What does a UX manager really do?

Organizations today are diverse in structure, making it challenging to define a "typical" organizational setup, with roles like UX managers often adapting to specific company needs. A UX manager plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between business objectives and user experience, distinguishing their responsibilities from those of product managers by focusing on advocating for superior UX design while aligning with business goals. Their duties include managing UX teams and projects, setting objectives, spearheading UX research, and fostering cross-functional collaboration, all while ensuring the alignment of UX with broader business strategies. While product managers have a more comprehensive view, UX managers provide specialized insight into user needs and design, making them crucial for companies aiming to enhance their product's user experience. This role is particularly beneficial in organizations with horizontal leadership styles and can serve as a precursor to or complement for product management roles, ultimately helping to ensure that both business and user experience goals are met.