Are you looking to hire an Interim UX / User Experience Manager or transition into the role yourself? These temporary but crucial positions ensure continuity in product design and development, driving innovation and seizing market opportunities. Whether you’re a client seeking talent or a professional exploring this sector, this guide covers key skills, responsibilities and contract considerations.
An Interim User Experience Manager reports into a User Experience Lead. Depending on the size of the UX team and how long the contract is for, an Interim User Experience Manager may have a small team of junior UX staff underneath them including a UX Designer and/or a UX Researcher.
Interim User Experience Manager / UX Manager
An Interim User Experience Manager / UX Manager position is often the next move up from more junior UI or UX roles. As this is a management level role, the successful candidate will need to display good people management skills in addition to the hands-on side of UX. If you would like to find out how to become an Interim UX Manager, what skills you need, and what salaries are on offer, you will find a complete guide below.
If you’re an employer looking to recruit an Interim UX Manager position, please see our product design and UX recruitment services, our interim recruitment services page or the full overview of our services to employers. If you need to hire and would like our services, contact us today.
What is an Interim UX Manager?
An Interim UX Manager is responsible for overseeing and managing the user experience design of a product, website or application on a temporary basis, usually bridging the gap during a period of leadership transformation. They work closely with various departments, including product, design, engineering and marketing, to ensure the user experience meets or exceeds user expectations.
The role of an Interim UX Manager involves several responsibilities, including understanding user needs, designing user interfaces, and managing the design team. The Interim UX Manager is also responsible for conducting user research, identifying pain points and developing solutions to improve the user experience. They need to have a deep understanding of the product, its features, and how users interact with it. This requires a thorough understanding of the business, its goals and its target audience.
What is the role of an Interim UX Manager?
The Interim UX Manager also plays a critical role in managing the UX design team. They are responsible for setting design standards, developing design processes and workflows, and ensuring that the team delivers high-quality designs that meet or exceed user expectations. They are also responsible for coaching and mentoring team members, providing feedback on their work, and identifying areas for improvement.
The Interim User Experience Manager must be an excellent communicator, able to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, and effectively communicate design ideas and concepts to stakeholders. They should also be adept at managing expectations, negotiating priorities, and balancing user needs with business goals. The Interim UX Manager must be able to work well under pressure, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and meet tight deadlines.
Read our guide to UX Design principles, process and tools
Interim UX / User Experience Manager day rate
In today’s market, a typical Interim UX / User Experience Manager’s day rate would be in the region of £550 – £700.
Example Interim UX Manager job description
A typical Interim User Experience Manager / UX Manager job description will read something like the one below:
Job title: Interim User Experience Director
Location: Remote or on-site
Duration: 3-12 months
We are looking for an Interim UX Manager responsible for the development and improvement of client-centric journeys across our product portfolio. The key aim of this role is to ensure all customer experiences are optimised for delivery and meet the business KPIs.
The Interim User Experience Manager’s main responsibilities:
- Utilise existing consumer research to progress a programme of continuous improvement
- Lead all UX projects including usability testing, wireframing, and prototyping stages
- Design and implement additional research methods and iterative prototyping
- Use data to recommend best practise approaches of user experience. Develop A/B test plans to design and optimise features
- Design experiences which are brand-consistent and continuity across sketch, design and implementation phases
- Design reporting and dashboard through lean methods: sketch, iterate, prototype and feedback
- Stay on top of the latest trends in user experience principles across the industry to recommend any changes required for the business. This may include gathering opinions from industry experts from time to time.
To be successful in this Interim User Experience Manager role, you will:
- Be able to evaluate and analyse user flows, journeys and digital experiences to apply learnings
- Possess significant experience across UX tools and techniques including competitor analysis and running design workshops
- Be the voice of the customer and be able to feedback on customer experiences
- Be able to build rapport quickly with both internal and external stakeholders to deliver business objectives
- Be well versed in agile methodologies
- Provide expert knowledge of JavaScript, CSS, HTML, and mobile optimisation
- Experience in mobile platforms (iOS and Android) and responsive design
- Proficient in Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook
UX Interview questions
View our guide to User Experience interview questions, with 47 example questions that employers normally ask at interview.
