.

• Execute vendor and budget coordination for User Experience initiatives, including tools and external partners, in alignment with Product Operations leadership.

• Embed AI into core UX workflows in ways that measurably improve speed and decision quality, by partnering with Product and UX teams.

• Serve as a subject matter expert in accessibility, ensuring UX practices, processes, and deliverables align with accessibility standards and are consistently applied across all teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strategic, operational leadership focus within the UX domain. The emphasis on "owning," "standardizing," "scaling," "driving," and "leading" points to a senior role focused on building and optimizing the frameworks within which UX operates, rather than just executing designs.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's Degree required.

Experience: 10+ years of experience in user experience design, product operations, or operational roles supporting product and engineering teams, with a primary focus and extensive experience in design.

Required Skills:

• Extensive experience working cross-functionally with user experience, product, engineering, and customer teams to drive operational improvements.

• Advanced knowledge of modern user experience design methodologies.

• Advanced knowledge of accessibility in modern products and ensuring compliance with standards.

• Strong operational and analytical skills, with a proven track record of improving complex workflows and implementing scalable processes.

• Experience with OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), KPI tracking, and strategic planning in a product-led environment.

• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to effectively influence cross-functional teams.

• Excellent problem-solving, organization, and communication skills.

• Applied AI literacy: Ability to identify where AI can improve product workflows, define guardrails, and scale usage responsibly.

• Proficiency in wireframing to solve complex design challenges and communicate intricate design ideas, such as complex user journeys.

• Proficiency in design and prototyping tools such as Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD, or similar.

• Strong understanding of user-centered design principles and methodologies.

• Systemic Thinking: Ability to understand and analyze the interconnectedness and interdependencies within a whole system.

• Collaboration: Ability to work effectively and harmoniously with others towards a common goal, fostering an inclusive and productive work environment.

• Change Management: Ability to effectively plan, implement, and navigate organizational or individual transitions and changes.

• Data Literacy: Ability to read, write, and communicate data in context, understanding data sources, analytical methods, and translating data into meaningful business and product insights.

• Innovation: Ability to generate, champion, and implement creative ideas and solutions that improve processes and drive organizational effectiveness.

• UX Operations & Design Systems: Ability to establish, govern, and scale UX operational practices, design systems, research operations, standards, tools, and workflows to ensure consistency, efficiency, accessibility, and high-quality user experiences. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the healthcare or human services industry.

• Experience with managing design systems and scaling their adoption.

• Experience in defining and tracking UX-specific metrics and operational KPIs.

• Familiarity with AI tools and their application within UX workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications list is extensive and emphasizes both deep UX expertise and strong operational acumen. The inclusion of "Applied AI literacy," "Systemic Thinking," "Data Literacy," and "Innovation" as explicit requirements indicates a forward-thinking approach to the role, pushing beyond traditional UX responsibilities. The emphasis on "UX Operations & Design Systems" is a key differentiator for this specific role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a track record of optimizing and scaling UX processes and workflows, showcasing examples of standardization and efficiency gains.

• Include case studies that illustrate the successful implementation of design systems, accessibility standards, or research operations frameworks.

• Showcase examples of driving cross-functional alignment and collaboration through well-defined processes and communication strategies.

• Present evidence of using data-driven methodologies to measure UX effectiveness, identify bottlenecks, and recommend improvements, ideally with quantifiable results. Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of standardized UX templates, operating models, or workflow documentation that have been implemented to improve consistency and efficiency.

• Detail how you have documented and scaled research operations, including artifact management and insight reuse strategies.

• Showcase your approach to documenting and maintaining design systems, including governance models and adoption strategies.

• Illustrate how you have documented process improvements and their impact on team productivity and product delivery velocity.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on Design Operations, a portfolio that emphasizes process, systemization, and measurable impact is crucial. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate not just their design skills, but their ability to build and optimize the operational infrastructure that supports design teams.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $110,000 - $156,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Fantastic health and wellness benefits package.

• Outstanding 401k match.

• Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) program.

• Generous and inclusive parental leave policy.

• Relias pays for the employee portion of the monthly healthcare premium.

