UX Design Associate Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Design Associate Manager

Company: PepsiCo

Location: Mexico City, Mexico

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: User Experience (UX) Design & Research

Date Posted: 2026-07-22

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design process for global digital products and services, encompassing research, ideation, conceptualization, design, testing, and validation.

• Act as a system thinker within a collaborative, interdisciplinary team, translating complex inputs into actionable strategies and user-centered designs.

• Champion a strong Product & UX Design culture internally, providing expertise and guidance to colleagues in specialized areas.

• Drive business improvement and tangible outcomes through impactful UX design solutions for critical business areas such as revenue management, supply chain, manufacturing, and logistics.

• Facilitate workshops and collaborate closely with designers, process owners, product owners, and end-users to ensure successful product development and adoption.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is situated within PepsiCo's global Strategy and Transformation group, specifically within the Tech Strategy and Enterprise Products team. The emphasis on "resultant business improvement and outcomes" indicates a strong focus on the ROI and measurable impact of UX design, moving beyond purely aesthetic or functional design to strategic business enablement.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Participate in the entire design lifecycle of digital products and services, from initial user research and problem reframing to ideation, conceptualization, and the creation of low-fidelity and high-fidelity prototypes.

• Plan and conduct comprehensive primary and secondary user research, synthesizing findings into actionable insights, and providing data-based recommendations to guide new solution generation and iteration.

• Apply Human-Centered Design and Design Thinking methodologies to lead the discovery and production of various design deliverables, ensuring a user-centric approach throughout the product development process.

• Plan and co-facilitate internal and external workshops, employing systematic approaches to identify and solve complex problems through design, fostering collaborative innovation.

• Create essential project deliverables, including low and hi-fidelity UI prototypes, designs leveraging a Design System, moderator guides for research, insight reports, and presentations tailored to address specific client challenges.

• Coordinate work activities effectively with digital teams, business units, other IT services, and external partners as required, ensuring seamless project execution.

• Communicate and engage with business stakeholders throughout the UX design process, providing training and knowledge transfer to promote user adoption and understanding.

• Influence product teams and business decisions by presenting data-driven recommendations derived from user research and design insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of individual contribution and team leadership. The emphasis on "system thinker," "internal ambassador," and "stewardship to colleagues" suggests a senior individual contributor role with potential for mentorship and influence beyond direct project tasks. The scope includes not just design but also research, strategy, and stakeholder management, typical of a UX Associate Manager.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for this level, though significant experience can often substitute.

Experience: 6+ years of progressive experience designing digital products and services within multidisciplinary teams, with a proven track record of delivering impactful UX solutions.

Required Skills:

• Deep understanding and practical application of Service Design and UX Design disciplines.

• Proven experience in implementing and facilitating the overall design process, utilizing methodologies such as Process Mapping, User Journey Mapping, User Story Mapping, Wireframing, UI Prototyping, and User Testing.

• Proficiency with industry-standard design and research tools, including Figma, Figma Make, Adobe Creative Suite (CC), and user testing platforms.

• Experience in designing, building, and managing a Design System across a diverse ecosystem of products and services.

• Strong communication and organizational skills, with the ability to effectively manage ambiguity and multiple competing priorities.

• Experience with Agile and SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) methodologies for team collaboration and product development.

• Fluency in using project management and collaboration tools such as Azure DevOps, Jira, and Confluence for workflow tracking and documentation.

• Demonstrated experience in creating a clear project vision, overseeing execution, and ensuring overall quality of design deliverables.

• Experience in planning and conducting user research and user testing sessions, including developing moderator guides and synthesizing findings into actionable artifacts.

• Proven ability to advocate for a User-Centric Design approach to understand user needs, pain points, and desires.

• Experience designing responsive digital products, with a strong emphasis on mobile-first design (native and hybrid applications).

• Experience with workshop planning and facilitation, effectively guiding groups towards collaborative problem-solving and ideation. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the Food & Beverage or Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry.

• Familiarity with data analytics platforms and their integration into UX decision-making.

• Experience with cross-functional leadership and influencing product roadmaps.

• Understanding of enterprise-level digital transformation initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio showcasing "latest works and achievements" is critical. The 6+ years of experience, combined with the responsibilities and preferred skills, suggests this role is a step towards management, requiring not just execution but also strategic thinking, process ownership, and the ability to mentor.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating the full UX design and research process from problem definition to final solution.

