UX Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Design Manager

Company: 95 PERCENT GROUP LLC

Location: Remote, US

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design Management

Date Posted: 2026-05-18

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic direction and execution of user experience (UX) design for a digital learning ecosystem focused on transforming educational outcomes.

• Champion user-centered design methodologies, ensuring all product development is informed by deep understanding of user needs and educational efficacy.

• Drive collaboration across product management, engineering, curriculum development, and learning science teams to deliver intuitive, evidence-based, and impactful learning experiences.

• Ensure designs meet stringent accessibility standards (WCAG) and cater to diverse learner populations, including those with varying needs and abilities.

• Utilize data analytics, user feedback, and efficacy research to continuously iterate on product design, measure impact on learning outcomes, and drive product improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a management-level UX Design position with a strong emphasis on educational technology (EdTech) and a mission-driven focus on improving student learning outcomes. The ideal candidate will blend strong UX leadership with a deep understanding of learning science and pedagogical principles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• UX Strategy and Product Design Leadership: Guide the holistic design process for instructional learning products, encompassing user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, visual design, and implementation support.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with product managers, engineers, instructional designers, curriculum specialists, and learning scientists to align design vision with technical feasibility, pedagogical soundness, and learning objectives.

• User Research and Insights: Conduct and synthesize qualitative and quantitative user research with diverse user groups (K-12 students, educators, administrators, parents) to identify pain points, validate design hypotheses, and inform product strategy.

• Usability and Efficacy Testing: Plan and execute usability testing sessions, analyze results, and translate feedback into actionable design improvements that enhance user satisfaction and learning effectiveness.

• Accessibility and Inclusive Design: Champion and implement accessibility best practices (WCAG 2.1 AA or higher) ensuring products are usable by all learners, including those with disabilities.

• Design System and Best Practices: Establish, maintain, and advocate for design systems, style guides, and UX best practices to ensure consistency, efficiency, and quality across the digital learning ecosystem.

• Stakeholder Communication and Advocacy: Effectively present design rationale, tradeoffs, user insights, and recommendations to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders, building consensus and driving buy-in.

• Data-Driven Iteration: Leverage product analytics, user feedback loops, and efficacy research data to continuously refine and optimize user experiences and measure the design's impact on key learning outcomes.

• Complex System Design: Design intuitive and efficient user interfaces and workflows for complex systems, including multi-role platforms, dashboards, and intricate user journeys.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, hands-on design oversight, and a strong focus on educational impact. The emphasis on "Design for Efficacy" and "Iterate Based on Data" suggests a need for a candidate who can connect design decisions directly to learning outcomes and business objectives.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in User Experience (UX) design.

• At least 3 years of dedicated experience within the EdTech sector, designing for educational products or platforms.

Required Skills:

• UX Design Methodologies: Deep understanding and practical application of user-centered design principles, design thinking, and agile development processes.

• Design Tools Proficiency: Expertise in industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar platforms.

• User Research & Testing: Demonstrated ability to conduct various forms of user research (interviews, surveys, contextual inquiry) and usability testing.

• Accessibility Standards: Strong knowledge of WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and experience designing for accessibility compliance.

• Communication & Presentation: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex design concepts, user insights, and strategic recommendations to diverse audiences, including non-designers.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with product management, engineering, curriculum development, and other stakeholders.

• Learning Science Principles: Foundational understanding of learning science, pedagogy, and how these principles translate into effective digital learning experiences.

Preferred Skills:

• Instructional Design Background: Experience or formal training in instructional design principles and adult learning theory.

• Data-Driven Design: Familiarity with A/B testing methodologies and experience using product analytics (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) to inform design decisions.

• EdTech Platform Experience: Experience with Learning Management Systems (LMS), educational assessment platforms, or other K-12 digital learning tools.

• Educational Compliance: Understanding of educational regulations such as FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act).

• System & Workflow Design: Experience designing complex, multi-user platforms, dashboards, or intricate workflow management systems.

• Literacy Education Expertise: Specific background or knowledge in literacy instruction and its application in educational technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a blend of core UX skills, specific EdTech experience, and a nuanced understanding of educational principles. The "Preferred Qualifications" suggest that candidates with a deeper specialization in education or data-driven product development will have a competitive edge.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies Demonstrating Impact: Showcase 3-5 comprehensive case studies that detail the end-to-end design process for digital learning products. Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, key decisions, and measurable outcomes.

• User-Centered Design Process: Highlight your approach to user research, persona development, user journey mapping, information architecture, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing.

• Problem-Solving and Iteration: Demonstrate how you tackled complex design challenges, iterated based on feedback, and arrived at effective solutions that met user needs and business objectives.

• Visual Design and Prototyping: Include examples of high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes, showcasing your proficiency with design tools and your ability to create engaging user interfaces.

• Accessibility Considerations: Explicitly show how accessibility (WCAG) was integrated into your design process and final deliverables.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Provide examples of how you have designed and optimized complex user workflows for educational platforms or similar systems, emphasizing efficiency and user clarity.

• System Architecture Understanding: Illustrate your ability to design for complex systems, potentially including dashboards, multi-role user accounts, or integrated educational tools.

• Data-Informed Design: Showcase how you've used data (user analytics, A/B test results, efficacy research) to inform design decisions and drive product improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX Design Manager role, the portfolio is critical. It should not only showcase design skills but also strategic thinking, leadership potential, and the ability to connect design work to tangible educational outcomes and user impact. Strong case studies demonstrating problem-solving and iterative design are paramount.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $130,000 - $140,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match.

• Paid time off (PTO), including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

• Professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and certifications relevant to UX and EdTech.

• Opportunities to contribute to a mission-driven organization focused on improving educational outcomes.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses.

• Remote work flexibility and support.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, estimated at 40 hours per week, with flexibility for remote work. Core collaboration hours will likely be aligned with US time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a UX Design Manager role with this level of experience and specialization in the US market. Benefits are typical for a full-time remote position, with a strong emphasis on professional development, aligning with the advanced nature of this role.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Educational Technology (EdTech), Literacy Instruction, Professional Development.

Company Size: The provided LinkedIn data indicates a company size of "50-200 employees" for 95 PERCENT GROUP LLC. This suggests a mid-sized organization, offering a balance between established processes and the agility for innovation.

Founded: 2005. This indicates a company with over 15 years of experience in the literacy sector, suggesting a stable foundation and deep market understanding.

Team Structure:

• Design Team: Likely a growing UX/Product Design team that may include other designers, researchers, and potentially UX writers, reporting up through product or engineering leadership.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role emphasizes close partnership with Product Management, Engineering, Curriculum Development, and Learning Science teams. This suggests a collaborative, team-oriented environment where design is integrated early and often.

• Reporting: The manager will likely report to a Director or VP of Product, Design, or Engineering, indicating a senior position within the product development hierarchy.

Methodology:

• User-Centered Design: A core methodology, expecting designers to deeply understand and advocate for users (students, educators).

• Evidence-Based Design: Emphasis on learning science, efficacy research, and data analytics to validate design decisions and measure impact on learning outcomes.

• Agile Development: Likely operates within an agile framework, requiring designers to work iteratively and adapt to changing requirements.

• Data-Driven Iteration: Continuous improvement based on analytics and user feedback is a key operational approach.

Company Website: https://www.95percentgroup.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on literacy and educational outcomes suggests a mission-driven culture. The size and founding date imply a company that has matured beyond startup phase but still retains a focus on growth and innovation. The emphasis on collaboration and evidence-based design are key cultural indicators for operations professionals.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a management position within the UX Design discipline, representing a significant step in a UX professional's career. It moves beyond individual contribution to encompass strategic direction, team leadership, and cross-functional influence.

Reporting Structure: The UX Design Manager will likely report to a senior leader within the product or technology organization (e.g., Director of Product Management, VP of Engineering, or Head of Design). They may also have direct reports (junior designers or researchers) as the team grows.

Operations Impact: The UX Design Manager is pivotal in shaping the user experience of a digital learning ecosystem designed to improve educational outcomes. Their work directly impacts student learning, teacher effectiveness, and the company's mission to close achievement gaps. Success in this role is measured not just by design quality, but by the efficacy and adoption of the products.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to build and mentor a design team, develop leadership skills, and shape the company's design culture.

• Strategic Influence: Play a key role in defining the product vision and roadmap, influencing the direction of educational technology.

