VP of Design and User Experience

Cengage; United States; On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Cengage is seeking a visionary VP of Design and User Experience to shape the future of educational technology experiences. Lead the design vision, set creative direction, and collaborate with Product, Engineering, and Learning Science teams to deliver outcomes that improve learning results.

You will guide a large UX organization, drive equity and accessibility, and influence executive stakeholders to align design investments with business goals.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in UX Design leadership in EdTech or complex digital environments.
• 8+ years managing senior leaders and multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven track record influencing executive stakeholders and strategy.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Design or related field.
• Expertise in UX design, craft, and research methodologies.
• Strong understanding of learning principles and impact on outcomes.
• Familiarity with AI-powered UX tools and personalization tech.
• Experience within a Product Operating Model or similar frameworks.
• Excellent communication and storytelling to influence collaborators.
• Ability to lead large, diverse teams and drive organizational change.

Responsibilities

• Develop and articulate a design vision and direction based on design thinking.
• Empower teams to drive innovation in education technology.
• Build and mentor a high-performing UX team.
• Establish design quality and conduct executive reviews.
• Integrate UX principles within the Product Operating Model and roadmaps.
• Develop scalable build systems with AI-assisted prototyping and accessibility checks.

Skills

UX Design

Product Design

Experience Design

Leadership

Executive influence

Design Thinking

Mentoring

Education Technology

Team Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's or equivalent in Design

Master’s in Design/HCI

Learning Sciences background

Tools

AI-powered UX tools

Personalization technologies

Automation workflows

Job description

We believe in the power and joy of learning

At Cengage, our employees have a direct impact in helping students around the world discover the power and joy of learning. We are bonded by our shared purpose – driving innovation that helps millions of learners improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.

Cengage's portfolio of businesses supports student choice by providing a range of pathways that help learners achieve their goals and lead a choice-filled life.

Our culture values inclusion, engagement, and discovery

Our business is driven by our strong culture, and we know that creating an inclusive workplace is absolutely essential to the success of our company and our learners, as well as our individual well-being. We recognize the value of diverse perspectives in everything we do, and strive to ensure employees of all levels and backgrounds feel empowered to voice their ideas and bring their authentic selves to work. We achieve these priorities through programs, benefits, and initiatives that are integrated into the fabric of how we work every day. To learn more, please see https://www.cengagegroup.com/about/inclusion-and-belonging/.

Overview

We seek an innovative design leader to reshape and redefine the future of educational technology experiences. As VP of Design and User Experience, you will craft the vision and creative direction for how learners, educators, and institutions experience our platforms. You will design intuitive, inspiring, and impactful experiences to improve measurable learning outcomes. This position goes beyond creating products; it involves building ecosystems that empower learner success. It also promotes equity and accessibility. The role integrates new technologies, including AI-enhanced user experience solutions and automation, to personalize education broadly. You will define the vision for a world-class Design and User Experience organization, advancing EdTech and rethinking teaching and learning resources relevant today. You will encourage seamless collaboration with Product Management, Engineering, and Learning Science teams to deliver experiences that advance our mission: unlocking potential through outstanding learning experiences.

Key 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.

Qualifications

• Experience: 10+ years in UX Design, leading UX, Product Design, and Experience Design, with a proven track record in complex digital ecosystems or EdTech.
• 8+ years managing senior leaders and multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven success influencing executive stakeholders and organizational strategy. Demonstrated ability to connect experience investments to business outcomes.
• Education: Bachelor’s or equivalent experience, or Master’s degree or equivalent experience in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Learning Sciences, or related field.
• Expertise in UX Design, Craft and research methodologies.
• Strong understanding of learning principles and how building impacts educational outcomes.
• Familiarity with user experience tools powered by artificial intelligence, personalization technologies, and automation workflows.
• Extensive experience working within a Product Operating Model or comparable frameworks.
• Outstanding communication and storytelling skills to articulate vision and influence collaborators.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, diverse teams and drive organizational change.

Cengage is committed to working with broad talent pools to attract and hire strong and most qualified individuals. Our job applicants are considered regardless of any classification protected by applicable federal, state, provincial or local laws.

Cengage is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities including during our job application process. If you are an applicant with a disability and require reasonable accommodation in our job application process, please contact us at [e-mail].

Cengage, a global education technology company serving millions of learners, provides affordable, quality digital products and services that equip students with the skills and competencies needed to be job ready. For more than 100 years, we have enabled the power and joy of learning with trusted, engaging content, and now, integrated digital platforms. We serve the higher education, workforce skills, secondary education, English language teaching and research markets worldwide. Through our scalable technology, including MindTap and Cengage Unlimited, we support all learners who seek to improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.

Compensation

At Cengage Group, we take great pride in our commitment to providing a comprehensive and rewarding Total Rewards package designed to support and empower our employees. Click here to learn more about our Total Rewards Philosophy.

The full base pay range has been provided for this position. Individual base pay will vary based on work schedule, qualifications, experience, internal equity, and geographic location. Sales roles often incorporate a significant incentive compensation program beyond this base pay range.

In this position, you will be eligible to participate in the company’s discretionary incentive bonus program. This position's bonus target amount, which is not guaranteed and is dependent on individual performance and overall company results among other factors, is provided below.