Job Title: Senior UX Designer / Researcher – Accessibility Specialist
Location: Remote , need locals and in person interview is required on September 14th and 15th, 2026.
Duration: 12+ Months
Job Overview
The client is seeking an experienced Senior UX Designer / Researcher – Accessibility Specialist to support digital modernization initiatives.
The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in UX research, user-centered design, usability testing, accessibility, information architecture, wireframing, prototyping, and Figma.
This is primarily a UX design and research position with no coding required. The selected candidate will work closely with UX and Accessibility leadership, product owners, technical teams, and agency stakeholders to improve complex digital applications and workflows.
The initial focus will support the Iowa Department of Education Student Reporting in Iowa (SRI) initiative, with additional support for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and other state projects as needed.
Key Responsibilities
- Plan and conduct formal UX research to understand user needs, behaviors, and workflow challenges.
- Design and moderate usability testing sessions and usability labs.
- Conduct heuristic evaluations and identify usability issues.
- Create user journeys, personas, workflows, and behavioral models.
- Develop information architecture for complex, data-heavy applications.
- Conduct card sorting and other research techniques to organize information effectively.
- Create wireframes, prototypes, and responsive interface designs using Figma.
- Translate research findings into practical, data-driven design recommendations.
- Apply accessibility principles throughout the UX design and research process.
- Ensure designs align with WCAG 2.2 Level AA requirements.
- Evaluate and improve keyboard navigation, focus management, color contrast, and other accessibility considerations.
- Collaborate with UX architects, product owners, developers, and agency stakeholders.
- Document design decisions, research findings, workflows, and recommendations.
- Communicate complex UX and accessibility findings clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Help establish and scale UX research and accessibility practices across multiple state initiatives.
Required Qualifications
- 8+ years of professional experience in UX Design, UX Research, or a related field.
- Strong experience conducting UX research and usability testing.
- Demonstrated expertise in:
- Usability testing
- Usability labs
- Heuristic evaluation
- User journey mapping
- Persona development
- Information architecture
- Card sorting
- Wireframing
- Interactive prototyping
- Advanced proficiency with Figma.
- Strong knowledge of WCAG 2.2 Level AA accessibility standards.
- Hands-on experience with:
- Accessibility auditing
- Focus management
- Keyboard navigation
- Color contrast requirements
- Strong understanding of user-centered design and design-thinking methodologies.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to collaborate with technical teams, developers, product owners, and government stakeholders.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Hotjar, Crazy Egg, or similar heat-map/analytics tools.
- Experience analyzing user behavior and developing data-driven design recommendations.
- Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g) training or certification.
- Google UX Design Certification.
- Formal education in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), UX Design, or a related discipline.
- Graduates of an Iowa State University (ISU) HCI program are highly preferred.
- Experience with the U.S. Web Design System (USWDS).
- Knowledge of semantic HTML5 and responsive CSS/SASS.
- Experience integrating UX designs into Angular or MVC/.NET environments.
Technical Skills
UX & Research:
UX Research, User Research, Usability Testing, Usability Labs, Heuristic Evaluation, User Journey Mapping, Persona Development, Information Architecture, Card Sorting
Design:
Figma, Wireframing, Interactive Prototyping, Responsive Web Design, User-Centered Design, Design Systems
Accessibility:
WCAG 2.2 Level AA, Accessibility Auditing, Focus Management, Keyboard Navigation, Color Contrast
Analytics:
Hotjar, Crazy Egg, Heat Maps, User Behavior Analysis, Data-Driven Design
Additional:
USWDS, HTML5, CSS/SASS, Angular, MVC/.NET
Work Arrangement
- Primarily a UX research and design role.
- No coding is expected for the core position.
- Local or regional Iowa candidates are preferred.
- Candidate must be available for occasional in-office meetings.
- Travel and related expenses will not be reimbursed.
Warm Regards,
Belinda Clark | Recruitment Specialist
Mobile: Ext 883
Email:
7950 Legacy Dr Suite 400, Plano, TX 75024
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