Manager, UX/UI Design - Fully Remote!

Futures start here. Where first steps, new friendships, and confident learners are born. At KinderCare Learning Companies, the first and only early childhood education provider recognized with the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award, we offer a variety of early education and child care options for families. Whether it’s KinderCare Learning Centers, Champions, or Crème de la Crème, we build confidence for kids, families, and the future we share. And we want you to join us in shaping it—in neighborhoods, at work, and in schools nationwide. At KinderCare Learning Companies, you’ll use your skills and expertise to support the work (and fun) that happens in our sites and centers every day. From marketers and strategists to financial analysts and data engineers, and so much more, we’re all passionate about crafting a world where children, families, and organizations can thrive. KinderCare is seeking an experienced UX/UIManager to lead and mature our UX practice across multiple digital products. As Manager of UX/UI design, you'll be help establish how UX operates day-to-day; setting standards, defining ways of working, and ensuring design quality and delivery predictability across customer-facing and internal experiences. As a people manager and practice leader, with 2+ full-time designers and management of a third-party design agency, you'll own UX decisions end-to-end and serves as the primary point of accountability for how Design partners across Product and Engineering teams. The role will report to the Director of Product Insights & Design. Responsibilities: Success in this role equates to well-oiled UX operation: clear expectations, healthy cross-functional relationships, proactive communication, consistent design quality, and predictable delivery with minimal escalation. UX Practice Leadership

• Define and own UX ways of working across the product lifecycle, from discovery through delivery.
• Establish clear expectations for UX deliverables at each phase (e.g., wireframes, low-fidelity designs, high-fidelity production designs).
• Implement and facilitate structured design reviews to ensure quality, alignment, and clear definitions of “done”.
• Brainstorm and socialize UX principles that guide design decisions across products.
• Support 3–4 products, including customer-facing websites/portals and internal tools used by call center teams.

Design Quality & Delivery

• Ensure high-quality, development-ready design output across all supported products.
• Lead all aspects of the translation of strategy and wireframes into pixel-perfect, production-ready designs, particularly for large initiatives such as website redesigns.
• Serve as the final reviewer and approver for UX deliverables, including the design system.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Proactively establish and maintain effective relationships with Product Managers and Engineering leaders.
• Confidently challenge partners when UX quality, readiness, or user outcomes are at risk.
• Clearly communicate the value and role of UX to collaborators in group and leadership settings.

Planning, Prioritization & Operations

• Own UX intake, prioritization, and backlog management in partnership with Digital Product Leadership.
• Forecast UX capacity and bandwidth 1–3 months ahead and set realistic delivery expectations.
• Be accountable for delivery predictability, not just design output.

People Management & Team Culture

• Directly lead and develop 2+ full-time UX designers, including coaching, feedback, and performance management.
• Foster a positive team culture that supports engagement, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Design System Management

• Serve as the internal owner of the design system, with final approval authority over changes and usage; own the relationship, prioritization, and governance model with a third-party design agency.
• Ensure consistent application of the design system across products.

Qualifications: Required

• 5+ years of experience in UX, product design, or related fields.
• Prior experience managing designers and leading a UX practice or function.
• Proven ability to define and operationalize UX processes in a product-driven environment.
• Strong facilitation and communication skills, especially in cross-functional and stakeholder settings.
• Comfort owning decisions, setting direction, and challenging partners constructively.
• Experience delivering high-fidelity, development-ready designs in collaboration with engineering teams.

Preferred

• Experience working across multiple product types and stakeholder groups.
• Experience managing or partnering with external design agencies.
• Familiarity with design systems and governance models.
• Background in environments where UX maturity is evolving or being formalized.

Our benefits meet you where you are. We’re here to help our employees navigate the integration of work and life:

• Know your whole family is supported with discounted child care benefits.
• Breathe easy with medical, dental, and vision benefits for your family (and pets, too!).
• Feel supported in your mental health and personal growth with employee assistance programs.
• Feel great and thrive with access to health and wellness programs, paid time off and discounts for work necessities, such as cell phones.
• … and much more.

We operate research-backed, accredited, and customizable programs in more than 2,000 sites and centers across 40 states and the District of Columbia. As we expand, we’re matching the needs of more and more families, dynamic work environments, and diverse communities from coast to coast. Because we believe every family deserves access to high-quality child care, no matter who they are or where they live. Every day, you’ll help bring this mission to life by building community and delivering exceptional experiences. And if you’re anything like us, you’ll come for the work, and stay for the people. KinderCare Learning Companies is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law.