• Flexible work environment with onsite and work-from-home options.

• Active Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).

• Comprehensive onboarding program.

• Growth and career advancement opportunities, including multiple development program options (leadership development, professional development curriculums, Nanodegree options in technology and data science).

• Professional development gained from conference attendance and participation in organizations like NC Tech.

• Onsite 321 Coffee Shop providing free coffee and pastries to employees.

Working Hours: Typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility on work location.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a strong indicator of a Principal-level role requiring significant experience and specialized operational expertise. The benefits package is comprehensive, with a notable emphasis on healthcare and professional development, aligning with a focus on employee growth and well-being.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare Technology / Software (EdTech for Healthcare). Relias provides learning and compliance solutions for healthcare organizations to improve clinical and financial outcomes.

Company Size: Relias serves over 11,000 organizations and has a significant employee base (implied by the need for scaling operations and robust benefits).

Founded: Relias has been operating long enough to have established a substantial product portfolio and a need for sophisticated product operations.

Team Structure:

• The Principal UX Designer - Design Operations will work within the broader Product organization, collaborating closely with UX Designers, Product Managers, and Engineering teams.

• This role is positioned to influence operational strategies across these functions.

• The role reports into Product Operations leadership, indicating a structured approach to managing product development processes. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasis on using data to evaluate UX success, identify improvement areas, and guide strategic planning.

• Process Optimization: Focus on standardizing, scaling, and removing bottlenecks in UX workflows.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong requirement for alignment and integration with Product and Engineering.

• User-Centered Design: Core principle guiding UX practices, ensuring products meet user needs.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Encouragement to generate new ideas, experiment, and re-evaluate existing practices.

Company Website: https://www.relias.com/ (Inferred from context)

📝 Enhancement Note: Relias operates in a critical sector (healthcare) where reliability, compliance, and quality are paramount. This context influences the operational rigor expected in product development and UX. The company's mission to "change lives" suggests a culture that values impact and dedication.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Principal. This level signifies a senior individual contributor role with significant influence, strategic responsibility, and the expectation of thought leadership in Design Operations and Product Operations. The focus is on defining strategy and building frameworks rather than just executing tasks.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into Product Operations leadership, indicating a clear line of accountability and integration within the broader product operations function. This structure allows for strategic alignment and impact across multiple product teams.

Operations Impact: This role directly impacts the efficiency, scalability, and quality of UX design across Relias' product portfolio. By optimizing processes and systems, it enables faster product delivery, better user experiences, and more informed decision-making, ultimately contributing to improved clinical and financial outcomes for Relias' clients.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Design Operations: Opportunity to build and shape the Design Operations function at Relias, establishing best practices and strategic direction.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Develop advanced stakeholder management and influencing skills by working across Product, UX, and Engineering.

• Skill Expansion: Deepen expertise in areas like AI integration in UX, advanced accessibility standards, and data-driven product strategy.

• Professional Development: Access to leadership development programs, professional curriculums, and Nanodegrees in technology and data science, as well as conference attendance.

• Advancement: Potential to move into senior leadership roles within Product Operations or UX leadership as the function matures.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Principal" title, coupled with the "Design Operations" focus, suggests a role that is both highly specialized and strategically positioned to drive significant change and efficiency within the product organization. Growth opportunities are geared towards strategic leadership and specialized skill development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, requiring approximately 2 days per week in the Morrisville, NC Headquarters. This suggests a collaborative office environment designed for team interaction, alongside the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): Morrisville, North Carolina Headquarters. This location is specified as the primary site for in-office work, implying a central hub for team collaboration and management interaction.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and office presence are designed to foster collaboration, team cohesion, and direct interaction with management for professional development.

