User Experience (UX) Strategist na City of Philadelphia

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact. 
As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What We Offer:
•    Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
•    Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
•    Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
•    Benefits - We care about your well-being.
 

The Office of Innovation & Technology (OIT) is the central IT agency for the City of Philadelphia headed by the Chief Information Officer (CIO). OIT oversees all major information and communications technology initiatives for the City of Philadelphia - increasing the effectiveness of the information technology infrastructure, where the services provided are advanced, optimized, and responsive to the needs of the City of Philadelphia’s businesses, residents, and visitors. OIT responsibilities include: identifying the most effective approach for implementing new information technology directions throughout city government; improving the value of the city’s technology assets and the return on the city’s technology investments; ensuring data security continuity; planning for continuing operations in the event of disruption of information technology or communications services; and supporting accountable, efficient and effective government across every city department, board, commission and agency.

As a User Experience Strategist, you’ll have dual reporting to the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer as well as to the Director of User Experience at the Office of Innovation & Technology. You will lead digital products from project scoping to design strategy and implementation on phila.gov and the City’s other digital products. You'll collaborate with departments across the City and collect feedback from the public to inform the development of design recommendations and implementation. Working closely with members of OIT’s Software Engineering and Content Strategy teams— who are specialists in engineering, and content—you’ll help prioritize features, create prototypes, and ensure the highest quality of work. In addition, you’ll mentor emerging team members—helping to expand their skillsets and deliver exceptional work. 

• Developing user-centric strategies and designs that align with the digital brand requirements of modern mobile and web applications. 
• Crafting comprehensive workflow diagrams and documentation to enhance understanding and long-term sustainability of digital products. 
• Designing sketches, wireframes, mockups, and prototypes that adhere to UX best practices, focusing on usability, accessibility, and responsive design. 
• Leading design sessions and collaborations with senior leadership to align project visions. 
• Guiding project partners and team members through design methodologies, ensuring stakeholder and user needs are met. 
• Facilitating discussions with experts to capture organizational and user goals, transforming these into actionable project requirements. 
• Conducting thorough needs assessments and interviews to gather requirements and synthesizing these into clear feature documentation. 
• Validating business and user opportunities with stakeholders to ensure alignment and support. 
• Communicating effectively about project plans, status updates, and insights to all stakeholders. 
• Deconstructing complex projects into actionable plans with clear deliverables, milestones, and deadlines. 
• Excelling in navigating project ambiguities and challenges to ensure timely delivery. 
• Deep understanding of design best practices for websites and digital applications. 
• Expertise in human-centered design, rapid prototyping, usability testing, and addressing accessibility concerns. 
• Proficient in sketching, concept creation, wireframing, and developing comprehensive sitemaps and user flows. 
• Strong ability to articulate complex design concepts clearly through various forms of visual and written communication. 
• Committed to designing within established standards to ensure consistency and coherence across digital platforms. 
• Skilled in analyzing user interactions and feedback to iteratively improve the digital user experience. 
• Confident in presenting design ideas, research outcomes, and project deliverables to a diverse audience. 
• Capable of independently driving project components and deliverables with minimal oversight. [TS1] 
• Experienced in creating, maintaining, and evolving design systems to ensure consistency and scalability across digital platforms.
• Proficient in defining, implementing, and managing design tokens to streamline UI consistency and facilitate cross-platform theming.
• Experienced in creating, maintaining, and evolving design systems to ensure consistency and scalability across digital platforms.
• Proficient in defining, implementing, and managing design tokens to streamline UI consistency and facilitate cross-platform theming.

• A design-related degree or relevant industry experience.  
• 5 years of professional experience in UX design or strategy, particularly with a focus on digital products like mobile apps and web platforms or a graduate degree plus 3 years of professional experience.   
• Minimum of 3 years managing project relationships with colleagues, clients, and project stakeholders.

Salary: $80-$95K

Important: To be considered, candidates must provide a cover letter and resume.

All applications should include the following: 
•    A one-page cover letter clarifying your interest and qualifications for the role. It really helps us understand why you’re interested in this position. We read every single one!
•    Your resume or curriculum vitae. 
•    Optionally, an online professional portfolio or public GitHub account.

We won’t accept or review incomplete applications.
 

Work Setting: in-person (onsite)

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:
•    We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents
•    Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
•    Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
•    Generous retirement savings options are available
•    Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
•    Enjoy a Free Commute on SEPTA - Starting September 1, 2023, eligible City employees will no longer have to worry about paying for SEPTA public transportation. Whether you're a full-time, part-time, or provisional employee, you can seize the opportunity to sign up for the SEPTA Key Advantage Program and receive free Key cards for free rides on SEPTA buses, trains, trolleys, and regional rails.
•    Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!
Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to [email protected].