Experience Design Lead (Temporary)

Hearst Magazines; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 131,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Professional development opportunities

Wellness benefits

401(k) plan

Job summary

iCrossing, a Hearst-backed marketing and technology partner, is seeking an Experience Design Lead to own client engagements from discovery through launch and measurement in the Seattle area.

You will lead multidisciplinary teams across strategy, UX, visual design, content, technology, and delivery, translating research and business priorities into compelling digital experiences while ensuring quality, scope, and timelines.

Qualifications

• A senior design leader with a track record of owning complex digital engagements.
• Able to connect user experience, business strategy, tech, and delivery.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and guiding senior stakeholders.
• Strong communication, alignment, and client management skills.
• Grounded in research, data, accessibility, and user-centered design.

Responsibilities

• Own client engagements from discovery and planning through design, development, launch, and measurement.
• Establish a shared understanding of the client’s business goals, user needs, success measures, scope, and constraints.
• Set the experience vision and guide teams in translating research, data, and business priorities into effective digital experiences.
• Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams, including strategy, UX, visual design, content, technology, and project management.
• Build trusted client relationships; facilitate decisions; present recommendations; and address risks, tradeoffs, and changing priorities.
• Maintain accountability for engagement plans, milestones, deliverable quality, budget, and client outcomes. Identify and resolve issues early, escalating when needed.
• Guide experience design work, including information architecture, user journeys, wireframes, prototypes, and design systems, ensuring it aligns with the overall engagement strategy.
• Partner with business development and account teams to identify opportunities, shape proposals, and grow client relationships.
• Strengthen the practice by sharing expertise, improving ways of working, and developing design leaders and teams.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Client relationship management

Experience design

UX and visual design

Cross-functional leadership

Communication and presentation

Tools

Figma

Miro

Job description

iCrossing is a Hearst-backed marketing and technology partner built for how brands grow today. Asoutcomes architects, we bring together strategy, media, experience, engineering, data, and AI to build connected digital systems that improve performance, strengthen customer experiences, and support measurable business growth.

Our work is grounded in data-backed strategy, modern digital visibility, and connected execution. We help brands perform now while transforming for what’s next, designing the platforms, content, media, and operating models that help them move faster, learn smarter, and scale what works.

At iCrossing, you’ll work with teams across marketing, technology, and experience to solve complex client challenges with strategic breadth and executional depth. As part of Hearst, we combine agency agility with access to powerful data, insights, audiences, content, and technology capabilities.

About the role

We are seeking an Experience Design Lead to join our Experience Design & Content Solutions practice. This senior leader owns the end-to-end success of client engagements, from shaping the opportunity and setting the experience vision through delivery, launch, and measurement.

You will lead client relationships and multidisciplinary teams across experience strategy, UX and visual design, content, technology, and delivery. You will connect user needs to client goals, guide teams toward effective solutions, and ensure the work meets agreed outcomes, timelines, scope, and quality standards. You’ll bring strong experience design judgment to the engagement while leading the broader project—not only supporting the UX work.

What you’ll do

• Own client engagements from discovery and planning through design, development, launch, and measurement.
• Establish a shared understanding of the client’s business goals, user needs, success measures, scope, and constraints.
• Set the experience vision and guide teams in translating research, data, and business priorities into effective digital experiences.
• Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams, including strategy, UX, visual design, content, technology, and project management.
• Build trusted client relationships; facilitate decisions; present recommendations; and address risks, tradeoffs, and changing priorities.
• Maintain accountability for engagement plans, milestones, deliverable quality, budget, and client outcomes. Identify and resolve issues early, escalating when needed.
• Guide experience design work, including information architecture, user journeys, wireframes, prototypes, and design systems, ensuring it aligns with the overall engagement strategy.
• Partner with business development and account teams to identify opportunities, shape proposals, and grow client relationships.
• Strengthen the practice by sharing expertise, improving ways of working, and developing design leaders and teams.

Who you are

• A senior experienced design leader with a track record of owning complex digital engagements and delivering strong client and business outcomes.
• Skilled at connecting user experience, business strategy, technology, and delivery into a coherent project direction.
• Experienced leading multidisciplinary teams and guiding senior stakeholders through ambiguity, competing priorities, and important decisions.
• Accountable for the full engagement lifecycle, including scope, schedule, budget, quality, risks, and client relationships.
• An effective communicator and presenter who can explain design choices, facilitate alignment, and influence clients and internal teams.
• Grounded in research, data, accessibility, and user-centered design principles.
• Experienced with tools such as Figma and Miro; able to provide design direction and review work without needing to personally produce every deliverable.
• A collaborative leader who develops others and creates the conditions for teams to do their best work.

The estimated hourly range for this position in Washington is between $80and $95. The range for this position in other geographies may vary based on market differences.The actual compensation will be determined based on experience and other factors permitted by law.

Benefits (What We Offer)

Work with the Best:Collaborate with top-tier professionals across media, advertising, tech, fashion, lifestyle, and publishing, shaping the future of these dynamic industries.

Grow Your Skills:Unlock your potential with access to innovative training programs, immersive workshops, and exclusive industry events.

Work-Life Harmony:Enjoy the flexibility of hybrid work, empowering you to balance professional success with personal priorities.

Foster Connection & Belonging:Join our Employee Resource Groups and help create a welcoming workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered.

Wellness First:Prioritize your well-being with a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance from Day 1.

Plan for Your Financial Future:Enjoy competitive financial perks, including a 401(k) plan with a generous company match.