UX Specialist II

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Specialist II

Company: TIAA

Location: Texas - Virtual, United States

Job Type: Full time (Contractor)

Category: User Experience (UX) / Product Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-09-08

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Strategic UX Design & Analysis: This role is pivotal in analyzing and enhancing the customer journey by collaborating with UX, product, and technology teams to identify potential gaps and opportunities.

• Design System Expertise: A core function involves leveraging and advancing design systems to ensure consistency, efficiency, and scalability across digital products.

• Agile Operations & Tool Proficiency: Operates effectively within agile development environments, utilizing Jira and Confluence for daily workflow management and sprint-based execution.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Influence: Drives outcomes through effective partnership with product teams, business stakeholders, experimentation teams, and development partners, influencing key decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "UX Specialist II," the description emphasizes operational aspects of UX, such as process improvement, cross-functional collaboration, and tool utilization (Jira, Confluence). This suggests a role that bridges pure design with the operational execution and scaling of UX practices, aligning with a "Product Design Operations" or "UX Operations" function. The "Non-Employee Contingent Worker" status and defined contract term (6 months, extendable) are critical for candidates to understand.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with UX, product, and technology partners to dissect the customer journey, identifying friction points and areas for enhancement.

• Develop and maintain comprehensive design systems, ensuring their strategic application for consistency, efficiency, and scalability across all digital products.

• Apply advanced UX methodologies, including research, testing, and design thinking, with rigor to inform design decisions and product improvements.

• Actively participate in agile development cycles, managing daily workflows and project progress using Jira and Confluence to maintain project velocity while safeguarding user experience integrity.

• Foster strong partnerships across product teams, business stakeholders, experimentation teams, and development partners to influence strategic decisions and drive successful project outcomes.

• Contribute to the growth of the UX team's knowledge base and skill set by sharing best practices and insights.

• Balance immediate project demands with strategic, long-term planning for the evolution of UX practices within the team and organization.

• Navigate and contribute effectively within blended teams that include full-time staff and external consultants.

• Leverage deep experience in complex B2B enterprise digital products to address unique environmental challenges and stakeholder needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic UX thinking and operational execution. The emphasis on design systems, agile workflows, and cross-functional collaboration indicates a role that requires not only design talent but also strong project management and communication skills to ensure efficient and effective UX delivery at scale.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: University (Degree) Preferred

Experience: 5+ Years Required; 7+ Years Preferred

Required Skills:

• Advanced expertise in building, working within, and leveraging design systems to drive consistency, efficiency, and scalability.

• Deep proficiency in UX methodology, including research, testing, and design thinking practices.

• Proven experience working effectively in agile development environments.

• Fluency with project management and collaboration tools such as Jira and Confluence.

• Strong self-direction, sound judgment, and an "own it" mentality with accountability for work and decisions.

• Demonstrated ability to partner and collaborate effectively across product teams, business stakeholders, experimentation teams, and development partners.

• Experience working within complex B2B enterprise digital products. Preferred Skills:

• Experience adapting collaboration styles to work with blended teams of full-time staff and consultant partners.

• Growing understanding of how UX decisions connect to broader enterprise and industry dynamics.

• Ability to influence key decisions and drive outcomes through cross-functional collaboration.

• Capacity to balance short-term project needs with longer-term thinking about UX practice evolution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a senior-level UX professional with practical experience in scaled design environments and agile workflows. The preference for specific tools like Jira and Confluence, along with experience in B2B enterprise products, points to a need for someone who can integrate seamlessly into existing operational processes.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase examples demonstrating the strategic application and evolution of design systems across multiple digital products, highlighting consistency and scalability.

• Include case studies detailing the application of UX methodology (research, testing, design thinking) to solve complex B2B enterprise digital product challenges.

• Present projects managed within agile frameworks, illustrating effective use of Jira and Confluence for workflow management and sprint execution.

• Demonstrate experience in cross-functional collaboration, with examples of influencing stakeholders and driving outcomes through partnership. Process Documentation:

• Highlight projects where you've contributed to or led the refinement of UX processes, focusing on efficiency and effectiveness within agile environments.

• Provide examples of how you've leveraged user journey mapping and gap analysis to inform process improvements.

• Illustrate your approach to integrating UX feedback and testing results into iterative development cycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX Specialist II role with an operations focus, a portfolio should not only showcase design outputs but also demonstrate the candidate's ability to manage processes, utilize collaboration tools, and contribute to the operational scaling of UX practices. Highlighting experience with design systems and B2B enterprise products will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

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

Benefits:

• As a Non-Employee Contingent Worker, benefits are typically provided by the third-party supplier employing the individual. Specific benefits would be detailed by the supplier and may include:

  • Health, dental, and vision insurance options

  • Paid time off (PTO) or vacation days

  • Retirement savings plan contributions (e.g., 401k)

  • Potential for contract extension based on business needs. Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week. This role is expected to be hybrid, requiring some on-site presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary is provided as an hourly range, typical for contingent worker roles. Candidates should clarify benefit details with the third-party supplier. The hybrid work arrangement requires on-site presence, which is a key detail for remote job seekers.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Retirement Services, Investment Management)

Company Size: Large (TIAA is a major financial services provider with a significant global employee base, though this specific role is contingent).

