UX Lead

Why your role matters

The Marketing & Digital Experience portfolio has been established to elevate UNSW’s global brand reputation, strengthen brand distinctiveness, showcase the University’s world-leading expertise across key societal impact themes, and support the delivery of the ambitious ‘Progress for All’ strategic plan.

Reporting to the Web & UX Manager, the UX/UI Lead is responsible for shaping intuitive, engaging and user-centred digital experiences across the University. This role provides leadership in defining and delivering the design vision for digital projects, partnering closely with cross-functional teams to create seamless and impactful user experiences.

The position also leads and mentors a small team, with two direct reports.

Specific accountabilities include:

• Lead a team of UX/UI designers, contributing to a data-driven and audience-focused team with a demonstrated commitment to collaboration, excellence and continuous improvement. Provide leadership support and coaching to evolve the team’s capabilities in line with global best practice across digital user experience and user-centric, accessible design.
• Lead the UX design of assigned UNSW projects with multi-faceted user experiences, from conceptualization to launch.
• Define and implement a token-driven semantic design system (e.g., colour, typography, spacing) to ensure consistency and scalability across platforms. Ensure effective communication with key stakeholders and provide advice to ensure designs are accessible, inclusive, and meet industry standards for usability and user-centered design.
• Maintain and enhance the Global Digital Experience Framework library to ensure knowledge transfer is accessible.
• Lead and facilitate technical discussions with product managers, developers, and other UNSW stakeholders to ensure design solutions are aligned with business goals and user needs and aligned with UNSW Brand requirements.

About You

• Relevant tertiary qualification with subsequent relevant experience or equivalent competence gained through any combination of education, training and experience.
• Extensive experience as a UX/UI Designer, with demonstrated experience leading UX/UI designers. A proven track record of delivering high-quality user-centered design solutions and using agile methodologies.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating a deep understanding of user-centered design principles, and showcasing a range of design projects and processes. Strong knowledge of visual design principles, including grids, layout, typography, and composition, and the ability to create cohesive, visually engaging designs.
• Expert Proficiency in design tools such as Sketch, Figma, and Adobe Creative Suite, and prototyping software, with the ability to co-design and iterate with cross-functional teams.
• Experience working with website development platforms, particularly Adobe Experience Manager and Adobe Analytics.
• Previous experience designing, implementing and managing token-driven, semantic design systems, and contributing to their evolution and scaling within a complex organization.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills, with the ability to effectively communicate design solutions to cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Passion for user-centered design and a commitment to staying up-to-date with emerging design trends and techniques.
• People management experience, with proven ability to work effectively without direction, including setting priorities and workflow for self and team.