• Tools & Technology: Access to design and prototyping tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD), and potentially other product operations and analytics platforms, will be crucial. The role will also focus on optimizing the use of these tools.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with UX designers, Product Managers, Engineers, and Product Operations leadership, facilitating knowledge sharing and coordinated efforts.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is implied, the emphasis on flexibility in the "work environment" section suggests a focus on results and efficiency rather than strict adherence to hours, a common trait in operations roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role indicates a balance between in-person collaboration, which is often valued for strategic discussions and team building, and remote flexibility. The requirement to be in NC suggests a need for local presence for certain types of collaboration and management oversight.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience and fit for a Principal-level Design Operations role.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion focused on your experience in UX design, operations, process optimization, and leadership capabilities. Expect questions about your approach to scaling UX.

• Portfolio Review: A deep dive into your portfolio, where you will be expected to present case studies that highlight your impact on process improvement, efficiency gains, design system implementation, and data-driven decision-making. Focus on the "operations" aspects of your work.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with peers and stakeholders from Product Management, Engineering, and potentially other UX team members to assess collaboration style, communication, and ability to influence.

• Executive/Senior Leadership Interview: Final discussion to assess strategic thinking, cultural fit, and alignment with Relias' mission and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Emphasize Operations: Showcase projects where you optimized processes, implemented design systems, improved efficiency, or standardized workflows. Quantify the impact whenever possible.

• Process-Centric Case Studies: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your operational approach, the tools and methodologies used, the challenges faced, and the measurable outcomes.

• Showcase Systemic Thinking: Highlight examples where you considered the broader system, interconnectedness of teams, and long-term scalability of your solutions.

• Data & Metrics: Present how you used data (KPIs, OKRs, user feedback) to inform your operational decisions and demonstrate success.

• Accessibility as a Process: Demonstrate how you embed accessibility considerations into operational workflows, not just as a design output.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for scenario-based questions asking how you would approach specific operational challenges, such as scaling UX research, implementing a new design tool, or improving cross-functional alignment.

• Practice articulating your strategic vision for Design Operations and how it aligns with business objectives.

• Review Relias' products and understand their user base and industry challenges to tailor your responses.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Design Operations" means interviewers will be looking for a candidate who can think strategically about how UX operates within a larger organization, not just how to design a great user interface. The portfolio is a critical tool to demonstrate this operational capability.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (primary focus), Sketch, Adobe XD. Proficiency in at least one is required, with Figma being a key tool for design system and workflow optimization.

• Wireframing Tools: Essential for communicating complex user journeys and design ideas.

Analytics & Reporting:

• KPI/OKR Tracking Tools: Experience with systems for defining, tracking, and reporting on Key Performance Indicators and Objectives and Key Results is essential for measuring operational success.

• Data Analysis Tools: Ability to utilize data to evaluate UX effectiveness and identify improvement areas. Specific tools not listed, but proficiency in interpreting data is key.

CRM & Automation:

• Product Management Tools: Familiarity with tools used in product development lifecycle management (e.g., Jira, Confluence) is implied for cross-functional integration.

• Documentation Platforms: Tools for standardizing and sharing documentation, templates, and operating models.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and the broader requirement for proficiency in design and prototyping tools are central. The role also heavily relies on data literacy and the ability to leverage tools for tracking KPIs and OKRs, reflecting the operational nature of the position.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Efficiency & Scalability: A core value is optimizing processes to ensure they are repeatable, scalable, and efficient across the product portfolio.

• Data-Driven Approach: Decisions are guided by data and measurable outcomes, ensuring that operational strategies are effective and impactful.

• Collaboration & Alignment: Fostering strong partnerships across UX, Product, and Engineering is paramount to ensure seamless integration and shared success.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: A culture that encourages creative problem-solving, experimentation, and ongoing refinement of processes and practices.

• User-Centricity: Maintaining a focus on delivering high-quality user experiences that meet customer needs, even within an operational framework.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive & Influential: Expected to proactively engage with stakeholders, provide strategic direction, and influence decision-making.

• Process-Oriented: Collaborates by defining clear processes, standards, and shared workflows to facilitate smooth operations.

• Transparent & Communicative: Ensures clear communication of data, insights, and operational changes to all relevant parties.

• Empowering: Aims to empower design and product teams by providing them with the tools, processes, and frameworks to succeed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on data, efficiency, and collaboration aligns perfectly with the core tenets of operations roles. The expectation for proactive influence and process orientation is key for a Principal-level position.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling UX Operations: Establishing and scaling robust UX operational processes across a growing product portfolio requires strategic planning and execution.

