EF Education First
Manager of UX
EF Education First, Cambridge, Massachusetts, us, 02140
EF Education First is seeking a seasoned Manager of UX to lead a team enhancing the user experience across our EF World Journeys travel brands, including EF Go Ahead Tours and EF Ultimate Break.
In this role, you'll oversee a group of UX design and writing staff embedded in cross-functional Agile product teams and collaborate closely with product managers, developers, writers, and business stakeholders. Your primary focus will be on strategizing and executing initiatives to create and optimize both customer-facing and staff-facing digital experiences. The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in product development and iteration, driven by a deep understanding of customer feedback and needs.
Who you are:
You are a UX leader who understands how to balance practical with blue sky. You love to ask why. You crave the challenge of reconciling complex user needs with even more complex business needs. You inspire others and enable them to do their best work. You own your ideas and run with them. When you’re stuck—you believe there’s a creative way around almost any obstacle. You love what you do and want to collaborate with a diverse team. You crave the opportunity and growth of a large company but the flexibility and camaraderie of a small, private one.
What you'll do:
Understand the needs of our customers and making that knowledge the focus for ongoing and future workLead, mentor and manage a team encompassing UX Design, UI Design, Product Design and, UX Writing disciplines to solve complex problems, providing guidance, feedback, and support to foster their professional growth and developmentPlay/coach — the "hands-on" will come in the form of research, discovery, user-testing, analysis, prioritization as well as helping with wireframing, user flows, IA as neededReport to the Sr. Director of UX and Digital Product, and work closely with Engineering, Product Management, and Product Analysis leaders; as well as stakeholders across Creative, Marketing, Market Development, Customer Experience, Sales, Operations, and Travel to help drive and manage priorities, roadmaps, workload / resource allocation, etc.Maintain and evolve our UX design standards, guidelines, and best practices to ensure a cohesive and seamless experience across all touchpoints
Must Haves:
8+ years of UX experience3+ years of people management experienceExperience in ecommerce or enterprise systems (bonus points for both)Proficiency in user-centered methodologies and design thinkingHands-on experience in user research (interviews, A/B testing, etc.)Collaboration with product managers, developers, and stakeholdersCreative and analytical thinking across multiple platformsDesign expertise with simple, scalable experiencesAdept at providing timely, constructive feedbackHighly motivated and self-startingStrong presentation and visual problem-solving skillsSolid grasp of interactive designFamiliarity with Agile development methodologiesBased in or open to relocating to Massachusetts, with at least one in-office day per week
Nice-to-haves:
Degree in Interaction Design, Communication Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Design or related field, preferredExperience working with and evolving design systemsExperience in the travel industry
What you can expect as a new hire:
During your first week, you’ll:Get to know the UX and Product team members you’ll be working withBegin to get a sense of the business, brands, and digital productsLearn about our technology platforms at a high-level and product roadmapAsk lots of questions!During your first month, you’ll:Understand who’s who on the other teams we work closely with and better understand how things workHave a high-level understanding of the business structure and customer baseHave gained confidence with our brands & design systemCollaborate with Product, Engineering, and stakeholders to review roadmap and priorities (with a willingness to try new processes, as well)During your third month, you’ll:Be comfortable working with the Go Ahead, Ultimate Break, and Adventures brandsGrow your understanding of our customers through research and user testingMake impact on strategy, process, prioritization, and roadmapOversee the UI/UX design of multiple website, mobile app, and internal platforms projectsCollaborate with Product and Engineering on the Opportunity-Discovery-Solution processOngoing coaching and mentorship for all team members
Why you'll love working here:
Working at EF, you'll enjoy comprehensive professional development, frequent social programming, and employee-run DEIB Resource Groups and clubs. You can expect:Four weeks paid vacation, ten paid holidays & two floating holidays.Robust professional growth opportunities including monthly trainings, workshops, and inspiring talks with global leaders and experts.25% company match on your 401(k) contribution.Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with life and disability insurance.Paid international business travel.Wellness benefits and a yearly fitness reimbursement.EF program discounts include travel, language schools, childcare, and more.Dependent care, healthcare, and commuter flexible spending accounts (FSAs).Discounts at local venues and businesses.Inspiring and fun offsite outings
About EF Go Ahead Tours
We believe you’re never too old to be a student of the world. For 30 years we have guided individuals across the globe through carefully crafted group travel. Our travelers range from young professionals to retirees, solo travelers to entire families, travel enthusiasts to those stepping off their first flight. We believe that the best way to learn about the world is to experience it. Every day we come to work hoping to help as many people as possible do just that.
About EF Ultimate Break
EF Ultimate Break inspires young adults to participate in life-changing travel experiences across the globe. EF Ultimate Break is a division of EF Education First and is the easiest way to travel abroad for anyone 18-35 years old. Every trip gives travelers the chance to make friends, explore new places, and immerse themselves in different cultures – on fun, affordable, life-changing adventures.
About EF Education First
At EF we believe that the world is better when people try to understand one another. Since 1965, we have helped millions of people see new places, experience new cultures, and learn new things about the world and about themselves. Our culturally immersive education programs—focused on language, travel, cultural exchange, and academics—turn dreams into international opportunities.
When you join EF, you join a multicultural and diverse community working across more than 600 schools and offices in 50 countries, all with one shared mission of opening the world through education. Whoever you are, whatever you are passionate about—we welcome you and want you to bring that to work every day. EF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to inclusion and belonging across race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, identity, parental status, experience and everything else that makes you unique.
