At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and evolve our Design System while mentoring a talented design team.
- Company: Join Arbor, a mission-driven company transforming education for happier school environments.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, 32 days holiday, and a dedicated wellbeing team.
- Other info: Work remotely with a passionate team and excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in education by creating intuitive, user-friendly designs.
- Qualifications: Strong experience in user-centered design and leading design teams.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 68205 £ per year.
Location: Remote, UK
Salary: £100,000 per year
About us
At Arbor, we’re on a mission to transform the way schools work for the better. We believe in a future of work in schools where being challenged doesn’t mean being burnt out and overworked. Where data guides progress without overwhelming staff. And where everyone working in a school is reminded why they got into education every day. Our School Management Suite is already making a difference in over 12,500 schools and trusts. Giving time and power back to staff, turning data into clear, actionable insights, and supporting happier working days.
At the heart of our brand is a recognition that the challenges schools face today aren’t just about efficiency, outputs and productivity - but about creating happier working lives for the people who drive education every day: the staff. We want to make schools more joyful places to work, as well as learn.
About the role
We're a growing, central design team embedded within a wider product and engineering organisation. As we scale our impact, we're seeking a Senior Product Designer to own and evolve our Design System while establishing the frameworks and processes that enable our design team to do their best work. This role focuses on building the foundations for consistent, high-quality design at scale. You will play a key role in shaping how design operates across the organisation and ensuring our users experience a coherent, intuitive product suite.
Core responsibilities
- Own the strategic direction and governance of the design system, including roadmap planning, contribution frameworks, and driving adoption across product teams.
- Lead, mentor, and manage designers within the team, setting quality standards and supporting their professional growth.
- Explore AI-enhanced tooling to accelerate design exploration to rapidly generate and test ideas.
- Design and prototype wireframes, user flows, and high-fidelity UI mockups to communicate design ideas effectively.
- Create intuitive, visually appealing, and accessible user interfaces for our users.
- Develop and maintain a deep understanding of user needs, business objectives, and the education sector to create impactful design solutions.
- Plan, conduct and analyse both quantitative and qualitative user research to make data-driven design decisions.
- Translate complex workflows and requirements into simple, effective, and scalable user experiences.
- Effectively communicate design rationale, process, and decisions to stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
- Understanding how AI-powered tools will help extend Design capabilities beyond traditional boundaries.
We’re looking for a practical and proactive Designer who has experience turning complex requirements into intuitive, elegant solutions that solve real user problems.
Beyond that, we’d love to see:
- Strong experience in user-centered design, from research to final execution.
- Extensive experience building, scaling, and maintaining a design system. From foundational tokens and components through to team enablement.
- Proven experience leading and managing designers, with a track record of developing team capabilities and maintaining high design standards.
- Experience working in agile environments with cross-functional teams including engineering, product management, and marketing.
- Strong decision-making skills, adaptability, and the ability to influence teams.
- A proactive approach to learning and applying new design methodologies.
- A curious and collaborative mindset, able to think on your feet, likes to move fast.
What we offer
The chance to work alongside a team of hard-working, passionate people in a role where you’ll see the impact of your work every day. We also offer:
- A dedicated wellbeing team who champion initiatives such as mindfulness, lunch n learns, manager training, mental health first aid training and much more!
- 32 days holiday (plus Bank Holidays). This is made up of 25 days annual leave plus 7 extra company wide days given over Easter, Summer.
Remote Senior Product Designer (Design Systems) employer: Arbor Education
At Arbor, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer dedicated to transforming the educational landscape while prioritising the wellbeing of our staff. Our remote work culture fosters collaboration and innovation, allowing you to make a tangible impact in over 12,500 schools across the UK. With generous benefits like 32 days of holiday, a supportive wellbeing team, and ample opportunities for professional growth, we empower our employees to thrive both personally and professionally in a meaningful role.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Remote Senior Product Designer (Design Systems)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those already at Arbor or similar companies. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info that could help you stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best work, especially projects related to design systems. Make sure it’s easy to navigate and visually appealing – just like the designs you create!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common design questions and scenarios. Think about how you’d explain your design process and decisions, especially in relation to user-centred design and collaboration with teams.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our mission to make schools better places to work.
We think you need these skills to ace Remote Senior Product Designer (Design Systems)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Product Designer role. Highlight your experience with design systems and user-centred design, as these are key to what we’re looking for at Arbor.
Showcase Your Work:Include a portfolio that demonstrates your design process and showcases your best work. We want to see how you tackle complex problems and create intuitive solutions, so make it easy for us to see your thought process!
Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through in your application. We value a curious and collaborative mindset, so don’t be afraid to share your passion for design and how you approach challenges in your own unique way.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity to join our team at Arbor!
How to prepare for a job interview at Arbor Education
✨Know Your Design System Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you’re well-versed in design systems. Familiarise yourself with the principles of user-centred design and be ready to discuss how you've built or maintained a design system in the past. This will show that you understand the core responsibilities of the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since this role involves leading and mentoring designers, prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams before. Think about specific instances where you set quality standards or supported team growth, and be ready to share these stories during your interview.
✨Demonstrate Your Research Skills
Be prepared to talk about your experience with user research. Bring examples of how you’ve conducted both quantitative and qualitative research to inform your design decisions. This will highlight your ability to create impactful design solutions based on real user needs.
✨Embrace AI in Design
With the role focusing on exploring AI-enhanced tooling, it’s crucial to show your understanding of how AI can improve design processes. Share any experiences you have with AI tools in your design work, and discuss how you envision using them to enhance your design capabilities.
