UX Specialist

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Specialist II

Company: TIAA

Location: Texas - Virtual (Hybrid)

Job Type: Contractor (Full-Time)

Category: User Experience (UX) / Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-05-07

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is integral to enhancing the user experience by collaborating closely with UX, product, and technology teams to deeply understand and optimize the customer journey.

• It involves identifying potential gaps and strategic opportunities within the user experience landscape, directly contributing to improved customer satisfaction and engagement.

• The position focuses on building and elevating the UX team's collective knowledge, skill set, and adherence to industry best practices in user experience design and research.

• As a Contingent Worker, this role will perform a variety of moderately complex business planning, support, and project-related duties, demonstrating an exceptional standard of quality and accountability for results.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Non-Employee Contingent Worker Role" designation indicates this position is managed through a third-party supplier, affecting employment terms, benefits, and potential for long-term integration compared to direct hires. The "8IC" career level suggests a mid-to-senior individual contributor role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate with UX researchers, designers, product managers, and engineers to translate user needs and business requirements into intuitive and effective user experiences.

• Conduct analysis of customer journeys, identifying pain points, friction areas, and opportunities for improvement across various digital touchpoints.

• Develop and maintain UX documentation, including user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and design specifications, ensuring alignment with project goals.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of UX processes, methodologies, and best practices within the team and across relevant departments.

• Support business planning activities by providing UX insights and contributing to project scoping, resource allocation, and risk assessment.

• Perform project-related duties, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality UX deliverables that meet or exceed established standards and stakeholder expectations.

• Actively participate in design critiques, user testing sessions, and cross-functional team meetings to gather feedback and drive iterative design improvements.

• Champion user-centered design principles throughout the organization, advocating for the end-user in all design and development decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of hands-on UX work (customer journey analysis, design documentation) and broader operational contributions (business planning, process improvement). The "7+ Years Preferred" suggests a need for seasoned professionals capable of independent work and mentorship.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: University (Degree) Preferred. While a specific degree is not mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Psychology, Computer Science, or a related field is often advantageous for UX roles.

Experience: 5+ Years Required; 7+ Years Preferred of professional experience in User Experience (UX) design, product design, or a closely related field.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in User Experience (UX) Design, encompassing research, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing.

• Strong understanding of customer journey mapping and the ability to identify critical touchpoints and user pain points.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including product management, engineering, and business stakeholders.

• Proficiency in performing business planning support and project-related duties with a focus on quality and results.

• Experience with UX research methodologies and the ability to translate findings into actionable design recommendations.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the financial services industry or with complex enterprise applications.

• Familiarity with design systems and their implementation.

• Expertise in specific UX design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Axure).

• Experience in developing and mentoring junior UX team members.

• Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design principles.

• A portfolio showcasing a range of UX projects with demonstrated impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "7+ Years Preferred" and "8IC" career level indicate that candidates are expected to possess a solid foundation in core UX principles and practices, with the ability to operate with a degree of autonomy and contribute to strategic initiatives. A portfolio is implicitly required to demonstrate this level of expertise.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating successful UX projects, highlighting the candidate's role, process, and impact.

• Case studies should clearly articulate the problem statement, user research conducted, design solutions, and measurable outcomes.

• Showcase examples of customer journey mapping, user flow diagrams, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and final UI designs.

• Include evidence of collaboration with cross-functional teams and how user feedback was integrated into the design process.

Process Documentation:

• Ability to document UX processes, including research methodologies, design workflows, and usability testing procedures.

• Experience in creating and maintaining design guidelines, style guides, or component libraries to ensure consistency across products.

• Proficiency in articulating the rationale behind design decisions and presenting them effectively to stakeholders.