• For each case study, clearly articulate the problem statement, user research methodologies employed, key insights derived, design decisions made, and the resulting impact or outcomes.

• Include examples of deliverables such as user journey maps, wireframes, high-fidelity prototypes (ideally interactive), and user testing reports.

• Highlight experience with Design Systems, demonstrating how you've leveraged or contributed to one.

• Quantify achievements whenever possible, using metrics related to user satisfaction, task completion rates, efficiency gains, or business impact. Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate understanding and application of various design process frameworks (e.g., Design Thinking, Lean UX, Agile UX).

• Provide examples of how you've documented user flows, system interactions, and design specifications for development teams.

• Illustrate your approach to iterative design, including how feedback loops are incorporated into the design and development cycle.

• Show experience with tools like Azure DevOps, Jira, or Confluence for tracking design tasks, user stories, and design artifacts within an Agile/SAFe environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on "business improvement and outcomes," the portfolio should strongly emphasize the tangible results of the candidate's work, not just the process or design artifacts themselves. Demonstrating how design decisions led to specific business improvements (e.g., increased revenue, reduced costs, improved efficiency) will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a UX Design Associate Manager role in Mexico City with 6+ years of experience in a multinational corporation like PepsiCo, a competitive salary range can be estimated between MXN $60,000 to MXN $90,000 per month, depending on the specific qualifications, negotiation, and the company's internal compensation bands. This translates to an annual range of MXN $720,000 to MXN $1,080,000.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive learning and development programs with opportunities for daily growth.

• Access to internal digital platforms for self-directed learning.

• Development programs tailored to leadership skills enhancement.

• Specialized training programs aligned with the specific requirements of the UX Design Associate Manager role.

• Learning experiences facilitated by both internal and external providers.

• Robust recognition programs for seniority, exemplary behavior, leadership, and significant life events.

• Financial wellness programs designed to support employees in reaching their financial goals across all life stages.

• A flexible work program designed to promote work-life balance and adapt the working day to individual lifestyles.

• Benefits extended to family members, including a Wellness Line, extensive agreements and discounts, scholarship programs for children, and various aid plans for significant life moments.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are expected to be 40 hours per week, aligning with typical full-time employment. However, PepsiCo's "flexibility program" suggests potential for adaptable scheduling to support work-life balance, though core business hours and team collaboration needs will likely dictate specific daily arrangements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimation is based on general market data for UX Design Managerial roles in major metropolitan areas of Mexico, considering the industry (CPG/Global Enterprise) and the company's size and reputation. Actual compensation may vary. The benefits package is extensive and reflects PepsiCo's commitment to employee well-being and development, which is a significant draw for experienced professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Food & Beverage (Consumer Packaged Goods - CPG). PepsiCo operates as a global leader in the food and beverage industry, known for its expansive portfolio of iconic brands and its commitment to innovation and sustainability. The company's operations span manufacturing, marketing, distribution, and sales across a vast global network.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (over 10,000 employees). As one of the world's largest food and beverage companies, PepsiCo offers extensive opportunities for career growth, exposure to complex business challenges, and the chance to work on a global scale. This size also implies established processes, corporate structures, and a significant digital transformation agenda.

Founded: 1965. PepsiCo has a long-standing history, evolving through mergers and strategic growth. This history suggests a stable, established organization with a deep understanding of its markets, combined with a forward-looking approach to digital innovation as evidenced by the creation of its Strategy and Transformation group.

Team Structure:

• The User Experience Design & Research team is part of the global Strategy and Transformation group, specifically within the Tech Strategy and Enterprise Products team. This positioning indicates a strategic focus on digital product development and data infrastructure, supporting core business functions.

• The team is described as "collaborative" and "interdisciplinary," implying close working relationships with designers, process owners, product owners, and business users.

• The Associate Manager will report into a leadership role within the UX Design & Research team, likely a Director or Senior Manager, and will be expected to provide "stewardship" to colleagues, suggesting a mentorship or lead-designer capacity. Methodology:

• The team operates with a strong emphasis on Human-Centered Design and Design Thinking, ensuring that user needs are at the forefront of product development.

