User Experience Lead (UX Lead)
đź“Ť Chicago, IL or Dallas TX (Hybrid) | Full-Time | Direct Hire
Our client, a leading professional services organization, is seeking an experienced User Experience Lead to define and drive the UX vision across a suite of digital products and platforms. This role will play a key part in shaping intuitive, accessible, and innovative experiences that align user needs with business objectives.
The ideal candidate is a strategic UX leader who can combine high-level vision with hands-on design execution. This person will lead user-centered design initiatives, collaborate with product and engineering teams, establish UX standards, and champion the use of emerging AI tools to enhance the design process.
Responsibilities
- Define, communicate, and execute the UX vision and strategy across multiple products and platforms.
- Lead the end-to-end UX design process, including user research, journey mapping, wireframing, prototyping, interaction design, and final visual design.
- Leverage AI-assisted design and research tools to accelerate workflows, improve insights, and enhance user experiences.
- Conduct usability testing, user research, and validation activities to inform product decisions.
- Partner closely with product managers, developers, and business stakeholders to translate user needs into scalable solutions.
- Create and maintain UX design systems, standards, patterns, and best practices across digital products.
- Balance strategic UX leadership with hands-on design execution when needed.
- Advocate for accessibility, usability, and inclusive design principles across the organization.
- Mentor and provide guidance to UX designers while fostering a collaborative, feedback-driven culture.
- Define and monitor UX metrics and analytics to continuously improve experiences.
- Facilitate design workshops, collaborative sessions, and stakeholder presentations.
- Stay current with UX trends, emerging technologies, and AI-driven design innovations.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- 3+ years of experience in a UX leadership role driving product vision and design strategy.
- Strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in UX research, interaction design, wireframing, prototyping, and UI design across web and mobile platforms.
- Experience using AI tools to enhance design workflows, research, prototyping, or development processes.
- Strong understanding of front-end technologies including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Experience incorporating accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design practices.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to present and influence design decisions with both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize competing deadlines, and adapt in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience within professional services, financial services, legal, consulting, or enterprise environments.
- UX certification or design thinking methodology experience.
- Experience with analytics and user behavior tools such as Google Analytics, Hotjar, or similar platforms.
- Familiarity with AI-powered design and research platforms.
What You’ll Bring
- A passion for creating simple, intuitive, and impactful user experiences.
- A balance of strategic thinking and hands-on design expertise.
- The ability to collaborate across teams and influence stakeholders.
- Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
- Curiosity and enthusiasm for how AI can transform the future of UX design.
This is an opportunity to join a forward-thinking organization where you can shape digital experiences, influence product strategy, and help define the future of user-centered design.