GovCIO is seeking a Principal UX Program Manager to lead and mature user experience (UX), design, and human-centered practices across a growing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) digital product portfolio.

This role will provide strategic leadership for UX and design operations, helping establish scalable approaches for design, usability, user-centered validation, and experience governance across multiple products and teams. The Principal UX Program Manager will oversee UX and design staff, guide organizational growth, and partner closely with program leadership to improve product usability, adoption, and outcomes for Veterans and VA staff.

The role will support both existing product portfolios and anticipated future growth, helping define organizational approaches, staffing models, processes, and standards that enable high-quality user-centered delivery at scale.

This position is fully remote Located within the United States.

• Lead the strategy, governance, and continuous improvement of UX, design, and user-centered practices across a Department of Veterans Affairs product portfolio.
• Provide leadership and oversight for UX Leads, UX Analysts, UI Designers, and related experience-focused roles.
• Establish scalable approaches for design consistency, usability validation, user feedback, and experience governance across teams.
• Partner with program leadership to balance user needs, operational realities, technical constraints, and delivery priorities.
• Support hiring, workforce planning, mentoring, and professional development for UX and design staff.
• Guide the evolution of UX and design practices across existing products while helping establish operating models for new initiatives and task orders.
• Foster collaboration among Product Management, UX, Design, Human-Centered Design, engineering, and business stakeholders.
• Advise leadership and government stakeholders on UX strategy, organizational approaches, and user-centered delivery practices.
• Promote consistency, accessibility, usability, and adoption across Veteran- and VA-facing products.
• Support organizational growth through scalable processes, standards, and communities of practice.  

Required Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Human Factors, Psychology, Information Science, Computer Science, Product Design, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 15+ years of experience in UX, CX, HCD, product design, service design, product management, or related disciplines
• 5+ years of experience leading UX, design, CX, HCD, product, or related teams, programs, or functions
• Experience establishing or scaling UX, design, CX, or HCD practices across multiple products or teams
• Experience developing governance models, standards, operating procedures, or communities of practice
• Experience influencing organizational strategy and executive-level decision making
• Experience integrating user-centered practices into agile software delivery models
• Strong communication, facilitation, leadership, and stakeholder management skills

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Experience supporting the Department of Veterans Affairs
• Knowledge of healthcare operations, clinical workflows, Veteran-facing services, or digital health products
• Experience building or scaling multidisciplinary UX, design, research, or customer experience organizations
• Experience leading Voice of Customer, usability testing, user validation, or user feedback programs
• Experience supporting organizational growth, workforce planning, and capability development
• Familiarity with accessibility standards and inclusive design practices
• Current or previous Public Trust clearance