Lead UX Designer

Job Title:    Lead UX Designer

Location:   Shanghai, China Hybrid Working Model

About Springer Nature  

Springer Nature is one of the leading publishers of research in the world. We publish the largest number of journals and books and are a pioneer in open research. Through our leading brands, trusted for more than 180 years, we provide technology-enabled products, platforms and services that help researchers to uncover new ideas and share their discoveries, health professionals to stay at the forefront of medical science, and educators to advance learning. We are proud to be part of progress, working together with the communities we serve to share knowledge and bring greater understanding to the world. For more information, please visit about.springernature.com and @SpringerNature.   

About The Role

We're looking for a lead user experience designer to join our global UXD practice at Springer Nature and lead UX within a substantial programme of work that publishes the latest scientific research to the world.

The role is based in Shanghai (China) and you'll be collaborating with colleagues there, as well as Berlin (Germany), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Pune (India) and other locations globally where needed.

Team Vision

The team aims to provide an experience that facilitates a fast, simple and informed completion of the process for publishing scientific research and serves the unique needs of users in China. Based in Shanghai, the team is small but growing, meaning a chance to help shape the team's vision as it grows.

How the team works

The cross-functional global team evolves and continuously improves, both individually and collectively. Whilst being agile helps to structure our work, we look to focus on the right problems in the right way. We have room to experiment with but also take pride in understanding business needs and deliver on them. You will be working closely with a researcher and product owner based in Shanghai to create best in class products for users in line with business goals. The idea is that you create a collaborative environment with a peer in research to pair with.

About you

• You have an appropriate number of years of UX Design experience in a senior capacity, perhaps as a Lead.
• You have an outstanding UX portfolio (website or PDF) demonstrating critical thinking, analysis and sound decision-making as well as diverse UX methods and techniques.
• You have experience working with stakeholders and non-designers and have an empathetic, articulate, and open communication style.
• You like working in a collaborative (remote and in-person) team, where there is collective ownership of the product.
• You enjoy getting involved with every stage of the UX lifecycle and are experienced at planning UX strategies.
• You know your strengths and recognize opportunities to learn and improve.

What you'll be doing

This role is a terrific opportunity for curious people who want to get involved in our work and develop our culture and help make Springer Nature a place where people and ideas can thrive. You'll be responsible for the experience of a researcher, and you'll aim to develop a coherent, user-focused, user experience that delivers a best-in-industry set of tools and services whilst helping foster a culture of innovation.

Within 3 months

Get oriented:

• Get to know Springer Nature as a business and the groups within it.
• Design - what the teams have been working on, how they do it and how it's going.
• Meet the stakeholders, understand their experience/background/hopes.
• Develop ways of working with the UX Researcher in the Shanghai Office
• Understand the product, users, market context, and the current MVP
• Deep dive into existing research, designs, workflows, and tech constraints
• Build relationships with your peers in research and product as well as engineers, and local stakeholders
• Familiarize yourself with our design system and brand proposition outside of China
• Start identifying design gaps and opportunities in the existing MVP

Within 6 months

Get embedded:

• Design prioritization, review/crit, delivery, and sharing. Keeping user-centered design part of the culture.
• Strategic work with key stakeholders to identify needs and evolving a product MVP
• Collaborating regularly with other leads and keeping aligned with peers.
• Lead hands-on UX design across the MVP and then of our local product/service offering as it evolves
• Work closely with the team and collaboratively to shape roadmap priorities and define what's needed next
• Create end-to-end design artefacts such as:
  • wireframes
  • user flows
  • interactive prototypes
  • design specs
• Contribute to (and help evolve) the design system with any new components
• Present design decisions clearly and confidently to teams and stakeholders 

Within 12 months:

Make a change and see your impact:

• Help define a clear UX strategy and design direction for the portal's next phases
• Establish a scalable experience foundation for future growth
• Work with Product to ensure that the user experience meets customer and business needs
• Champion user-centered design practices within the local and global team
• Share learnings and contribute to the broader Springer Nature UX community
• Support DEI principles in your design approach and team collaboration

What you'll bring

• A strong design portfolio demonstrating end-to-end problem solving
• Critical thinking, clarity of communication, and comfort simplifying complexity
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently
• A hands-on approach with a willingness to iterate and explore
• A mindset of continuous improvement-for yourself, your team, and the user experience.

At Springer Nature, our mission is to be part of progress - and that begins with inclusion: of people, perspectives, and ideas. We believe that diverse perspectives drive progress, and we are committed to creating an environment where people and ideas can flourish. If you have any access needs related to disability, neurodivergence or a chronic condition, please contact us so we can make all necessary accommodation. Find out more about our DEI work here https://group.springernature.com/gp/group/taking-responsibility/diversity-equity-inclusion

For more information about career opportunities in Springer Nature please visit https://springernature.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/SpringerNatureCareers/

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