JOB SUMMARY

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. Staff are provided with the tools and equipment to be successful in a virtual work environment. Please note, the telework policy could change with notice based on business needs.
This posting may be used to fill multiple positions.

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.

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.

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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.

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