• Deep EdTech Specialization: Become an expert in the intersection of UX, learning science, and K-12 literacy, a highly valuable niche.

• Impactful Work: Directly contribute to improving educational outcomes for thousands of students, offering significant personal and professional fulfillment.

• Potential for Advancement: Advancement could lead to roles such as Senior Manager of Design, Director of Product Design, or other leadership positions within product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for career progression for experienced UX designers looking to move into management and strategic leadership within a mission-critical industry. The growth opportunities are tied to both leadership development and domain expertise.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position, indicating a commitment to flexible work arrangements and a distributed workforce.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, the company headquarters is in Lincolnshire, IL (northwest suburban Chicago). This may influence some team meetings or occasional in-person events, though the primary expectation is remote work.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Collaboration: Expect to utilize a range of digital collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Teams, Miro, Figma) to communicate and work with colleagues across different locations and time zones.

• Technology Access: As a remote role, access to reliable internet and a suitable home office setup is essential. The company will likely provide necessary software licenses and potentially hardware.

• Team Interaction: While remote, there will be opportunities for virtual team-building activities, design critiques, and knowledge-sharing sessions to foster a connected team environment.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time (40 hours/week) with flexibility inherent in remote work. However, candidates should be prepared to align with core business hours for key meetings and collaborative sessions, likely centered around US time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature of this position is a significant aspect of the work environment, catering to candidates who value flexibility and autonomy. The focus will be on effective digital collaboration and asynchronous communication.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio, detailing 1-2 key projects. This typically involves explaining the problem, their process, design decisions, challenges, and outcomes. Expect to discuss how you've applied user-centered design and learning science principles.

• Technical/Design Interview: A more in-depth discussion or a design exercise focused on UX principles, problem-solving, and EdTech considerations. This might involve a take-home assignment or a live collaborative design session.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Product Management, Engineering, and Curriculum teams to assess collaboration skills, communication, and understanding of their respective domains.

• Hiring Manager / Leadership Interview: A final discussion with the hiring manager or senior leadership to assess strategic thinking, leadership potential, cultural alignment, and overall fit for the role and company mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the measurable impact of your designs on user behavior, learning outcomes, or business goals. Quantify achievements whenever possible.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies as narratives that highlight your problem-solving process, critical thinking, and collaborative approach.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes) to illustrate your design process and final solutions.

• Highlight EdTech Relevance: Emphasize projects that demonstrate your understanding of educational contexts, learning science, and the needs of students and educators.

• Address Accessibility: Explicitly discuss how you incorporated accessibility standards into your designs.

• Be Prepared for "Why": Be ready to defend your design decisions and explain the rationale behind them.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: If a take-home exercise is provided, allocate sufficient time to thoroughly understand the prompt, conduct research (if applicable), and present a well-reasoned solution. Focus on your process and rationale.

• Live Design Session: For live collaborative exercises, think aloud, ask clarifying questions, and demonstrate your ability to brainstorm, iterate, and incorporate feedback constructively.

• Stakeholder Scenarios: Be prepared to discuss how you would handle common stakeholder disagreements or challenges, particularly those involving balancing user needs with technical constraints or business priorities.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is paramount. Candidates should prepare to articulate their design process and impact with specific examples, especially those related to EdTech and learning science. The interview process will likely assess not just design skills but also leadership, collaboration, and mission alignment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly preferred, strong emphasis), Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, Axure RP.

• User Research & Testing: UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Optimal Workshop, survey tools (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform).

• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Workspace.

• Whiteboarding & Ideation: Miro, Mural.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel, Pendo.

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI (familiarity is a plus for understanding data insights).

CRM & Automation:

Content Management Systems (CMS) & Learning Platforms:

• Familiarity with Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, or other educational platforms is a strong plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is explicitly mentioned and is a key tool for modern UX design. Experience with user research platforms and collaborative tools is also critical for a remote role. Familiarity with analytics tools is important for demonstrating data-driven design capabilities.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A deep commitment to improving literacy and educational outcomes for students.

• User-Centricity: A genuine passion for understanding and serving the needs of learners, educators, and administrators.

• Evidence-Based Decision Making: A reliance on learning science, efficacy research, and data to guide product development and design choices.

• Collaboration and Inclusivity: Working effectively across diverse teams and ensuring products are accessible and beneficial to all.

• Curiosity and Continuous Learning: An ongoing desire to explore new ideas, learn from users and data, and adapt to evolving educational needs.

• Growth Mindset: Embracing challenges, learning from mistakes, and continuously seeking improvement in both products and processes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Expect a highly collaborative environment where design is a partner, not an afterthought, working closely with product, engineering, and curriculum experts.

• Open Communication: Encouragement of open dialogue, constructive feedback, and transparent sharing of insights and challenges.

• Agile Iteration: A willingness to work iteratively, embrace feedback, and adapt designs based on testing and data.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that values sharing best practices, design patterns, and user insights across teams to foster collective learning and improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values are strongly tied to its educational mission. Candidates should demonstrate a genuine passion for education and a collaborative, data-informed approach to design.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Efficacy and Usability: Designing products that are pedagogically sound and demonstrably effective, while also being intuitive and easy to use for busy educators and diverse student populations.

• Data Integration and Interpretation: Effectively leveraging complex educational data and user analytics to drive meaningful design improvements and measure impact.

• Accessibility for Diverse Needs: Ensuring designs meet stringent accessibility standards (WCAG) while also catering to a wide spectrum of learning styles, abilities, and technological proficiencies.

• Cross-Disciplinary Alignment: Navigating different perspectives and priorities among product, engineering, curriculum, and learning science teams to achieve a unified product vision.

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Maintaining strong team cohesion, effective communication, and efficient design processes within a fully remote environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep EdTech Expertise: Gain in-depth knowledge of literacy instruction, learning science, and the nuances of the K-12 educational landscape.

• Leadership Skill Development: Opportunities to mentor designers, lead strategic initiatives, and hone management capabilities.

• Advanced Design Methodologies: Exposure to cutting-edge UX research, design thinking, and data analytics techniques applied in an educational context.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Potential for attending relevant EdTech and UX conferences, workshops, and pursuing certifications.

• Strategic Product Influence: Contribute to the long-term vision and success of a product line aimed at making a significant societal impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for roles at the intersection of technology and education, requiring a blend of technical skill, pedagogical understanding, and strong interpersonal abilities. The growth opportunities are substantial for those seeking to make a meaningful impact and advance their careers in EdTech.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe how you would approach designing a new feature for a literacy platform aimed at improving reading comprehension for struggling 3rd graders. What would be your first steps, and how would you involve stakeholders?" (Focus on structured problem-solving, user research, and stakeholder engagement.)

• "How do you balance pedagogical soundness with user experience requirements in an EdTech product? Can you give an example?" (Highlight understanding of learning science and ability to integrate it with user needs.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about 95 Percent Group's mission to improve literacy, and how does your UX philosophy align with our values?" (Show genuine interest in the company's mission and connect it to your personal/professional values.)

• "How would you foster a strong design culture within a remote, cross-functional team?" (Discuss strategies for communication, collaboration, and advocating for design best practices.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the process (research, ideation, design, testing), key decisions and rationale, and the measurable outcomes.

• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. If direct metrics are unavailable, explain how you would measure success.

• Showcase Collaboration: Highlight how you worked with product managers, engineers, and subject matter experts throughout the design process.

• Emphasize EdTech Relevance: Clearly link your design choices to educational goals, learning science principles, and the specific needs of students and educators.

• Visual Clarity: Ensure your presentation is visually clean, easy to follow, and effectively showcases your design work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on clearly articulating your design process, demonstrating your understanding of EdTech specific challenges, and showcasing your ability to lead and collaborate effectively. Quantifiable impact and mission alignment are key themes.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the provided ADP recruitment portal link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your resume and portfolio are tailored to highlight your EdTech experience, user-centered design leadership, and impact on educational outcomes. Select 2-3 strong case studies that best represent your qualifications for this specific role.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your years of UX design experience, specific EdTech experience, proficiency with Figma, and any experience with learning science or accessibility standards. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your chosen case studies, focusing on your process, collaboration, and the measurable impact of your designs. Be ready to discuss your approach to accessibility and learning science.

• Research 95 Percent Group: Familiarize yourself with the company's mission, products, and their approach to literacy instruction. Understand their commitment to data-driven efficacy and user-centered design.

⚠️ 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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