UX Director

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Director

Company: Verisk

Location: Lehi, Utah, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: User Experience (UX) Leadership / Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-07

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the vision, strategy, and practice for UX Design and UX Research within a specified product pillar, translating complex user needs into intuitive software solutions for the insurance industry.

• Serve as a player/coach, actively contributing to design and research initiatives while mentoring individual contributors and building a high-performing UX team.

• Partner closely with Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and Customer Success to shape the user experience across Verisk's claims lifecycle software.

• Drive innovation and user-centricity by deeply understanding the realities and workflows of field adjusters, desk adjusters, claim managers, carrier executives, and TPAs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Director level, indicating significant strategic responsibility and team management. The "player/coach" aspect suggests a hands-on leadership style, common in rapidly growing or evolving product organizations where senior leaders are expected to contribute directly while guiding others. The focus on the "claims lifecycle" and specific user roles (adjusters, managers, executives) points towards a deep dive into a particular vertical within the broader insurance technology (insurtech) landscape.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and execute the UX vision and strategy for a designated product pillar, ensuring alignment with business objectives and user needs.

• Lead and mentor a combined team of UX Designers and UX Researchers, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

• Oversee the end-to-end UX design process, from user research and concept development to wireframing, prototyping, and final visual design, ensuring adherence to design best practices and accessibility standards (WCAG).

• Champion user research initiatives to gather deep insights into customer workflows, pain points, and opportunities, translating findings into actionable design recommendations.

• Collaborate with Product Management and Engineering to prioritize the UX roadmap, ensuring seamless integration of user-centered design principles into agile development cycles.

• Present UX strategies, research findings, and design solutions to executive stakeholders, effectively communicating the value and impact of UX initiatives.

• Establish and maintain design systems and style guides to ensure consistency, scalability, and efficiency across all product interfaces.

• Drive the adoption and continuous improvement of UX tools and methodologies, including research platforms, design software, and collaboration tools.

• Partner with Customer Success and Marketing to gather feedback on existing products and identify opportunities for UX enhancements that improve customer satisfaction and adoption.

• Advocate for user accessibility and inclusive design principles throughout the product development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a need for strong leadership in both design strategy and people management. The emphasis on specific user groups and the "claims lifecycle" suggests a need for domain expertise in insurance technology (insurtech) or a strong ability to quickly acquire it. The "player/coach" dynamic means candidates must demonstrate both strategic thinking and hands-on design/research capabilities.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Psychology, Computer Science, or a related field is preferred.

• Advanced degrees (Master's or Ph.D.) in relevant disciplines are a plus.

• Professional certifications in UX design, UX research, or related areas are beneficial. Experience:

• Minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in User Experience (UX) design and/or UX research.

• At least 5 years of experience in a leadership or management role, directly managing UX designers and/or researchers.

• Proven track record of successfully leading UX strategy and execution for complex software products, preferably in a B2B or SaaS environment. Required Skills:

• Deep expertise in UX design principles, methodologies, and best practices, including user-centered design, interaction design, and visual design.

• Strong proficiency in UX research techniques, such as user interviews, usability testing, surveys, and persona development.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and articulate UX vision and strategy, aligning with business goals and product roadmaps.

• Experience building, mentoring, and leading high-performing UX teams.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively influence and collaborate with cross-functional teams and executive leadership.

• Proficiency with industry-standard UX design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).

• Familiarity with UX research platforms and tools (e.g., Dovetail, UserTesting.com).

• Understanding of accessibility standards and guidelines (WCAG).

• Experience with agile development methodologies. Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the insurance technology (insurtech) or financial services industry.

• Knowledge of design systems development and implementation.

• Experience with data analytics tools and their application to UX decision-making.

• Familiarity with collaboration and project management tools (e.g., Miro, JIRA, Confluence).

• Experience in a "player/coach" role, balancing leadership responsibilities with hands-on contributions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "10+ years" and "5+ years in management" clearly define this as a senior leadership role. The inclusion of specific tools like Figma, Dovetail, and UserTesting.com, along with WCAG, indicates a need for practical, up-to-date technical skills in addition to strategic leadership. The preference for insurance industry experience highlights the domain-specific nature of the role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing leadership in UX strategy and execution for complex software products.

• Case studies demonstrating the ability to translate user research insights into impactful design solutions that solve business problems and improve user outcomes.

