UX Project Manager, Education

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Project Manager, Education

Company: American College of Surgeons

Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Operations / Digital Experience Management

Date Posted: August 06, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in-office, 2 days remote)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the strategic improvement of digital education experiences for surgeons, learners, and members across multiple ACS platforms.

• Drive project management discipline for complex digital initiatives, ensuring structured execution from discovery through implementation.

• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration between the Division of Education, IT, Integrated Communications, and other stakeholders to align on user needs and business objectives.

• Translate ambiguous user experience issues and business needs into clear problem statements, actionable requirements, and defined project goals.

• Act as a consultative partner to internal teams, guiding them from informal ideas to structured, implementable digital solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned at the intersection of User Experience (UX), Project Management, and Digital Strategy within an educational non-profit. While not a direct operations role in the traditional sense of Sales or Revenue Operations, it heavily leverages operations principles like process optimization, stakeholder alignment, requirements definition, and project execution to enhance digital member services and educational delivery. The emphasis on "digital experience management" and "digital transformation" aligns with broader GTM (Go-To-Market) operational functions focused on customer/member engagement.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead discovery activities such as stakeholder interviews, user research, journey mapping, workflow analysis, and content/process audits to understand current-state digital experiences.

• Translate complex or ambiguous user needs and business requirements into clear problem statements, user stories, functional requirements, and implementation recommendations.

• Develop and manage project plans, timelines, risks, dependencies, and stakeholder communications for digital experience improvement initiatives.

• Coordinate and facilitate work among diverse cross-functional teams, including Division of Education program teams, IT, Integrated Communications, vendors, and subject matter experts.

• Drive the definition of clear user stories, workflows, acceptance criteria, and decision documentation for digital experience projects, ensuring alignment with user needs and organizational priorities.

• Support the improvement of digital education experiences across platforms like facs.org, myACS, learning management systems (LMS), video libraries, and registration/purchase pathways.

• Act as a consultative partner to internal teams, helping them articulate needs, evaluate digital strategies, and move from informal requests to structured, implementable plans.

• Communicate complex digital concepts and user experience principles in clear, practical language to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Ensure digital solutions are grounded in user needs, operational realities, and ACS organizational priorities, considering usability, accessibility, and privacy.

• Support continuous improvement by gathering user feedback, reviewing performance data, and recommending practical enhancements for digital platforms and services.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities highlight a strong focus on process improvement and project execution within the digital realm. This role requires the ability to analyze existing workflows, identify friction points in digital user journeys, and manage the implementation of solutions – core competencies found in many operations roles. The emphasis on translating "ambiguous business needs" into "clear requirements" and "structured plans" is particularly relevant to operations professionals skilled in process mapping and requirements gathering.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in User Experience, Human-Computer Interaction, Digital Strategy, Communications, Information Systems, Business, Project Management, or a closely related field is preferred.

• Equivalent professional experience may be considered in lieu of specific educational credentials, demonstrating a pragmatic approach to qualifications. Experience:

• A minimum of 3 to 5 years of progressive experience leading cross-functional digital initiatives from discovery through implementation.

• Proven track record of translating complex or ambiguous business and user needs into clear requirements, workflows, user stories, project plans, and actionable implementation recommendations.

• Demonstrated experience coordinating diverse stakeholders, including business owners, technical teams, communications departments, vendors, and subject matter experts, to achieve shared goals and deliver effective digital solutions.

• Experience evaluating and improving user-facing digital experiences such as websites, portals, learning platforms, registration processes, digital services, or e-commerce and purchase flows.

• Familiarity with user experience research and service design methodologies, including stakeholder and user interviews, journey mapping, usability testing, workflow analysis, and synthesis of user feedback. Required Skills:

• Project Management: Strong ability to manage timelines, risks, dependencies, decisions, and multiple concurrent priorities within digital initiatives.

• User Experience (UX) Principles: Working knowledge of user-centered design principles, including usability, accessibility, information architecture, content organization, and overall user experience best practices.

• Requirements Definition: Demonstrated ability to translate complex or ambiguous business and user needs into clear problem statements, user stories, and functional requirements.

• Stakeholder Management & Facilitation: Excellent facilitation and stakeholder management skills, with the judgment to reconcile differing perspectives, seek input, escalate concerns, and recommend a clear path forward.

• Analytical & Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to create structure and maintain progress in environments with incomplete information or competing needs.

• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear requirements, documentation, summaries, recommendations, and stakeholder communications for diverse audiences.

Preferred Skills:

• Digital Strategy: Experience in developing and executing digital strategies that align with organizational goals.

• Workflow Analysis & Optimization: Ability to map current-state workflows, identify bottlenecks, and propose optimized future-state processes.

• User Research & Journey Mapping: Practical experience conducting user research and creating journey maps to understand user needs and pain points.

• Cross-functional Coordination: Proven ability to coordinate effectively across IT, marketing, education, and other departments.

• Usability Testing: Experience planning and executing usability tests to validate design concepts and identify areas for improvement.

• Platform Familiarity: Experience working with enterprise platforms such as Content Management Systems (CMS), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Learning Management Systems (LMS), Association Management Systems (AMS), analytics, or ticketing systems.

• Industry Experience: Experience in associations, professional societies, healthcare, medical education, or member-serving organizations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on translating "ambiguous business needs into clear requirements" and "user stories" is a direct parallel to the foundational work done in Sales Operations and Revenue Operations. The requirement for familiarity with enterprise platforms like CMS, CRM, and LMS suggests a need for understanding how systems integrate and support business processes, a critical skill for operations professionals. The preferred industry experience in healthcare or education indicates a need for candidates who can understand complex stakeholder groups and their specific digital engagement needs.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase 2-3 distinct digital experience projects demonstrating your ability to manage initiatives from discovery through implementation.

• For each project, clearly articulate the initial problem or ambiguous need, the discovery methods used (e.g., user interviews, workflow analysis), the requirements defined, and the implemented solution.

• Quantify results where possible, highlighting improvements in user engagement, task completion rates, process efficiency, or stakeholder satisfaction.

• Include examples of documentation created, such as user stories, workflow diagrams, or functional requirements, to illustrate your structured approach.

• Demonstrate how you facilitated collaboration among different teams (e.g., IT, content, program owners) and managed stakeholder expectations. Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how you have documented workflows, user journeys, or process flows for digital initiatives.

• Illustrate your approach to defining acceptance criteria and ensuring that implemented solutions meet defined project goals and user needs.

• Showcase any experience in developing guidelines or best practices for digital experience management or user-centered design within an organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on UX Project Management, a portfolio is crucial. Operations professionals often showcase their process improvement capabilities through case studies or project examples. This section emphasizes translating that principle into a UX context, requiring candidates to demonstrate their ability to map processes, define requirements, and manage implementations, mirroring the core functions of operations roles. The focus on "quantifying results" and "demonstrating ROI" (even if in terms of user satisfaction or efficiency) is a direct link to operations metrics and reporting.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $92,000 - $110,000 per year

Benefits:

• Paid Time Off: Vacation, personal, and sick hours, plus 13 paid holidays annually.

• Professional Development: Tuition Reimbursement.

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical coverage through BlueCross BlueShield, Dental, Vision, and Prescription drug program.

• Retirement: 403(b) Matching Program and a Pension Plan.

• Financial Flexibility: Flexible Spending Accounts for Medical and Dependent Care.

• Support Services: Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

• Insurance: Short Term/Long Term Disability and Life Insurance.

• Inclusive Benefits: Domestic Partner Coverage.

Working Hours:

• This is a full-time, exempt position, typically implying a standard 40-hour work week.

• The hybrid arrangement allows for 2 days of remote work, offering flexibility in managing personal schedules alongside professional responsibilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a key indicator for mid-level project management roles in a major metropolitan area like Chicago, aligning with industry benchmarks for positions requiring specialized skills in digital strategy and UX. The comprehensive benefits package, including a pension plan and 403(b) matching, reflects the non-profit sector and emphasizes long-term employee well-being. The hybrid work arrangement is increasingly standard, offering a balance that operations professionals often seek for productivity and work-life integration.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Professional Organization / Non-profit (Education & Healthcare)

Company Size: The American College of Surgeons has over 95,000 members, indicating a large and established professional body. The internal employee count is not specified but is likely substantial for a professional organization of this scale.

Founded: 1913, signifying a long history and deep-rooted expertise in surgical standards and education.

Team Structure:

• The role reports to the Senior Manager, Digital Integration and Transformation within the Division of Education, suggesting a dedicated team focused on evolving the organization's digital presence and educational offerings.

• This role requires extensive collaboration with various internal departments, including the Division of Education program teams, IT, Integrated Communications, and potentially external vendors.

• The structure implies a matrixed environment where influence and strong communication are key to driving projects forward across different functional groups. Methodology:

• User-Centered Approach: The core of this role is to advocate for and integrate user needs into digital experiences, emphasizing research, analysis, and feedback loops.

• Process-Oriented Execution: The role demands structured project management, requirements definition, and workflow analysis to move initiatives from concept to completion.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: While not explicitly stated as a data science role, the expectation to review performance data and gather user feedback implies a data-informed approach to decision-making and continuous improvement.

• Collaborative Problem-Solving: The culture encourages working consultatively with stakeholders to identify challenges and co-create solutions.

Company Website: https://www.facs.org

📝 Enhancement Note: The organizational context is critical. As a professional society, the "customers" are members (surgeons, learners), and the "product" is often education, standards, and community. This means digital experience improvements are directly tied to member value and engagement. This requires an understanding of member needs, which is akin to customer needs in a for-profit setting, and a focus on delivering high-quality educational content and resources efficiently, much like GTM operations would focus on delivering value to customers.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level Project Management / Digital Strategy Specialist. This role is ideal for someone looking to deepen their expertise in managing digital transformation initiatives within a structured, mission-driven organization. It bridges project management with a strategic understanding of user experience and digital product development.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Senior Manager, Digital Integration and Transformation. This indicates a clear line of reporting within a team dedicated to improving digital services and platforms. The Senior Manager likely provides guidance, mentorship, and oversight on strategic direction and complex project challenges.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is measured by its ability to enhance the accessibility, usability, and effectiveness of digital education experiences for a critical professional audience. Successful execution directly contributes to the American College of Surgeons' mission by improving how surgeons and learners engage with educational resources, thereby upholding and advancing surgical standards. This indirect but significant impact on member value and organizational mission fulfillment is a key aspect of its operational importance.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization in Digital Transformation: Deepen expertise in managing complex digital projects, user experience strategy, and cross-functional team leadership within the education and healthcare sectors.

• Leadership Development: Potential to move into senior project management roles, digital product management, or leadership positions within digital integration and transformation teams.

• Industry Expertise: Gain specialized knowledge in the unique digital needs of professional medical organizations and their members.

• Process Improvement Acumen: Further refine skills in workflow analysis, requirements definition, and implementing process improvements for digital services.

• Cross-functional Influence: Develop stronger capabilities in influencing without direct authority, a critical skill for driving change in matrixed organizations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear pathway for growth within the digital transformation and project management space. For operations professionals, it represents an opportunity to apply their structured approach to a user-centric domain, developing skills in UX strategy and digital product lifecycle management. The impact is tied to member satisfaction and organizational mission, offering a different but equally valuable form of operational success metrics.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The position is based in the ACS Chicago office, indicating a professional office environment.

Office Location(s): Chicago, Illinois (specific address not provided, but likely a central business district location given the organization's stature). The hybrid model requires 3 days per week in the office.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment is expected to foster collaboration among team members and cross-functional partners, with dedicated spaces for meetings, brainstorming, and focused work.

• Tools & Technology: Access to standard office technology, project management software, and digital collaboration tools will be available to support the hybrid work model and project execution.

• Team Interaction: The 3-day in-office requirement facilitates direct interaction with colleagues, fostering team cohesion and enabling spontaneous problem-solving and idea exchange, which is beneficial for complex project management.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time, exempt position.

• Hybrid work arrangement: 3 days in the office, 2 days remote. This offers a structured balance, allowing for focused individual work and collaborative team engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model is a significant aspect of the work environment, requiring adaptability and self-discipline. For operations professionals, managing a hybrid setup involves ensuring seamless communication and project continuity regardless of location, leveraging digital tools effectively. The emphasis on collaboration during in-office days suggests a culture that values in-person interaction for strategic discussions and team building.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of resume and cover letter, focusing on project management experience, digital initiative leadership, and UX understanding.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion to assess qualifications, experience alignment with role responsibilities, and understanding of UX principles and project management methodologies.

• Skills Assessment/Case Study: Candidates may be asked to present a portfolio or complete a case study related to digital experience improvement, workflow analysis, or requirements definition. This will evaluate their problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and ability to articulate complex solutions.

