UI/UX Lead Designer

Catalyst:Ed | Connecting Education Organizations to Experts for Mission-Critical Projects; United States; Remote; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is looking for a talented UI/UX Lead Designer to join their innovative team. This role involves creating an intuitive user experience and detailed visual designs for a new platform aimed at empowering education organizations. You will work closely with product managers and engineers, ensuring that the designs align with user needs and business goals. With a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, this nonprofit organization is on a mission to improve outcomes for America's children and youth. If you are passionate about design and want to make a significant impact in the education sector, this opportunity is for you!

Benefits

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

403(b) Retirement Savings Plan

Generous Vacation Time

Qualifications

• 5+ years of UI/UX design experience with a strong portfolio.
• Proficiency in design tools like Sketch and Figma is essential.

Responsibilities

• Craft detailed UI screens and interactive prototypes for a new platform.
• Conduct user research to inform design decisions and ensure usability.

Skills

UI/UX Design

User Research

Prototyping

Communication Skills

Collaboration

User Empathy

Agile Development

Tools

Sketch

Figma

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Catalyst:Ed is seeking a hands-on and experienced UI/UX Lead Designer to join our team in the development of a new platform being built from scratch. In this role, you will be responsible for crafting both the user experience and the detailed user interface designs that will guide the platform’s development. You will create wireframes, low- and high-fidelity prototypes, and pixel-perfect UI screens while ensuring all design work is consistent with our brand and meets user needs. You will also collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and stakeholders throughout the design and development process.

This position reports to the VP of Product and Technology.

Who We Are

Catalyst:Ed is a national nonprofit that catalyzes equity, innovation, and improvement by connecting education and nonprofit leaders to critical expertise, hands-on support, and resources. Our mission is to improve outcomes for America’s children and youth by strengthening the schools and nonprofits that serve them.

We’re on an exciting growth trajectory, building a new technology platform from the ground up, designed to scale from supporting hundreds to thousands of organizations. This platform will empower nonprofits and education agencies by providing the technical capacity they need to become more effective, innovative, and equitable in their work.

About This Role

As the UI/UX Lead Designer, you will be responsible for both the user experience and the detailed visual design of the platform, ensuring that it is intuitive, user-friendly, and meets the highest standards of usability. You will produce detailed UI screens that the engineering team will use for implementation and collaborate closely with various teams to ensure that designs align with business goals.

UI Design and Prototyping (~50%)

• Design detailed UI screens and interactive prototypes that clearly convey how the platform will look and function.
• Create wireframes, low-fidelity prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups that guide the development process from concept to completion.
• Define and design visual elements, including menus, buttons, widgets, and navigation structures, ensuring an intuitive and engaging user interface.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive design library to ensure brand and design consistency across all assets.

User Research and Experience Design (~30%)

• Conduct user research through methods like interviews, surveys, and usability testing to gather insights into user needs, behaviors, and pain points.
• Develop personas, user journeys, and user stories to inform UI/UX design decisions.
• Create user-centric designs that ensure accessibility, adhering to standards for a diverse range of users.
• Implement usability testing and gather feedback to iterate on designs.

Collaboration and Validation (~20%)

• Work closely with the product and engineering teams to gather requirements and ensure the technical feasibility of designs.
• Validate the final product after development to ensure that the implementation aligns with design specifications.
• Collaborate in an agile environment, iterating on designs based on user feedback, testing results, and stakeholder input.

Skills and Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in UI/UX design, with a strong portfolio showcasing both user interface and user experience design work.
• Proficiency in design tools such as Sketch, Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and other relevant software for creating wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mock-ups.
• Strong understanding of user research methodologies and an analytical mindset, including experience with user engagement analytics and A/B testing to inform design decisions.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a proven ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated user empathy, with the ability to advocate for the user throughout the design process and ensure designs meet user needs.
• Experience in maintaining brand consistency across design assets and ensuring accessibility standards are met.
• Familiarity with agile development processes and experience working closely with engineering teams to ensure accurate implementation of designs.

Good to Know

• Compensation: The salary range for this role is $90,000 – $120,000, based on experience. Benefits include medical and dental insurance, 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match, and generous vacation time.
• Location: Remote, with the flexibility to work from anywhere in the U.S.
• Travel: Occasional travel may be required for team meetings and user research sessions.
• Start Date: January 2025

How to apply

The application for this role is now closed. We will review applications on a rolling basis shortly after they are received. The selection process includes a work exercise and 2-4 virtual interviews of 60-75 minutes each.

Catalyst:Ed has a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply, particularly folks who identify as people of color, first generation, low income, or LGBTQIA+.