Job Title
UX Design Lead
Agency
Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service
Department
Disaster Resilience & Recovery
Proposed Minimum Salary
Commensurate
Job Location
Houston, Texas
Job Type
Staff
Job Description
Job Description Summary
The UX Design Lead develops and manages UX projects at TCWP. As the lead, this position spearheads the design and management of researched and tested low-high fidelity mockups and wireframes. Additionally, this position plays a pivotal role in shaping overall UX strategy for TCWP products, including cross-functional collaboration with developers, planners, and stakeholders to gather a holistic perspective of our user base. The work captures what matters most to our end-users and design the features and tools to drive positive outcomes. This position also provides insights into our future needs, budgets and resources, while managing UX design projects.
What We Do
The Texas Community Watershed Partners (TCWP) team provides education, outreach, and planning support for communities around the state of Texas, focusing on approaches that foster collaboration and holistic solutions to reduce risks from floods and other hazards. Central to our approach is the engagement of community staff, elected officials, and decision-makers in interactive planning exercises. Leveraging data-driven methodologies and innovative tools, such as our award-winning GIS-based scenario planning software, CommunityViz, we facilitate collaborative and community-centered sessions aimed at envisioning a future that can withstand future disasters and challenges. Operating within the largest university-based extension program nationwide, TCWP is uniquely positioned to deliver highly impactful community planning applications and services.
Your Role
Your expertise in human-centered design will be instrumental as you develop and manage UX projects at TCWP. As the lead, you'll be the first UX position on the team, and you will spearhead the design and management of researched and tested low-high fidelity mockups and wireframes. Additionally, you will play a pivotal role in shaping overall UX strategy for TCWP products, including cross-functional collaboration with developers, planners, and stakeholders to gather a holistic perspective of our user base. Your work will capture what matters most to our end-users and that we are designing the features and tools to drive positive outcomes. You will also provide insights into our future needs, budgets and resources, while managing your UX design projects.
We are looking for someone who is highly motivated, organized, and able to stand up and manage UX design projects. The hire will also possess a keen creative eye and exemplary attention to detail. As part of our rapidly growing team, adaptability to evolving team dynamics, ability to manage ambiguous tasks, and effectiveness in virtual collaboration are key attributes we value.
Responsibilities
Product Research and Design

• Works closely with product, stakeholders and developers to understand user needs and requirements.
• Designs intuitive and visually appealing user interfaces for GIS applications.
• Drives user research and usability testing to gather feedback and insights.
• Designs wireframes, prototypes, and user flows to communicate UX concepts.
• Collaborates with developers to ensure seamless integration of UX design from a QA and testing perspective.
• Stays updated on industry trends and UX best practices in geospatial design.
• Advocates for user-centric design principles throughout the development process.
• Conducts usability and visual testing to ensure quality.
• Maintains backlog of usability improvements and enhancements to make the user experience seamless.
• Develops and documents usability standards; Oversees and conducts usability and visual testing processes to ensure that standards are met.

UX Design Project Management

• As lead of UX projects at TCWP, develops, manages, and monitors plans and roadmaps that outline milestones, deliverables, and timelines in coordination with product managers, developers, and leadership; Identifies potential risks to management of UX design projects; develops and manages scopes for external development support.
• Ensures the effective use of time, resources, and budget within project plans and guidelines.
• Ensures alignment between UX design process, project goals, and stakeholder requirements; Documents UX design decisions, rationales, and revisions; Integrates these into and maintain effective UX project management and strategies.
• Identifies and advocates for process improvements and the adoption of best practices by TCWP team members.
• Leads and supervises program staff as UX design projects expand; Provides input about future budget and resources for project implementation.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in applicable field or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Seven years of related experience in research and design of software products

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Experience with JIRA
• Familiarity with Agile or Scrum software methodologies.
• Ability to multitask and work collaboratively with others.
• Experience working with Design tools such as Figma
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Experience coaching on design best practices and principals
• Can think of big picture strategy while completing routine daily tasks.
• Has interest and passion for improving customer experiences
• Knowledge in designing geospatial applications.

Other Requirements:

• May require extended bending, reaching, stooping, kneeling, squatting and sitting; May require lifting workshop and outreach equipment, up to 30 pounds.
• May require extended communication with visitors and employees in person, telephonically or electronically.
• May require infrequent travel in State vehicles with overnight stays.
• May require operating computers with high-definition screens for extended periods of time.

THIS IS A GRANT FUNDED POSITION
Applicant Instructions
All applicants must attach a cover letter, resume, and writing sample (anything related to your previous work, school, project, etc.).
All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution's verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution's procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.