VP, UX Design and Research - Traveler Products

Are you an experienced leader ready to pioneer and set the bar for excellence within our Traveler division? We are looking for an outstanding Vice President of UX Design and Research who is prepared to shape the future of travel and redefine human-centered design.

As the VP of UX Design and Research, you will be at the forefront of our mission to prioritize traveler needs. Your role goes beyond the ordinary, encompassing everything from charting pioneering design strategies to establishing a forward-thinking research powerhouse. But this is merely the start of an incredible journey...

What You’ll Do (Accountabilities and Ownership)

Strategic Vision and Leadership:

• Develop and communicate a visionary strategy for UX design and research, aligning it seamlessly with the Traveler Products and EG’s overarching strategic vision and objectives.

• Chart a comprehensive UX strategy that integrates user insights, market dynamics, and business imperatives, serving as the driving force behind our commitment to elevating the user experience.

• Provide visionary leadership to a substantial team of UX designers, researchers, and customer advocacy professionals, nurturing a culture of strategic innovation and unwavering excellence.

• Forge strategic alliances with cross-functional teams, including product management, engineering, and marketing, to infuse user-centered design principles at the core of our organizational strategy.

User-Centric Research and Insights:

• Champion and orchestrate an array of user research initiatives, from rigorous usability tests to advanced analytics, unlocking transformative insights that fuel data-driven strategic decisions.

• Harness the power of research findings to meticulously identify pain points, unearth unexplored opportunities, and serve as the resolute advocate for strategically driven, user-centric solutions.

• Lead the charge in staying at the forefront of industry trends and emerging technologies, using this knowledge to strategically enhance the user experience and drive innovation.

Design Excellence and Innovation:

• Set and uphold a gold standard for design excellence through the establishment of rigorous standards, guidelines, and strategic best practices, ensuring that every product and platform embodies our strategic commitment to quality.

• Collaborate intensively with our exceptional UX designers to craft and refine strategic wireframes, prototypes, and interaction designs that redefine the very essence of user satisfaction and strategic impact.

• Drive strategic design excellence through meticulous reviews and constructive feedback, perpetually pursuing a level of strategic innovation and strategic usability that surpasses the ordinary.

Shared Accountabilities / Cross-functional Collaboration:​

• Forge strategic partnerships with product management, actively shaping strategic product roadmaps, prioritizing strategic features, and harmoniously aligning UX design with our overarching strategic business ambitions.

• Collaborate seamlessly with our engineering teams, strategically orchestrating the flawless integration of UX designs, catalyzing the strategic implementation of our vision.

• Unite forces with our marketing teams to craft immersive user experiences that resonate strategically with our brand, strategically captivating and retaining users with every interaction.

• Work hand in hand with Design Operations to strategically fortify and expand our research infrastructure, positioning it as a cornerstone for strategic innovation.

• Lead the strategic measurement and enhancement of the customer experience through quantitative and qualitative means, architecting a CX measurement framework that strategically illuminates our path.

• Cultivate strategic alliances with our Product Management, Marketing, and Engineering powerhouses, strategically providing them with priceless user insights to inform and drive strategic decisions

Who You Are

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field such as UX Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Design Thinking, or a related discipline.

• Extensive experience in UX design and research, typically ranging from 10 to 15 years or more.

• Proven track record of leadership in UX design, research, and strategy, preferably at a senior management level.

• Previous experience in the tech industry, with a solid grasp of technology trends and innovation.

• Strong proficiency in user-centered design principles and methodologies.

• Skilled in conducting user research, usability testing, and user feedback analysis.

• Demonstrated ability to align design and research efforts with overall business goals and strategies.

• Experience in defining and executing long-term design and research strategies.

• Strong leadership and management skills, including mentoring and developing design and research teams.

• Experience in building and managing diverse design and research teams.

Additional Competencies:

• Strategic Visionary: Driven by curiosity and a passion for continuous learning, with a deep understanding of fundamental business operations and organizational levers for profitable growth.

• Action-Oriented: Possesses a strong bias for action, adept at navigating methods and approaches to accomplish objectives in a collaborative, lean, and fast-paced environment.

• Problem Solver: Demonstrates the ability to respond effectively to complex and ambiguous problems, offering strategic insights and solutions.

• Strategic Decision Maker: Comfortably makes recommendations even when faced with competing and equally critical business needs, leveraging a strategic mindset for decision-making.

• Goal-Driven Leader: Highly motivated by achieving goals and continuous improvement, inspiring a collective commitment to excellence.

• Unified Team Player: Embodies the "one team" ethos, fostering transparency and advocating for the sharing of data and insights to drive superior customer outcomes.

The total cash range for this position in Seattle is $306,000 to $428,000. Employees in this role have the potential to increase their pay up to $489,000, which is the top of the range, based on ongoing, demonstrated, and sustained performance in the role.