Founded: 1918 (TIAA has a long history, indicating stability and established practices).

Team Structure:

• The UX Specialist II will be part of a UX team that collaborates closely with product and technology partners.

• This role will likely operate within a blended team structure, including full-time TIAA employees and external consultant partners.

• Reporting structure is likely to a UX Manager or Director, with direct collaboration across product management and engineering teams. Methodology:

• Emphasis on data-driven decision-making, utilizing UX research, testing, and design thinking.

• Agile methodologies are central to the workflow, with a focus on iterative development and continuous improvement.

• Strong commitment to design systems for ensuring consistency and scalability across a broad range of digital products.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: TIAA's long history in financial services suggests a culture that values stability, expertise, and a structured approach to business. The integration of UX into product and technology teams, alongside the use of agile and design systems, indicates a modern approach to digital product development within a traditional industry.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is designated as "Career Level 8IC" (Individual Contributor), indicating a senior specialist or expert individual contributor role within the operations framework of the UX team.

Reporting Structure: The UX Specialist II will report to a manager and collaborate extensively with peers in UX, product management, and engineering. This structure facilitates cross-functional influence and project execution.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts the user experience of TIAA's digital products, influencing customer satisfaction, adoption rates, and operational efficiency. By ensuring consistency and scalability through design systems and optimized processes, this role contributes to the overall effectiveness and brand perception of TIAA's digital offerings.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Deepening: Opportunity to deepen expertise in design systems, UX methodology, and agile operations within a large, established financial services organization.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain valuable experience collaborating with diverse teams (product, tech, experimentation) and understanding their operational needs and perspectives.

• Contract Extension Potential: While a 6-month term is stated, the possibility of extension based on business needs offers potential for longer-term engagement and deeper project involvement.

• Industry Insight: Develop a nuanced understanding of UX challenges and best practices within the complex B2B financial services sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a contingent worker, formal career pathing might differ from full-time employees. However, the "8IC" designation and the nature of the responsibilities offer significant opportunities for skill development and project impact, which are valuable for future career progression. The role emphasizes contribution to operational excellence within the UX function.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work arrangement is specified, implying a mix of remote work and on-site presence at a TIAA office in Texas.

Office Location(s): Texas - Virtual (This indicates the role is based in Texas, with the possibility of remote work, but likely requiring occasional office visits or hybrid presence).

Workspace Context:

• The environment is collaborative, requiring close interaction with UX, product, and technology partners.

• Access to standard office technology and collaboration tools (Jira, Confluence) is expected.

• Opportunities for interaction with peers and stakeholders will be present both virtually and in-office.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week) are expected, with flexibility managed within agile sprint cycles and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Texas - Virtual" designation combined with "hybrid capacity" suggests that while the role is remote-eligible within Texas, there may be a requirement for periodic on-site meetings or collaboration sessions at a TIAA office within the state.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess experience with design systems, UX methodology, agile tools, and B2B enterprise products.

• Technical/Skills Interview: Deeper dive into UX expertise, design system application, research/testing methodologies, and problem-solving skills, potentially including a portfolio walkthrough.

• Behavioral/Cross-Functional Interview: Assessment of collaboration style, stakeholder management, agile experience, and "own it" mentality through situational and behavioral questions.

• Manager/Team Fit Interview: Evaluation of cultural alignment, ability to work within a blended team, and understanding of TIAA's operational context.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Design System Focus: Clearly showcase how you've utilized and potentially evolved design systems to achieve consistency, efficiency, and scalability. Use specific examples.

• B2B Enterprise Context: Present case studies that demonstrate your understanding of complex B2B digital product challenges and stakeholder management.

• Agile Workflow Demonstration: Include projects managed within agile frameworks, highlighting your use of Jira and Confluence and how you navigate sprint cycles.

• Process Improvement: Illustrate instances where your UX work led to tangible process improvements or optimizations within a team or project.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss how you approach UX challenges in a B2B enterprise context and how you balance user needs with business requirements.

• Prepare examples of how you've collaborated with product and technology teams to drive UX initiatives.

• Familiarize yourself with TIAA's mission and the financial services industry to demonstrate a broader understanding of their user base and operational context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the operational aspects of the role, interviewers will likely assess not just design skills but also the candidate's ability to execute effectively within a structured, agile, and collaborative environment. Demonstrating proficiency with collaboration tools and a strategic approach to design systems will be key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Systems: Expertise in building, leveraging, and contributing to design systems is paramount.

