Design Lead

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We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they don't tick every box. If you're excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we're looking for, please go ahead and apply. We’d love to hear from you!

About the role

As Design Lead, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the direction and evolution of our digital channels, defining the end-to-end user experience vision and driving the design strategy across web and app for our full portfolio of financial products.

As a seasoned design professional, you’ll not only have an extensive background in user experience design but also excellent leadership skills to guide a talented design team and build relationships with stakeholders at all levels across the organisation. Working closely with product managers, developers, marketing teams, and executives to ensure the UX vision aligns with business objectives and technical constraints. Balancing strategic thinking with hands-on design execution, you’ll set the design standard and champion inclusivity, ensuring our products are intuitive, efficient, and easy to use.

This is a varied and creative leadership role that forms a key part of the senior management team within design and research. Working closely with other design leads, you will have the opportunity to set the tone for how we approach design across the business, as well as influence process and the evolution of the overall client experience.

What you’ll be doing

• Defining and executing user-centered design strategies that align with product and business goals for new experiences across the full portfolio of HL products (Pensions, Investments, ISAs, Savings and Trading).
• Overseeing the design process, from discovery and ideation to design and implementation. Shaping and driving the vision of user experience across all platforms in close collaboration with the development tribes.
• Identifying pain points across the end-to-end customer journey and leading on iterative design optimisations to continually improve the overall experience.
• Leading and empowering a team of talented UX designers to deliver the highest quality of design work, creating a supportive environment that fosters collaboration and continuous learning.
• Creating and presenting rationale and design concepts, informed by research and validated through usability testing, that balance user needs, business requirements, and technical constraints.
• Communicating and engaging with stakeholders and executives, managing expectations, providing challenge when required, and securing relevant and timely approvals.
• Leading collaboration with cross-functional teams, advocating a user-first approach to problem-solving and innovating new product features and functionality that enhance the client experience, driving advocacy and conversion.
• Supporting and maintaining the design system, ensuring consistency in design elements and interactions through reusable components and templates. Championing accessibility, inclusivity and human-centred design principles, and governing brand execution.
• Coordinating and prioritising design activities across the team, unblocking barriers to progress. Working in an agile manner, iterating designs based on feedback and testing, adapting to changing needs.
• Actively supporting the development of the wider design and research team, providing mentorship and contributing to building a culture of continuous learning within a positive, creative environment.

About you

• Experience: Significant experience in UX design with experience in leadership or senior position. Experience within financial services and/or an understanding of investments, pensions, and savings products would be beneficial but not essential.
• Portfolio:A portfolio showcasing a range of design projects, demonstrating experience with complex user interfaces, user research, and design leadership demonstrated across all digital channels, including web, app, email, service design, etc.
• Design tools:Proficiency in design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Axure, and Zeroheight.
• User-centred design:Exemplary design skills that cover interaction, accessibility, journey mapping, wireframe and prototyping, IA, usability testing, user-centred design thinking, and research methodologies.
• Leadership skills:Proven ability to lead, develop, and mentor a team of designers, drive collaboration, and lead technical experts.
• Problem-solving:Significant analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to think critically and make data-driven design decisions.
• Communication:Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present ideas and design solutions to non-design stakeholders of all levels clearly.
• Cross-functional collaboration:Experience working in cross-functional teams and collaborating with developers, product managers, and business stakeholders.

Interview process

The interview process will include a skills-based interview, followed by a final stage interview including a psychometric assessment, presentation, and behaviour-based questions.

Working schedule

This is a full time, permanent role covering 37.5 hours per week. Our office is based in Bristol, BS1 5HL - hybrid working is available, flexible and open for discussion.

Why us?

Here at HL, we’re the UK’s number 1 investment platform for private investors, based in Bristol. For more than 40 years we’ve helped investors save time, tax and money on their investments.

To achieve our mission, we believe we have a workplace like no other, with constant learning, dynamic teams, and a great ethos. We're steered by core values that promote service, quality, innovation, and opportunity in everything we do.

What's on offer?

• Discretionary annual bonus * and annual pay review
• 25 days * holiday plus bank holidays and 1-day additional Christmas closure
• Option to purchase an additional 5 days holiday **
• Flexible working options available, including hybrid working
• Enhanced parental leave
• Pension scheme up to 11% employer contribution
• Income Protection and Life insurance (4 x salary core level of cover)
• Private medical insurance*
• Health care cash plans - including optical, dental, and out patient care
• Health screening programme
• Help@hand - confidential support including mental health counselling and remote GP
• Wellhub - unlimited access to fitness provider s and w ellness c oach sessions
• Variety of travel to work schemes with bike storage and shower facilities
• Inhouse barista and deli serving subsidised coffee and sandwiches
• T wo paid volunteering days per year

* dependant on role level

** only available to select during our annual benefits window, in November each year

Hargreaves Lansdown is an inclusive employer that values diversity in its workforce. We encourage applications from all individuals without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age.

This role may also be available on a flexible working or part time basis – please ask the Recruitment & Onboarding team for more information.

Please note, we are unable to provide employment sponsorship to candidates.