Hcd/Uxd Subject Matter Expert

Summary

Join LightFeather as a passionate and experienced HCD/UXD Subject Matter Expert (SME) to lead and grow our user-centered design practice. You will build and scale the HCD/UXD team, setting standards and best practices. This role involves managing a multidisciplinary team, partnering with other departments, and communicating the value of design. You will oversee user research, lead the design process, and stay current with industry trends. This is a full-time, remote position.

Requirements

• US Citizenship
• Ability to obtain and maintain clearance at the Public Trust level or above
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Human-Centered Design, Interaction Design, UX Design, Psychology, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience in UX or HCD
• Strong portfolio showcasing successful projects and processes in HCD and UXD across various digital platforms
• Expertise in user-centered design principles, UX research methodologies, and design thinking
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate design decisions to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Proven experience in managing and growing design teams, with a track record of developing high-performing, collaborative environments
• Proficiency with design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar platforms

Responsibilities

• Build and scale the HCD/UXD practice, including setting standards, developing processes, and defining best practices to ensure high-quality, user-centered outcomes
• Manage a team of UX/UI designers, researchers, and HCD professionals, fostering a collaborative and innovative design culture
• Partner with product, engineering, and business teams to integrate design thinking into our core processes, balancing user needs with business goals
• Communicate the value of design to cross-functional teams and senior leadership, championing HCD principles and articulating the ROI of UX investments
• Oversee user research efforts to drive evidence-based design decisions, ensure a deep understanding of user behaviors, and prioritize improvements in line with strategic goals
• Lead the end-to-end design process from ideation through implementation, ensuring design quality and continuity across projects
• Establish best practices, standards, and methodologies within the team
• Stay up-to-date with industry trends, tools, and methodologies, incorporating new insights to keep the team on the cutting edge of HCD/UXD practices

Preferred Qualifications

Active or prior clearance is preferred