What Interim UX Manager skills are employers looking for?
An Interim UX Manager needs to have a broad range of skills and expertise to succeed in their role. They must be proficient in UX design principles and practices, including user research, wireframing, prototyping, and testing. They should also be familiar with design tools such as Sketch, Figma, Adobe Creative Suite and InVision. Additionally, they should have a solid understanding of web and mobile technologies, including HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
A successful Interim UX Manager must stay up to date with the latest trends and best practices in UX design. They should be proactive in seeking out new ideas and techniques to improve the user experience and be willing to experiment and try new approaches.
How to standout as an Interim UX Manager
Recommendations: Recommendations from colleagues, clients, or industry leaders can reinforce an Interim UX Manager’s credibility and differentiate them in the candidate market. LinkedIn recommendations or testimonials from previous employers can provide valuable social proof.
Personal brand: Establishing a strong personal brand in the UX community through speaking engagements, writing articles or blog posts, or participating in industry events can help an Interim UX Manager stand out. Being recognised as a thought leader or contributing to the community can attract attention from potential employers.
Cultivate soft skills: In addition to technical expertise, Interim UX Managers should emphasise their soft skills, including leadership, communication, empathy, and the ability to influence and inspire teams. Demonstrating emotional intelligence and the ability to connect with stakeholders at all levels can make a significant impact.
What is the Difference Between an Interim and Fractional User Experience Manager?
While both roles are temporary and bring senior-level design expertise, there are key differences:
- Interim User Experience Manager: Works full-time and is deeply embedded in the company, overseeing the whole user design experience, design strategy, team leadership and execution for a defined period. They drive initiatives, align design with business goals and ensure seamless collaboration across teams.
- Fractional User Experience Manager: Provides part-time support, often working with multiple companies simultaneously. They focus on high-level strategic guidance rather than day-to-day execution or management.
The right choice depends on your company’s needs. If your business requires hands-on, dedicated design leadership to manage teams, implement processes, and execute a design vision, an interim role is the better fit. For broader, advisory-level input without full-time commitment, a fractional role may be more suitable.
When to hire an Interim User Experience Manager?
Here are some of the top scenarios where hiring an Interim UX / User Experience Manager can be crucial:
Navigating a period of leadership transition, such as when a permanent User Experience Manager is leaving or has already left.
Scaling up product efforts during times of rapid growth or major product launches.
Stabilising and aligning product teams in response to organisational restructuring or a strategic pivot.
Driving critical projects to meet market deadlines or seize strategic opportunities.
Managing complex product portfolios in times of high complexity, such as mergers or partnerships.
Interim User Experience Manager FAQs
- What does an Interim UX Manager do?
- An Interim UX Manager temporarily leads a UX team, managing day-to-day design and research operations. They provide guidance, feedback and structure to ensure the team delivers high-quality user experiences, while maintaining momentum during a transition or leadership gap.
- How do I become an Interim UX Designer Manager?
- A relevant degree such as Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Design, Computer Science, Psychology, Education, Human-Computer Interaction, Engineering or Interaction Design would help in becoming an Interim UX Manager.
- Interim UX Manager v Interim UX Lead. What is the difference in roles?
- An Interim UX Manager and UX Lead roles are similar in terms of tasks and output that is measured. They differ in terms of their seniority. An Interim UX lead will often manage a UX Manager or a team of UX Manager depending on the size of a business and their hierarchy / internal reporting structure.
- Why would a company hire an Interim UX Manager?
- Companies often hire an Interim UX Manager when a previous manager departs, during rapid team growth, or when a project requires steady UX leadership before a permanent hire is in place. It’s a way to avoid disruption and keep workstreams on track.
- What skills are important for an Interim UX Manager?
- Key skills include people management, design critique, UX best practices, stakeholder communication and the ability to quickly understand team dynamics and product context. Adaptability, empathy and clear decision-making are also critical.
- How long does an Interim UX Manager typically stay in the role?
- Most interim UX manager roles last 2 to 6 months, depending on the company's situation. Some may evolve into full-time roles if there's a strong mutual fit, while others remain purely transitional.
