UX Designer

We are seeking a Senior UX Designer / Researcher with specialized expertise in user research, information architecture, and accessibility (WCAG 2.2 AA) to join the Division of Information Technology (DoIT) at the Iowa Department of Management (DOM). This role leads UX research, usability testing, and accessibility-first interface designs for high-priority state modernization initiatives, starting with the Iowa Department of Education Student Reporting in Iowa (SRI) platform.

• Client: Iowa Department of Management (DOM) / Division of Information Technology (DoIT)

• Location: Des Moines, IA 50309 (200 E Grand Avenue)

• Work Arrangement: Remote (Local/regional candidates preferred for occasional in-office meetings; no travel reimbursement)

• Role Type: Contract (10/05/2026 – 06/30/2027, extension possible)

• Interview Process: Webcam or In-Person (Interviews scheduled for September 14–15, 2026)

• Key Policy: Pure UX Research & Design role (NO coding required). Generative AI usage during interviews is strictly prohibited.

Key Responsibilities

• UX Research & Usability Testing: Design and execute formal usability labs, user interviews, heuristic evaluations, card-sorting exercises, and heat map analyses (e.g., Crazy Egg, Hotjar) to eliminate workflow friction.

• Information Architecture & Prototyping: Map complex data workflows into intuitive user journeys, behavioral personas, low/high-fidelity wireframes, and interactive Figma prototypes.

• Accessibility-First Design (WCAG 2.2 AA): Integrate accessibility standards into visual layouts and design systems, ensuring proper focus management, keyboard navigation, and color contrast compliance.

• Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner with the lead UX/Accessibility Architect, agency product owners, and development teams to articulate research findings, design annotations, and usability recommendations.

• Design Systems: Leverage and extend design systems (such as USWDS) to ensure consistent user experience across state agency platforms.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• UX Research & Testing: 8+ years executing usability labs, heuristic evaluations, user journey mapping, persona development, and card sorting.

• Information Architecture & Figma: 8+ years structuring complex enterprise data categories, wireframing, and building interactive prototypes in Figma.

• Accessibility Mastery (WCAG 2.2 AA): 8+ years designing accessible web applications, with hands-on knowledge of focus management, keyboard navigation mechanics, and color contrast requirements.

• Technical Communication: Proven ability to translate research insights into clear design documentation and actionable guidance for software engineers and state leaders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Graduate of a Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) program (e.g., Iowa State University HCI program) or formal certifications (Nielsen Norman Group, Google UX Certification).

• Analytics Tools: Hands-on experience with heat mapping and user analytics tools (Crazy Egg, Hotjar).

• Optional Framework Awareness: Familiarity with HTML5/CSS, USWDS, or integrating design assets into Angular and .NET MVC environments (coding is not required).