User Experience & Product Design Senior Manager

The User Experience (UX) and Product Design Senior Manager is a pivotal leadership role in the Data & AI department, responsible for crafting intuitive, effective, and delightful user experiences across Sidley's suite of AI-enabled products. Reporting to the Director of AI Engineering, this role merges strategic design leadership with a deep understanding of human-centered design, product innovation, and agile delivery. This role will bridge user insight, business strategy, and technical feasibility to drive adoption of next-generation legal technology solutions.

This position is responsible for both strategic vision and hands-on leadership in UX and product design. Key responsibilities include:

Lead the UX and Product Design strategy for AI initiatives, aligning design goals with business objectives and technical capabilities.
• Build, mentor, and manage a cross-functional design team, fostering a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and continuous improvement.
• Conduct user research, persona development, journey mapping, and usability testing to inform product strategy.
• Translate complex workflows and AI capabilities into elegant, accessible user interfaces.
• Partner with engineering, product, legal, and business teams to deliver cohesive and scalable digital experiences.
• Champion the creation and adoption of standardized design systems and toolkits.
• Define and track UX KPIs, measuring impact on user engagement, adoption, and business outcomes.
• Facilitate design thinking workshops and product discovery sessions with legal practitioners, clients, and stakeholders.
• Oversee design operations, including budgeting, forecasting, and vendor collaboration.
• Stay abreast of trends in generative AI, emerging technologies, legal tech, and enterprise design practices.

Salaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors, including, but not limited to, the relevant market, skills, experience, and education of the selected candidate. If an estimated salary range for this role is available, it will be provided in our Target Salary Range section. Our compensation package also includes bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits program. Benefits information can be found at Sidley.com/Benefits.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities (Duties) above satisfactorily and meet the requirements below. The requirements listed below are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation, please email staffrecruiting@sidley.com (current employees should contact Human Resources).

Education and/or Experience:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Computer Science, or related field. Master's degree preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in UX and product design, with a minimum of 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise-scale design initiatives in agile environments.
• Deep understanding of end-to-end UX processes and methodologies.
• Experience with AI-driven product design and/or emerging technology applications.
• Proven track record in building and scaling high-performing, cross-functional teams.
• Experience with Figma, prototyping tools, and agile product management platforms (e.g., Azure DevOps, Jira).
• Professional services or legal industry experience strongly preferred.

Other Skills and Abilities:

The following will also be required of the successful candidate:

• Strong organizational skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Good judgment
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Able to work harmoniously and effectively with others
• Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion
• Able to work under pressure
• Able to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities

Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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