Chief Design & UX Leader for EdTech

Cengage; Kentucky; Hybrid; USD 193,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Cengage seeks an innovative design leader to redefine educational technology experiences. As VP of Design and User Experience, you will shape vision and creative direction for learners, educators, and institutions, crafting intuitive experiences that improve learning outcomes.

You will drive a world-class Design and UX organization, collaborating with Product Management, Engineering, and Learning Science to deliver impactful, accessible education across platforms.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in UX Design leading UX, Product Design, and Experience Design.
• 8+ years managing senior leaders and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience leading large-scale digital transformation initiatives.
• Proven success influencing executive stakeholders and organizational strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to connect experience investments to business outcomes.
• Bachelor's or equivalent in Design, HCI, Learning Sciences, or related field; Master's preferred.
• Expertise in UX Design, Craft and research methodologies.
• Strong understanding of learning principles and how building impacts educational outcomes.
• Familiarity with AI-powered UX tools, personalization technologies, and automation workflows.
• Extensive experience working within a Product Operating Model or similar frameworks.
• Outstanding communication and storytelling skills to articulate vision and influence collaborators.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, diverse teams and drive organizational change.

Responsibilities

• Develop and articulate a compelling design vision, creative direction, rooted in design thinking principles - emphasizing empathy, ideation, prototyping, and testing.
• Empower teams to imagine what’s possible, unlocking new approaches to innovation and invention in education technology.
• Build and mentor a high-performing UX team, encouraging creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Establish design quality and craft standards and conduct executive-level design reviews.
• Work within the Product Operating Model to incorporate UX principles at each phase of product development, ensuring consistency with product roadmaps and delivery timelines.
• Establish scalable build systems and governance models, incorporating AI-assisted prototyping, accessibility checks, and personalization engines to ensure consistency and quality.

Skills

UX Design

Leadership

Digital transformation

Executive influence

Communication

Education

Bachelor's in Design / related field

Master's in Design / related field

Tools

AI-assisted prototyping

Job description

Cengage seeks an innovative design leader to redefine educational technology experiences. As VP of Design and User Experience, you will shape vision and creative direction for learners, educators, and institutions, crafting intuitive experiences that improve learning outcomes.

You will drive a world-class Design and UX organization, collaborating with Product Management, Engineering, and Learning Science to deliver impactful, accessible education across platforms.