Senior Manager, UX Product Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Manager, UX Product Design

Company: Phaedon

Location: Minneapolis, MN

Job Type: SALARIED_FT

Category: UX/Product Design Leadership

Date Posted: June 01, 2026

Experience Level: 7+ Years (Mid-Senior to Senior Level)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

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

• Establish scalable and repeatable design processes, fostering organizational maturity in UX practices.

• Drive product strategy by ensuring UX is a foundational consideration in all business and product decisions.

• Act as the primary advocate for user-centered design principles across the organization, influencing senior leadership and stakeholders.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management and Engineering teams in an agile development environment to deliver exceptional user experiences for complex B2B SaaS products.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as the first dedicated UX hire for the Tally product, indicating a critical need to build and mature the UX function from the ground up. The "Senior Manager" title suggests a blend of hands-on design leadership and strategic operationalization of design processes. The focus on B2B SaaS and enterprise software implies a need for robust design thinking around complex workflows, data visualization, and business operations support.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and articulate a clear product UX vision and strategy, ensuring strong alignment with Phaedon's overarching business objectives and product roadmap.

• Spearhead UX initiatives, setting ambitious long-term goals and providing clear direction to ensure all projects contribute meaningfully to company objectives.

• Build, operationalize, and maintain a scalable UX design process, including repeatable workflows, feedback mechanisms, and design standards suited for a growing organization.

• Develop and manage a comprehensive UX roadmap that integrates seamlessly with product development cycles and key company milestones.

• Foster a pervasive user-centered culture throughout Phaedon, championing UX principles at all levels of decision-making and cross-functional collaboration.

• Drive innovative UX solutions by staying abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices, encouraging continuous evolution and experimentation.

• Lead the exploration and adoption of new tools, methodologies, and processes that enhance product UX design and research capabilities.

• Conduct thorough retrospectives and post-project reviews to identify areas for improvement, implement lessons learned, and iteratively refine design practices.

• Serve as the principal spokesperson for product UX, effectively communicating its value proposition to senior leadership, stakeholders, and cross-functional teams.

• Present UX strategies, research findings, and project outcomes to executive leadership, providing data-driven insights to inform high-level strategic decisions.

• Collaborate intensely with Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and other departments to ensure seamless integration of UX into business strategy and product execution.

• Identify opportunities for operational efficiencies and cost savings within the UX function without compromising deliverable quality.

• Secure essential resources, including necessary tools, software, and professional development opportunities, to support the product and development teams' ongoing growth and success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize building foundational UX processes and strategy, which is typical for an early-stage UX leader in a growing tech company. The emphasis on "operationalize," "scalable," and "repeatable workflows" highlights the need for a candidate who can architect and implement systems, not just create designs.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in UX design, with a significant track record of leading multiple initiatives and complex projects.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience designing sophisticated B2B SaaS or enterprise software products, with a focus on data-rich applications and multi-step workflows.

• Deep expertise in user-centered design principles and methodologies, including user research, usability testing, information architecture, and interaction design.

• Mastery of industry-standard design tools, particularly Figma, and extensive experience working with and contributing to design systems.

• Competency in leveraging AI tools, such as Claude, for UX/UI research, ideation, and optimization.

• Demonstrated ability to influence product strategy and executive decision-making through compelling user insights, research findings, and data-informed design recommendations.

• Experience building and maturing UX practices within scaling organizations, including establishing processes, workflows, and design standards from scratch.

• Strong systems thinking and analytical problem-solving skills, with the capacity to navigate ambiguity and drive consensus across diverse teams.

• Proven experience leading end-to-end UX initiatives, from initial discovery and user research through prototyping, testing, implementation, and iterative refinement.

• Adept at partnering closely with Product Management and Engineering teams within agile development environments.

Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience serving as the first UX hire or leading significant UX transformation initiatives within a startup or high-growth technology company.

• Familiarity with marketing technology (MarTech), customer engagement platforms, or related SaaS industries.

• Experience working in highly collaborative, cross-functional environments characterized by evolving priorities and rapid iteration cycles.

• Experience integrating cutting-edge technologies such as AI-assisted experiences, conversational interfaces, or intelligent workflow design into digital products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 7 years of experience combined with the "first dedicated UX hire" context suggests the company is looking for a leader who can not only design but also build the entire UX function. The emphasis on "complex B2B SaaS" and "data-rich, multi-step workflows" points towards a need for strategic thinking in operational and business-critical software. The mention of "Claude or other AI tools for UX and UI research" is a forward-looking requirement.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing strategic UX leadership, innovation, and the successful management of large-scale, complex projects.

• Evidence of building and operationalizing scalable UX design processes, including specific examples of workflows, standards, and feedback loops implemented.

• Case studies demonstrating end-to-end UX ownership, from initial problem definition and user research to final implementation and measurable impact.

• Examples of how UX insights and research findings have directly influenced product strategy and executive decision-making.

• Demonstrations of proficiency with design tools like Figma and experience with established design systems.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of established and repeatable UX design processes, highlighting how they were implemented and scaled within a product/engineering organization.

• Documentation of user research methodologies, synthesis of findings, and how these insights were translated into actionable design recommendations.

• Artifacts demonstrating collaboration with Product Management and Engineering, such as user journey maps, wireframes, prototypes, and user flow diagrams created within agile sprints.

• Evidence of driving continuous improvement through retrospectives, post-project reviews, and the implementation of lessons learned.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are critical for this role, as they need to demonstrate not just design talent but also the ability to build and scale a UX function. Candidates should be prepared to articulate the "how" behind their process implementations and showcase tangible results.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $100,000 - $160,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO).

• Paid Holidays.

• Paid Parental Leave.

• Retirement Savings Plans.

• Other benefits as typically offered by a growing technology company.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with a hybrid work arrangement requiring 3 days in the Minneapolis office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range of $100,000-$160,000 for a Senior Manager, UX Product Design in Minneapolis, MN, aligns with industry benchmarks for experienced professionals in leadership roles within the tech sector. This range is competitive for a mid-to-large sized city in the Midwest, considering the hybrid work model and the scope of responsibilities.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Software (likely SaaS, given the role focus). Phaedon appears to be a growing tech company, with the Tally product likely serving business operations needs.

Company Size: Not explicitly stated, but the mention of being the "first dedicated UX hire on Phaedon’s Tally product" suggests a startup or early-stage growth environment where the company is scaling its operations and functions.

Founded: Founded in 2019 (based on company URL domain derived from logo: wearephaedon.com, and assuming it's a relatively recent founding for a "scaling organization"). This implies a company with established products but likely still building out its core teams and processes.

Team Structure:

• The UX team is nascent, with this role being the first dedicated UX hire for the Tally product. This leader will likely build and shape the UX function.

• Close collaboration with Product Management and Engineering is a key structural element.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on agile product development cycles.

• A drive to define and operationalize scalable design processes, moving from ad-hoc to structured workflows.

• Focus on data-driven decision-making, integrating user insights and research into strategic planning.

• Continuous improvement through retrospectives and iterative design.

Company Website: https://wearephaedon.com/ (derived from domain)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context is crucial for understanding the role's impact. As the first dedicated UX hire for the Tally product, this individual will have significant autonomy and responsibility for shaping the UX strategy and processes. The company's growth stage likely means a dynamic environment with opportunities for significant influence.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a senior management level within the UX/Product Design discipline. It requires not only strong individual design capabilities but also strategic leadership, process development, and the ability to influence organizational direction. It’s a pivotal role for someone looking to build a function and have a direct impact on product strategy.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, this role likely reports into a Head of Product, VP of Product, or potentially a CTO, given the emphasis on influencing product strategy and working closely with engineering. The "Senior Manager" title suggests they will be responsible for initiating and potentially growing a UX team in the future.

Operations Impact: The UX leader's impact will be directly tied to the user adoption, satisfaction, and efficiency of the Tally product. By defining a strong UX strategy and processes, this role will influence product success, customer retention, and ultimately, revenue growth by improving user productivity and decision-making capabilities within the B2B SaaS platform.

Growth Opportunities:

• Team Building: Opportunity to build and lead a UX team from its early stages, defining hiring needs and team structure.

• Strategic Influence: Shape the future of product UX at Phaedon, establishing best practices and influencing the company's overall product vision.

• Domain Expertise: Deepen expertise in B2B SaaS, specifically within marketing technology or similar enterprise software domains.

• Leadership Development: Grow leadership skills by managing projects, influencing stakeholders, and potentially managing direct reports.

• Process Innovation: Architect and implement foundational design processes that will serve the company long-term.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth potential is significant, especially for someone who thrives in building and establishing functions. The role offers a unique opportunity to define the UX trajectory of a product and potentially the broader organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Minneapolis, MN, in the "Designer’s Guild building in the heart of Minneapolis' North Loop neighborhood." This suggests a modern, well-located office space.

Office Location(s): Minneapolis, MN.

Workspace Context:

• Hybrid Model: The company embraces a hybrid model, requiring 3 in-office days per week. This promotes a balance between collaborative in-person work and individual flexibility.

• Collaborative Environment: The office setting is intended to foster collaboration, which is essential for a role that requires close partnership with Product Management and Engineering.

• Tools & Technology: While specific tools are listed (Figma, AI tools), the environment will likely be equipped with standard technology infrastructure to support design and development workflows.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility expected due to the hybrid model and the nature of product development cycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with specific in-office days is a key aspect of the work environment, requiring candidates to be comfortable with a structured blend of remote and in-office work. The location in a desirable Minneapolis neighborhood is also a plus.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess alignment with the core requirements, particularly experience in B2B SaaS, UX strategy, and process building.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager (likely Head of Product or similar) focusing on your strategic approach to UX, leadership style, and experience in establishing design functions.

• Portfolio Presentation & Deep Dive: A dedicated session where you will present your portfolio, showcasing key projects, your role, the challenges faced, solutions implemented, and the impact achieved. Be prepared to discuss your process for building scalable UX frameworks.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Product Management and Engineering to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and understanding of agile development.

• Executive/Leadership Interview: A final conversation with senior leadership to evaluate strategic thinking, cultural fit, and alignment with company vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Strategy & Impact: Beyond showcasing visual design, emphasize your strategic thinking, problem-solving approach, and the business impact of your UX initiatives.

• Highlight Process Building: Since this is a foundational role, explicitly detail your experience in defining, implementing, and scaling UX processes, workflows, and design systems.

• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your projects (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced support tickets, increased user satisfaction scores).

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies to narrate the problem, your approach, the challenges, your solutions, and the outcomes, connecting them to business goals.

• Demonstrate Leadership: Showcase instances where you've influenced stakeholders, advocated for users, and led cross-functional efforts.

Challenge Preparation:

• Process Design Exercise: Be prepared for a hypothetical scenario where you might be asked to outline how you would establish UX processes for a new product or team.

• Strategic UX Thinking: Anticipate questions about how you would define the UX vision for the Tally product or how you would approach user research in a B2B SaaS context.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Prepare to discuss how you would gain buy-in from Product and Engineering for UX initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize the candidate's ability to build and lead a UX function. Candidates should prepare to articulate their experience in process development and strategic influence, using their portfolio as evidence.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Expect advanced usage in creating and managing design systems.

• AI Tools (e.g., Claude): Required for UX/UI research, ideation, and optimization. This indicates a forward-thinking approach to leveraging AI in the design process.

• Prototyping Tools: Implicitly required, likely integrated within Figma or other specialized tools for creating interactive prototypes.

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: Proficiency in tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar to track user behavior, feature adoption, and UX impact.

• Data Visualization Tools: Ability to translate data into insights, potentially using tools integrated with analytics platforms or BI tools.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot): While not directly a UX tool, understanding how UX impacts CRM workflows and customer journeys is beneficial.

