Manager, Product Design

Role Overview

• Inform and drive an experience design strategy for a customer or associate-led experience program
• Work within and across multiple product teams to provide thought leadership and create intuitive and elegant product design solutions that solve complex consumer problems and drive business results
• Communicate solutions to stakeholders and executives in a manner that simplifies complexity and generates excitement
• Lead and develop user experience research plans to understand consumer and associate needs, opportunities, and pain points to continually inform an iterative design and discovery process
• Collect and synthesize qualitative and quantitative research to inform and validate design decisions
• Collaborate (and lead/facilitate collaboration) with Product Managers, Designers, Analysts and Developers throughout the discovery, design, and development process
• Create visual artifacts to articulate, inform and validate ideas with consumers and stakeholders (prototypes, wireframes, sketches, journey maps, personas, etc.)
• Create and oversee the development of detailed design deliverables utilizing and contributing to the CarMax design language system and pattern library
• Stay current on all the tools, principles, and practices in product design, prototyping and development, and drive for continuous improvement
• Facilitate meetings and brainstorming sessions that are organized and productive
• Mentor and train junior members of the design team on industry and CarMax best practices
• Advocate for ambitious standards of excellence in providing delightful and rewarding user experiences, and proactively support the team in achieving them

Requirements

• 5-7 years' experience within the field of user experience and UX design/development preferred
• BA/BS degree
• Portfolio or work samples showcasing UX thinking, creativity, and depth of thought coupled with fluency in best practices for UX Design, Visual Design and Front-End Development
• Experience in teaching role and/or conference presentations
• Passion for technology and design, and the drive to stay on top of industry trends and best practices
• Persuasive communicator – able to explain complex or intangible concepts to stakeholders at all levels
• Good listener – weighs input from multiple perspectives when forming opinions and recommendations
• Collaborative and team-oriented work approach
• Solid understanding of user-centered design processes and ability to balance customer needs with business goals in developing solutions
• Experience facilitating brainstorming and product discovery sessions and getting consensus among a large, diverse group of stakeholders
• Experience conducting and leveraging user research
• Strong UX Design principles and deliverables, including rapid prototyping, site maps, information architecture, user personas, wireframes, flows, etc.
• Ability to convert ideas quickly into design artifacts
• Strong design aesthetic
• Ability to perform interface design critiques and supply objective feedback to designers
• Strong critical thinking and analysis skills
• Able to train and mentor others in UX design methodologies and best practices
• Experience designing solutions for web, mobile, and tablet applications
• Experience with Agile development processes
• Responsive/adaptive design experience a plus
• E-commerce experience a plus

Benefits

• Flexible work arrangements
• Professional development opportunities