UX Design Manager

Important Notice for Applicants:

At Bixal, we want to ensure a transparent and secure application process for all candidates. Official communication will come from an email address ending in @bixal.com or from @bixal.na.teamtailor-mail.com. Messages from other sources may be fraudulent, and you should exercise care to avoid any links or attachments included.

Bixal will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Need Assistance or a Reasonable Accommodation? If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation to complete your application, we're here to help. Please reach out to us at talent@bixal.com and let us know how we can support you. You do not need to share personal details or disclose the nature of your request. You can expect a response from a team member within 24 hours during the regular work week and on the next operating day during the weekend or holidays.

Why Bixal? Bixal is a consulting company headquartered in Fairfax, VA, working alongside governments and organizations to help them deliver better services and experiences to the communities they serve. Using evidence-based knowledge and technology, Bixal empowers clients to deliver on their missions more effectively by fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement.

Our values:

• People-First: Emphasizing the importance of people in all aspects of work.
• Collaboration and Transparency: Valuing teamwork and open communication.
• Growth Mindset: Encouraging innovation and continuous improvement.
• Creating Lasting Impact: Focusing on meaningful outcomes and positive change.

About the role:

Bixal has an exciting opportunity to accelerate digital transformation in the federal government and enhance the quality of service delivery to the public. Collaborating directly with our federal partner, you’ll harness relevant expertise and innovative strategies to drive large-scale enterprise transformation and create customer-centric experiences. For this project, the UX Design Manager will develop a user-centered design approach that ensures high-quality user experiences, defining the overall UX vision and design strategy. This person will have a full understanding of the research approach and design patterns to be used across the contractor’s team and will be responsible for ensuring that the approach is followed across all areas. They’ll foster a creative and collaborative environment working across content strategy, web development, and other stakeholders to align on project goals and requirements. This is a full-time position contingent on contract award by our client, with a defined performance period of one year with two one-year option periods. This role offers you a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on a project that aligns with Bixal’s mission of delivering innovative, human-centered solutions. While the role has a fixed duration, we are committed to transparency and collaboration, keeping you informed about contract updates and new opportunities. At Bixal, we support your professional journey, ensuring your experience reflects our inclusive, purpose-driven culture and prepares you for future success.

Compensation:

The salary range for this role is $140,000 – $155,000. In the spirit of transparency, most offers tend to land near the midpoint of the range. We make compensation decisions thoughtfully, considering your experience, the skills you bring, and our commitment to internal equity. Fairness and transparency are core to how we operate.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage a team, including assigning work, providing ongoing feedback, and supporting career development.
• Own the UX strategy across multiple workstreams, ensuring alignment to the broader HSICC portfolio and agency digital strategy.
• Serve as the primary design authority, setting standards for accessibility, design systems, research rigor, and UX quality across the contract.
• Establish and maintain a human-centered design (HCD) vision that aligns with federal digital service standards, agency objectives, and contractual requirements.
• Oversee resource planning and workload balancing for design and research activities.
• Partner with senior government stakeholders to define product vision, UX roadmap, and prioritization decisions across programs.
• Review and approve all major UX deliverables, research plans, insight reports, and prototypes from the UX team.
• Lead cross-functional governance and decision-making forums, representing UX in technical + product strategy discussions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, identifying ways to enhance UX process, tooling, and design system maturity across the program.
• Coordinate closely with development teams to ensure design intent is preserved throughout implementation.

Other relevant duties as assigned and qualified/trained to perform

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human-Centered Design, Interaction Design, Graphic Design, Human Factors, Psychology, Computer Science, or a related field.

8+ years of progressive experience in UX/design; 2+ years in a lead or senior role preferred.

• Demonstrated experience designing user-centered digital products or services for federal agencies or other complex, regulated environments.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams—including UX researchers, designers, content strategists, and developers—in an Agile or hybrid Agile environment.
• Experience applying federal digital standards such as U.S. Web Design System (USWDS), 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (IDEA) and Section 508 and WCAG accessibility requirements.
• Strong background conducting and overseeing user research (interviews, surveys, usability testing, co-creation workshops).
• Demonstrated experience translating research insights into actionable design strategies, prototypes, and iterative improvements.
• Demonstrated experience working within cross-functional digital teams for at least 4 years.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance

Nice to Have Skills and Experience:

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Consulting/agency experience.
• Previous work with government agencies or initiatives.
• Experience with Drupal.
• Experience working with Agile development teams.

How We Support Our Team:

Flex hours 401K with matching incentive Parental Leave Medical/dental/vision benefits Flex Spending Account Company provided short-term disability and life insurance Commuter benefits Paid Time Off (PTO) 11 Paid holidays Our company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all individuals and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs.