Are you passionate about tackling complex business and social innovation using Design Thinking? Are you so mission-oriented that you get restless if you are not making a difference? Are you a systems change thinker at heart with a proven track record of ideating and designing new ventures? Then this role is for you! We are seeking a Senior Director of Digital Experience (Location Flexible/Boston, MA preferred) to lead a team to create and advocate high quality experiences through technology-enabled solutions.
Reporting to the Chief Information Officer, you will lead vision definition for the newly created Digital Experience (DX) vertical of IT organization. Leveraging deep expertise in Design Thinking, you will define and reinforce the value of design practices for the business and IT and develop design strategies for products, services, and overall portfolio management. You will guide and lead the Digital Experience (DX) team to execute design strategies for work initiatives while also driving the adoption of design practices, resources, trends, and patterns to accelerate solution delivery. You will also provide enterprise-wide thought leadership by improving and scaling design practices and processes throughout the organization.
As part of your work, you will also have the opportunity to interact with students as a mentor, group facilitator, and advocate, participating in Year Up’s mission.
We understand that people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. We encourage candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications below. If you believe you have the transferable skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of this role, we encourage you to apply.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Leadership and Strategy
- Employ a “portfolio view” to initiatives with an eye towards enhanced experiential outcomes
- Guide DX team to uncover what customers think, feel and value by using insights from user research, site metrics, and industry trends to drive the experience design for key customer journeys
- Articulate quick wins while delivering on overall project goals
- Balance strategic vision (roadmaps) with tactical execution
- Demonstrate experience working with key senior leaders and developing strong relationships to bridge technology and business
- Maintain balance of status quo and innovation in driving initiatives while prioritizing based on impact, value to business, and constraints
- Inspire, lead and develop DX team to create experiences which support the Year Up mission
- Manage and direct outsourced contributors and agencies
- Navigate difficult conversations with key stakeholders to drive win-win outcomes which support human-centered experiences
Collaboration
- Successfully pitch creative concepts to executive audiences, demonstrating strong story telling skills
- Communicate with multiple levels of management, managing and leading through influence
- Be a team player who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
- Interact cross-functionally to bring new experiences to market using agile methodologies
Management/Talent Development
- Manage departmental budget with value analysis
- Manage high performing team with diverse needs, wants, and perspectives
- Drive consensus-building within and across teams
- Continually enhance the “learning culture” in the organization
- Ask the hard questions when conducting vendor product/service evaluations (asking “why”)
- Apply expertise in agile ways of working to drive MVP definition, product/service delivery, and project completion
- Apply industry expertise in design thinking concepts, application, and execution
- Provide performance feedback, coaching, and direction to direct reports
- Coach and mentor a team of designers, providing ongoing feedback to help them build design thinking mindset, strengthen their design techniques, and develop their business consulting, communication, and presentation skills
- Ensure the right team members are deployed to the right problems in order to get the best results
Learning Community Member/Student Engagement
- May serve as an advisor/mentor for one or more students
- May join and sometimes facilitate weekly group sessions with students
QUALIFICATIONS:
- 8+ years’ experience as a Digital Strategist, User Experience Designer or an alternate role which involves strategizing and architecting user experience design for midsize to large organizations
- 4+ years’ experience with Design Thinking process and related methods and tools
- Strong interpersonal skills, self-motivated
- Positive, resilient and inspiring attitude
- Strong knowledge of human-centered design
- Proven track record of setting strategic vision, goals, and roadmap for user experience teams
- Exceptional analytical and creative problem-solving skills
- Excellent skills in presentation, communication, and senior leadership engagements, including the ability to work effectively in a matrix organization
- Ability to articulate and present ideas based on sound user experience and interaction design principles
- Experience collaborating with cross functional teams (business partners, creative agencies, UI designers, web development) and technology teams (architects, technical business analysts, and developers)
- Demonstrated success implementing user experience or design thinking into mid to large sized organizations (adoption & change management)
- Periodic travel may be required
- A passion for working with young adults, an unshakable belief in their potential and a strong commitment to the mission of Year Up
- Commitment to diversity and inclusion
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:
- Salary: Competitive and commensurate with education and experience
- Benefits: Competitive package including 100% healthcare coverage, dental, and 401(k) match
- Vacation: Three weeks paid vacation in first year of employment; four weeks after initial year
- Professional development: Funds available to support staff in achieving career objectives
ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:
Year Up is an award-winning, national 501(c)3 organization that enables motivated young adults, ages 18-24, to move from minimum wage to meaningful careers in just one year, by providing the skills, experience, and support they need to reach their full potential. Through a one-year, intensive program, Year Up utilizes a high expectations, high support model where students spend the first six months learning in-demand technical and professional skills, focusing on one of five career pathways, before applying their skills during a six-month corporate internship with a top company. Throughout the program, students earn an educational stipend, and complete coursework eligible for college credits.
Year Up has served more than 24,000 young adults since its founding in 2000, and will serve more than 4,700 young adults in 2019 nationwide. Year Up currently serves 25 U.S. cities across 18 markets, including Arizona, Baltimore, Bay Area, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Greater Atlanta, Greater Boston, Greater Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, the National Capital Region, New York City, Puget Sound, Rhode Island, South Florida, Tampa Bay, and Wilmington. 90% of Year Up graduates are employed and/or enrolled in postsecondary education within four months of program completion and employed graduates earn an average starting salary of $40,000 per year.
Voted one of the Best Nonprofits to Work For in the country by The NonProfit Times for eight consecutive years, Year Up is a rewarding place to work. Our staff is passionate, supportive, mission-driven, and committed to positive change and continuous learning. We set high standards for both ourselves and our students, and live by a set of core values that reflect an unshakable belief in the talent and full potential of our young people. The work we do is life-changing, and we know that our team is the greatest asset in achieving our mission.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY:
Year Up actively engages individuals from all backgrounds. We are committed to embracing diversity within our organization because we firmly believe that diverse employee teams help us to achieve our best organizational outcomes and provide the most effective support to our young adults as we work to close the Opportunity Divide. We are deeply dedicated to creating and maintaining an inclusive and supportive work environment. Learn more about our commitment to diversity:http://www.yearup.org/about-us/careers/commitment-to-diversity/
As an equal opportunity employer, Year Up is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
TO APPLY:
Please submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume through our website.
Note that applications without a cover letter will not be considered. We respectfully request no phone calls.
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