Creative and UX Lead

Overview

RTI International is an independent, scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world's most critical problems with technical and science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach-one that integrates expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines to solve the world's most challenging problems.

We believe in the promise of science and technical solutions, and we push ourselves every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities, and businesses in the US and around the world. If you are looking for the opportunity to make a real difference, RTI is the place for you.

This role is a senior leader, reporting to the Vice President for Marketing, within the newly established Institute-wide integrated brand and marketing function. This team is a part of an evolving marketing and brand ecosystem designed to power institutional growth, strengthen market presence, and deliver consistent, high-value experiences across the buyer journey.

The Creative and UX Leader oversees the user experience and strategy for RTI''s web properties and is responsible for shaping cohesive, user-centered experiences across digital products, marketing platforms, and key audience journeys. This role bridges product UX, web experience, and service design to ensure our brand, content, and tools work together as a unified ecosystem. The Creative and UX Leader will be responsible for increasing performance from a SEO/AEO/GEO standpoint;

adapting to RTI''s changing business needs; establishing clear guidelines for content creation; and delivering high-quality experiences for both internal and external audiences.

This leader brings creative systems thinking to how people interact with our organization - from first touch to ongoing engagement - translating audience insight into intuitive, effective experiences that drive impact. This role will report to RTI''s Vice President of Marketing. While this is a US-based remote position, local candidates within physical commuting distance to an RTI office (RTP, DC) are preferred.

Your primary responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

Leadership and UX Strategy

• Define and evolve a holistic UX vision spanning digital products, web properties, and priority audience journeys
• Ensure experiences align with brand strategy, audience priorities, and organizational growth goals and align with industry best practices in UX, SEO, AEO, and GEO
• Identify friction points and opportunities across the end-to-end experience ecosystem
• Develop design systems, usability standards, and accessibility practices
• Collaborate cross-functionally with brand, marketing, product, technology, operations and technical teams
• Contribute to broader brand, marketing, and communication strategy

Product & Platform UX

• Lead UX direction for digital tools, platforms, and interactive experiences
• Translate complex information and workflows into intuitive user flows and interfaces
• Partner with product, tech, and data teams to embed user-centered design practices

Web & Marketing Experience

• Optimize site architecture, content pathways, and conversion journeys
• Partner with content, brand, and campaign teams to ensure marketing experiences are usable, accessible, and effective
• Apply behavioral insight and UX best practices to improve engagement and outcomes

Service & Journey Design

• Map and improve priority stakeholder journeys across touchpoints
• Ensure consistency across digital and human experiences
• Use research and feedback to inform journey improvements

Research & Client-facing Work

• Support or lead UX strategy and research on digital projects for RTI clients, ensuring deliverables meet high professional standards and reflect current best practices, augmenting the RTI Digital Data Solutions team
• Present UX findings, recommendations, and deliverables to clients and internal stakeholders (as relevant)
• Establish lightweight, scalable UX research practices
• Synthesize…