About the Paid Leave Division:

Paid Leave is a new program launching in 2026. The program will provide partial wage replacement to Minnesota workers who are out of work due to a qualifying condition, such as a severe health condition that prevents them from working, or when they need time to care for a family member or a new child.

We are building a program that will be easy for every Minnesotan to use. We are engaging the people who depend on us—workers, employers, caregivers, and insurers—to learn from them and build the program around their needs. We are using modern service delivery and product practices to deliver the program.

The Paid Leave team has high standards and an unrelenting commitment to serving Minnesotans. It is a start-up environment without legacy systems or preconceived ways of working, so we have a unique opportunity to create human-centric processes and systems to deliver this new benefit to Minnesotans.

Position Purpose:

Under administrative direction, this high-level, professional, and specialized position exists to lead efforts and work cross-functionally within the division to guide the design and user experience of the Paid Leave product. The position is structured as a subject matter expert in product design and will utilize standard and advanced design methods, and feedback from Product, Customer Innovation, Engineering, and end users to design a Paid Leave product that is effective, modern, easy to use, intuitive, and efficient. This position will also provide strategic leadership for the design team, setting the overall design standards and ensuring consistent design excellence.

The Senior Manager of UI/UX Design will use deep technical knowledge in developing, maintaining, and improving upon product design. This responsibility not only has a significant impact on the Paid Leave division but also impacts end users throughout the State. As a product design expert, this position will contribute to the division’s long-term technology plans.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work on all aspects of Digital UX design including information architecture, interaction, visual, and prototyping.
• Mentor and guide a team of designers on how to craft best-in-class experiences, helping them to progress on their skills, knowledge, and capabilities and providing meaningful and actionable feedback on the work of the product designers.
• Drive design from early-stage conceptual ideas through launch.
• Lead brainstorming sessions and design reviews and quick, iterative user research for ideation and concept refinement.
• Create and rapidly iterate ideas in order to develop them, via storyboards, user flows, mock-ups, and prototypes, or other methods.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of standards, industry trends, emerging platforms, and design/UX best practices and be able to train and mentor others in these areas.
• Manage the design team's capacity and resources to ensure efficient and effective product design processes.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, such as product management, engineering, and user research, to ensure that design solutions are feasible and meet user needs.

If you’re a leader passionate about customer experience, creating high-performing teams, and making a difference in Minnesotan’s lives, we want to hear from you!

Minimum Qualifications

To receive credit for your education and experience, your resume should clearly describe how you meet each minimum and/or preferred qualification listed, including dates of employment.

Four (4) years* of experience in a Product Design leadership position, with at least two (2) of the years in managing teams to meet the organization's productivity, quality, and goal accomplishment expectations.

*Bachelor's degree in UI/UX design, graphic design, visual communication, product design, or related area as determined by the agency may substitute one (1) year of experience; master’s degree substitutes for eighteen (18) months of experience.

Applicants that meet the above minimum qualification will be further evaluated on the following:

Experience in creating inclusive digital experiences, demonstrating knowledge in implementing 508 compliance and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standards, assistive technologies, and integrating digital accessibility seamlessly.

Proficiency in a variety of design tools including Figma, Miro, and others.

Experience leading design teams from early-stage conceptual design through launch.

Knowledge of modern user experience design, user research, and content design processes and practices to a level that enables strong cross-functional collaboration and an inclusive, engaged culture.

Benefits

As an employee, you'll have access to one of the most affordable health insurance plans in Minnesota, along with other benefits to help you and your family be well.

Your benefits may include:

• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 12 paid holidays each year
• Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans
• Fertility care, including IVF
• Diabetes care
• Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children
• 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children
• Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years)
• Employer paid life insurance to provide support for your family in the event of death
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance that can provide income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury
• Tax-free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care
• Resources that provide support and promote physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being

Support to help you reach your career goals:

• Training, classes, and professional development
• Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid website at studentaid.gov)

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for work/life support:

• A voluntary confidential program that helps employees and their families with life challenges that may impact overall health, personal well-being, or job performance
• Common sources of stress can be addressed through the EAP: mental health, relationship challenges (personal and work), grief and loss, finances, and legal issues
• Daily Living/Convenience Services: Chore services, home repair, trip planning, child/elder care

Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of Minnesota.

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