Staff UI/UX Designer
The Emmes Company, LLC
About the role
Below is a ready‑to‑use résumé and a custom cover‑letter that you can copy‑paste, edit with your personal details, and submit for the Staff UI/UX Designer – Essex Management (Remote, US) position.
Both documents highlight the exact qualifications, tools, and experiences the posting calls for, and they weave in the key keywords (e.g., “Human‑Centered Design,” “USWDS,” “VPAT,” “accessibility,” “design system,” “Figma,” “Adobe Creative Suite,” “remote work,” “paternal leave,” “tuition reimbursement,” “401(k)”).
Feel free to adjust the dates, project names, or metrics to reflect your own work history.
📄 Résumé (PDF‑friendly format)
[Your Full Name]
[City, State] • [Phone] • [Email] • [LinkedIn URL] • [Portfolio URL] (include password instructions if needed)
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Senior UI/UX Designer with 10+ years of experience delivering accessible, design‑system‑driven solutions for federal health agencies, research institutions, and biotech firms. Proven track record of owning and scaling Human‑Centered Design (HCD) capabilities, leading cross‑functional teams, and mentoring designers. Expert in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, USWDS, VPAT compliance, and CI/CD‑ready deliverables. Passionate about translating complex biomedical data into intuitive, user‑friendly interfaces that improve patient outcomes.
CORE COMPETENCIES
| Design & Strategy | Tools & Technologies | Accessibility & Standards | Leadership |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human‑Centered Design (HCD) | Figma, Adobe XD, Photoshop, Illustrator | VPAT, WCAG 2.1 AA, Section 508 | Team mentorship & career pathing |
| Design Systems (USWDS, Bootstrap, Foundation) | HTML5, CSS3/SCSS, Lucidchart | Accessibility audits, screen‑reader testing | Design interview & hiring |
| UX Research (card sorting, story‑maps, usability testing) | Git, Jira, Confluence, CI/CD pipelines | ARIA, contrast analysis, keyboard navigation | Cross‑functional collaboration |
| Prototyping & Wireframing | Sketch, InVision, Zeplin | Inclusive design guidelines | Stakeholder communication |
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Senior UI/UX Designer – Human‑Centered Design Lead
XYZ Health Solutions (Federal Contractor), Washington, DC (Remote)
Jan 2022 – Present
- Owned the HCD practice for a portfolio of 12 concurrent federal health‑IT projects, establishing a unified design‑system roadmap that reduced UI inconsistencies by 38%.
- Led design of a USWDS‑based portal for the National Institutes of Health, delivering a responsive, WCAG 2.1 AA‑compliant interface used by >150,000 researchers.
- Conducted VPAT reviews on 9 major deliverables; achieved 100% compliance on the final submissions, eliminating rework.
- Produced high‑fidelity Figma prototypes and interactive design documentation (style guides, component libraries) that were directly integrated into CI/CD pipelines via Storybook.
- Mentored a team of 5 junior designers, creating a career‑development framework and increasing team retention by 22%.
- Interviewed and hired 4 UI/UX designers, refining the interview rubric to include accessibility scenario tasks.
Key Achievements
- Awarded “Design Excellence” for the “Clinical Trial Management System” redesign, which cut average task completion time by 27%.
- Authored a company‑wide Accessibility Playbook adopted by all product squads.
UI/UX Designer – Digital Product Team
ABC Biotech, Rockville, MD (Hybrid)
Jun 2016 – Dec 2021
- Designed end‑to‑end user experiences for 3 SaaS platforms supporting gene‑therapy trial data capture, leveraging Bootstrap and custom SCSS for a consistent look‑and‑feel.
- Implemented user research (surveys, moderated testing, card sorting) that informed a redesign, increasing Net Promoter Score (NPS) from 45 to 71.
- Produced Adobe XD and Illustrator assets for marketing and internal training, reducing asset creation time by 30%.
- Collaborated with engineering leads in an Agile environment, delivering bi‑weekly UI updates aligned with sprint goals.
Key Achievements
- Recognized for “Outstanding Accessibility Initiative” after delivering a fully screen‑reader‑compatible dashboard.