• Cross-Functional Buy-in: Gaining and maintaining alignment and buy-in from diverse teams (UX, Product, Engineering) on new processes and standards.

• Integrating AI Responsibly: Identifying and implementing AI tools and workflows in a way that enhances efficiency without compromising creativity or user experience quality.

• Balancing Standardization with Flexibility: Creating standardized processes that are efficient yet adaptable enough to accommodate unique project needs.

• Measuring Operational Impact: Defining and tracking meaningful metrics to demonstrate the ROI of Design Operations initiatives.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design Operations Specialization: Deepen expertise in building and leading Design Operations functions.

• AI in UX: Explore and implement cutting-edge AI applications within design workflows.

• Strategic Planning & Execution: Hone skills in OKR setting, KPI management, and strategic initiative implementation.

• Leadership Development: Access to programs focused on leadership, professional development, and advanced technical skills (e.g., Nanodegrees in tech/data science).

• Industry Engagement: Opportunities to attend conferences and participate in industry organizations like NC Tech.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a Design Operations leader tasked with building and refining operational frameworks. The growth opportunities are well-aligned with developing strategic leadership and specialized skills in modern operational domains.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach standardizing UX processes across multiple product teams with varying needs and maturity levels?" (Focus on your framework, communication, and change management strategy).

• "Describe a time you identified a significant bottleneck in a product development workflow. What steps did you take to resolve it, and what were the results?" (Highlight your analytical, problem-solving, and process improvement skills).

• "How do you define and measure the success of UX operations initiatives? What KPIs or OKRs would you prioritize for this role?" (Demonstrate your data literacy and understanding of operational metrics).

• "What is your strategy for embedding AI into core UX workflows, and what guardrails would you establish?" (Showcase your applied AI literacy and responsible innovation mindset). Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding of Relias, what do you see as the biggest opportunity for Design Operations to impact the business?" (Research Relias' mission, products, and market position).

• "How would you foster collaboration and alignment between UX, Product Management, and Engineering teams in a hybrid work environment?" (Emphasize your communication and stakeholder management skills).

• "Describe your experience with design systems. How would you approach governing and scaling a design system across a large organization?" (Showcase your expertise in UX operations and systems thinking). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Operations: For each case study, clearly delineate the "Operational Challenge," your "Operational Solution," and the "Operational Impact" (quantified results).

• Focus on Process, Not Just Pixels: While visual outcomes are important, emphasize the process you implemented or improved, the systems you leveraged or built, and the efficiency gains achieved.

• Data Storytelling: Use visuals and clear language to present metrics, KPIs, and data insights that demonstrate the value of your operational contributions.

• Scalability Narrative: Explain how your solutions were designed for scalability and long-term sustainability.

• Accessibility Integration: Show how accessibility was integrated into your operational processes and design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should heavily lean into the "Design Operations" aspect, showcasing strategic thinking, process optimization, and cross-functional leadership rather than solely design execution. The portfolio is the primary tool for demonstrating these operational capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal UX Designer - Design Operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters.

• Curate Your Portfolio for Operations Impact: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature projects demonstrating your expertise in process optimization, design system implementation, scaling UX workflows, and data-driven decision-making. Quantify your achievements whenever possible.

• Optimize Your Resume for Operations Keywords: Ensure your resume highlights keywords such as "Design Operations," "Product Operations," "Process Standardization," "Workflow Optimization," "Scalability," "KPIs," "OKRs," "Cross-functional Collaboration," "Change Management," and specific tools like "Figma."

• Prepare Your Narrative for Process Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies, focusing on the operational challenges, your strategic approach, the implementation details, and the measurable impact of your work. Be ready to discuss how you drove efficiency and scalability.

• Research Relias and the Healthcare Tech Landscape: Understand Relias' mission, products, and how Design Operations can contribute to their success in the healthcare technology sector. Be prepared to discuss industry-specific challenges and opportunities.

⚠️ 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.

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