Head of UX job description.

What does a head of UX do?

 

The head of UX leads the overall user experience strategy and manages the UX function within a business. They are responsible for team leadership, research direction, design quality, and cross-functional alignment with product and tech.

 

Their focus includes building UX processes, hiring and developing designers, setting standards, and representing the voice of the user at leadership level. They help define the product vision and ensure user needs are prioritised in roadmap decisions.

 

In fast-growing companies, they may build the function from scratch. In mature organisations, they lead multi-disciplinary teams, scale UX practices, and align design with wider business strategy.

 

Key responsibilities of a head of UX.

 

The head of UX leads the overall user experience strategy across a business. Their responsibilities usually include:

• Setting UX vision, standards, and goals across teams and products

• Building and managing multi-disciplinary teams of designers and researchers

• Aligning UX strategy with product and commercial roadmaps

• Overseeing research, design, and testing efforts at scale

• Advocating for the customer at board or leadership level

• Driving UX maturity and embedding user-centred design into workflows

• Managing team hiring, coaching, and performance

• Establishing governance for design systems, testing, and feedback loops

• Collaborating with engineering, marketing, and customer teams

• Reporting on UX impact using qualitative and quantitative metrics

This role blends leadership, cross-functional influence, and design excellence at scale.

 

Skills and requirements for a head of UX.

 

Heads of UX lead overall design functions, ensuring consistent, accessible experiences. Employers typically look for:

• 8–12 years of UX, product design, or service design experience

• Proven leadership of UX teams, processes, and vision

• Strong understanding of usability, accessibility, and research

• Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams or design functions

• Skilled in developing and evolving design systems

• Ability to align user needs with product and business strategy

• Confidence reporting to CPOs, CTOs, or executive leadership

• Experience scaling design operations and hiring pipelines

• Portfolio demonstrating strategic impact and user-centred thinking

Most heads of UX work closely with product and engineering leadership.

 

Average salary for a head of UX.

 

In the UK, the average salary for a head of UX typically ranges from £80,000 to £120,000, depending on team size, product portfolio, and influence at leadership level.

• Mid-level heads of UX tend to earn between £80,000 and £100,000
  Senior heads leading global design operations or enterprise-level platforms may earn between £101,000 and £120,000
  Packages often include strategic KPIs tied to user satisfaction, retention, or engagement metrics

Pay peaks in product-led tech businesses, UX consultancies, and digital transformation projects in London and other tech hubs.

 

Career progression for a head of UX.

 

A head of UX leads the design team, strategy, and vision for all digital experiences. This senior leadership role opens pathways into executive roles. A typical journey includes:

 

UX designer

 

Designs user flows, interactions, and supports research efforts.

 

Senior UX designer

 

Leads product experiences and improves processes.

 

Head of UX

 

Oversees team management, experience strategy, and alignment with customer needs.

 

Director of product / customer experience

 

Owns user-centred strategy across departments.

 

Chief experience officer (CXO) / VP design

 

Leads enterprise-wide experience transformation and strategic innovation.