• Capability to contribute to the refinement of existing UX workflows and propose improvements for increased efficiency and effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX Specialist II role, a strong portfolio is paramount. It serves as tangible proof of their ability to execute on responsibilities, apply UX best practices, and drive positive outcomes. The emphasis on "quality and excellent results" in the role summary directly translates to the need for well-documented and impactful portfolio pieces.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $45.96/hr - $72.12/hr (Hourly Rate)

Explanation of Range: This hourly range is based on provided data for a UX Specialist II role in the US, considering the experience level (5-10 years) and the "8IC" career level. The wide range accounts for variations in specific experience, skills, and the hybrid work model. The Texas - Virtual location may influence this range based on TIAA's internal compensation structure for remote/hybrid roles within that state.

Benefits:

• As a Contingent Worker, benefits are typically provided by the third-party supplier, not directly by TIAA. These may include:

  • Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
  • Paid Time Off (PTO) or Vacation accrual
  • Retirement Savings Plan (e.g., 401k) through the supplier
  • Life Insurance and Disability coverage
  • Potential for professional development or training opportunities.

• TIAA offers Equal Employment Opportunity and support for individuals with disabilities.

• Access to TIAA's careers home page for full EEO & Non-Discrimination statements and government notices.

• Privacy notices for applicants residing in different regions (US, California, Global Capabilities, Europe/APAC).

Working Hours: 40 hours per week. The role is described as likely hybrid, implying a portion of the 40 hours will be worked remotely and a portion on-site, though specific days at the office are not detailed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The compensation is explicitly stated as an hourly rate for a contractor role. Candidates should understand that benefits will be through the third-party supplier. The "Travel Required: Yes" note, despite the "Texas - Virtual" location, suggests potential for occasional on-site work at other TIAA locations or for specific project needs, which should be clarified.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (specifically, retirement services, asset management, and insurance). TIAA is a major player in providing financial solutions for educators and non-profit employees.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (TIAA is a Fortune 100 company with tens of thousands of employees globally). This means established processes, significant resources, and potential for complex organizational structures.

Founded: 1918. TIAA has a long-standing history, suggesting a culture that values stability, trust, and long-term relationships, which can influence design decisions towards reliability and clarity.

Team Structure:

• The UX Specialist II will be part of a broader UX team, likely within a Product or Technology division.

• This team will collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, and potentially Marketing and Customer Support.

• Reporting structure will likely be to a UX Manager or Director, with the "8IC" career level indicating a senior individual contributor role with potential for informal leadership or mentorship.

Methodology:

• TIAA likely employs a mix of Agile methodologies for product development, which would involve iterative design cycles and close collaboration with development teams.

• Data-driven decision-making is expected, with UX insights informing product strategy and design choices.

• Emphasis on user-centered design principles, ensuring that customer needs are at the forefront of all development efforts.

• Focus on maintaining high standards of quality and accountability for results, as stated in the job description.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: As a large, established financial services firm, TIAA's culture likely balances innovation with a strong emphasis on security, compliance, and customer trust. This can mean longer design cycles for critical features but also a deep understanding of user needs in sensitive contexts.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: 8IC (Individual Contributor) with a focus on UX Specialization. This level signifies a seasoned professional who is expected to deliver high-quality work independently, potentially mentor junior team members, and contribute to the strategic direction of UX within their domain. They are key contributors to operational excellence in user experience.

Reporting Structure: The UX Specialist II will likely report to a UX Manager or Director. They will work within a team of UX professionals, designers, researchers, and product managers, collaborating cross-functionally with engineering and business units.

Operations Impact: This role's impact is directly tied to improving the user experience of TIAA's digital products and services. By optimizing customer journeys, identifying gaps, and implementing user-centered designs, the UX Specialist II contributes to increased customer satisfaction, engagement, retention, and ultimately, business success in the competitive financial services market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in specific UX disciplines (e.g., UX research, interaction design, information architecture, accessibility) through project work and potential training.

• Leadership Potential: Opportunity to informally lead UX initiatives, mentor junior designers, and contribute to UX strategy and process improvements.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain exposure to various product areas and business units within TIAA, broadening understanding of the financial services landscape.

• Contract Extension/Conversion: While a contingent worker, successful performance and business needs could lead to contract extensions or potentially full-time opportunities within TIAA.

