Senior UI & UX Designer at CollegeVine in Cambridge, MA

[Sampada Marathe]

https://workable.com/j/5DFC614811

DESCRIPTION

CollegeVine is looking for a designer to help define the future of guidance, mentorship, and higher education attainment.

The right applicant for this role has proven experience with UX and UI design, cares about the big goals their work helps achieve, and is discerning about company culture.

First, we are leveling the playing field of higher education for all students, regardless of socioeconomic status. To do this, we intend to make virtual guidance services available and affordable for all through a combination of near-peer mentorship and technology. As a Designer at an early-stage company with national reach, you will influence the entire next generation of high schoolers and college grads-to-be. We encourage all applicants to learn more at https://www.collegevine.com.

Second, we are looking for candidates who wish to join an R&D organization centered around autonomy, authenticity, excellence, and pragmatism.


A few things to know about us:

• You will be working within the design team and closely alongside an engineering team. They both care a lot about product.
  
• Old-school ed-tech user experiences are not acceptable to us. Our offerings must impress and work for a wide audience since we serve students and their families. On any given day, our product is used by high schoolers, college students, young professionals, guidance counselors, parents, and grandparents from all walks of life.
  
• Expect autonomy in exchange for transparency and results. Since you are well-read, curious, and self-aware, we will treat you like the awesome, interesting adult that you are. We have core hours and a goal-based environment; we understand mindfulness and the value of deep focus (see benefits below).
  

And finally, we hope to set and maintain a level of excellence in the tools we build.


REQUIREMENTS

What We Expect From You

• A portfolio of work that demonstrates UI & UX best practices
  
• For candidates who are transitioning from another area of expertise, and therefore may not have a portfolio of work as proof of expertise, CollegeVine may offer a contract-to-hire position in order to evaluate the candidate.
  
• Proven experience in UI & UX design, preferably in a startup environment
  
• Ability to think in systems & understand how UI/UX affect each other
  
• Attention to detail, while prioritizing the most important things
  
• Efficient use of the tools your typical workflow requires
  
• Excellent communication skills (as demonstrated throughout your workflow: from documenting your design output, to “winning hearts and minds” before you move forward on a project)
  
• Comfort with ambiguity
  
• Tendency to ask really good questions
  

Responsibilities

• Solve user problems start to finish: from participating in initial research, to delivering polished UI
  
• Communicate use cases to the Engineering team through well-documented design output
  
• Own the quality of your work from conception (discover risks and dependencies early!) to final delivery (work with the QA team, respond to unexpected use cases, and do a little happy dance when your work makes someone else’s day)
  

This position is based in Cambridge, MA. You must be willing and able to join us at our Cambridge office near the Alewife T Station for a majority of the workday.


Bonus

• Background or experience with tutoring and/or mentorship
  

BENEFITS

We offer a competitive salary, equity, and a full suite of benefits, some of them unconventional, but awesome for the right person:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with a very generous employer contribution.
  
• Regular team dinners and company outings.
  
• A culture of mentorship. Become the near-peer mentor for one (or more!) of our consultants or program managers and be the help you wish you had.
  
• Flexible hours with a 4-hour core - plan the rest of your workday as you wish, just give us the majority of your most creative hours. Productivity ideas: avoid traffic, never wait in line at the grocery store, wake up without an alarm clock, be around for your family.
  
• Goal-based environment (as opposed to grind-based or decree-based environment; work smarter, not harder; intelligently, not mindlessly). We collaborate on setting goals, but you set your own process for accomplishing those goals. You will be entrusted with a lot of responsibility and you might even experience fulfillment and self-actualization as a result.
  
• Join an R&D culture that celebrates mindfulness and takes the quality of your attention seriously. We don't spam our slack channels; your manager will not come tap you on the shoulder asking for pointless things; we write things down after we discuss them in person; we try to minimize meetings.
  

How to apply: 

please apply via Workable

You can address the cover letter to Maria Matveeva if desired.