• Cross-functional Panel Interview: Interaction with key stakeholders from the Division of Education, IT, or Communications to evaluate collaboration skills, communication style, and ability to align diverse priorities.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss cultural fit, long-term vision, and final alignment with the organization's mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure is Key: Organize your portfolio by project. For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process/methodology used, key deliverables (requirements, workflows, designs), challenges faced, solutions implemented, and measurable outcomes.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data to demonstrate the success of your projects. This could include metrics on user engagement, task completion rates, efficiency gains, cost savings, or stakeholder satisfaction.

• Showcase Process Thinking: Highlight your ability to map user journeys, analyze workflows, define requirements, and manage project timelines. Use visual aids like diagrams and flowcharts if appropriate.

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize projects that involved improving digital experiences, managing cross-functional teams, and translating business needs into actionable plans, especially in educational or member-serving contexts.

• Be Prepared to Discuss: Be ready to walk through your projects in detail, explaining your decisions, the rationale behind your approach, and lessons learned.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate UX/PM Scenarios: Prepare for questions about how you would approach a specific digital experience problem, manage conflicting stakeholder demands, or define requirements for a new feature.

• Practice Articulating Processes: Be ready to explain your project management methodology and how you ensure clear communication and alignment across teams.

• Understand ACS Mission: Research the American College of Surgeons' mission, vision, and current initiatives to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding of their context.

• Prepare Questions: Have thoughtful questions ready for the interviewers about the team, current challenges, and strategic priorities for digital education.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is a critical component for this role, directly assessing a candidate's ability to execute on the core responsibilities. Operations professionals often use case studies to demonstrate their analytical and problem-solving skills; here, the emphasis is on applying those skills to user experience and digital project management. The advice to "Quantify Impact" and "Showcase Process Thinking" directly translates operational best practices to this UX-focused role.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Project Management Software: Proficiency with tools like Jira, Asana, Trello, or Microsoft Project is expected for managing project plans, tasks, timelines, and dependencies.

• Collaboration Platforms: Experience with tools such as Microsoft Teams, Slack, or Google Workspace for daily communication, file sharing, and virtual meetings.

• Documentation Tools: Familiarity with tools like Confluence, Google Docs, or Microsoft Word for creating requirements documents, user stories, and process documentation.

• Diagramming Tools: Proficiency with tools like Lucidchart, Miro, or Visio for creating workflow diagrams, journey maps, and information architecture visualizations.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics to understand user behavior on digital platforms, identify trends, and measure the impact of improvements.

• Reporting Dashboards: Experience with tools like Tableau, Power BI, or built-in platform reporting features to present findings and track key performance indicators (KPIs).

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not a primary CRM role, familiarity with how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics) integrate with other platforms and support user data management is beneficial.

• LMS/AMS Platforms: Experience working with or understanding the functionality of Learning Management Systems (LMS) and Association Management Systems (AMS) is highly preferred, given the context of the role.

• CMS Platforms: Experience with Content Management Systems (e.g., WordPress, Drupal) for website management and content delivery is also relevant.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack emphasizes tools for project management, collaboration, documentation, and visualization, which are standard across many operations functions. The mention of CRM, LMS, AMS, and CMS platforms highlights the need for a candidate who can understand how these systems interact to deliver services and manage member data, a common requirement for operations professionals involved in GTM or member engagement systems.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Member-Centricity: A core value of prioritizing the needs and experience of surgeons, learners, and members in all digital initiatives.

• Mission-Driven: A commitment to advancing the College's mission of improving surgical care through effective digital education and engagement.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Strong emphasis on working together across departments to achieve shared goals, valuing diverse perspectives and expertise.

• Excellence & Continuous Improvement: Striving for high standards in digital experiences and a commitment to ongoing learning and enhancement based on feedback and data.

• Integrity & Ethical Practice: Upholding the high ethical standards of the surgical profession in all organizational activities.

Collaboration Style:

• Consultative & Facilitative: Acting as a partner to teams, guiding them through a structured process rather than dictating solutions.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively seeking input and alignment from various departments (Education, IT, Communications) to ensure holistic solutions.

• Open Communication: Encouraging clear, honest, and timely communication to manage expectations, surface challenges, and celebrate successes.

