Senior UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer

Company: Focus Consulting

Location: United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Digital Services Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-21

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end UX and UI design for a critical public-facing digital service, ensuring user-centricity and accessibility.

• Drive the creation of intuitive interfaces for a Family Portal and Case Management System, supporting families with child care financial assistance applications.

• Collaborate within a cross-functional agile team, bridging the gap between complex workflows and user-friendly design solutions.

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of a design system, ensuring consistency and efficiency across digital products.

• Champion accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA) throughout the design and implementation lifecycle, potentially contributing to VPAT documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior UX Designer," the responsibilities and context of supporting a government client with a case management system suggest a strong overlap with operations and product delivery. The emphasis on accessibility, translating complex workflows, and collaborating with engineering for implementation points to a role that requires not just design aesthetic but also a deep understanding of process and system integration, aligning it with the broader "operations" umbrella in a digital services context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete UX and UI design lifecycle, from initial concept and wireframing to high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes for stakeholder review.

• Develop and maintain a robust component library within an evolving design system, ensuring scalability and adherence to brand guidelines.

• Translate intricate case management, eligibility determination, and intake workflows into clear, accessible, and highly usable interfaces for diverse user groups.

• Partner closely with front-end engineers to guarantee accurate design implementation, providing thoughtful adjustments when technical constraints arise.

• Actively support accessibility reviews and contribute to achieving WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance, with a strong preference for experience in producing or contributing to Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs).

• Participate actively in agile ceremonies including sprint planning, daily stand-ups, design reviews, and stakeholder demonstrations, providing design insights and feedback.

• Operate with a degree of autonomy within a lean design team, demonstrating resourcefulness and the ability to take on adjacent tasks to ensure project success.

• Design for multilingual or multi-audience platforms, ensuring inclusivity and effective communication across different user segments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility of "translating complex workflows into clear, accessible, and usable interfaces" is a core operations function within product design. It requires understanding business processes and user journeys to optimize them digitally. This goes beyond mere aesthetics and delves into process efficiency and user enablement, key aspects of operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for senior roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of professional UX and UI design experience, with a demonstrated track record of launching and maintaining digital products. Experience working directly with front-end developers in an agile setting is crucial.

Required Skills:

• 5+ years of comprehensive UX and UI design experience, showcasing strong visual design sensibility and systems thinking in a portfolio.

• Proven experience in launching and maintaining digital products through collaboration with development teams, understanding agile implementation and technical feasibility.

• Working knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA) and practical application in design, not just theoretical understanding.

• High proficiency in Figma, including advanced use of components, auto-layout, and interactive prototyping features.

• Demonstrated comfort and effectiveness in agile development environments with iterative feedback loops and rapid design cycles.

• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale clearly and persuasively to non-designer stakeholders. Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience designing for public services, government agencies, or civic tech projects at the federal, state, or local level.

• Familiarity with VPAT documentation or Section 508 compliance requirements and processes.

• Experience designing for multilingual platforms or diverse user audiences.

• Hands-on experience with design systems at a component and token level, contributing to their evolution and governance.

• Familiarity with case management workflows and their digital implementation.

• Exposure to trauma-informed design principles or research methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "systems thinking," "design systems," and "agile implementation" highlights the operations-centric nature of this design role, requiring an understanding of how design integrates into the broader product development and delivery lifecycle.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating a minimum of 5 years of UX/UI design work, with clear examples of end-to-end product design.

• Showcase projects that highlight strong visual design sensibility and robust systems thinking, illustrating how designs scale and remain consistent.

• Include case studies of digital products launched and maintained, detailing your collaborative process with front-end developers and agile teams.

• Provide evidence of designing for accessibility, with specific examples of WCAG 2.1 AA compliance considerations in your work.

• Demonstrate proficiency in Figma through examples of component usage, auto-layout, and interactive prototypes. Process Documentation:

• For each portfolio project, clearly articulate the design process followed, from discovery and ideation to final handoff.

• Detail how complex workflows were analyzed and translated into user-friendly interface designs.

• Illustrate your collaboration process with engineering teams and how design adjustments were managed due to technical constraints.

• If applicable, provide examples of your contribution to accessibility documentation or VPATs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio demonstrating "systems thinking," "launching and maintaining digital products," and "collaboration with developers" implies a need to showcase an understanding of the operational aspects of design delivery, not just the creative output.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $90,000 - $120,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Full-time employment with a long-term engagement (minimum 12 months).

• Fully remote work arrangement within the United States.

• Opportunity to work on meaningful projects impacting real families and public services.

• Collaborative and fast-paced agile team environment.

• Potential for growth and development within the consulting engagement and on government/civic tech projects.

• Access to a strong engineering and product management team for collaborative problem-solving.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, estimated at 40 hours per week. While remote, adherence to project timelines and participation in agile ceremonies will be expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is typical for a Senior UX Designer in the US market, particularly for remote roles. The $90K-$120K range aligns with the experience level (5-10 years) and the specialized nature of government/civic tech projects. The "long-term engagement" aspect suggests a stable, project-based employment structure rather than a typical corporate benefits package, but Focus Consulting may offer additional benefits.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The engagement is within the Government & Public Sector industry, specifically supporting the Executive Office of Education (EOE) for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Focus Consulting operates within the broader Technology, Consulting, and Software sectors.

Company Size: Focus Consulting is a growing firm, likely employing between 50-200 professionals, typical for a specialized digital services consultancy. This size allows for a lean, agile team structure within client engagements.

Founded: Focus Consulting was founded in 2015, bringing a decade of experience in delivering digital solutions. This history suggests a mature understanding of client service and project management in complex environments.

Team Structure:

• You will be embedded within a cross-functional agile team, comprising engineers, a product manager, and a lean design team (including yourself).

• The design team operates with some autonomy, necessitating resourcefulness and the ability to manage adjacent tasks.

• Collaboration is key, with a strong emphasis on problem-solving rather than friction when technical constraints require design adjustments. Methodology:

• The engagement follows an agile methodology, with regular sprint ceremonies, design reviews, and stakeholder demos.

• Rapid prototyping and a "show don't tell" approach are valued for stakeholder feedback.

• Accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA) is a core requirement, integrated into the design and development process.

• The team is lean, particularly in user research support, emphasizing self-sufficiency and efficient workflow design.

Company Website: https://focusconsulting.io/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by a focus on delivering impactful digital services for public sector clients, emphasizing agility, collaboration, and a problem-solving mindset. The lean team structure requires individuals to be proactive and adaptable.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as Senior UX Designer, indicating a level of expertise and autonomy beyond junior or mid-level positions. It requires significant experience (5+ years) and the ability to "own" design processes from start to finish. In a broader operational context, this role contributes to the efficient delivery of digital services by ensuring user adoption and system usability.

Reporting Structure: You will report to a Product Manager within the cross-functional agile team and likely have dotted-line reporting or oversight from design leadership within Focus Consulting. Close collaboration with engineers is a daily expectation.

Operations Impact: Your work will directly impact the usability and accessibility of a system used by real families, caseworkers, and child care providers. Successful design implementation means improved access to child care financial assistance, streamlining complex government processes, and enhancing user experience for a critical public service. This has a direct operational impact on government efficiency and citizen support.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization in Civic Tech: Deepen expertise in designing for government and public sector challenges, a growing and impactful field.

• Accessibility Leadership: Become a go-to expert for accessibility compliance (WCAG 2.1 AA, VPATs) within the team and potentially the consultancy.

• Design System Contribution: Grow your skills in contributing to and evolving design systems, a critical component of scalable digital operations.

• Cross-functional Skill Development: Gain deeper insights into agile product management and engineering workflows through close collaboration.

• Project Leadership: As a senior member, you'll have opportunities to mentor junior designers and lead design initiatives within engagements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies a mentorship capacity and a role in shaping design processes, which are elements of operational leadership within a design function. The focus on government projects also offers a unique career path in civic technology.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a Fully Remote position, allowing you to work from anywhere within the United States.

Office Location(s): While the client is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts EOE, the role is remote and not tied to a specific physical office. Focus Consulting may have a home office, but it's not relevant for this telecommuting position.

Workspace Context:

• You will be working within a fully remote, digital-first environment, requiring strong self-discipline and effective use of online collaboration tools.

• The team utilizes Figma extensively, implying access to robust digital design and prototyping software.

• Collaboration will primarily occur through video conferencing, instant messaging, and project management platforms.

• The environment is described as "fast-paced" and requires resourcefulness due to limited dedicated user research support.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time (estimated 40 hours/week). While remote, adherence to the project's agile sprint schedule, including participation in daily stand-ups and sprint ceremonies, will be critical. Flexibility within the workday is likely, but meeting core team availability is essential for effective collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature of this role necessitates excellent self-management and communication skills, which are crucial for any remote operations role. The emphasis on digital tools and asynchronous collaboration is standard for modern remote work environments.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Design Exercise/Case Study: You may be asked to complete a design exercise or present a case study from your portfolio that demonstrates your approach to solving complex problems, designing accessible interfaces, and working within an agile framework.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with the Product Manager, engineering leads, and potentially other stakeholders to evaluate your technical skills, collaborative abilities, and cultural fit. Expect questions about your process, how you handle constraints, and your experience with public services.

• Background Check & Credentialing: If selected, you will undergo a background check (CORI) and credentialing review, a standard requirement for working with Massachusetts state systems.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your role, the process you followed, and the measurable impact or outcome of your design.

• Showcase Process: Include wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups. Explain your design decisions and how they address user needs and business objectives.

• Emphasize Accessibility: Dedicate specific examples or a section to how you incorporated accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA) into your designs. Mention any VPAT contributions.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Show examples of how you worked with engineers, product managers, and stakeholders. Discuss how you handled feedback and technical constraints.

• Figma Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss your Figma workflow, component usage, and prototyping capabilities.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Research the Commonwealth of Massachusetts EOE and the goals of the Family Portal and Case Management System. Understand the challenges faced by families applying for child care assistance.

• Practice Presenting: Be ready to walk through your portfolio projects, explaining your design rationale, process, and outcomes concisely and persuasively.

• Prepare for Accessibility Questions: Be ready to discuss WCAG 2.1 AA standards and how you apply them.

• Anticipate Technical Constraints: Think about how you would approach design challenges when faced with technical limitations, emphasizing problem-solving and compromise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The inclusion of a background check and credentialing is a critical operational step for government-related roles, highlighting the unique requirements of public sector engagements. The focus on presenting a portfolio with an emphasis on process and impact is standard for senior design roles but especially important here given the complexity of the system.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for wireframing, UI design, component creation, auto-layout, and interactive prototyping. Proficiency is a core requirement.

• Design System Tools: Experience with building, maintaining, or contributing to design systems at a component and token level.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other prototyping tools may be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly a design tool, understanding how design choices impact user behavior metrics is crucial. Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude) and dashboard tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) to understand user engagement and conversion data would be advantageous. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the UX Designer role, but understanding how the Family Portal and Case Management System interfaces with underlying CRM or case management backend systems would be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma as a primary tool is critical. For a UX Designer, proficiency in the core design and prototyping software is as fundamental as proficiency in CRM or ERP systems for operations roles.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of families, caseworkers, and child care providers.

• Accessibility: Designing for inclusivity and ensuring that all users can access and utilize the system effectively, adhering to WCAG 2.1 AA standards.

• Collaboration: Working effectively within a cross-functional agile team, fostering open communication and shared problem-solving with engineers and product managers.

• Impact-Driven: Focusing on delivering meaningful results that improve public services and streamline complex government processes.

• Resourcefulness & Autonomy: Embracing a lean team environment by being proactive, adaptable, and capable of working independently.

• Problem-Solving: Approaching technical constraints and design challenges with a solution-oriented mindset.

Collaboration Style:

• Agile Integration: Participating actively in all sprint ceremonies and providing design input throughout the development cycle.

• Cross-functional Partnership: Building strong working relationships with engineers and product managers, ensuring seamless design-to-development handoff and continuous feedback loops.

• Transparent Communication: Regularly sharing design rationale, progress, and potential challenges with the team and stakeholders.

• Iterative Design: Embracing feedback from stakeholders and users to refine designs through rapid prototyping and testing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a blend of user advocacy, technical collaboration, and a focus on operational efficiency, which are hallmarks of successful teams in the digital services and government sectors.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Complex Workflows: Translating intricate government processes (case management, eligibility) into simple, intuitive user experiences.

• Limited User Research Resources: Operating effectively within a lean design team that may not have dedicated user researchers, requiring resourcefulness in gathering insights.

• Balancing Accessibility with Functionality: Ensuring WCAG 2.1 AA compliance is met without compromising the core functionality or usability of the system.

• Technical Constraints: Adapting designs to fit technical limitations while still meeting user needs and project goals.

• Government/Civic Tech Nuances: Navigating the specific requirements, stakeholders, and approval processes common in public sector projects.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Civic Tech Expertise: Gain extensive experience in the unique challenges and rewards of designing for government and public services.

• Become an Accessibility Champion: Develop advanced skills in accessibility design and compliance, potentially leading to roles in accessibility consulting or auditing.

• Master Design Systems: Contribute to and help govern a growing design system, enhancing your skills in scalable design operations.

• Agile Product Development: Hone your understanding of agile methodologies and cross-functional team dynamics.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and influence the design direction within the engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the operational complexities of public sector digital services, requiring adaptability and strong problem-solving skills. The growth opportunities focus on specialization within a critical and growing sector.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Scenario-Based: "Describe a time you had to translate a complex government workflow into a user-friendly interface. What was your process, and what were the outcomes?" (Focus on process, problem-solving, and impact.)

• Collaboration & Constraint Handling: "How do you collaborate with engineers when technical constraints require significant design changes? Provide an example." (Highlight your problem-solving approach and communication skills.)

• Accessibility Design: "Walk me through how you ensure WCAG 2.1 AA compliance in your designs. What tools or methods do you use?" (Demonstrate your understanding and practical application of accessibility standards.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• Motivation: "Why are you interested in working on public services/civic tech projects, specifically with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts?" (Show genuine interest in the mission.)

• Team Dynamics: "How do you contribute to a lean, agile team, especially when user research support is limited?" (Emphasize your resourcefulness and proactive approach.)

• Design Philosophy: "What does 'systems thinking' mean to you in the context of UX design?" (Connect your understanding to design systems and scalable solutions.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, the process, the solution (show visuals!), and the results/impact.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use data or metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved completion rates, reduced errors, increased user satisfaction).

• Highlight Accessibility: Dedicate time to explain specific accessibility considerations and solutions implemented in your projects.

• Show Figma Skills: Be prepared to discuss your Figma workflow, component library management, and prototyping capabilities.

• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice your presentation to ensure it's clear, engaging, and fits within the allotted time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation emphasizes showcasing not just design skills but also an understanding of the operational realities of product development, public sector work, and agile methodologies.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Ashby link: https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/focus/800c7e7b-4111-48f1-b9ab-3b9cb3835bf4

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight your 5+ years of UX/UI design experience, specific Figma proficiency, and any experience with accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA), government/civic tech, or case management systems. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio clearly showcases your systems thinking, visual design skills, end-to-end design process, and collaboration with developers. Include specific examples of accessibility considerations and ideally, contributions to VPATs or similar documentation.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through 1-2 key portfolio projects, focusing on process, impact, and how you handled challenges, particularly those related to complex workflows or technical constraints.

• Research Focus Consulting and the Client: Understand Focus Consulting's mission and their work with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts EOE. Familiarize yourself with the goals of the Family Portal and Case Management System to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding.

⚠️ 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.