At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead UX strategy and enhance user experiences across innovative video communication products.
- Company: Join a leading secure video communications technology company with a focus on collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with travel opportunities and a chance to make a real impact.
- Why this job: Shape the future of user experience in a tech-savvy environment impacting critical sectors.
- Qualifications: Proven UX leadership experience and ability to influence cross-functional teams.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Head of User Experience is required to define and drive UX strategy across the product portfolio of a leading secure video communications technology company. Ideally based in hybrid Reading or Oslo, this is a highly influential role focused on building a shared experience strategy across R&D, Engineering, and Product, improving how customer insights inform product decisions, and establishing a consistent UX standard across the organisation.
You'll lead a lean UX function, initially working alongside one Designer, so this role is less about managing a large design team and more about strategy, influence and building consensus, and being hands-on. The position will also involve travel between teams and locations to build relationships, socialise the UX vision and drive adoption across the wider organisation and customers.
Key skills required for the Head of User Experience
- Significant leadership and hands-on experience across UX, Product Design or Customer Experience within B2B software or technology.
- Proven ability to develop UX strategy and build consensus across Product, Engineering and R&D.
- Ideally, experience with technically complex, infrastructure-heavy or network-centric software, including areas such as network monitoring, observability, video communications, networking, cybersecurity or cloud infrastructure, not large ERP/E-commerce/SAAS software with layers of customer journey.
- Experience delivering impact through a lean UX/design function, using influence and strong cross-functional relationships.
- Strong understanding of how to embed customer insight into product strategy, roadmaps and engineering decisions.
- Experience establishing UX standards and using research, customer feedback and measurement to influence priorities.
- Credibility with senior technical and product stakeholders, with the ability to challenge assumptions and align teams around a shared vision.
- Comfortable operating strategically while remaining hands-on when required.
What you'll do as a Head of User Experience
- Define and evolve the UX and experience strategy across the product portfolio.
- Build alignment across R&D, Engineering and Product around the experience vision and priorities.
- Embed UX and customer insight more deeply into product planning and decision-making.
- Establish the UX quality bar, principles and practices needed to deliver consistent experiences.
- Lead and develop the lean UX capability while extending its influence across the wider organisation.
- Partner with Product and Engineering leaders on complex product and experience trade-offs.
- Define how user experience and customer outcomes are measured and use those insights to guide investment.
- Turn customer feedback, support data and research into strategic direction for product roadmaps.
- Help teams make technically sophisticated products simpler and more intuitive to use.
- Travel between teams and locations as required to build relationships and drive adoption of the UX strategy.
Why this role?
This is an opportunity to establish UX as a strategic capability across a technically sophisticated B2B software organisation, where networking, video, security, reliability and usability intersect for secure video conversations used by government, military, intelligence agencies, healthcare, justice/ministry of justice, etc.
With a lean central UX team, your success will come from creating the strategy, standards and internal momentum that enable a much larger Product and R&D organisation to deliver better customer experiences.
Head of User Experience in Reading employer: Opus Resourcing Ltd
Join a world-leading European secure video communications technology company that prioritises innovation and engineering excellence. With a strong focus on employee growth, you will have access to continuous learning opportunities and the chance to work with cutting-edge open-source technologies in a collaborative and supportive environment. Enjoy the flexibility of remote or hybrid working arrangements from Reading, along with occasional travel, making this an ideal role for those seeking a meaningful and rewarding career in software engineering.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of User Experience in Reading
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
In the world of UX/UI design, your portfolio speaks volumes! Make sure it's packed with your best work and showcases your process, not just the final product. We want to see how you tackle design challenges, so consider adding case studies that reflect your thought process and user-centric approach.
✨Get Involved in Design Communities
Jump into local or online design meetups and workshops! Places like UXPA or local design events can be goldmines for networking and learning. Plus, mingling with fellow designers can introduce you to potential job openings that might not be listed elsewhere.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you find a role that excites you, like the one at Opus Resourcing Ltd for a Head of User Experience, make your application count! Highlight specific projects and skills that directly relate to the job description. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who fit into their specific team, so show them you’re the one!
✨Leverage Social Media
Don't underestimate the power of social media in finding a UX/UI design job! Follow design leaders on platforms like Twitter or Instagram, share your work, and engage in conversations. It’s a great way to get noticed by recruiters and even catch wind of openings at companies like Opus Resourcing Ltd before they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of User Experience in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Head of User Experience at Opus Resourcing Ltd, make sure to include examples that clearly highlight your design process. We want to see not just the final product but also the journey that led you there—wireframes, user personas, and iterations demonstrate your thought process and user-centric approach!
Tailor Your Portfolio:A tailor-made portfolio is crucial for a full-time design role! Curate your best projects that align with the kind of work Opus Resourcing Ltd does. We suggest including 3-5 case studies that showcase a variety of skills such as wireframing, prototyping, and user testing to really make your application pop.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should not just be a summary of your CV. Use it to express why you’re excited about UX/UI Design and what draws you specifically to Opus Resourcing Ltd. Mention any relevant experience, tools you’re proficient in (like Sketch or Figma), and how you can contribute to their projects.
Highlight Collaboration Skills:In the world of UX/UI Design, teamwork is crucial. Make sure to highlight any past experiences where you worked in cross-functional teams. Illustrate how you communicated design decisions and listened to feedback, as this will resonate well with the culture at Opus Resourcing Ltd.
How to prepare for a job interview at Opus Resourcing Ltd
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
When you're gunning for a full-time UX/UI design role, your portfolio is your best friend! Make sure you've got a solid selection of your work, showcasing not just the final designs, but the process behind them—think wireframes, user flows, and any user research you've conducted. During the interview with Opus Resourcing Ltd, be prepared to discuss your design decisions and how they solve specific user problems.
✨Prepare for Design Challenges
Expect to face some practical design tasks during your interview. Opus Resourcing Ltd might ask you to tackle a quick design challenge or critique an existing interface. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and try to articulate your thought process as you work through these scenarios. Showing how you approach a design problem is just as important as the final output!
✨Know the Tools of the Trade
Familiarise yourself with the tools commonly used in the industry—figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch should be second nature to you. Be ready to discuss your preferred tools during the interview and how they've shaped your design process at previous positions. This knowledge could give you an edge at Opus Resourcing Ltd!
✨Show Passion for User Experience
In a full-time UX/UI design role, having a genuine passion for improving user interactions can set you apart. Be prepared to share instances when you went above and beyond to ensure a great user experience in your previous projects. This will demonstrate that you’re not just a designer, but a user advocate, which is exactly what Opus Resourcing Ltd is looking for.