• User Advocacy: Consistently representing the user's perspective in discussions and decision-making processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values align with those often found in non-profit and educational organizations, emphasizing mission and member service. For operations professionals, understanding and adapting to these values is key to successful integration and collaboration, particularly the strong emphasis on collaboration and a member-centric approach, which parallels customer-centricity in for-profit operations.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Ambiguity: Navigating and structuring complex, sometimes undefined, digital experience needs from various stakeholders.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Gaining consensus and driving action among teams with potentially competing priorities or different technical/strategic perspectives.

• Platform Limitations: Working within the constraints of existing enterprise platforms (CMS, LMS, AMS) while striving to improve user experience.

• Balancing User Needs with Operational Realities: Ensuring that UX improvements are feasible from a technical, resource, and organizational standpoint.

• Measuring Impact: Effectively demonstrating the value and ROI of digital experience improvements, especially in a non-profit context where metrics may differ from commercial sales.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX Project Management: Deepen expertise in user research, service design, and agile methodologies specific to digital product development.

• Digital Transformation Strategy: Gain hands-on experience in driving significant digital change within a large professional organization.

• Stakeholder Influence & Negotiation: Enhance skills in managing complex stakeholder relationships and facilitating decision-making processes.

• Industry-Specific Digital Trends: Develop a nuanced understanding of digital engagement strategies for medical professionals and educational platforms.

• Process Optimization Techniques: Apply and refine process analysis and optimization skills in a new domain.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight common scenarios faced by operations professionals, such as managing ambiguity, aligning stakeholders, and dealing with system constraints. The growth opportunities offer a clear path for career development by building on existing operational skills and expanding into specialized areas of digital strategy and transformation.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate a vague business need into a clear set of requirements for a digital initiative. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your methodology for discovery, requirements gathering, and problem framing.)

• "How would you approach improving the user experience of our online learning platform, considering our diverse audience of surgeons and learners?" (Demonstrate your understanding of user research, journey mapping, and iterative design.)

• "Walk me through your process for managing a digital project with multiple stakeholders who have conflicting priorities. How do you ensure alignment and drive decisions?" (Highlight your project management, facilitation, and communication skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about the American College of Surgeons and our mission to improve surgical patient care?" (Research the ACS mission, vision, values, and recent activities. Connect your interest to their goals.)

• "How do you see your role contributing to the Division of Education's goals for digital engagement?" (Showcase your understanding of how UX project management supports educational objectives.)

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid environment. How do you ensure effective collaboration and productivity?" (Be prepared to discuss your strategies for remote and in-office work.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define: the initial problem/opportunity, your specific role and responsibilities, the methodology and tools used, key deliverables, challenges encountered, solutions implemented, and the measurable results or impact.

• Focus on Process & Impact: Emphasize your systematic approach to understanding user needs, defining requirements, managing the project lifecycle, and collaborating with teams. Quantify outcomes whenever possible (e.g., improved task completion, increased engagement, reduced friction).

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Prepare to answer detailed questions about your decision-making, the rationale behind your chosen methodologies, and how you handled specific obstacles.

• Showcase Collaboration: Highlight instances where you successfully managed stakeholders and facilitated cross-functional teamwork.

• Connect to ACS: If possible, draw parallels between your past projects and the potential needs or challenges of the American College of Surgeons' digital education initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation for this role requires blending project management discipline with UX thinking. Operations professionals can leverage their experience in process mapping, requirements definition, and stakeholder management, framing it within a user-centric context. The portfolio presentation is key, and candidates should treat it as a detailed case study of their problem-solving and execution capabilities, similar to how operations professionals present process improvement projects.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Project Manager, Education position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the recruiting.ultipro.com portal.

• Customize your resume to highlight your experience in leading digital initiatives, project management, stakeholder facilitation, and requirements definition. Use keywords from the job description such as "digital experience," "user-centered design," "workflow analysis," and "cross-functional coordination."

• Prepare your portfolio by selecting 2-3 impactful projects that best demonstrate your capabilities in managing digital projects from discovery to implementation. Ensure each project clearly articulates the problem, your role, the process, the solution, and measurable outcomes.

• Research the American College of Surgeons thoroughly, focusing on their mission, vision, the Division of Education's programs, and their digital presence (facs.org, myACS). Understand their audience and their commitment to advancing surgical care.

• Practice articulating your experience using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions, and be ready to walk through your portfolio projects with confidence and clarity. Prepare thoughtful questions for the interviewers.

⚠️ 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.