User Experience (UX) Strategist

Company Description

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.

Agency Description 

About the CAO 

The Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) works with City departments to transform service delivery, provide people-centered solutions, and strengthen administrative functions to better serve Philadelphia residents and employees. The CAO oversees seven City departments and offices: the Office of Innovation and Technology (OIT), Records, Procurement, the Office of Administrative Review (OAR), Strategic Direction and Transformation (SD&T), Service Design Studio (SDS), and the Office of Talent & Employee Success (OTES). 

About the Resident Service Delivery Initiative (RSDI) 

On Inauguration Day, Mayor Parker signed Executive Order 2-24, launching the Resident Service Delivery Initiative (RSDI), a long-term initiative to improve resident-focused services with goal of “tangible local government that [residents] can see, touch and feel – government that is visible, responsive and effective.” In this context, a service includes one or more interactions between a resident and the City, resulting in an outcome for the resident. The Office of the Chief Administrative Office (CAO) is collaborating with the Mayor’s Office of Policy Planning & Delivery (OPPD) and the Managing Director’s Office (MDO) to achieve the goals of this Executive Order by implementing cohorts of service improvement projects at set intervals.  

Job Description

Position Summary 

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. 

Essential Functions 

• 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, 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. 

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• 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. 

Qualifications

• 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.

Additional Information

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume. 

Salary Range: $85,000-95,000

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 6 weeks of paid parental leave.
• 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.
• 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 faqpchr@phila.gov.

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx