UX Design Director — Lead Strategy, Teams & EdTech

Cengage; Massachusetts; Hybrid; USD 138,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Cengage, a global education technology company, seeks a UX Design Director to shape the future of educational technology from Massachusetts. You will set design strategy, lead a team of designers, and partner with Product, Engineering, and Marketing to embed UX principles throughout the product lifecycle.

You will mentor talent, elevate design craft, and stay ahead of evolving trends and technologies to deliver simple, intuitive experiences that empower learners and educators.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior UX design leadership role with 3+ years of people management leading 10+ designers.
• Deep expertise in UX/UI design principles, human-centered design, research-informed practices, and modern product design processes.
• Outstanding leadership with a track record mentoring high-performing teams.
• Excellent collaboration and communication, with ability to influence and partner with cross-functional leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead impactful design by empowering your team to create modern experiences grounded in data and customer insights.
• Partner with Product, Engineering, and Marketing to define focus areas and align teams around priorities.
• Guide design from concept to polished solutions that meet real customer needs.
• Set UX standards and guidelines for consistent, high-quality experiences across products.
• Continuously evaluate the customer experience to identify opportunities and drive improvements.
• Stay ahead of design trends, AI capabilities, and new tools to advance design practice.
• Use design as a competitive advantage by differentiating products through look, feel and value.
• Develop talent through coaching and mentorship to expand team impact.

Skills

UX design leadership

People management

Portfolio required

Collaboration

Job description

Cengage, a global education technology company, seeks a UX Design Director to shape the future of educational technology from Massachusetts. You will set design strategy, lead a team of designers, and partner with Product, Engineering, and Marketing to embed UX principles throughout the product lifecycle.

You will mentor talent, elevate design craft, and stay ahead of evolving trends and technologies to deliver simple, intuitive experiences that empower learners and educators.