Junior UI/UX Designer
HealthTech Innovations, Baltimore, MD
Jan 2013 – May 2016
- Assisted senior designers in creating wireframes and mockups for a public‑health reporting portal.
- Maintained the design system library in Figma, ensuring component version control.
- Conducted usability testing with 30+ participants, synthesizing findings into actionable design recommendations.
EDUCATION
Master of Science – Human‑Computer Interaction
University of Maryland, College Park, MD – May 2013
Bachelor of Fine Arts – Graphic Design
Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD – May 2010
CERTIFICATIONS
- Nielsen Norman Group – UX Certification (UXC) – 2021
- Human Factors International – Certified Usability Analyst (CUA) – 2020
- USWDS Designer Certification (USWDS Academy) – 2022
TECHNICAL TOOLBOX
- Design & Prototyping: Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch, InVision, Zeplin, Storybook
- Graphic Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects
- Front‑End: HTML5, CSS3/SCSS, Bootstrap, Foundation, USWDS
- Collaboration & PM: Jira, Confluence, Lucidchart, Miro, Slack, Microsoft Teams
- Accessibility: Axe, WAVE, VoiceOver, NVDA, JAWS, VPAT templates
SELECTED PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS (Portfolio Links)
| Project | Role | Tools | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIH Research Portal Redesign | Lead HCD Designer | Figma, USWDS, VPAT | 100% WCAG 2.1 AA compliance; 38% UI consistency improvement |
| Clinical Trial Management System | UI/UX Lead | Adobe XD, Bootstrap, SCSS | Task time ↓27%; NPS ↑26 points |
| Gene‑Therapy Data Capture SaaS | Senior Designer | Figma, Storybook, CI/CD | Faster release cycles (2‑week sprints) |
| Public Health Reporting Dashboard | Junior Designer | Lucidchart, HTML/CSS | Accessibility audit passed with zero critical issues |
(Add your own project titles, brief descriptions, and URLs to your portfolio.)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Member, Interaction Design Association (IxDA)
- Volunteer UX Mentor, Design for Good (non‑profit) – Conducted workshops on accessibility for community health apps
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Remote‑first work style: Successfully delivered projects for distributed teams across 4 time zones.
- Eligibility for benefits: Willing to enroll in Emmes’ tuition‑reimbursement, 401(k), and parental‑leave programs.
✉️ Cover Letter (Tailored to the Posting)
[Your Name]
[Address] • [City, State ZIP]
[Phone] • [Email] • [LinkedIn] • [Portfolio URL]
April 5, 2026
Hiring Committee – Essex Management
Emmes Group
Rockville, MD (Remote)
Dear Hiring Committee,
I am excited to submit my application for the **Staff UI/UX Designer** role on the Essex Modern Technology & Engineering (MT&E) team. With **over a decade of experience** designing accessible, design‑system‑driven interfaces for federal health agencies and biotech firms, I have the blend of strategic vision, hands‑on execution, and leadership that the posting describes.
### Why I’m a strong fit
- **Human‑Centered Design ownership** – At XYZ Health Solutions I built and scaled the HCD practice across 12 concurrent federal projects, creating a unified design‑system roadmap that cut UI inconsistencies by 38 % and delivered 100 % VPAT compliance on every release.
- **Deep accessibility expertise** – I hold both the Nielsen Norman Group UX Certification and the Human Factors International Certified Usability Analyst credential, and I have led VPAT reviews, WCAG 2.1 AA audits, and Section 508 remediation for high‑impact portals such as the NIH Research Portal.
- **Design‑system mastery** – I am fluent in USWDS, Bootstrap, and Foundation, and I have authored component libraries in Figma and Storybook that are directly consumable by engineering teams in CI/CD pipelines.
- **Mentorship & hiring** – I have mentored five junior designers, instituted a career‑development framework, and designed interview rubrics that evaluate both visual design and accessibility thinking.
- **Remote‑first collaboration** – My recent work has been fully remote, coordinating across time zones with product owners, engineers, and stakeholders using Jira, Confluence, and Miro to keep projects on schedule.
