UX Chapter Lead

The UX Chapter Lead is a crucial leadership role responsible for fostering excellence, community, and growth within a specific group of User Experience (UX) Designers (the "Chapter") across various product teams. This individual acts as a servant leader, prioritizing the needs and development of their chapter members, enabling them to create impactful and user-centered experiences that align with the overall product vision and strategy. This role balances individual growth, knowledge sharing, and the consistent application of best practices within the user experience design discipline.

Key Responsibilities:

• Servant Leadership & Empowerment:

  • Act as a servant leader, prioritizing the needs, well-being, and professional growth of the UX Designers within the chapter.

  • Foster a culture of autonomy, trust, and continuous learning within the UX practice.

  • Empower UX Designers to make informed design decisions, take ownership of their design solutions, and advocate for the user.

  • Facilitate problem-solving and remove impediments that hinder the chapter members' effectiveness and their ability to deliver impactful user experiences.

• Community Building & Collaboration:

  • Cultivate a strong sense of community and belonging within the UX Chapter.

  • Facilitate regular design critiques, workshops, and knowledge-sharing sessions to encourage collaboration, cross-pollination of design ideas, and the sharing of best practices.

  • Create opportunities for UX Designers to connect, learn from each other's experiences, and build relationships across different product teams.

  • Promote a culture of open communication, constructive design feedback, and peer support within the chapter.

• Skill Development & Mentorship:

  • Identify individual and collective skill gaps within the UX Chapter (e.g., research methodologies, interaction design, visual design, prototyping, accessibility) and develop strategies to address them (e.g., training, workshops, mentorship programs, conference participation).

  • Provide guidance, coaching, and mentorship to UX Designers at various levels of experience, fostering their design skills and career growth.

  • Support the career growth and development of chapter members through regular design discussions and development planning.

  • Facilitate the sharing and adoption of new UX tools, techniques, and methodologies within the chapter.

• UX Excellence & Consistency:

  • Champion and promote the adoption of consistent and high-quality user-centered design principles and practices across different product teams.

  • Collaborate with other Chapter Leads and Design/Product Leadership to define and evolve UX standards, guidelines, and design systems.

  • Ensure a shared understanding and application of the overall product vision, user needs, and design principles within the chapter.

  • Facilitate discussions and alignment on key UX decisions and approaches.

• Alignment & Communication with Leadership:

  • Act as a conduit between the UX Chapter and Design/Product Leadership, ensuring clear communication of chapter needs, design challenges, and progress on UX initiatives.

  • Contribute to the development and execution of the overall product strategy and design vision.

  • Provide input and feedback to Leadership on organizational structure, processes, and initiatives that impact the user experience design function.

• Performance & Growth Enablement:

  • Support UX Designers in setting clear design goals and measuring the impact of their work on user outcomes and business objectives.

  • Provide feedback and guidance on design performance and areas for professional growth in user experience.

  • Contribute to the performance review process for chapter members, providing valuable insights and context on their design contributions.

  • Advocate for the resources and tools needed for the chapter members to excel in their UX roles.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Extensive experience (typically 5+ years) as a UX Designer, with increasing levels of responsibility and impact across multiple products.

• Demonstrated experience in mentoring, coaching, or leading other UX Designers (formally or informally).

• Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, methodologies, and best practices.

• Strong portfolio showcasing a range of UX design skills and successful project outcomes.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and facilitation skills.

• A genuine passion for developing and empowering other UX professionals.

• Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships and foster collaboration within the design community.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a user-centric mindset.

• Experience working in an Agile environment and advocating for user-centered design.

• A growth mindset and a commitment to continuous learning within the user experience design field.

Personal Attributes:

• User Advocate: Deeply empathetic and passionate about creating excellent user experiences.

• Empathetic and Supportive: Genuinely cares about the professional development and well-being of others.

• Excellent Listener: Actively seeks to understand the needs and perspectives of chapter members.

• Strong Communicator: Articulates design concepts and rationale clearly and effectively.

• Facilitator: Skilled at guiding design discussions and fostering collaborative problem-solving.

• Patient and Encouraging: Provides ongoing support and guidance in their design journey.

• Visionary (Design): Understands the broader product strategy and can help align the chapter's design efforts.

• Servant-Hearted: Prioritizes the professional growth and success of the UX team above their own individual design contributions.