• Industry Knowledge: Develop specialized knowledge of UX challenges and best practices within the financial services sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX role, growth is often about mastering design craft, expanding influence, and potentially moving into specialized or leadership tracks. The contingent nature of the role means growth is primarily tied to project impact and skill development rather than traditional linear career progression within TIAA.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. The role is described as "likely in a hybrid capacity" and "sit onsite, likely in a hybrid capacity." This indicates a blend of remote work and on-site work, with specific days at the office to be determined.

Office Location(s): Texas - Virtual, with potential for on-site presence in Texas. The "Travel Required: Yes" suggests that while the primary work location might be virtual within Texas, occasional travel to other TIAA offices or for specific project meetings may be necessary.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role requires close collaboration with UX, product, and technology partners. This suggests an environment that fosters teamwork, open communication, and knowledge sharing.

• Tools and Technology: Access to standard UX design and prototyping software (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) will be essential. The company will likely provide necessary hardware and software for remote and on-site work.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for interaction will occur through virtual meetings, team stand-ups, design reviews, and potentially in-person sessions when on-site.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week. The hybrid nature allows for some flexibility in managing work hours, balancing remote productivity with necessary on-site collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature and potential travel require candidates to be adaptable and comfortable managing their work across different settings. Clarification on the expected split between remote and on-site work, as well as the frequency and nature of travel, would be beneficial.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a recruiter or HR screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: In-depth discussion with the hiring manager and potentially other UX team members to evaluate technical skills, UX process, problem-solving abilities, and collaboration style.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where the candidate presents their portfolio, walking through case studies and explaining their design process, rationale, and impact. This is a critical step for UX roles.

• Technical/Skills Assessment: May involve a take-home design challenge or an on-the-spot problem-solving exercise related to UX design or customer journey analysis.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader or cross-functional stakeholder to confirm overall fit and alignment with TIAA's goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-4 of your strongest projects that best represent your skills and experience relevant to this role.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing), the challenges you faced, and the quantifiable outcomes or impact.

• Focus on Process: Emphasize your problem-solving approach and how you applied UX principles, not just the final visual design.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, reduced error rates, improved user satisfaction scores).

• Tailor to TIAA: If possible, highlight projects that align with financial services or complex enterprise applications, showcasing an understanding of TIAA's industry.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Prompt: Thoroughly read and understand any design challenge instructions. Ask clarifying questions if needed.

• Time Management: Allocate your time wisely across research, ideation, design, and presentation.

• Articulate Your Thinking: Be prepared to explain your design decisions and rationale, even if you can't complete the entire challenge within the given time.

• Focus on Core UX: Demonstrate your understanding of user needs, usability principles, and iterative design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is the cornerstone of a UX interview. Candidates should prepare meticulously to showcase their design thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to deliver tangible results. The emphasis on "exceptional standard of quality and holds themselves accountable to achieving excellent results" means the portfolio must reflect this.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Design & Prototyping: Proficiency in industry-standard tools is expected. Likely candidates will be familiar with one or more of:

  • Figma (highly probable for collaborative design)
  • Sketch
  • Adobe XD
  • Axure RP (for complex prototyping)

• User Research Platforms: Experience with tools for surveys, interviews, and usability testing.

  • UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Hotjar (for analytics and feedback)
  • SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics (for user surveys)

• Collaboration & Project Management: Tools used for team communication and workflow management.

  • Jira & Confluence (common in Agile environments for tracking and documentation)
  • Slack or Microsoft Teams (for communication)

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Understanding how to interpret data from tools like Google Analytics to inform design decisions.

• Product Analytics: Tools such as Amplitude or Mixpanel may be used to track user behavior within applications.

• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools that can help present UX research findings and metrics effectively.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a UX tool, understanding how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms impact the customer journey and user experience can be beneficial for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job description doesn't list specific tools, a UX Specialist II in a large financial institution would typically be expected to be proficient with leading collaborative design tools like Figma, along with research and project management software common in Agile development environments.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A core value that places the needs and experiences of the end-user at the forefront of all design and development efforts. This drives the "exceptional standard of quality."

