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Human-Centered Design (HCD) Manager - Job Opportunity at Akima, LLC

Orlando, United States
Full-time
Senior
Posted: March 30, 2025
Remote
USD 120,000 - 160,000 per year based on location, seniority, and federal contractor market rates

Benefits

401(k) retirement plan with competitive matching
Comprehensive medical insurance with multiple plan options
Dental coverage with preventive care focus
Vision insurance with optical allowances
Life insurance coverage for financial security
Generous paid time off policy for work-life balance

Key Responsibilities

Lead and mentor a 5-7 person HCD team focusing on advanced distributed learning initiatives
Drive strategic HCD integration across product development lifecycle
Serve as Scrum Master facilitating agile development processes
Develop and implement user experience strategies aligned with organizational goals
Oversee user research and usability testing programs
Collaborate with stakeholders to influence product roadmaps
Manage vendor relationships and ensure HCD best practices adoption

Requirements

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Centered Design, UX/UI Design, Human Factors, Cognitive Science, or related field

Experience

5+ years of experience in HCD, UX design, or user research, with 2+ years in a leadership role

Required Skills

HCD methodologies Agile/Scrum development processes User research and usability testing Design thinking UX/UI best practices Cloud platforms (AWS) IEEE data standards Strategic decision-making Team leadership Project management Stakeholder collaboration

Certifications

Scrum Master certification (desired) UX Design certifications (desired)
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The defense and government sector is rapidly embracing human-centered design principles, particularly in learning technology development Integration of HCD with advanced distributed learning represents a growing focus in military and federal training programs Increased emphasis on user experience in government digital transformation initiatives

Role Significance

Core team of 5-7 direct reports with extended influence across multiple project teams
Senior leadership position with strategic influence on product development and organizational direction

Key Projects

Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) platform development Military training system modernization Federal digital service transformation initiatives Learning experience platform architecture

Success Factors

Strong understanding of government acquisition processes and stakeholder management Ability to bridge technical and user experience considerations in federal contexts Experience with military/government learning technology standards Leadership skills in matrix organization environments

Market Demand

High demand with growing emphasis on user experience in government digital transformation initiatives

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Federal acquisition process knowledge Human-centered design leadership Government compliance expertise Agile methodology implementation

Beneficial Skills

Change management Learning technology standards Cloud architecture Government security clearance

Unique Aspects

Role combines federal contracting expertise with cutting-edge UX practices
Opportunity to impact both government operations and Alaska Native community development
Position bridges commercial best practices with government requirements

Career Growth

2-4 years in role before advancement, depending on project success and organizational growth

Potential Next Roles

Director of User Experience Chief Experience Officer Digital Transformation Director Federal Technology Program Director

Company Overview

Akima, LLC

Akima, LLC operates as an Alaska Native Corporation providing federal contracting services with a unique mission supporting Iñupiat shareholders

Established federal contractor with strong presence in government technology services
National operation with significant federal contract portfolio
Mission-driven environment combining federal service standards with indigenous community support objectives
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