• Examples of how you have built, mentored, and led UX teams, including examples of team growth and performance improvement.

• Demonstrations of your ability to present UX strategies and design recommendations effectively to executive-level stakeholders.

• Evidence of experience with design systems, accessibility standards (WCAG), and user-centered design methodologies. Process Documentation:

• Documented examples of your approach to establishing and optimizing UX design and research processes within an organization.

• Case studies detailing your involvement in defining and refining workflows for cross-functional collaboration between UX, Product, and Engineering.

• Examples of how you have implemented and managed research operations, including participant recruitment, data synthesis, and knowledge sharing.

• Demonstrations of your ability to integrate user feedback and data analytics into iterative design processes to drive continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Director-level UX role, the portfolio needs to go beyond individual design work. It must showcase strategic leadership, team-building capabilities, process ownership, and the ability to drive measurable business impact through UX. The emphasis on "process documentation" suggests a need to demonstrate how candidates establish and maintain scalable UX operations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for a UX Director role with 10+ years of experience in Lehi, Utah, a competitive salary range is estimated between $125,000 and $150,000 USD per year.

• This estimate considers the experience level, leadership responsibilities, the hybrid work model, and the cost of living in the Lehi, Utah area. The final salary will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and alignment with the role's specific requirements. Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance plans.

• Robust Retirement Plan options.

• Disability Benefits to provide financial security.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) program for work-life balance.

• Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses or equity, depending on company policy. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time position, typically around 40 hours per week.

• Hybrid work arrangement requiring 3 days per week in the Lehi, Utah office, offering flexibility for remote work on other days.

• Occasional flexibility may be required to meet project deadlines or collaborate with global teams across different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for a Director of UX in a tech hub like Utah, considering the specified experience level. Verisk's provided benefits are standard for large tech companies, with emphasis on health, retirement, and time off. The hybrid model is clearly defined.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Data Analytics & Technology Partner for the Global Insurance Industry (Insurtech). Verisk leverages big data to provide analytics and technology solutions that help clients make better decisions on risk.

Company Size: 7,000+ employees globally. This indicates a large, established organization with significant resources and established processes, but also potential for departmental autonomy and impact.

Founded: Over 50 years ago. This long history suggests stability, deep industry expertise, and a strong foundation, while the continuous recognition as a Great Place to Work® points to a positive and evolving workplace culture.

Team Structure:

• The UX team is likely part of a larger Product or Technology organization, reporting up through a VP of Product for a specific pillar.

• As a Director, you will lead a team of individual contributors (UX Designers, UX Researchers) and potentially other UX leads.

• The role emphasizes close partnership with Product Management and Engineering leadership, indicating a collaborative, cross-functional team structure. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is a core tenet, as Verisk is a data analytics company. UX strategies will likely be informed by user data, market analysis, and product performance metrics.

• Agile development methodologies are implied, requiring UX to integrate seamlessly into sprints and iterative development cycles.

• Focus on translating "big data into big ideas" suggests an environment that values innovation and the application of insights to solve complex problems.

Company Website: https://www.verisk.com/company/careers/

📝 Enhancement Note: Verisk's established presence in the insurance data analytics space provides a strong foundation. The company culture is highlighted by multiple "Great Place to Work®" awards, suggesting a positive employee experience. The "player/coach" aspect implies a hands-on, collaborative environment rather than purely hierarchical management.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Director Level UX. This is a senior leadership position responsible for defining UX strategy, managing a team, and influencing product direction within a significant product area. It requires a blend of strategic vision, people leadership, and hands-on expertise.

Reporting Structure: You will report to a VP of Product for your specified product pillar. You will manage a team of UX Designers and UX Researchers, and collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads.

Operations Impact: The UX Director will have a direct impact on the usability, efficiency, and adoption of Verisk's software products within the insurance industry. By translating complex user needs into intuitive experiences, the role contributes significantly to customer satisfaction, operational efficiency for clients, and ultimately, Verisk's market position and revenue.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to move into broader UX leadership roles (e.g., VP of UX, Head of Product Design) overseeing multiple product pillars or the entire UX function.

• Domain Specialization: Deepen expertise in the insurance and claims lifecycle, becoming a recognized authority in user experience within this critical industry vertical.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Expand influence into broader product strategy, innovation initiatives, and business development through strong cross-functional partnerships.