• Agile Project Management: Proficient use of Jira for task tracking, sprint planning, and workflow management.

• Collaboration & Documentation: Extensive experience with Confluence for documentation, knowledge sharing, and team collaboration.

• UX Research & Testing Tools: Familiarity with various tools for conducting user research, usability testing, and gathering feedback (specific tools not listed but implied).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly stated, experience with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to understand user behavior and inform design decisions would be beneficial.

• Ability to interpret data from experiments and user feedback to drive design iterations. CRM & Automation:

• No specific CRM or automation tools are mentioned for this UX role, but understanding how UX integrates with CRM data for customer journey insights could be valuable.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Jira and Confluence, alongside the emphasis on design systems, points to a technology stack geared towards efficient product development and collaboration. Candidates should highlight their proficiency with these tools and their ability to integrate UX work into agile operational pipelines.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence & Accountability: A strong emphasis on delivering high-quality results and taking ownership of one's work and decisions.

• Collaboration: Valuing strong partnerships across product, technology, and business teams to achieve shared goals.

• Efficiency & Scalability: Commitment to leveraging design systems and agile processes to ensure consistency and efficient scaling of UX efforts.

• Continuous Improvement: A mindset focused on evolving UX practices, enhancing skills, and adapting to project and team needs.

• User-Centricity: A foundational commitment to understanding and advocating for the user throughout the product development lifecycle.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive and communicative, with a focus on building strong working relationships with peers and stakeholders.

• Comfortable working within blended teams, adapting communication and collaboration strategies as needed.

• Open to feedback and constructive critique, actively participating in team discussions and knowledge sharing.

• Ability to influence and guide discussions, ensuring UX considerations are integrated into broader product and technology strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture appears to value high performance, teamwork, and a practical, results-oriented approach to UX. The mention of working with both internal staff and consultants suggests a culture that is adaptable and inclusive of external expertise.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Project Demands: Effectively managing multiple project priorities and sprint cycles while ensuring the integrity and quality of UX work.

• Complex B2B Environment: Navigating layered stakeholder needs, complex workflows, and balancing business requirements with user needs in an enterprise setting.

• Hybrid Work Integration: Seamlessly integrating into a hybrid work model, ensuring effective collaboration and communication with both on-site and remote team members.

• Design System Maturity: Contributing to and potentially maturing existing design systems, ensuring they remain relevant, scalable, and consistently adopted.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Design System Expertise: Gain extensive experience managing and evolving design systems within a large enterprise.

• Enhance Agile UX Practices: Refine skills in executing UX within fast-paced agile sprints and utilizing collaboration tools effectively.

• Cross-Functional Acumen: Broaden understanding of product development lifecycles and stakeholder management across different departments.

• Industry Specialization: Develop specialized knowledge of UX challenges and solutions within the financial services sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents opportunities to tackle complex operational challenges within UX, focusing on scalability and efficiency, which are critical for growth in any operations-focused role.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your experience with design systems. How have you used them to drive consistency and scalability in past projects?"

• "Walk us through a complex B2B enterprise digital product you've worked on. What were the key UX challenges, and how did you address them?"

• "How do you manage your workload and priorities within an agile development environment, specifically using tools like Jira and Confluence?"

• "Tell us about a time you had to collaborate with product and technology teams to influence a key product decision. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about TIAA and our mission in the financial services industry?"

• "How do you approach working in a hybrid environment and collaborating with both internal staff and external consultants?"

• "Describe your 'own it' mentality. How do you take accountability for your work and decisions?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio around key UX methodologies (Research, Design Thinking, Testing) and highlight specific projects that demonstrate your expertise in design systems and B2B enterprise products.

• Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (especially highlighting agile/Jira/Confluence usage), the solutions you designed, and the impact of your work.

• Visuals: Use clear, concise visuals. Showcase how design systems were applied and the resulting consistency.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to present your most relevant work efficiently, focusing on the aspects most pertinent to this role (design systems, B2B, agile).

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating practical application of UX principles within an operational context, emphasizing collaboration, tool proficiency, and the ability to drive results in a complex B2B environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the TIAA Workday job portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight experience with design systems, UX methodology, agile tools (Jira, Confluence), and B2B enterprise digital products. Prepare specific case studies that showcase your process and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience, specific skills (UX research, design thinking, design systems), and any experience with contingent or hybrid work arrangements. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your experience with strategy questions related to design systems, agile operations, and cross-functional collaboration. Prepare to discuss your portfolio in detail.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with TIAA's mission, its role in the financial services industry, and its commitment to user experience. Understand the implications of working as a contingent worker.

⚠️ 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 or their designated third-party supplier before making application decisions. The role is for a contingent worker with a defined contract term.