Founded in Sweden in 1965, EF has schools and offices around the world, including hubs in Boston, London, Mexico City, São Paulo, Shanghai, Stockholm, Zürich, and more. Learn more at
https://ef.com .
#J-18808-Ljbffr
In this role, you'll oversee a group of UX design and writing staff embedded in cross-functional Agile product teams and collaborate closely with product managers, developers, writers, and business stakeholders. Your primary focus will be on strategizing and executing initiatives to create and optimize both customer-facing and staff-facing digital experiences. The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in product development and iteration, driven by a deep understanding of customer feedback and needs.
Who you are:
You are a UX leader who understands how to balance practical with blue sky. You love to ask why. You crave the challenge of reconciling complex user needs with even more complex business needs. You inspire others and enable them to do their best work. You own your ideas and run with them. When you’re stuck—you believe there’s a creative way around almost any obstacle. You love what you do and want to collaborate with a diverse team. You crave the opportunity and growth of a large company but the flexibility and camaraderie of a small, private one.
What you'll do:
Understand the needs of our customers and making that knowledge the focus for ongoing and future workLead, mentor and manage a team encompassing UX Design, UI Design, Product Design and, UX Writing disciplines to solve complex problems, providing guidance, feedback, and support to foster their professional growth and developmentPlay/coach — the "hands-on" will come in the form of research, discovery, user-testing, analysis, prioritization as well as helping with wireframing, user flows, IA as neededReport to the Sr. Director of UX and Digital Product, and work closely with Engineering, Product Management, and Product Analysis leaders; as well as stakeholders across Creative, Marketing, Market Development, Customer Experience, Sales, Operations, and Travel to help drive and manage priorities, roadmaps, workload / resource allocation, etc.Maintain and evolve our UX design standards, guidelines, and best practices to ensure a cohesive and seamless experience across all touchpoints
Must Haves:
8+ years of UX experience3+ years of people management experienceExperience in ecommerce or enterprise systems (bonus points for both)Proficiency in user-centered methodologies and design thinkingHands-on experience in user research (interviews, A/B testing, etc.)Collaboration with product managers, developers, and stakeholdersCreative and analytical thinking across multiple platformsDesign expertise with simple, scalable experiencesAdept at providing timely, constructive feedbackHighly motivated and self-startingStrong presentation and visual problem-solving skillsSolid grasp of interactive designFamiliarity with Agile development methodologiesBased in or open to relocating to Massachusetts, with at least one in-office day per week
Nice-to-haves:
Degree in Interaction Design, Communication Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Design or related field, preferredExperience working with and evolving design systemsExperience in the travel industry
What you can expect as a new hire:
During your first week, you’ll:Get to know the UX and Product team members you’ll be working withBegin to get a sense of the business, brands, and digital productsLearn about our technology platforms at a high-level and product roadmapAsk lots of questions!During your first month, you’ll:Understand who’s who on the other teams we work closely with and better understand how things workHave a high-level understanding of the business structure and customer baseHave gained confidence with our brands & design systemCollaborate with Product, Engineering, and stakeholders to review roadmap and priorities (with a willingness to try new processes, as well)During your third month, you’ll:Be comfortable working with the Go Ahead, Ultimate Break, and Adventures brandsGrow your understanding of our customers through research and user testingMake impact on strategy, process, prioritization, and roadmapOversee the UI/UX design of multiple website, mobile app, and internal platforms projectsCollaborate with Product and Engineering on the Opportunity-Discovery-Solution processOngoing coaching and mentorship for all team members
Why you'll love working here:
Working at EF, you'll enjoy comprehensive professional development, frequent social programming, and employee-run DEIB Resource Groups and clubs. You can expect:Four weeks paid vacation, ten paid holidays & two floating holidays.Robust professional growth opportunities including monthly trainings, workshops, and inspiring talks with global leaders and experts.25% company match on your 401(k) contribution.Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with life and disability insurance.Paid international business travel.Wellness benefits and a yearly fitness reimbursement.EF program discounts include travel, language schools, childcare, and more.Dependent care, healthcare, and commuter flexible spending accounts (FSAs).Discounts at local venues and businesses.Inspiring and fun offsite outings
About EF Go Ahead Tours
We believe you’re never too old to be a student of the world. For 30 years we have guided individuals across the globe through carefully crafted group travel. Our travelers range from young professionals to retirees, solo travelers to entire families, travel enthusiasts to those stepping off their first flight. We believe that the best way to learn about the world is to experience it. Every day we come to work hoping to help as many people as possible do just that.
About EF Ultimate Break
EF Ultimate Break inspires young adults to participate in life-changing travel experiences across the globe. EF Ultimate Break is a division of EF Education First and is the easiest way to travel abroad for anyone 18-35 years old. Every trip gives travelers the chance to make friends, explore new places, and immerse themselves in different cultures – on fun, affordable, life-changing adventures.
About EF Education First
At EF we believe that the world is better when people try to understand one another. Since 1965, we have helped millions of people see new places, experience new cultures, and learn new things about the world and about themselves. Our culturally immersive education programs—focused on language, travel, cultural exchange, and academics—turn dreams into international opportunities.
When you join EF, you join a multicultural and diverse community working across more than 600 schools and offices in 50 countries, all with one shared mission of opening the world through education. Whoever you are, whatever you are passionate about—we welcome you and want you to bring that to work every day. EF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to inclusion and belonging across race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, identity, parental status, experience and everything else that makes you unique.
Founded in Sweden in 1965, EF has schools and offices around the world, including hubs in Boston, London, Mexico City, São Paulo, Shanghai, Stockholm, Zürich, and more. Learn more at
https://ef.com .
#J-18808-Ljbffr