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The Global Creative Team at EF Education First is looking for a Lead UX Designer to join our Zurich based team. In this role, you'll lead the UX strategy and governance of our design system, which powers digital experiences across EF's global businesses.
Overview
You will be at the center of ensuring our Figma libraries and Site Builder tool deliver exceptional, accessible, and consistent user experiences worldwide — while exploring how emerging technologies and AI can shape the future of our design workflows and digital products.
Responsibilities
* Lead design system efforts in conjunction with the Product Owner, Digital Creative Director, and Technology Director to ensure UX excellence across EF's businesses
* Define and drive the UX strategy for the design system, establishing standards, patterns, and best practices
* Enforce accessibility and usability standards (WCAG compliance) across all components
* Hands‑on design work: wireframes, user flows, and interaction patterns for new components and features
* Lead the design of complex, production-ready components meeting high usability and accessibility standards
* Collaborate with Designers and Engineers on Figma architecture, design tokens, technical implementation, including for our Site Builder
* Create and maintain UX documentation (usage guidelines, pattern libraries, interaction standards)
* Think strategically about the future of websites and AI integration
* Explore and integrate AI tools to optimize design and development workflows
* Champion process optimization and efficiency improvements
* Conduct user research, interviews, usability testing, and analyze data to measure impact and identify improvements
* Lead stakeholder management across multiple EF businesses; advocate UX decisions with data-driven arguments; engage stakeholders through workshops and co‑creation sessions
Qualifications
* 7+ years of UX design experience
* Proven track record in complex, multi‑stakeholder design system environments
* Expert-level Figma proficiency, including design tokens, variables, and component architecture
* Strong understanding of front-end technologies (HTML, CSS, React)
* Extensive accessibility knowledge (WCAG 2.2 AA minimum) and inclusive design practices
* Advanced wireframing and interaction design skills with systematic thinking
* Proven ability in user research, usability testing, and using data to inform decisions
* Exceptional stakeholder management and ability to articulate and defend UX decisions
* Curiosity and experience with AI tools and emerging technologies
* Passionate about process optimization and the future of digital experiences
Perks
* Free on-site gym with fitness and wellness classes
* High-end equipment (MacBook Pro etc.)
* Annual tuition reimbursement for career development
* Discounts on a wide range of local restaurants, shops, hotel stays and EF products
* Regular social activities with a provided budget
* Discounted passes to local destinations and tourist hot spots such as Mt. Titlis or Kunsthaus Zurich
* On-site subsidized crèche/day‑care
* Travel opportunities
About EF Education First
At EF we believe that the world is better when people try to understand one another. Since 1965, we have helped millions of people see new places, experience new cultures, and learn new things about the world and themselves. Our culturally immersive education programs focus on language, travel, cultural exchange, and academics, turning dreams into international opportunities. When you join EF, you join a multicultural and diverse community working across more than 600 schools and offices in 50 countries, all with one shared mission of opening the world through education.
EF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to inclusion and belonging across race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, caste, parental status, identity, experience, and everything else that makes you unique.
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