UX Designer - macmillan learning

Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family owned company that improves lives through learning. By linking research to learning practice, we develop pioneering products and learning materials for students that are highly effective and drive improved outcomes. Our engaging content is developed in partnership with the world's best researchers, educators, administrators, and developers. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or see us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or join our Macmillan Community.  Macmillan Learning is a division of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, a family-owned global media company headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.   

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are actively seeking job applicants who reflect a broad representation of differences, including race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, physical ability, neurodiversity, age, veteran, family and economic status and background, geographical background and status, and perspective. We believe that the best companies reflect the incredible diversity in viewpoints, backgrounds, and identities of the world in their staffs, and are committed to inclusive hiring across departments and levels. You can read more about our Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion initiatives here. 

Our UX Design team is changing, and we are looking for versatile and experienced UX Designers to join our team at varying levels, from Associate to Senior roles. As a part of our team, you will lead and contribute to major design initiatives, shape product experiences, and advocate for user-centered design principles. Whether you are an emerging leader or a seasoned expert, your contributions will drive innovation and excellence in our products. These positions offer opportunities to demonstrate and grow your skills in a variety of ways, including mentoring, strategic leadership, and collaboration across our product, engineering, and marketing teams. You will be instrumental in shaping the design culture and vision within the organization while balancing user needs with business priorities.

In this role, you will scope and plan design initiatives, considering technical constraints, business priorities, and user needs to deliver thoughtful and impactful solutions. You will create detailed project plans, manage dependencies across teams, and ensure initiatives stay on track through effective collaboration with cross-functional partners. Your attention to detail and strategic thinking will enable you to balance short-term deliverables with long-term product vision. As a collaborative team member, you will actively foster partnerships with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders, facilitating productive discussions and encouraging diverse perspectives. Your ability to provide constructive feedback and clear creative direction will strengthen the team’s collective output. Senior Designers will additionally play a mentorship role, providing guidance to other team members and sharing your expertise to enhance their skills and professional growth.

Beyond individual projects, you will contribute to shaping the organization’s design culture, promoting a user-focused mindset and design thinking methodologies. You will be actively involved in recruiting efforts, building relationships within the broader design community, and supporting the professional development of your peers. Ultimately, your leadership, creativity, and problem-solving skills will elevate the design function and drive impactful outcomes for both users and the business.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including women and people of color, to apply for this role. We're eager to meet people that believe in our mission and can contribute to our team in a variety of ways - not just candidates who check all the boxes. We believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we recognize that unique perspectives and experiences contribute to the strength of our team. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role. We value your potential, and we are committed to providing a supportive and inclusive environment where all individuals can thrive and contribute their best.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Design Leadership & Strategy

• Champion user-centered design principles and promote a design thinking mindset across the organization.
• Shape and advocate for a cohesive design vision that aligns with business objectives and user needs.
• Build alignment for key design initiatives through effective communication and collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders.

Research & Problem-Solving

• Plan and conduct comprehensive user research using a variety of methodologies to uncover actionable insights.
• Synthesize research findings into innovative and practical solutions for complex design challenges.
• Coach team members on applying structured problem-solving techniques like design thinking and root cause analysis.

Project Management & Execution

• Scope and plan design efforts for complex projects, estimating resources and managing dependencies.
• Develop and oversee multi-phase project plans that balance user needs, technical feasibility, and business priorities.
• Deliver high-quality designs and prototypes that reflect a strong understanding of user needs and business goals.

Team Collaboration & Mentorship

• Mentor and support other designers, providing hands-on coaching and fostering skill development.
• Facilitate collaboration in workshops and meetings, encouraging diverse perspectives and productive teamwork.
• Build strong partnerships with product, engineering, and marketing teams to drive project success.

Presentation & Communication

• Deliver compelling presentations to leadership, articulating design decisions and their business impact.
• Create engaging visualizations and narratives that convey cohesive product stories.
• Advocate for design’s strategic importance internally and externally, representing the team at industry events.

Culture & Community Building

• Contribute to recruiting and hiring efforts to grow a talented and diverse design team.
• Promote a culture of design excellence and a user-first mindset across the organization.
• Engage with the broader design community through outreach, events, and thought leadership.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree.
• At least 3 years’ professional UX Designer experience for the Designer level; at least 5 years’ professional UX Designer experience for the Senior Designer level
• Proficiency in designing holistic experiences, visual storytelling, and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Whimsical, Adobe XD, etc.).
• Strong ability to tackle complex design challenges with innovative and practical solutions.
• Deep understanding of business models, metrics, and the competitive landscape, with the ability to connect design to business outcomes.
• Exceptional presentation skills and the ability to articulate design rationale to diverse audiences.
• For Senior Level - Leadership: Demonstrated ability to mentor team members, lead cross-functional initiatives, and influence stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience participating in (or spearheading) design efforts for artificial intelligence-related products.
• Solid portfolio of mobile application design.
• Ability to demonstrate a keen ability to define problems and improve service design.
• Track record of designing and delivering commercially-available products and services.
• Insatiable curiosity and enjoy making human connections with people who just might have the answers you seek.
• Enjoy collaborating closely with engineers and technical staff.
• Passionate about your work designing the most accessible products that are not just compliant, but are excellent and easy to use.
• A desire to make a difference and influence the dynamic design culture at a company with strong roots in education technology.

Salary Ranges: $50,000 - $75,000 per year for Associate Designer level; $80,000 - $120,000 per year for Designer level, $100,000 - $160,000 per year for Senior Designer level

Physical Requirements: Must be able to concentrate in busy, open office environment. Must be able to multi-task and maintain calm and focus under stressful situations. Must be able to travel occasionally and work more than 40 hours per week as needed.

Please include a link to your portfolio with your application submission.  Applications without a portfolio URL will not be considered.  

This position is eligible for remote employment, excluding the following locations: Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming.

Benefits 

Regular full-time and qualifying part-time employees and their dependents are eligible for Macmillan benefits, effective on the employee’s date of hire. Macmillan also offers health benefits coverage to qualifying same-sex and opposite-sex domestic partners (may require additional documentation) of active employees. 

• Competitive pay and bonus plan
• Generous Health Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• Contributions to your 401k retirement account through Fidelity 
• Generous paid time off, sick time, floating holidays, and paid holidays (Spring Reset Day , Juneteenth, Indigenous People's Day, Election Day, and more!)
• Employee Assistance Program, Education Assistance Program
• 100% employer-paid life and AD&D insurance
• And much more!

Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family-owned company that inspires what’s possible for every learner. We envision a world in which every learner succeeds. Through our content, tools and services, we aim to make that a reality. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com, join our Macmillan Community, stay connected to our Learning Stories blogs, or see us on LinkedIn, Facebook, or X. Macmillan Learning is a division of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, a global media company headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are actively seeking job applicants who reflect a broad representation of differences, including race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, physical ability, neurodiversity, age, veteran, family and economic status and background, geographical background and status, and perspective. We believe that the best companies reflect the incredible diversity in viewpoints, backgrounds, and identities of the world in their staffs, and are committed to inclusive hiring across departments and levels. You can read more about our Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion initiatives here.

The successful candidate for this position will be an employee of Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishing Group, LLC d/b/a Macmillan Learning. Bedford Freeman & Worth Publishing Group, LLC has developed an affirmative action program in compliance with the NY Department of Education’s guidance.  Portions of the affirmative action program are available for review by applicants and employees by contacting Human Resources at Macmillan Learning.