• Agile and SAFe methodologies are employed for team work and product creation, indicating a structured, iterative approach to development and project management.

• Data-driven decision-making is a key component, with an expectation to influence product teams through "data-based recommendations."

• The team is focused on creating "next generation global digital products and data infrastructure," suggesting a forward-thinking, innovative approach to technology solutions.

Company Website: https://www.pepsico.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: PepsiCo's "Perform with Purpose" ethos is central to its culture, emphasizing both business success and positive societal impact. For operations professionals, this translates to roles where efficiency, innovation, and strategic alignment are valued, with a clear connection between digital initiatives and business outcomes.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a UX Design Associate Manager, which is typically a mid-to-senior level individual contributor role with leadership responsibilities. It sits between a senior individual contributor (e.g., Senior UX Designer) and a full management role (e.g., UX Design Manager). The focus is on leading design initiatives, mentoring junior team members, and driving strategic UX outcomes.

Reporting Structure: The Associate Manager will report to a higher-level manager within the UX Design & Research team, likely a Director or Senior Manager. They will work closely with product owners, business stakeholders, and other members of interdisciplinary teams, including designers, developers, and process experts.

Operations Impact: The UX Design & Research team is directly accountable for "resultant business improvement and outcomes." This means the Associate Manager's work will have a tangible impact on key business functions like revenue management, supply chain, manufacturing, and logistics, driving efficiency, cost savings, and revenue growth through optimized digital products and services.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization & Leadership: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific areas of UX design (e.g., research, service design, design systems) and to take on more significant leadership roles within larger projects or initiatives.

• Management Track: Potential progression to a UX Design Manager role, with increased responsibility for team management, strategy development, and stakeholder alignment.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Experience working across diverse business functions and geographies within a global organization, offering broad business acumen and a comprehensive understanding of enterprise-level operations.

• Skill Development: Access to extensive learning and development programs, specialized training, and internal/external learning experiences to continuously enhance UX skills and leadership capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role's strategic placement within the "Tech Strategy and Enterprise Products" team, coupled with the emphasis on business outcomes, suggests that growth will be tied to demonstrable impact and the ability to influence broader digital transformation efforts. This is a prime opportunity for a UX professional looking to bridge design with business strategy and operations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Mexico City, Mexico, and the description implies an on-site or hybrid work arrangement, with a strong emphasis on collaborative work. The office environment likely supports team-based activities, workshops, and close interaction with cross-functional teams.

Office Location(s): The specific office is located at BOSQUES DE LOS DURAZNOS NO. 67, 11700, MIGUEL HIDALGO, CDMX, Mexico. This is a well-established business district in Mexico City, suggesting a professional and accessible work environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role requires close collaboration with designers, process owners, product owners, and business users, indicating a workspace designed to facilitate teamwork, brainstorming, and co-creation.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design and research tools (Figma, Adobe CC, user testing platforms) and project management software (Azure DevOps, Jira, Confluence) is expected, supporting efficient workflow and digital product development.

• Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with both local and potentially global teams is anticipated, fostering a dynamic and interconnected work environment. The "ambassador of the team's culture" aspect suggests a proactive engagement with colleagues.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is typical for a full-time position, PepsiCo's stated commitment to a "flexibility program" suggests that employees may have some degree of autonomy in structuring their workdays, provided business needs and team collaboration are met. This flexibility can be beneficial for operations professionals who may need to manage complex project timelines or data analysis periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site nature of the role in a major business hub like Mexico City suggests a professional corporate setting. The emphasis on collaboration and interdisciplinary work means that the physical workspace likely includes meeting rooms, ideation spaces, and areas conducive to team interaction.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess alignment with the 6+ years of experience, UX/Service Design expertise, and tool proficiency.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion focused on your experience, design philosophy, approach to user research, and understanding of Design Thinking and Human-Centered Design. Expect questions about your role in previous projects and your ability to influence stakeholders.

• Portfolio Presentation: A critical stage where you will present 2-3 detailed case studies from your portfolio. Be prepared to walk through your process, explain your design decisions, highlight key insights, and articulate the business impact of your work.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential peers, product owners, and business stakeholders to assess your collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to work within an Agile/SAFe framework.

