Product/UX Designer

Lead Product / UX Designer

Zürich Office

EF Language Abroad is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Lead Product / UX Designer to drive the user experience (UX) strategy and execution for our Language Abroad division. This pivotal role will be responsible for overseeing the entire user journey across our core student-facing digital products, including Campus Connect, our in-school support application, and our innovative in-class digital experience.

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of international language education by building a world-class UX function from the ground up while simultaneously contributing as a Senior Individual Contributor (IC) on key design projects.

Responsibilities

UX Strategy & Leadership (50%)

• Vision & Strategy: Define and champion the overall UX vision, strategy, and roadmap for Language Abroad products, ensuring alignment with business goals and student needs.
• Team Building & Management: Recruit, mentor, and manage a growing team of UX/Product Designers, fostering a culture of collaboration, excellence, and user-centric design.
• Process Implementation: Establish and standardize UX processes, tools, and best practices (e.g., research methods, design systems, testing protocols) across the product teams.
• Stakeholder Management: Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, and Business stakeholders to translate product requirements into intuitive and engaging user experiences.
• Design System Ownership: Lead the development, maintenance, and adoption of a scalable Design System to ensure consistency and efficiency across all products.

Senior Individual Contributor (IC) (50%)

• Hands-on Design: Act as the lead designer for critical initiatives, driving the end-to-end design process from concept to launch for products like Campus Connect and the in-class digital experience.
• User Research: Plan, conduct, and analyze various user research activities (e.g., interviews, usability testing, surveys) to inform design decisions and uncover user pain points and opportunities.
• Prototyping & Testing: Create wireframes, user flows, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design ideas and test hypotheses.
• Design QA: Work alongside engineering teams to ensure the final implementation meets high-quality design standards and delivers the intended user experience.
• UX Advocacy: Champion user-centricity throughout the organization, advocating for the student and teacher perspective in all product discussions.

What You'll Bring:

Required Qualifications

• Experience: 7+ years of professional experience in UX, Product Design, or Interaction Design, with at least 2 years in a leadership or management role, including direct reports.
• Portfolio: A strong, diverse portfolio showcasing expertise in native mobile app design (iOS/Android) and web-based applications, with examples that demonstrate strategic thinking and quantifiable impact.
• Hands-on Skills: Exceptional skills in common design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).
• IC Mentality: Proven ability to contribute as a senior, hands-on designer while simultaneously managing strategy and team development.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to articulate design rationale clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing for an educational technology (EdTech) or travel-related product.
• Experience in a global or multi-cultural organization.
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.

About EF Language Abroad

EF Language Abroad is a division of EF Education First, the world leader in international education. We offer life-changing language programs in schools around the globe. This role directly impacts the daily lives of thousands of students and teachers, ensuring their experience—both in and out of the classroom—is seamless, supportive, and exceptionally effective. Join us in making the world a place where anyone can realize their potential through education!

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