The User Experience (UX) Designer will be the second UX position hired into the Colorado Digital Service (CDS). The UX Designer will work across a range of projects during their time with the digital service. They will advocate for the people engaging with and impacted by a given system to support iterative and user-centric improvements. They will work in a cross-functional team with subject matter experts as well as experts in product strategy, technical architecture, software engineering, and procurement. This person should be comfortable contributing hands-on, as well as mentoring others in adopting and improving upon human-centered design practices.
This person should be committed to improving government services by focusing on the people who need them most.
Background on the Colorado Digital Service:
The Colorado Digital Service (CDS) was launched in October 2019 by Governor Jared Polis within the Governor’s Office of Information Technology (OIT). CDS hires top technologists from diverse backgrounds into term-limited “tours of civic service,” bringing their expertise to help improve the services that millions of Coloradans use. These small teams of senior engineers, designers, and product managers work alongside dedicated civil servants in state agencies to develop user-centered solutions to Colorado’s most pressing technical challenges. The CDS team uses modern software development methodologies like human-centered design and DevSecOps to support our government partners in delivering high quality services to the people of Colorado.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Research and Design (30%)
Lead all phases of user experience product or service delivery.
Conduct design research (both generative and evaluative) that is thoughtful, ethical and uses an appropriate method.
Communicate compelling stories and artifacts drawn from research that illustrate the pros and cons of various options to support collaborative decision making.
Provide leadership and guidance on topics such as interaction design, service design, content design, system design, or information architecture.
Product Strategy and Development (30%)
Partner with a Product Owner to generate an innovative, high-level product strategy as well as the practical project steps and considerations to get there.
Incorporate UX into modern software development practices (eg. agile, kanban, etc.), coordinating with a cross-functional team to achieve a strategic vision.
Collaborate with the development team to ensure a high quality and accessible user experience.
Communication and mentorship (40%)
Clearly communicate user-centered methods and their value to non-designers.
Create written materials and visual artifacts that are accessible and help drive alignment within a team.
Facilitate collaborative decision-making through activities such as workshops that involve people impacted by the project (i.e. end-users).
Mentor and coach colleagues and partners who are taking on new tasks and roles within design and research.
Share knowledge, techniques, tools, patterns, and expert advice with colleagues, partners, and the public.
Promote empathy not just for members of the public, but also partners across the government.
MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS
Work Experience
At least five years of experience as a software engineer, product manager, or UX designer in complex environments; extensive experience with service delivery and customer satisfaction; relevant experience in an IT applications/solutions delivery role. Knowledge of leading IT practices and operations in digital services.
At least three years of experience applying user-centered design and research methodology in complex environments.
Experience using customer data and user research to drive an organization to become more user-centric.
Experience working collaboratively with cross-functional teams across the product delivery lifecycle using modern software development practices such as agile or lean.
Experience coaching or teaching others in modern software development practices.
Function/Technical Knowledge & Skills
Demonstrates expertise in multiple areas of design (ex. service design, interaction design, user research, visual design, etc.),
Strong communication and leadership skills,
Self-motivated and able to effectively manage time and tasks,
Able to solve complex problems, participate in continuous improvement, and adapt to the ideas of others,
Can thrive in low product and UX maturity environments.
Fluency in Spanish, a plus