• Cultural Fit Assessment: Evaluation of how well your values and working style align with PepsiCo's "Perform with Purpose" ethos and the team's collaborative, data-driven culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Structure your case studies as compelling narratives. Clearly define the problem, your role, the process you followed, the challenges you overcame, and the measurable outcomes achieved.

• Process Depth: Detail your research methodologies and how you synthesized findings into actionable insights. Explain your rationale behind design decisions, referencing user needs and business goals.

• Impact Focus: Quantify your achievements. Use metrics to demonstrate user satisfaction improvements, efficiency gains, or contributions to business objectives. If exact metrics are unavailable, explain the intended impact and how success would have been measured.

• Design System Expertise: If applicable, showcase how you've utilized or contributed to design systems, emphasizing consistency and scalability.

• Tool Proficiency: Briefly mention the tools used in each case study (e.g., Figma for prototyping, Jira for tracking) to demonstrate practical application.

Challenge Preparation:

• Problem-Solving Scenario: Be prepared for a hypothetical design challenge, possibly presented as a case study, requiring you to outline your approach to solving a complex business problem with a digital solution. Focus on your process, research, and strategic thinking.

• Agile/SAFe Understanding: Be ready to discuss your experience working within Agile or SAFe frameworks, including how you manage design tasks, collaborate with development teams, and adapt to iterative development cycles.

• Stakeholder Management: Prepare examples of how you've managed differing opinions, communicated complex design concepts to non-designers, and influenced stakeholders to adopt user-centered approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "Associate Manager" title and the emphasis on business outcomes, expect interview questions to probe your strategic thinking, leadership potential, and ability to connect UX design directly to business value. The portfolio presentation is likely the most crucial part of the evaluation.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Core tool for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency in its advanced features, including component libraries and interactive prototyping, is expected.

• Figma Make: Likely a specific feature or workflow within Figma for team collaboration or design system management.

• Adobe Creative Suite (CC): Broader design capabilities, potentially used for asset creation, illustration, or more complex visual design tasks.

• User Testing Platforms: Tools such as UserTesting.com, Lookback, or Maze for conducting remote or moderated user research and usability testing.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Azure DevOps: For project management, backlog management, and tracking development progress within an Agile/SAFe environment.

• Jira: Similar to Azure DevOps, used for issue tracking, project management, and workflow automation, especially in Agile development contexts.

• Confluence: A wiki-style platform for documentation, knowledge sharing, and creating design specifications, user research reports, and team documentation.

CRM & Automation:

• While not explicitly listed as primary UX tools, understanding how UX design integrates with CRM systems (like Salesforce) and automation platforms can be beneficial for enterprise-level product design. The role focuses on internal enterprise products, so integration with systems supporting revenue management, supply chain, and manufacturing is key.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma, Agile tools (Jira, Azure DevOps, Confluence), and user testing platforms indicates a modern, collaborative, and data-informed design process. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience using these tools to drive efficiency and deliver high-quality digital products.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Perform with Purpose: A core PepsiCo value emphasizing high performance coupled with a commitment to making a positive impact on society and the environment. For UX professionals, this means designing solutions that are not only effective but also responsible and sustainable.

• Data-Driven Decision-Making: A strong emphasis on using data from user research and analytics to inform design decisions, measure impact, and influence stakeholders.

• Collaboration & Interdisciplinarity: A culture that values teamwork and close collaboration across different functions (design, product, business, IT) to achieve shared goals.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: A forward-looking approach that encourages the exploration of new ideas, technologies, and methodologies to create next-generation digital products and optimize existing processes.

• User-Centricity: A fundamental principle of deeply understanding and advocating for the needs, pain points, and desires of users in all design efforts.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect to work closely with product owners, business stakeholders, and IT teams, requiring strong communication and negotiation skills to align diverse perspectives.

• Process Optimization: A culture that encourages the continuous review and optimization of design processes and workflows to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

• Knowledge Sharing: An environment that promotes sharing of best practices, insights, and learnings, particularly through platforms like Confluence and team workshops, to foster collective growth and expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Perform with Purpose" ethos is a key differentiator for PepsiCo. Candidates should be able to articulate how their design work contributes to both business success and broader organizational goals, demonstrating an understanding of the company's mission.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Global & Local Needs: Designing digital products for a global organization like PepsiCo requires balancing standardization with the need to accommodate diverse regional requirements and user behaviors.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Navigating complex stakeholder landscapes with potentially competing priorities across different business units and geographies can be challenging.

• Driving Adoption of New Designs: Ensuring that new digital products and UX improvements are effectively adopted by end-users and integrated into established business processes requires strong change management and communication.

• Measuring ROI of UX: Quantifying the direct business impact and ROI of UX design initiatives can be complex, requiring robust data collection and analytical skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX Methodologies: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specialized areas like service design, journey mapping, and advanced user research techniques.

• Leadership Skills Development: Access to programs designed to enhance leadership capabilities, including strategic thinking, team mentorship, and stakeholder management.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Potential for participation in leading UX and design conferences, as well as pursuing relevant certifications to stay at the forefront of industry trends.

• Mentorship: Opportunities for mentorship from senior leaders within PepsiCo's Strategy and Transformation group, providing guidance on career progression and strategic impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role's focus on enterprise-level products for critical business functions presents significant challenges related to scale, complexity, and integration. Successfully navigating these challenges will be key to professional growth and demonstrating impact within PepsiCo.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to influence a product team or stakeholder to adopt a user-centered design approach when they had conflicting priorities. How did you use data to support your recommendations?" (Focus on data-driven advocacy and stakeholder management.)

• "Walk us through your process for designing a complex digital product from initial concept to launch. How do you ensure the design addresses both user needs and business objectives, especially within an Agile/SAFe framework?" (Highlight your end-to-end process, strategic thinking, and Agile familiarity.)

• "Imagine we need to improve the user experience for our revenue management system. What would be your initial steps, what research methods would you employ, and how would you define success for this project?" (Demonstrate your problem-solving approach, research planning, and outcome-oriented mindset.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about PepsiCo and our 'Perform with Purpose' mission, and how do you see your UX design work contributing to it?" (Show research into the company's values and connect your work to their broader mission.)

• "Describe your experience working in interdisciplinary teams. How do you foster collaboration and ensure effective communication with non-designers?" (Highlight your collaborative skills and ability to bridge communication gaps.)

• "How do you measure the success and business impact of your UX design projects? Can you provide an example?" (Emphasize your understanding of metrics and ROI, linking design to tangible business outcomes.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Frame each case study as a story with a clear beginning (problem), middle (your process, insights, solutions), and end (results/impact).

• Visual Clarity & Conciseness: Use visuals effectively to illustrate your process and deliverables. Avoid overwhelming your audience with too much text; focus on key takeaways.

• Quantify Impact: For each case study, be prepared to discuss the quantifiable results. If precise numbers aren't available, discuss the intended impact and how success was measured or would be measured.

• Role Clarity: Clearly define your specific contribution within each project, especially if it was a team effort.

• Interactive Elements: If presenting prototypes, be ready to demonstrate them interactively to showcase user flows and functionality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely assess not only your technical UX skills but also your strategic thinking, leadership potential, and ability to operate effectively within a large, global enterprise like PepsiCo. Be prepared to discuss how your work drives business value.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Design Associate Manager position:

• Submit your application through the PepsiCo Careers portal via the provided link.

• Tailor your Resume: Optimize your resume to highlight your 6+ years of experience in digital product design, your proficiency in Service Design, UX Design, Human-Centered Design, and your experience with Agile/SAFe methodologies. Use keywords from the job description, such as "Figma," "User Research," "Prototyping," "Design System," and "stakeholder management."

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best demonstrate your end-to-end design process, research capabilities, problem-solving skills, and measurable impact. Ensure each case study clearly articulates the problem, your role, your process, the insights gained, and the outcomes achieved. Prioritize projects that show experience with enterprise-level products or complex business challenges.

• Prepare for the Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your case studies, focusing on clear storytelling, explaining your design rationale, and quantifying results. Be ready to answer in-depth questions about your process and decisions.

• Research PepsiCo: Understand PepsiCo's mission, values ("Perform with Purpose"), and its approach to digital transformation. Familiarize yourself with their product portfolio and any relevant industry trends that might impact their digital strategy.

⚠️ 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.