UX Design Lead

Location: Remote (US-based)

About Viderity

Viderity is a HUBZone-certified and Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) delivering award-winning IT, digital, and creative solutions across federal and commercial markets. Our services span application development, creative services, cybersecurity, data analytics, strategic communications, event management, training, and program management. With over 15 years of proven success and exceptional past performance, we empower clients with innovative, measurable results.

Position Overview

The UX Design Lead serves as the senior authority on user experience and design strategy for all digital platforms developed under the Office of Head Start (OHS) contract. This individual will ensure that all UX, visual design, and research practices are applied consistently across the contractor team and aligned with OHS program goals. The UX Design Lead collaborates with content strategists, developers, product leads, and federal stakeholders to implement a user-centered design approach that enhances usability, accessibility, consistency, and overall user satisfaction. This position requires deep experience with user research, usability testing, design systems, and federal accessibility and digital design standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of the overall UX vision and design strategy for OHS digital platforms.

• Ensure consistent use of design patterns and research methodologies across the contractor team.

• Collaborate with content strategy, development, and product teams to align digital solutions with requirements and user needs.

• Conduct or oversee user research activities such as interviews, surveys, usability testing, and competitor analysis.

• Translate user insights and research findings into design recommendations supporting continuous improvement.

• Support annual UX audits and ensure audit findings are incorporated into system updates.

• Enhance usability, navigation, search functionality, and overall user experience across HeadStart.gov and related platforms.

• Ensure all designs comply with Section 508 accessibility requirements, the U.S. Web Design System, and federal digital standards.

• Maintain structured documentation of research, design patterns, standards, and decision-making.

• Support enhancements to tools such as the Head Start Locator, Job Center, Events Calendar, and Grant Application Toolkit.

• Advise on integration of complex digital resources produced by external vendors.

• Participate in agile development cycles, planning activities, and collaborative design discussions.

• Perform additional duties assigned by leadership.

Qualifications

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Required skills include user research, interviews, usability testing, surveys, UX audits, heuristic evaluations, design systems, pattern libraries, component libraries, USWDS, wireframes, prototypes, information architecture, interaction design, Section 508, accessibility, WCAG, Drupal UX or content model design, search improvements, navigation improvements, and site architecture improvements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience leading UX and design for large-scale digital platforms.

• Experience conducting and applying user research and usability testing.

• Strong knowledge of accessibility and federal digital requirements.

• Experience collaborating with cross-functional technical and content teams.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience designing for federal programs or public-sector systems.

• Experience working within Drupal or USWDS design environments.

• Experience supporting agile development processes.

What We Offer

• Competitive hourly rate (commensurate with experience).

• Flexible, remote work arrangement.

• Opportunity to contribute to a high-impact, federally mandated modernization initiative.

• Collaborative environment with direct visibility on a nationally recognized federal program.