Director of Experience Design (XD)

Summary

The Director Experience Design (XD) is responsible for creating exceptional user experiences that challenge the status quo and drive transformational growth and member loyalty. Leveraging a human-centered design approach, they lead the design team to drive innovation and deliver impactful solutions and user-centric journey. The Director of Experience Design works with cross-functional teams to foster creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement. This role champions design thinking principles to ensure experiences meet the highest standards of usability, functionality, and aesthetic excellence across channels.

Essential Functions

Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsible for interviewing, hiring, and training associates; planning, assigning, and directing work; managing performance; rewarding and coaching associates; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Develop and implement a strategic vision for the Experience Design team, aligning design initiatives with the organization's corporate strategy and objectives.

Oversee the creation of intuitive, user-friendly experiences across platforms and channels.

Ensure design solutions minimize friction, address user pain points and deliver meaningful, engaging interactions.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate design solutions seamlessly into the overall product strategy.

Ensure that user research, empathy, and iterative testing drive the design process.

Conduct and oversee user research to gain deep insights into user behaviors, needs, and motivations.

Facilitate workshops and user testing sessions to collect feedback and insights.

Analyze feedback in partnership with Data Analytics to inform design decisions and validate design concepts.

Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies to drive innovation.

Establish and maintain high design standards, ensuring consistency and quality across all touchpoints.

Review and critique design work to provide constructive feedback and ensure alignment with project goals.

Advocate for best practices in user experience design and cultivate a member-centric mindset.

Foster a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous learning within the design team.

Lead and inspire team of Experience Designers, working closely with Product Management and Technology leadership.

This job description should not be considered all-inclusive. It is merely a guide of expected duties. The associate understands that the job description is neither complete, nor permanent and may be modified at any time. At the request of their supervisor, an associate may be asked to perform additional duties or take on additional responsibilities without notice. Complies with all policies and standards. Position grades could fluctuate based on market value.

Education

• High School Diploma Required
• Bachelor's Degree Required
• Master's Degree Required

Experience

• 8 to 10 years of similar or related experience in UX/UI design with a proven track record of leading teams and projects required.
• Fintech or innovative tech experience strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Expertise in applying design thinking principles to solve complex problems and drive innovation.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to anticipate future trends and impacts on user experience design.
• Strong portfolio showcasing a range of successful design projects and methodologies.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Proficiency in design and prototyping tools such as Sketch, Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, etc.
• Strong empathy, care, and active listening skills; able to give and receive feedback comfortably.
• Flexible, curious, and persistent, with a growth mindset.
• Experience working in agile environments and collaborating with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders.

Additional Considerations

Ensures compliance with applicable policies, laws, and regulations, including the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance, USA Patriot Act, and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

As applicable, any individual who meets the definition of a mortgage loan originator (MLO) and is employed by a federal agency-regulated institution will need to be registered on the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS).