Creating the Role You Need: My Journey to Becoming a UX Metrics Lead

When existing UX roles don’t match the value you want to create, sometimes you need to build your own. In this talk, I’ll share my ongoing journey to establish a UX Metrics Lead position - from identifying the gap, to navigating leadership resistance, to proposing a pilot program. Whether you want to specialize in metrics, UX Writing, Accessibility, or research, you’ll learn a framework for creating the role that adds the most value to your team and organization.

Main takeaways:

Attendees will discover how to transform a passion project or informal responsibility into a formal role at their current company. You’ll learn strategies for demonstrating value, building stakeholder buy-in, addressing concerns about organizational readiness, and structuring pilot proposals that minimize risk while proving impact - all without having to leave to find the job you want elsewhere.

With a career spanning Chemical Engineering, Quality Assurance, Software Development, UX Design, Data Analytics, and UX Research, Shane has made a practice of reinventing his role to create more value and impact.

Currently working towards a focus on UX Metrics, he’s passionate about helping others craft careers that align with both organizational needs and personal growth. When not building frameworks or pitching pilots, you’ll find him cycling around Calgary year-round—ski goggles and all.