• Mentorship & Coaching: Develop strong coaching skills, guiding and growing a team of talented UX professionals, contributing to their career development.

• Strategic Influence: Play a key role in shaping the future direction of Verisk's product offerings through user-centric insights and strategic design leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Director title positions this as a significant career step, offering leadership growth and strategic influence. The emphasis on the insurance domain means growth can also involve becoming a subject matter expert. The "player/coach" model inherently supports developing coaching and mentorship skills.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model requiring 3 days per week in the Lehi, Utah office. This suggests a modern office environment designed to support both focused individual work and collaborative team activities.

Office Location(s): 1100 W. Traverse Parkway, Lehi, UT 84043. This location is in Utah's Silicon Slopes area, known for its growing tech community.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office will likely feature meeting rooms, huddle spaces, and open areas conducive to brainstorming, design reviews, and cross-functional meetings with Product and Engineering.

• Tools & Technology: Access to standard office technology, high-speed internet, and potentially dedicated design/research labs or equipment. The team will utilize various digital collaboration and design tools.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model encourages in-person interaction for key activities like strategy sessions, design sprints, and team-building events, while also allowing for remote flexibility.

Work Schedule:

• Primarily standard business hours (e.g., 8 AM - 5 PM Mountain Time), with flexibility to accommodate project needs.

• The hybrid model allows for structured in-office collaboration and remote work flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role is a key aspect, balancing in-office collaboration with remote flexibility. The Lehi location places the role within a vibrant tech ecosystem. The environment is expected to support both individual focus and team-based innovation.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion with the VP of Product to explore experience, leadership style, strategic thinking, and role alignment.

• Team/Peer Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders, including Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and potentially other UX team members, to assess collaboration skills and technical/design acumen.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, showcasing leadership in UX strategy, team management, and impactful design case studies. This is a critical step for this role.

• Executive Interview: A final interview with a senior executive (e.g., CPO, CTO, or another VP) to evaluate strategic vision, business acumen, and overall leadership potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Leadership & Strategy: Highlight your role in defining UX vision, strategy, and team development, not just individual design contributions.

• Showcase Impact: Use quantifiable metrics (e.g., increased conversion rates, reduced support tickets, improved user satisfaction scores) to demonstrate the business impact of your UX work.

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process followed, key decisions made, the solution, and the measurable outcomes.

• Demonstrate Team Building: Include examples of how you've mentored, coached, and grown UX teams, and how you foster a collaborative and high-performing environment.

• Prepare for "Player/Coach" Questions: Be ready to discuss how you balance hands-on contributions with leadership responsibilities.

Challenge Preparation:

• Candidates may be asked to:

  • Critique an existing product's UX and propose improvements.

  • Walk through a complex design challenge from their portfolio, detailing their thought process.

  • Participate in a hypothetical strategy session to gauge their approach to defining UX for a new feature or product.

  • Discuss how they would build or scale a UX team for a specific product pillar.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess leadership, strategic thinking, and hands-on UX capabilities. The portfolio presentation is a key component, requiring candidates to demonstrate not just design skills but also strategic impact and team leadership. Preparation should focus on quantifying achievements and articulating a clear UX vision.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop).

• UX Research Platforms: Dovetail (for research repository and analysis), UserTesting.com (for remote usability testing), Qualtrics or SurveyMonkey (for surveys).

• Collaboration & Whiteboarding: Miro, Mural (for remote brainstorming, journey mapping, wireframing).

• Project Management & Documentation: JIRA, Confluence (essential for agile workflows and documentation).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or specialized SaaS analytics platforms (e.g., Pendo, Mixpanel) to understand user behavior.

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, or internal BI tools for reporting on UX metrics and performance.

CRM & Automation:

• While not primary UX tools, familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms can be beneficial for understanding customer data and touchpoints.

• Integration Tools: Understanding how UX design integrates with development workflows and potential API considerations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in industry-standard UX tools like Figma and research platforms like Dovetail/UserTesting is critical. Familiarity with agile workflow tools (JIRA, Confluence) and data analytics is also expected for a Director-level role focused on data-driven decision-making.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user in all design and product decisions.

• Data-Driven Innovation: Utilizing data analytics and user research to inform strategic decisions and drive innovative solutions.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Fostering strong, cross-functional relationships with Product, Engineering, Marketing, and Customer Success to achieve shared goals.

