State: VA
City: Arlington
Zip Code: 22203
Overview
AvalonBay Communities, Inc., an equity REIT, has a long-term track record of developing, redeveloping, acquiring and managing distinctive apartment homes in some of the best U.S. markets, and delivering outsized, risk-adjusted returns to shareholders. With equal parts experience and vision, we’ve established a leadership position rooted in our purpose of creating a better way to live and that is always focused on building value for the long term.
Creating a better way to live is the purpose that binds AvalonBay associates. We take that purpose seriously and expect you will as well. By focusing on collaboration, innovation, and taking ownership of our choices and actions, we act in ways that focus on creating value for our customers, investors and associates. Your positive, professional, and consistent personal interactions make AvalonBay a great place to work.
The Role
The real estate market is undergoing a significant and exciting change – driven by data and technology. Digital products play a vital role in AvalonBay’s mission to create unmatched value for our clients.
The Head of User Experience (UX) design will be a leader, mentor, and a guiding force in defining the user experiences across a variety of form factors including large screens, tablets, mobile phones and wearable devices. The person must have a good understanding of information architecture, interaction design, usability analysis and user centered design. The person must have a passion for managing a team of designers and developing products with awesome user experiences that blend seamlessly with customers’ daily journeys for both the first-time user and the sophisticated expert. S/he is a key member of the Digital team and will lead and mentor a team of UX Designers to ensure the success of a product portfolio as measured by key business, product, and design metrics.
Creativity is key requirement as many times the customer looks to AvalonBay to provide solutions to their problems. A keen sense of curiosity, an attitude of exploration and openness throughout the process will lead to success in this role. This position is strongly cross-functional in nature, requiring working with customers and partners and building strong working relationships with Marketing, Branding, Resident Services, Product Management, and Engineering.
This critical and high-profile role will report directly to the VP and Head, Product Management.
Responsibilities
Strategic leadership:
·Develop and implement a comprehensive UX design strategy including Product Design, Service Design and Conversational design aligned with company’s goals and objectives.
·Manage and improve the overall user experience design process for the entire AvalonBay Digital Product Portfolio, including leading the design and creation of consumer & enterprise applications, service blueprints, and conversational/chatbot interaction design.
·Promote user advocacy and design thinking during the entire product conception and development cycle, create user-centered artifacts and continuously refine the process.
·Be a go-to person and strategic leader for the User Experience (UX) design within the company
Team Management
·Provide leadership, guidance, and mentorship to designers through their product lifecycles and career progressions
Service Design Integration:
·Apply service design methodologies to create seamless, end-to-end experiences that address both user needs and business objectives.
·Collaborate with cross-functional teams to map customer journeys, identify pain points, and design solutions that enhance the overall service experience.
Design Execution:
·Create system and application concepts by defining information architecture, user interface flow, wireframes mockups and other design guidelines.
·Communicate concepts through sketches, diagrams, and interactive prototypes and can adapt communication style to different audiences
·Work with multiple members of the development team to ensure implementation of the design.
·Gather and analyze feedback from customers, marketing, branding, product management, development, and data analysts
·Provide regular updates and manage executive stakeholder communication and reporting
Qualifications
The individual must be highly entrepreneurial and a strategic designer who can solve today’s issues as well as build processes for growth. The individual will need to be hands-on and work closely with all levels in the company, including senior management. The person needs to have:
·Deep understanding of user-centered design principles and the ability to execute them along with guiding team members and a track record of developing your people into future leaders
·7+ years of design, where you were accountable for product design
·Demonstrable customer-centricity by having a high customer satisfaction score from your customers
·A good understanding of user-centered design principles, data-driven design activities, such as storyboarding and experience models to create high-quality designs
·Ability to roll up the sleeves and assist with concept designs to drive organizational alignment around experience strategy.
·A dazzling portfolio that displays a spectrum of innovative design solutions and applications from cradle to grave.
·Bachelor’s degree (masters preferred) in Human Computer Interaction, Human Factors, Information Design, or related field
·Outstanding verbal and written communication, interpersonal and leadership skills are required.
How AvalonBay Supports You
We know that our teams are the beating heart of our success and we’re committed to showing our appreciation.
We offer:
Comprehensive benefits — health, dental and vision, 401(k) with company match, paid vacation and holidays, tuition reimbursement, an employee stock purchase plan and more. Click on Benefits (https://jobs.avalonbay.com/benefits) for information.
Growth based on achievement and promotion from within.
Associate recognition (a company-wide recognition program that celebrates associate efforts and successes in contributing to the overall success of the organization – including destination awards, ‘AvalonBay’s Very Best’ recognition program and others!).
A 20% discount on our incredible apartment homes.
A culture built on purpose and our core values - A Commitment to Integrity, A Spirit of Caring, and A Focus on Continuous Improvement.
Additional Info
AvalonBay is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an inclusive and diverse work environment free of discrimination and harassment. We believe that in order to achieve our purpose of creating a better way to live, we must recruit, develop and retain associates with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives and create an environment that encourages all voices to be heard, understood and appreciated. With this we know we can do great things.
AvalonBay makes employment decisions without regard to a person’s race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation or related medical conditions), age, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including characteristics or testing), citizenship status, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by the law.
For California residents, if you elect to apply to AvalonBay you accept the AvalonBay California Personnel Privacy Notice (https://www.avaloncommunities.com/california-personnel-privacy-notice/)
Job ID JR102942