Design Lead

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Oversee all human-centered design initiatives within the data.CMS.gov program.

• Organize and conduct user research, including interviews, usability tests, contextual inquiries, card sorting, and surveys, at least once for each Program Increment.

• Collaborate with CMS regarding Paperwork Reduction Act clearance timelines and research scheduling.

• Convert research insights into personas, journey maps, user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity Figma designs.

• Summarize findings for technical team members and CMS leadership.

• Manage and enhance the data.CMS.gov design system.

• Conduct visual quality assurance to ensure design-to-development alignment, minimize UI defects, and maintain WCAG 2.1 AA compliance.

• Work closely with engineering to implement Figma designs.

• Engage in sprint reviews, demos, and definition of done evaluations.

• Create and present design rationale and research findings to CMS stakeholders, product owners, and leadership.

• Assist in content strategy and information architecture decisions to enhance data discoverability and usability.

• Contribute to oral presentations during the proposal or program review processes.

• Carry out additional relevant tasks as assigned and for which qualifications and training have been obtained.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Human-Centered Design (HCD) or a related field.

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in HCD and user research for public-facing data websites.

• Proven track record of leading design on a public-facing federal government digital platform, with a portfolio demonstrating comprehensive work from research to delivered product.

• Experience in leading and synthesizing user research through qualitative and quantitative methods, including interviews, usability testing, surveys, analytics review, and card sorting.

• Proficiency in Figma for interaction design, prototyping, design system management, and collaboration between design and development.

• Solid understanding of Section 508 compliance requirements and WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards, with the capability to interpret accessibility audits.

• Experience designing for diverse audiences with varying levels of technical expertise, from novice users to technical data consumers.

• Demonstrated ability to design and enhance content management interfaces and backend editorial workflows.

• Familiarity with Agile delivery methodologies, including sprint ceremonies, backlog refinement, PI planning, and iterative release cycles.

• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, including engineers, product managers, content strategists, and government product owners.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present design rationale and user research to diverse audiences in formal client presentations.

• Capability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance determination.

• Legally authorized to work in the US.

• Must provide a relevant design portfolio.

• Preferred: Direct experience supporting data.CMS.gov or another CMS open data platform.

• Preferred: Experience in data visualization design for large, complex datasets.

• Preferred: Experience with the Paperwork Reduction Act process.

🏝️ Benefits

• Flexible hours.

• 401K with matching incentives.

• Parental leave.

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits.

• Flexible Spending Account.

• Company-provided short-term disability and life insurance.

• Commuter benefits.

• Paid Time Off (PTO).

• 11 paid holidays.