User Experience Lead

MCD is an independent agency focused on the digital customer experience.

MCD Partners, a leading interactive services agency, is looking for an User Experience Lead, with strong conceptual skills, and a keen eye for details. This is a senior-level position, and extensive experience in leading user interaction design is a must.

* You will be the primary face of User Experience for our company in the Chicago office, a thought leader. * Work closely with clients to help them build great websites. Understand them better than they understand themselves. * Create wires, site maps, user flows, plus managing other UX designers to ensure that all work going out for your clients is consistently great. * Prepare and run collaborative workshops like Design Studios and brainstorming sessions * Conduct research through user research, stakeholder interviews, market research, web analytics, observation, surveys, etc. * Stay current on emerging industry trends, and the competitive landscape to provide insight on ways to improve usability, and website functionality * Participate in the recruitment process to help build the UX team * Help develop ongoing training programs to develop the skills of the whole team * Mentor junior UX team members; challenging and motivating them

* At least 5 years relevant experience is a must, prior interactive agency environment is preferred * Bachelor’s degree in one of the following areas preferred: Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, or Computer Science * Previous experience with creating complex, user-centric websites required; experience in or knowledge of website development or coding, preferred * Expert knowledge of user interface design, information design, usability principles, and web design * Prior experience leading a team of User Experience/Information Architects * Strong knowledge of wireframing, and user-centric design best practices is required * Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills