Director of Design (UX)

Job Description

Job Title: Director of Design (UX)

Salary: $170,000/ year + Benefits

Location: 100% Remote - anywhere in the Continental U.S.

Note: This is a full-time position with salaried (W2) compensation.

About Friends

We are Friends From The City, a design and tech company focused on impact. Our mission is to make digital interactions with the government easy, inclusive, and accessible for everyone. We create user-centered, inclusive, and accessible digital experiences for federal agencies. Picture this: A loved one is trying to access information on a government website, but they experience frustrating navigational challenges. Perhaps a relative seeking citizenship needs help to understand the application process because of a language barrier. At Friends, we work to eliminate obstacles like these.

We envision a future where everyone has equal access to the benefits of technology and where the use of technology is guided by ethical principles, plain language, a commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, and accessibility. We're a minority, woman-owned, LGBT+., and service-disabled veteran-owned small business. That being said, diversity and inclusion aren't trendy bylines for us. Everyone we hire is celebrated for their unique background, experience, and talent.

Our approach to human-centered design and software development is pretty straightforward. Guided by user research, we design and develop functional platforms using clean code and intuitive design, and then we make those platforms accessible to everyone.

About the Role

We are hiring a Director of Design to lead our team of user experience (UX) designers and writers working across multiple client projects. In this role, you'll drive design excellence, mentor a diverse team, and ensure we're delivering exceptional user experiences. This position requires that you lead with respect, integrity, and empathy while making smart decisions that uphold the values and vision of Friends. We're looking for someone with a teaching and collaborative spirit who is motivated to support the growth and direction of a great organization. If you're passionate about design, collaboration, and making an impact, we'd love to hear from you!

Responsibilities

• Oversee and guide design and content efforts across all client projects, ensuring consistent delivery and alignment with client goals.
• Guide and mentor designers and writers on various projects, aligning their work with client goals and strategic priorities.
• Review significant deliverables such as wireframes, prototypes, and final designs to ensure adherence to the design system and a consistent, high-quality user experience.
• Provide regular feedback to designers and writers, promoting their professional development and helping them navigate challenges unique to client-driven work.
• Ensure our content and design solutions exceed client needs and adhere to user-centered design principles.
• Lead and mentor our designers and writers, ensuring they feel empowered and supported.
• Facilitate monthly 1:1 meetings and provide general support and advisement.
• Collaborate with our business development team to scope design work for potential clients.
• Establish templates, design systems, and reusable components that can be adapted for different client needs.
• Hire and onboard new designers and writers to support client demand.
• Act as a champion for user-centered design, advocating for accessibility best practices with clients, partners, and stakeholders.
• Measure the success of our design efforts on projects through user feedback, usability improvements, and client satisfaction metrics.

Requirements

You're a design leader who thrives in a collaborative, client-focused environment. You bring:

• A bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Visual Arts, or a related field. A master's degree is a plus.
• 10+ years of experience in design, including at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• A strong portfolio showcasing your work in UX design, visual design, and/or service design across client-facing projects.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to inspire and collaborate with both internal teams and external clients.
• Experience managing a team of designers and writers.
• Expertise in user-centered design principles, accessibility standards, and design systems.
• Proven experience mentoring and developing diverse design teams.

Nice to Haves:

• Experience working with organizations like 18F, U.S. Digital Service (USDS), or other federal agencies, particularly on human-centered design or technology modernization projects.
• Direct experience working with federal agencies like the VA, IRS, CMS, GSA, or state/local governments.
• Experience applying HCD methods in large-scale, bureaucratic environments like government or enterprise-level organizations.
• Expertise with tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe Creative Suite, and familiarity with design systems such as USWDS (U.S. Web Design System).
• A baseline understanding of front-end development, APIs, or enterprise tech stacks to enhance collaboration with technical teams.

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental, and Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k + 4% Match)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary, and AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick and 11 Public Holidays)
• Family Leave (Parental)
• Short Term Disability
• Training and Development Stipend
• Work From Home Stipend
• Wellness Resources

Hiring Process

1. Phone Interview
2. Strategic Assessment and Portfolio Review
3. Reference Check
4. Panel Interview
5. Offer

EEOC STATEMENT

Friends From The City is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We prohibit Discrimination and Harassment in ANY form. We’re committed to equality for all of our employees, and we actively provide and promote a work environment that’s free of discrimination and harassment. Our employment decisions are based purely on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without discrimination regarding race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the law or regulations in the locations where we operate. Friends will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.