• Excellence & Quality: Striving for high standards in design execution, research rigor, and overall user experience.

• Continuous Improvement: Embracing an iterative approach to design and processes, seeking feedback and opportunities for enhancement.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Active participation in product strategy meetings, sprint planning, and design reviews with diverse teams.

• Empathetic Communication: Clearly articulating UX perspectives and needs while actively listening to and understanding the concerns of other departments.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting a culture where UX insights, best practices, and learnings are shared openly across the organization.

• Process-Oriented: Establishing clear processes for collaboration, feedback, and decision-making to ensure efficiency and alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: Verisk's stated values (innovation, data-driven, collaboration) are reflected in the expected team culture. The UX team is expected to be a strong partner, not an isolated function, contributing to business success through user-focused strategies and efficient processes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Player/Coach Role: Effectively managing a team and strategic initiatives while also contributing hands-on design or research work can be demanding.

• Translating Complex Data: Synthesizing vast amounts of insurance data and complex workflows into simple, intuitive user experiences.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent UX vision and execution across multiple product pillars and departments with potentially differing priorities.

• Driving Change: Advocating for UX best practices and necessary design changes within a large, established organization.

• Keeping Pace with Technology: Staying current with evolving UX tools, methodologies, and emerging technologies like AI in insurance.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Leadership Training: Access to executive coaching, leadership development programs, and management training specific to scaling teams and influencing strategy.

• Industry Expertise: Deepening knowledge of the insurance and claims management domain, becoming a go-to expert in insurtech UX.

• Emerging Tech Exploration: Opportunities to explore and integrate new technologies (e.g., AI, machine learning) into UX strategy and product design.

• Mentorship Programs: Participating in or leading mentorship initiatives, both as a mentor and mentee.

• Conferences & Certifications: Support for attending industry conferences (e.g., UXPA, IA Summit) and pursuing relevant certifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for senior leadership roles in established tech companies, requiring strong organizational and communication skills. The growth opportunities are geared towards expanding leadership capabilities and domain expertise.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to developing a UX strategy for a complex B2B SaaS product within the insurance industry." (Focus on user research, market analysis, alignment with business goals, and team involvement.)

• "How do you balance the responsibilities of a player/coach role? Provide an example of a time you successfully managed both individual contributions and team leadership." (Highlight time management, prioritization, and delegation skills.)

• "How would you establish and scale UX research operations within a product pillar at Verisk?" (Discuss process, tooling, team structure, and how to disseminate research findings.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to Verisk and our mission in the insurance data analytics space?" (Research Verisk's impact, recent news, and connect it to your passion for UX.)

• "How do you foster a collaborative and inclusive UX team culture, especially in a hybrid work environment?" (Discuss communication strategies, team-building activities, and valuing diverse perspectives.)

• "How do you measure the impact of UX on business outcomes, and what key metrics do you track?" (Prepare examples of ROI, user satisfaction improvements, and efficiency gains.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with your overarching UX philosophy and leadership approach. Then, present 2-3 key case studies that best demonstrate your strategic impact, team leadership, and ability to solve complex problems.

• Quantify Everything: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your specific role and responsibilities, the process followed, key decisions, the solution implemented, and most importantly, the measurable results and business impact.

• Highlight Leadership: Emphasize your role in mentoring, team building, process improvement, and stakeholder management within your case studies.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, research methodologies, challenges faced, and how you collaborated with other functions.

• Showcase "Player/Coach" Ability: Be prepared to discuss how you've contributed hands-on while leading, perhaps by showing a specific design artifact you created or a research insight you personally uncovered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership, and the ability to drive measurable results. Quantifying achievements and clearly articulating your approach to team building and process improvement will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Verisk careers portal linked in the job posting.

• Tailor your resume to highlight leadership experience, strategic UX contributions, team management achievements, and any experience relevant to SaaS, B2B products, or the insurance industry. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare your portfolio with a strong emphasis on leadership case studies, demonstrating your ability to define UX strategy, build teams, and drive measurable business impact. Ensure it includes examples of process development and cross-functional collaboration.

• Research Verisk's products and market position, particularly within their Claims Solutions and Underwriting Solutions business units, to understand their customer base and challenges.

• Practice articulating your UX philosophy and leadership approach, preparing specific examples for common interview questions, especially those related to the "player/coach" dynamic and driving user-centricity in a data-driven organization.

⚠️ 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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