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 working lives.
- 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.
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) in Suffolk employer: Arbor Education
At Arbor, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that prioritises the wellbeing and professional growth of our team members. Our remote work culture fosters collaboration and innovation, allowing you to make a tangible impact in the education sector while enjoying 32 days of holiday and a supportive environment that champions mental health and personal development. Join us in transforming schools into joyful workplaces where your design expertise can truly shine.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Remote Senior Product Designer (Design Systems) in Suffolk
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those at Arbor or similar companies. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that a job description just can't.
✨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 tackle real-world problems, especially in the education sector. We want to see your thought process!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our mission to make schools happier places to work.
We think you need these skills to ace Remote Senior Product Designer (Design Systems) in Suffolk
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 work.
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 Systems
Before the interview, dive deep into design systems and their importance in product design. Be ready to discuss your experience with building and maintaining design systems, as well as how you’ve driven adoption across teams. This will show that you understand the core responsibilities of the role.
✨Showcase Your User-Centric Approach
Prepare examples of how you've used user research to inform your design decisions. Highlight specific projects where you translated complex workflows into intuitive user experiences. This will demonstrate your ability to create impactful design solutions that align with user needs.
✨Be Ready to Discuss AI Tools
Since the role involves exploring AI-enhanced tooling, brush up on the latest AI tools in design. Be prepared to share your thoughts on how these tools can accelerate design exploration and improve efficiency. This shows you're forward-thinking and adaptable to new methodologies.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice articulating your design rationale and processes clearly. During the interview, ensure you communicate your ideas effectively to the panel, as this role requires collaboration with cross-functional teams. Strong communication skills will set you apart as a candidate.
