Ascend Learning

Manager User Experience

Ascend Learning • $90K — $130K *
Leawood, KS 66209In-Person
Consumer Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
Be an Early Applicant
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in design, HCI, or related field.
  • 6+ years of experience in UX design, with growth into leadership.
  • Proficiency in Figma; AI design tool experience preferred.
  • Experience collaborating with front-end developers.
  • Strong grasp of UX methodologies and usability principles.
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and mentor a team of UX designers with feedback and coaching.
  • Promote high-leverage use of AI tools in design processes.
  • Contribute to user flows and prototypes as an active designer.
  • Oversee the entire UX design process from discovery to handoff.
  • Manage team workload across multiple projects effectively.
  • Ensure high-quality, accessible, and user-centered design outputs.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align on objectives.

Benefits

  • Flexible and generous paid time off
  • Competitive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
  • 401(k) employer matching program
  • Parental leave
  • Wellness resources
  • Charitable matching program
  • On-site workout facilities
  • Community outreach groups
  • Tuition reimbursement
Full Job Description
WHAT YOU'LL DO

Ascend Learning is seeking an experienced and strategic UX Manager to lead designers in delivering intuitive, user-centered experiences across our digital product portfolio. This role sits at the intersection of people leadership and UX strategy. You'll mentor high-performing designers while serving as a key voice in shaping how UX influences product direction across the organization. You'll partner closely with product managers, engineers, and senior stakeholders to align design work to business goals, advocate for the user at every stage of the product lifecycle, and drive cross-functional ways of working that elevate design's impact. We're also looking for a manager who is fluent in modern AI-powered workflows and who can model and encourage responsible, high-leverage use of these tools within the team.

WHERE YOU'LL WORK

  • This position can work hybrid from one of our office locations in Burlington, MA or Leawood, KS, or fully remote


HOW YOU'LL SPEND YOUR TIME

People Leadership
  • Manage, mentor, and grow a team of UX designers, providing consistent coaching, actionable feedback, and formal performance evaluations that support each designer's development and career growth.
  • Set clear expectations, delegate work aligned to individual skill levels and stretch opportunities, and ensure the team operates with focus, accountability, and momentum.

AI-Augmented Leadership
  • Model and champion responsible, high-leverage use of AI tools, including Claude, generative design platforms, and emerging workflows across the team.
  • Establish team norms and best practices for AI-assisted design, helping designers use these tools to accelerate iteration and concept work without sacrificing rigor or craft quality.

Design Delivery & Execution
  • Stay hands-on as a practitioner, contributing directly to user flows, wireframes, high-fidelity prototypes, and research activities alongside your team.
  • Oversee the end-to-end UX design process across a defined product category from discovery and concept development through prototyping, usability testing, and handoff.
  • Manage and prioritize the team's workload across multiple concurrent projects, balancing quality, scope, and delivery timelines.
  • Ensure all UX work meets a high bar for quality, accessibility, and user value, delivering experiences that are intuitive, consistent, and grounded in real user needs.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner closely with Product Management, Engineering, and stakeholders to align UX efforts with roadmap priorities and business objectives.
  • Facilitate design reviews, critiques, and workshops to drive alignment and maintain shared understanding across teams.


WHAT YOU'LL NEED

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in design, HCI, or a related field.
  • 6+ years of experience in UX design, with demonstrated growth into a leadership role.
  • Proficiency in Figma; experience with AI-powered design and ideation tools (Claude, generative tools, or similar) strongly preferred.
  • Experience working closely with front-end developers.
  • Strong proficiency in UX methodologies, usability principles, and iterative design processes.
  • Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.
  • An ability to think critically, solve complex problems, and deliver innovative design solutions.
  • Portfolio showcasing a range of UX design projects and demonstrating your design process.


BENEFITS

  • Flexible and generous paid time off
  • Competitive medical, dental, vision and life insurance
  • 401(k) employer matching program
  • Parental leave
  • Wellness resources
  • Charitable matching program
  • On-site workout facilities (Leawood, Gilbert, Burlington)
  • Community outreach groups
  • Tuition reimbursement

About Ascend Learning

Ascend Learning is a leading provider of educational content, software and analytics solutions for healthcare and other vocational industries. The company's products and services are designed to help students and professionals improve their knowledge and skills, and to help employers improve their workforce performance. Ascend Learning's portfolio includes more than 1,000 digital and print-based products, including textbooks, online courses, simulation tools, and certification and licensure exam preparation materials. The company serves a wide range of customers, including colleges and universities, healthcare organizations, and government agencies. Ascend Learning was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts.
Learn more about Ascend Learning
Size
1,500 employees
Industry
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Founded
2010
* Ladders Estimates

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