### What I can bring to Essex
- **Strategic HCD leadership** – I will define and evolve Essex’s design vision, create reusable design‑system assets, and embed accessibility best practices into every client‑facing and internal project.
- **Scalable documentation** – I will produce clear design‑process guides, system documentation, and knowledge‑sharing presentations that empower cross‑functional teams and reduce onboarding time.
- **Business development support** – My experience crafting compelling design narratives for proposals and RFP responses will help Essex win new contracts and showcase our HCD capabilities.
I am particularly drawn to Emmes’ commitment to public health impact and its supportive benefits—including flexible PTO, tuition reimbursement, 401(k), and parental leave—which align with my personal values and professional growth goals.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my background, skills, and passion for accessible health‑tech design can contribute to Essex’s mission of advancing clinical research. Please feel free to contact me at [Phone] or via email at [Email] to arrange a conversation.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
How to Use These Documents
- Copy the résumé into a Word or Google Docs file, replace placeholder text (your name, dates, project specifics, portfolio URL, etc.), and export as PDF.
- Paste the cover letter into the body of your email or the application portal’s cover‑letter field, again swapping in your personal details.
- Attach the PDF résumé and include a link to your online portfolio (add password instructions if the site is protected).
- Proofread for any company‑specific terminology (e.g., “Essex Management” vs. “Essex, an Emmes Company”) and ensure the tone matches your personal brand.
Good luck! 🎉 If you’d like a deeper review of any section, help tailoring the portfolio showcase, or want interview‑prep tips for the senior UI/UX role, just let me know.
Requirements
- A deep understanding of design techniques and principles involved in the production of conceptual prototypes and wireframes
- Subject matter expertise in accessibility, accessibility tools, VPAT reviews, application interaction design, and design systems and frameworks (Bootstrap, Foundation, USWDS)
- Experience providing design and accessibility deliverables on multiple projects running concurrently
- Comprehensive experience using Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD)
- Excellent understanding of and experience with design collaboration tools such as Figma
- Excellent communication (oral and written) and collaboration skills
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to communicate concepts and recommendations confidently to a variety of audiences
- Thorough, methodical, and exhibits meticulous attention to detail
- Working knowledge of the following technologies and software: LucidChart, HTML, and CSS (SCSS)
- 10+ years of UI/UX design experience
- Possession of a Bachelor or Graduate degree in Design or Human‑Computer Interaction
- A portfolio of professional UI/UX web design work
- Possession of at least one of the following UI/UX certifications: UXC (Nielsen Norman Group UX Certification OR CUA (Human Factors International Certified Usability Analyst)
- Experience working with USWDS (United States Web Design System)
Responsibilities
- Own and drive the Human Centered Design (HCD) capability at the company
- Lead the development of design solutions that solve complex and challenging UI/UX problems
- Meet with engineering team leads, and business and product owners to kick‑off the design process at project inception
- Design clean, accessible, and modern UIs that adhere to the unified principles of a design system
- Develop documentation, including design process working practices, design system guides, and knowledge presentations
- Provide UI/UX design leadership and advocacy across multiple concurrent projects—both customer‑facing and internal. Establish and guide the overall design vision, user‑experience strategy, and brand direction for each initiative
- Work in a collaborative cross‑functional team environment to deliver UI mocks and wireframes tied to features across all tiers in a CI/CD Agile environment
- Leverage any combination of UX research techniques (e.g., card sorting, story maps) to achieve the desired design deliverable goals
- Collaborate with cross‑functional teams, when necessary, to complete cross‑project initiatives (e.g., accessibility compliance, design system updates)
- Mentor members of the design team to provide career path guidance
- Interview UI/UX design candidate(s) and provide evaluation/recommendation to the hiring manager
- Take ownership of the design interview and evaluation process. Define and improve the process based on industry conventions and evolving trends
- Own and drive in‑house design projects that are used to improve the company's Human Centered Design (HCD) capabilities
- Contribute to the company's business development activity (e.g., providing design and branding content, and reviewing proposal responses)
- Conduct Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) reviews across multiple projects and BD initiatives
- Work effectively with teams outside of engineering across the Essex organization on key company and/or UI/UX branding initiatives
Benefits
Skills
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