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working effectively with diverse teams (UX, Product, Tech, Business) to achieve shared goals and ensure cohesive product delivery.

• Accountability: Holding oneself and the team responsible for delivering high-quality results and meeting project objectives, as explicitly stated.

• Continuous Improvement: A commitment to refining processes, learning new skills, and enhancing the user experience through iterative design and feedback.

• Integrity & Trust: Given TIAA's industry, a fundamental value that underpins all interactions and product design, ensuring reliability and security.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The UX Specialist II will actively engage with product managers, engineers, and business stakeholders, fostering a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives contribute to design solutions.

• Process Review Culture: Openness to feedback during design critiques, user testing debriefs, and team retrospectives to identify areas for improvement in both product design and team processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that encourages sharing insights from user research, design best practices, and project learnings to elevate the entire team's capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: TIAA's established presence in financial services suggests a culture that values professionalism, diligence, and a commitment to long-term customer relationships. The emphasis on "quality and accountability" points to a results-oriented team environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing UX Needs with Business Constraints: Navigating the complexities of financial services regulations, technical limitations, and business objectives while advocating for optimal user experiences.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent understanding and buy-in for UX recommendations across diverse stakeholder groups with potentially competing priorities.

• Hybrid Work Dynamics: Effectively collaborating and maintaining team cohesion and productivity in a hybrid work environment, managing both remote and on-site interactions.

• Adapting to Evolving Technology: Staying current with the latest UX trends, tools, and methodologies, particularly as they apply to digital financial services.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized UX Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like advanced user research techniques, accessibility design, or interaction design patterns specific to financial products.

• Industry Conferences & Webinars: Potential to attend relevant UX and financial services industry events to gain insights and network.

• Mentorship: Learning from experienced UX professionals and potentially mentoring junior team members, enhancing leadership and communication skills.

• Exposure to Enterprise-Scale Projects: Gaining experience with large-scale, complex digital transformation initiatives within a major financial institution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a UX role in a large, regulated industry. The growth opportunities are geared towards deepening UX craft and expanding influence within the organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance user needs with significant business or technical constraints. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your problem-solving process, compromise, and impact).

• "Walk me through a customer journey map you've created. What insights did it reveal, and how did those insights influence design decisions or business strategy?" (Prepare a specific case study to illustrate your analytical and strategic thinking).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about TIAA and its mission? How do you see your UX expertise contributing to our goals in the financial services sector?" (Research TIAA's mission, values, and recent initiatives. Connect your skills to their business objectives).

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid or remote team environment. What strategies do you use to stay connected and collaborate effectively?" (Be ready to share practical examples of how you maintain productivity and teamwork).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Begin with a brief overview of your experience and the types of projects you'll showcase.

• Contextualize Each Project: For each case study, clearly state the client/company, the project's objective, your specific role, and the timeline.

• Highlight Your Process: Detail your research methods, ideation techniques, design iterations, and testing phases. Use visuals (wireframes, mockups, user flows) to illustrate your journey.

• Emphasize Impact and Results: Clearly articulate the outcomes of your work using data and metrics. Quantify the improvements or benefits achieved.

• Be Ready for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, challenges, and how you handled feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for not only strong UX skills but also the ability to operate within a large, regulated organization like TIAA. Demonstrating an understanding of their industry and showing how you can contribute to their mission will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the TIAA careers portal link provided.

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight your 5-7+ years of UX experience, specifically mentioning customer journey mapping, business planning support, project collaboration, and any experience in financial services or enterprise software. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 3-4 strong UX case studies that demonstrate your process, impact, and suitability for a hybrid work environment. Ensure they are well-documented and ready for presentation.

• Research TIAA: Understand TIAA's mission, values, and the financial services landscape. Prepare to articulate how your UX skills align with their strategic goals.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse presenting your portfolio, focusing on clear storytelling, process explanation, and quantifiable results. Be ready to answer behavioral and situational questions related to UX challenges and collaboration.

⚠️ 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.