UI/UX Specialist

Job description

The UI/UX Specialist shapes, designs, and continuously improves user experiences across KAUST’s IT services and touch points. The role ensures adoption of user‑centric design principles, accessibility standards, and alignment with the IT Department’s UI/UX framework. It establishes, documents, and communicates clear UI/UX processes and standards to stakeholders for consistent adoption. The specialist partners with service owners and user engagement specialists to conduct user research, develop prototypes, perform usability testing, and provide design governance. This enables delivery of intuitive, efficient, and accessible digital experiences supporting KAUST’s goals of operational excellence, technology enablement, and customer satisfaction. Responsibilities include defining and maintaining UI/UX principles and guidelines for IT services; reviewing interfaces and providing improvement feedback; conducting user research and translating insights into personas, journey maps, and actionable recommendations; designing intuitive, accessible interfaces, wireframes, and prototypes; conducting usability testing and iterating solutions; collaborating with service owners, developers, and analysts; ensuring compliance with WCAG 2.2, branding guidelines, and design systems; providing feedback to maintain quality and consistency; advocating for inclusive, fair, and accessible design; and facilitating workshops and co‑design sessions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in HCI, Information Systems, Graphic Design, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in UI/UX design, user research, or usability evaluation
• strong knowledge of human‑centered design principles, usability heuristics, and accessibility standards
• proficiency with modern design/prototyping tools such as Figma, Adobe XD, or equivalent
• solid understanding of responsive design, interaction design, design systems, and user research methods
• demonstrated experience leading end‑to‑end UX activities in complex, multi‑stakeholder environments
• excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement skills
• attention to detail with focus on high‑quality, consistent, and accessible designs
• preferred experience in higher education or IT service environments
• preferred certifications: NN/g UX Certification, IDEO U Design Thinking, CUA, CXA, or similar.

Skills