Associate UX Director (m/f/d) Hamburg/Berlin/Cologne, hybrid This role is part of our Experience & Engineering team in Germany. We combine technology and experience design to create emotive yet conversion-focused ideas, products, and campaigns at scale and speed. Our specialty is digital experiences and communication that change perceptions and shape new behaviours to make a difference in the market.Our clients include nationally and internationally recognized brands such as Jägermeister, Lufthansa, Beiersdorf and many others. JOB PURPOSE As an Associate UX Director, you help shape the future of digital experiences for one of our key clients – by giving direction, enabling others and making complexity feel manageable. You bring depth in UX strategy, know how to lead strong discovery, and guide teams from ambiguity to clarity. You work closely with strategy, visual design, content and tech to create shared direction and meaningful outcomes. You connect perspectives, structure thinking, and help teams focus on what truly matters. You actively identify and drive strategic UX opportunities, initiating key initiatives, setting direction and pushing for quality outcomes. In the client setup, you’re the go-to person for UX, with a strong presence in reviews, steering formats and the everyday flow of collaboration. You lead through clarity and collaboration, bringing both the big picture and the needed structure to move teams forward. You bring deep UX expertise across strategy, research and design. From journey thinking to interactions, from facilitation to prototyping – you apply methods with purpose and adapt them to the challenge at hand. And you’ll do it all in a dynamic environment with some of the most talented (and fun) people the industry has to offer. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Identify and lead strategic UX initiatives, from early discovery to delivery Plan and facilitate discovery work that aligns teams, uncovers insights, drives shared understanding and leads to clear decisions Collaborate with strategy, design, content and tech to shape shared direction and strong, industry-leading experiences Guide and support teams in delivering high-quality, user-centered design Strengthen UX quality by sparring with experts, reviewing work and evolving standards Contribute to UX standards, design principles and ways of working across projects Represent UX thinking in stakeholder conversations and build strong relationships with the client team Push the boundaries of what’s possible by asking better questions, challenging assumptions and exploring new approaches Contribute to a collaborative and positive team culture where learning and progress go hand in hand WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR 10 years of experience in UX, with a proven track record in complex product or platform environments Recent and extensive experience in an agency or consulting environment is required Experience leading both discovery and delivery, from early direction to implementation Experience in working closely with strategy, design, content and tech Strong communication skills – able to explain, inspire and challenge with clarity and confidence A portfolio that shows your thinking and the outcomes you’ve helped create; work for well-known brands is a must A structured, thoughtful approach to systems, priorities and quality Experience supporting teams through sparring, feedback and shared ownership Able to combine curiosity and collaboration with assertiveness and pragmatism WE OFFER Flexible, hybrid working policy (1-2 days at the office, depending on location); Company pension scheme. Lease bike options / JobRad and 25% subsidy for the Deutschlandticket. Occasional breakfast/lunch at the office, Smoothie Tuesdays. Stay happy and healthy with a contribution to your health through the OpenUp platform; €30 per month - You can use the flexible package for digital food stamps and/or fitness providers/sport clubs/massage studios, internet costs, and/ or public transport. Future Bens - Exclusive access to sustainable, healthy products at attractive deals. Social events, plenty of opportunities to connect with colleagues through organised activities and celebrations. A reputation for doing good. DEPT® has been a Certified B Corp® since 2021 and named ‘Agency of the Year’ at both The Lovies and The Webby Awards. Awesome clients. Whether big or small, local or global — at DEPT® you’ll get the opportunity to work with clients of all sizes and across all industries. And we celebrate all of our successes together! The opportunity for possibility. We want to enable you to do what you do best and help you develop your skills further with training, development and certifications. Global annual DEPT® Cares Month in which employees come together and donate their skills to support local charities. WHO ARE WE? We are pioneers at heart. What does that mean? We are always looking forward, thinking of what we can create tomorrow that does not exist today. We were born digital and we are a new model of agency, with a deep skillset in tech and marketing. That’s why we hire curious, self-driven, talented people who never stop innovating. Our culture is big enough to cope and small enough to care. Meaning, that with people across 30 countries, we’re big enough to provide you with the best tools, global opportunities, and benefits that help you thrive. While acting small by investing in you, your growth, your team, and giving you the autonomy to solve our clients problems, no matter where you are in the world. DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION At DEPT®, we take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We actively seek to recruit, develop, nurture, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and perspectives. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Apply, and let us decide! Research shows that women and members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs when they think they may not meet every requirement, when in fact they do. We believe in giving everyone a fair chance to shine. We also encourage you to reach out to us and discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you throughout the recruitment process and your time with us. Want to know more about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Check out our efforts here .