Head of UX – 1 year contract

The Deputy Head of User Experience Design (DHUXD) is responsible for the definition and delivery of high-quality UX design solutions that meet the business needs of the client’s online activity, in line with the vision of the Digital Director and Global Head of User Experience and Visual Design (GHUXVD).

They will play a key part in the strategic leadership of the UX&VD function; working closely with the GHUXVD and the Deputy Head of Visual Design (DHVD) to define our UCD strategy, building capability across the organisation and improving the quality and consistency of our customers’ digital experience.

Working with stakeholders to the highest level, they will contribute to the development of enterprise level user experience design systems for a range of online products and services across the organisation.

They will contribute to the development of enterprise level user experience solutions for online products and projects across the organisation, leading on the implementation for complex digital products where required. They will also contribute to the development of overall strategies around user experience, user research and testing etc.They will work effectively within the Agile methodology employed in the Digital team and ensure the UX Design team are a positive and constructive part of the Scrum working approach.

As line manager to a team of UX Designers (currently 5), they will give day to day support, mentoring and guidance; ensuring collaborative and efficient working alongside related disciplines within the UXD function, in line with the vision of the GHUXVD. The role will also involve working closely with the GHUXVD to prioritise a broad spectrum of projects and requests against organisational goals and Digital objectives. They will set clear deliverables and measures of progress for their team, and maintain a positive, supportive and inclusive work culture.

Main opportunities/challenges for this role:

• To drive innovation in UX design across a complex range of digital platforms, products and services, spanning both our commercial English and Exams portfolio (e.g. IELTS) and grant funded work in Cultural Engagement.
• To work with stakeholders to the highest level, providing insight into the principles and benefits of an enterprise-level focus on their audiences and user centred design methodology.
• To lead in the definition and implementation of a component / pattern library for a new Content Management System (CMS) that will enable the organisation to deliver websites with a consistent user experience more swiftly and flexibly to suit both the needs of our customers and the business / project imperatives
• To line manage and lead a team of User Experience Designers (both permanent and contract), providing day-to-day support, mentorship and guidance, ensuring the team are working collaboratively and that capacity is effectively utilised
• To improve the quality of our employee experience by improving the quality of UX design within internal platforms used by teams around the world
• To lead how we apply inclusive design principles across Digital team delivery and improve access across our digital products and services
• To provide thought leadership and innovation opportunities, participating in public forums where required to keep abreast of Digital best practice, design trends and technological developments

Main accountabilities:

Line management:

• To provide day-to-day support, mentorship and guidance to a team of UX designers, embedding an open and inclusive working environment, ensuring all outputs are of consistently high quality and work towards standardising UX design patterns, systems and libraries across the organisation (where relevant).
• To resource, monitor and allocate UX design capacity in support of key / priority projects as agreed with GHUXVD.
• To provide day-to-day support, mentorship and guidance to a team of UX designers, embedding an open and inclusive working environment, ensuring all outputs are of consistently high quality and work towards standardising UX design patterns, systems and libraries across the organisation (where relevant).
• To resource, monitor and allocate UX design capacity in support of key / priority projects as agreed with GHUXVD.

Leading UX Design:

• Some travel within the UK and occasional overnight stays, and some international travel can be expected dependent on the needs of the programme.
• To provide day-to-day support, mentorship and guidance to a team of UX designers, embedding an open and inclusive working environment, ensuring all outputs are of consistently high quality and work towards standardising UX design patterns, systems and libraries across the organisation (where relevant).
• To resource, monitor and allocate UX design capacity in support of key / priority projects as agreed with GHUXVD.

Other important features or requirements of the job

• If outside of London; regular attendance in Stratford.
• Weekly team meetings (virtual or in-person) to share updates, show and tell recent work and share feedback with the team on work in progress.
• Attendance and contributions at meetings of all Digital staff

Role Specific Requirements:

• Appropriate degree level qualifications relevant to the User Experience Design field, or significant experience in the field of User Experience Design
• High-level expertise within the User Experience Design field
• Significant knowledge and experience of delivering high quality UX/UI design, interaction design and information architecture.
• High-level expertise in UX design within large-scale organisations.
• Ability and significant experience in management and evaluation of user testing and research.
• Ability to influence and work collaboratively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience of and ability to manage a complex portfolio of projects.
• Experience in supporting and working in effective cross-functional project teams.
• Experience of team leadership, mentoring and resource management in the User Experience Design field.