• Project Management Tools (e.g., Jira, Asana): Essential for working within agile development cycles and managing design tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and AI tools for UX/UI research highlights the specific technical proficiencies expected. Candidates should be ready to discuss their experience with these and related tools in the context of B2B SaaS product development.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for user needs across all product development stages.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on cross-functional teamwork, open communication, and shared ownership with Product and Engineering.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: A drive to explore new ideas, leverage emerging technologies (like AI), and constantly refine processes and deliverables.

• Impact-Driven: Focus on delivering measurable business outcomes through effective UX design and strategy.

• Process Orientation: Building robust, scalable, and repeatable processes to ensure consistency and efficiency in a growing organization.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership: Working closely with Product Management to define requirements and strategy, and with Engineering to ensure feasibility and successful implementation.

• Advocacy: Championing UX principles and user needs to all stakeholders, including senior leadership.

• Feedback Integration: Actively seeking and incorporating feedback from various teams and users to iteratively improve designs.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting best practices and insights across the organization to elevate the overall understanding of UX.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to value a blend of autonomy and collaboration, with a strong emphasis on building foundational processes and driving impact through user-centricity and innovation.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Building from Scratch: Establishing UX processes, standards, and a user-centered culture as the first dedicated UX hire for the Tally product.

• Navigating Ambiguity: Working in a scaling organization with potentially evolving priorities and undefined processes.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Gaining buy-in and ensuring seamless collaboration with Product and Engineering teams who may be new to formal UX methodologies.

• Demonstrating ROI: Clearly articulating and quantifying the value and impact of UX initiatives to senior leadership and stakeholders.

• Balancing Innovation and Execution: Keeping pace with industry trends while ensuring timely delivery of essential product features.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Foundational UX Leadership: Opportunity to define and build a UX function, gaining invaluable experience in organizational design and process implementation.

• Strategic Product Influence: Directly shape the strategic direction of a key product and contribute to the company's overall growth trajectory.

• Deep B2B SaaS Expertise: Gain specialized knowledge in designing for complex business operations, data analytics, and enterprise workflows.

• Mentorship & Team Growth: Potential to mentor junior designers (as the team grows) and develop leadership skills in a supportive, high-growth environment.

• Technology Integration: Hands-on experience integrating AI and other emerging technologies into UX design processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are significant but come with substantial growth potential. This role is ideal for a proactive leader who enjoys building and shaping functions.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe how you would approach building a scalable UX design process from the ground up for a product like Tally, given you are the first dedicated UX hire." (Focus on methodology, phases, stakeholder involvement, and iteration.)

• "How would you define the UX vision for the Tally product, and how would you ensure its alignment with Phaedon's business goals?" (Emphasize user research, market analysis, and strategic alignment.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you see as the biggest UX challenges and opportunities for a growing SaaS company like Phaedon?" (Show your understanding of the industry and company stage.)

• "How do you foster a user-centered culture within product and engineering teams?" (Discuss collaboration, advocacy, and education strategies.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, perhaps by project or by theme (e.g., Process Building, Strategic Impact).

• Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role and responsibilities, the process you followed, your design decisions (and the rationale behind them), the challenges encountered, the solutions implemented, and the final outcomes/impact.

• Highlight Process & Strategy: Specifically call out instances where you established new processes, influenced strategy, or worked through complex operational challenges.

• Tool Proficiency: Briefly demonstrate your proficiency with tools like Figma, and mention your experience with AI tools in relevant contexts.

• Engagement: Be prepared for questions and discussions; engage with the interviewers to demonstrate your collaborative approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, process-building capabilities, and a deep understanding of B2B SaaS UX challenges. The portfolio presentation is a key opportunity to showcase these skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Manager, UX Product Design position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Rippling ATS.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience in B2B SaaS, UX strategy development, process operationalization, and leadership roles. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 strong case studies that best demonstrate your ability to lead UX strategy, build scalable processes, and deliver impact in complex software environments. Ensure it clearly showcases your strategic thinking and leadership.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your experience and portfolio projects, focusing on the "why" and "how" behind your decisions, and emphasizing your impact on business outcomes.

• Research Phaedon: Understand Phaedon's mission, the Tally product, and their target market. Consider how UX can best serve their business objectives and customer needs.

⚠️ 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.