Jason Vasquez

Innovative strategist with expertise in human-centered design and UX methodologies, adept at integrating complex technical concepts into experiential learning systems. Proven success in leading cross-functional teams, facilitating design sprints, and optimizing service design for impactful user experiences. Seeking to leverage skills in a new role focused on driving strategic growth and operational excellence.

Lead Design Thinking Strategist & Operations Lead at SEATTLE ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCE (2019-08 – Present)

• UX Strategy & Curriculum Architecture: Designed and scaled a human-centered Design Thinking program for 100+ users annually, facilitating end-to-end design sprints, contextual inquiry, rapid prototyping, and iterative testing loops for real-world impact solutions.
• Service Design & Event Logistics: Directed end-to-end service delivery and operational logistics for SAAS Camp 2022, overseeing vendor management, resource allocation, and safety compliance to ensure seamless user/participant experiences.
• Design Facilitation & Mentorship: Mentored cohorts in socio-emotional growth, performance feedback loops, and problem-solving, creating high-trust environments that foster rapid innovation and psychological safety.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partnered across multidisciplinary teams to integrate complex technical concepts into accessible, experiential learning systems.

Experience Developer & STEM Program Lead at THE JOHN COOPER SCHOOL (2017-08 – 2019-08)

• Interactive Experience Design: Conceptualized, prototyped, and deployed an interactive 'Escape Room' experiential product; led users through iterative puzzle testing, qualitative feedback synthesis, and system optimization anchored in user reasoning.
• Service & System Audits: Audited and optimized existing middle-school life science frameworks, redesigning touchpoints to align with inquiry-based, user-centric methodologies.
• Technical & Event Coordination: Provided end-to-end logistical and technical infrastructure support for upper-level theater productions, ensuring operational consistency across high-touch user environments.

Director of Design & STEM Program Lead at ST. MARK'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL (2010-08 – 2017-07)

• Organizational Design Leadership: Led a middle school science department recognized as the school's most innovative department during the ISAS 2017 accreditation audit.
• Strategic UX Integration: Built and piloted an 'Introduction to Design Thinking' core framework selected by executive leadership for school-wide organizational scaling across target groups.
• Design Sprint Facilitation: Served as Senior Instructor for 'Genius Hour,' guiding year-long innovation cohorts; mentored teams that prototyped and pitched enterprise-level operational solutions directly to the Board of Trustees.
• Qualitative Assessment & Operations: Evaluated candidate profiles and conducted user-fit assessments on the core Admissions Committee. Directed multi-day regional operations for 40+ participants, managing budgets and vendor relationships.

Design Lead & Science Department Chair at HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT (HISD) (2002-08 – 2010-08)

• System Standardized Rollouts: Led grade-level alignment strategies and standardized curriculum rollouts across 5+ grade tiers, establishing clear operational workflows and cross-functional team policies.
• Product Execution & Community Engagement: Built hands-on experimental design frameworks aligned with scientific standards. Scaled the annual 'Science Spooktacular' community engagement showcase to enhance end-user adoption and participation.
• Operations & Field Logistics: Directed end-to-end risk management, vendor relations, and logistical safety execution for a 2-week wilderness operation serving 50+ participants in Moab, Utah.

Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing – University of Houston-Clear Lake

Alternative Certification Program – University of St. Thomas, TX