User Experience (UX) / User Interface (UI) Lead – America Learns – Granada Hills, CA

Why this Position is So Important to Us

For our first 15 years, our founder and CEO did nearly all of the UI/UX work for us, along with the efforts of translating those specifications into guidance for our engineers. It’s no longer feasible for him to do all of this work. We’re looking for an all-star who will take charge of our UI/UX efforts, including written specifications writing for our engineering team.

Our ideal candidate will ensure that our clients (who range in age from their teens to their 90s) get the features they need to advance their organizations’ impact while ensuring that our clients never need to call or e-mail us with questions like, “Where do I go to access X feature?” or “How do I get Y feature to work?

ResponsibilitiesUX Design, Specs Writing, & Engineering Team Communications (90% of your time)

Learn about and understand our existing and emerging markets
Analyze and research broader market trends, technology trends, competitors, and industry analyst feedback.
UX Design & Specs Writing
Work with our team and with clients to revamp the development of existing features and to create new features. Your process will involve:
Persona-building
Thinking through work flows and user scenarios
Creating best-of-class experience design through storyboards, wireframes, sketches and prototypes.
Moving from whiteboard sketches and paper prototypes to high-fidelity interactive prototypes
Leading design charrettes with clients in-person and via webinars
Leading feedback sessions with clients on updated and newly-designed features
Presenting designs to internal stakeholders and other team members
Writing specific guidance to our engineering team about how any new/updated functionality will work from users’ perspectives
Great eye for aesthetics: layout, grid systems, color theory and typograhy
Co-lead bug testing and QA of developed features
Use Jira to communicate issues to team
Meet with engineering team to present new feature specifications and to monitor progress

Customer Learning & Support (10% of your time) You’ll spend a portion of your time supporting clients to ensure that you’re always able to see the world through our clients’ eyes.

From time to time, work with other team members to resolve client support requests via e-mail and phone.
Share thoughts on customer needs, ideas, problems, interests, and potential for new products and services
At least twice a month, lead a conversation with a select number of clients to learn how they’re using service, to learn of possible innovations we can develop, and to determine what we need to do to ensure that all aspects of the service are exceeding their expectations

Who We’re Looking ForWe’re looking for a confident team member who is turned on by strengthening communities, serving others, and constantly learning, breaking patterns, and challenging themselves. You love casual-but-fast paced environment that sometimes fails fast and early, but always learns and improves.

Our ideal UXer learns and finds inspiration everywhere – from nature to Toys R Us. The person loves to unleash her curiosity and creativity to see her customers thrive.

Additional qualifications:

Requires BS/BA degree
You’re looking to work in a small team environment where you will be taking the lead in UX/UI design efforts. Most opportunities for being mentored will come from three in-office colleagues.
You have UX experience and evidence that your work has made life easier/better for people.
Experience with prototyping software
Experience writing user-focused specifications for engineering teams
You’re able to facilitate discussions with our clients in which you solicit candid feedback on our existing and potential designs.
Ability to brainstorm, think outside the box, and turn to others for guidance and feedback
Excellent time management and prioritizing skills
Excellent documentation and verbal skills
Excellent written and verbal communication
Proven positive pragmatic approach to design and problem solving
Experience in working in a fast paced, agile development environment
Takes ownership of the assignment and a successful track record of successfully managing business deliverables
Self-motivated, resourceful and able to conduct in-depth research as required.
An excellent team player
Some travel required (5%)

Other desired skills:

Experience with Software-as-a-Service
Experience with B2B software solutions
Experience working with virtual teams across regional or ethnic cultures

How to apply

Send resume, cover letter & portfolio link to gary@americalearns.net

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