Working Title: Senior Product Designer

Job Class: State Program Administrator, Coordinator

Agency: Department of Employment and Economic Development

• Job ID: 83326
• Location: St. Paul
• Telework Eligible: Yes, may be eligible to telework up to four (4) days per week
• Full/Part Time: Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary: Unlimited
• Who May Apply: This vacancy is open for bids and for all qualified job seekers simultaneously. Bidders will be considered through 01/23/2025.
• Date Posted: 01/17/2025
• Closing Date: 01/27/2025
• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit: Department of Employment and Economic Development / MAPE
• Division/Unit: Paid Family & Medical Leave
• Work Shift/Work Hours: Day Shift
• Days of Work: Monday - Friday
• Travel Required: No
• Salary Range: $36.71 - $54.60 / hourly; $76,650 - $114,004 / annually
• Classified Status: Classified
• Bargaining Unit/Union: 214 - MN Association of Professional Employees (MAPE)
• FLSA Status: Exempt - Administrative
• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: Yes
  
  

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

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

The Senior Product Designer collaborates with business partners and technology teams to shape product design strategies and deliver exceptional service experiences aligned with core business objectives. This role drives innovation from product vision through execution, continuously improving processes while mentoring and guiding other designers. As a senior leader, this position influences the design direction and ensures solutions are user-centric, scalable, and strategically aligned.

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.

Key responsibilities:

• Define and direct the overall product composition, page flow, and sensory frameworks to ensure cohesive user experiences.
• Establish guidelines, objectives, and design principles for product and service experiences.
• Lead the exploration and execution of aesthetic vision across all dimensions, including layout, color, typography, motion, and interactivity.
• Develop prototypes to articulate and refine product or service concepts, brand narratives, and experience value propositions.
• Guide participatory design processes to evaluate and iterate on product/service-level concepts.
• Implement alternative design solutions to enhance usability, efficiency, and user satisfaction.
• Define and optimize usability research methods, applying the most effective approaches to address key research questions.
• Analyze user research data to provide actionable insights and ensure products are usable, useful, and desirable.
• Lead the development of testing strategies and oversee quality assurance for product/service usability.
• Drive process improvements for design tools, workflows, and methodologies, fostering alignment with engineering teams.
• Present concepts and designs (e.g., flows, prototypes, high-fidelity wireframes, and documentation) to stakeholders and leadership, ensuring alignment and clarity.
• Resolve escalated design issues, identify appropriate solutions or owners, and ensure the highest quality outcomes.
• Collaborate across teams to drive alignment on product vision and ensure stakeholder engagement throughout the design process.
  
  

This position is telework eligible and is occasionally required to be on-site at the St. Paul office. Staff are provided with the tools and equipment to be successful in a virtual work environment and may telework from anywhere in Minnesota or a neighboring state. Please note, the telework policy could change with notice based on business needs.

This posting may be used to fill multiple positions.

Minimum Qualifications

Please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month and year for each job held.

Only applicants whose resumes clearly demonstrate fulfillment of each of these minimum qualifications will be considered for this position.

Four (4) years of User Experience (UX) design experience, creating and delivering features for web or native applications.

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

• Knowledge of User Interface (UI) component libraries and accessibility standards such as those outlined by the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
• Experience with modern design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).
• Skill in leading projects from concept to execution.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Behavioral Science, Information Systems, Visual/Graphic Design, or Computer Science, or other closely related field as determined by the agency.
• Experience working on global projects and multi-disciplinary teams in iterative product development lifecycles.
• Ability to navigate complex problems and align cross-functional teams around common goals.
• Skills in communication and collaboration.
• Experience in decision-making, conflict resolution, and relationship-building with senior leaders.
  
  

Our employees are dedicated to ensuring cultural responsiveness. Preferred candidates will have a variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures.

Additional Requirements

A job offer will be contingent upon successfully passing a background check. The background check may consist of the following components:

• Criminal Background Check
• Employment Record Review (current and former State employees only)
• Employment Reference Check
• Conflict of Interview Review
• Driver’s Record Check
  
  

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development will not sponsor applicants for work visas. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.

How To Apply

Select “Apply for Job” at the top of this page. If you have questions about applying for jobs, contact the Careers Help Desk at 651-259-3637or email careers@state.mn.us. For additional information about the application process, go to http://www.mn.gov/careers.

Connect 700 Program

To receive consideration as a Connect 700 Program applicant, apply online, email the Job ID#, the Working Title and your valid Proof of Eligibility Certificate by the closing date to Talent Acquisition at talent.acquisition.deed@state.mn.us.

Veterans

To be considered with Veteran's Status, you MUST indicate this on your application and submit a copy of your DD-214 form and other required documentation to talent.acquisition.deed@state.mn.us by the closing date.

Recently Separated Veterans (RSV): Effective July 1, 2009, legislation provides that the top five RSV applicants who apply and meet the qualifications for a vacancy shall be granted an interview.

Certain Disabled Veterans: Effective August 1, 2012, legislation provides state agencies with the option to appoint certain disabled veterans on a non-competitive basis.

See the above links for criteria and eligibility.

Current State Employees

• Please apply via Self Service.
• If eligible for bidding or expression of interest: This vacancy will be open for bids/expression of interest and all qualified applicants simultaneously. Current employees of DEED who are currently in the same classification, who are eligible, and apply within the seven (7) day period will be considered prior to filling the position by other means.
  
  

Contact

If you have questions about this position, contact Timothy High at timothy.high@state.mn.us.

Working together to improve the state we love.

What do Minnesota's State employees have in common?

• A sense of purpose in their work
• Connection with their coworkers and communities
• Opportunities for personal and professional growth
  
  

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.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERS

Minnesota state agencies are equal opportunity, affirmative action, and veteran-friendly employers. State agencies are committed to creating a workforce that reflects the diversity of the state and strongly encourages persons of color and Indigenous communities, members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply. The varied experiences and perspectives of employees strengthen the work we do together and our ability to best serve Minnesotans.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and disabilities related to pregnancy or childbirth), gender identity, gender expression, marital status, familial status, age, sexual orientation, status regarding public assistance, disability, veteran status or activity in a local Human Rights Commission or any other characteristic protected by law.

Applicants With Disabilities

Minnesota state agencies make reasonable accommodations to their employees and applicants with disabilities. If you have a disability and need assistance in searching or applying for jobs with the State of Minnesota, call the Careers Help Desk at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us and let us know the support you need.

The Department of Employment and Economic Development is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, and veteran-friendly employer, and encourages all qualified candidates to apply for job opportunities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application and search tools, please contact Karen Lilledahl at Karen.Lilledahl@state.mn.us. Please indicate what assistance is needed.