Lead Product Designer - Discovery/New Bets New London, UK
Lead Product Designer - Discovery/New Bets New London, UK

Lead Product Designer - Discovery/New Bets New London, UK

London Full-Time 48000 - 84000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead innovative product design and explore new financial wellness solutions.
  • Company: Join Cleo, a fast-growing fintech startup transforming financial wellness for millions.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible work options, competitive pay, equity, and generous leave policies.
  • Why this job: Be part of a creative team shaping the future of finance with impactful designs.
  • Qualifications: Seeking visionary designers with a passion for user-centric solutions and collaboration.
  • Other info: We celebrate diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds.

The predicted salary is between 48000 - 84000 £ per year.

At Cleo, we’re not just building a product—we’re reimagining what financial wellness can look like for millions. As a Product Designer in New Bets Discovery, you’ll play a pivotal role in exploring and shaping the future of our offering. You’ll be at the heart of Cleo’s diversification strategy, designing and validating bold new product ideas that unlock value for our users and open up new revenue opportunities for the business. This is a high-impact, zero-to-one design role. You’ll bring fresh thinking, a strong product sense, and a passion for human-centered design to uncover unmet needs and transform early-stage concepts into compelling, testable experiences. You'll thrive in ambiguity, using your creativity and strategic mindset to design what doesn’t yet exist.

What You’ll Be Doing

  • Explore New Product Spaces: Deeply understand user problems, industry trends, and Cleo’s unique strengths to identify whitespace opportunities.
  • Lead Early-Stage Concept Design: Facilitate ideation sessions, sketch bold product directions, and prototype concepts that redefine what Cleo can offer.
  • Validate Through Testing: Design and run lean research and testing processes to de-risk assumptions and learn fast from real users.
  • Collaborate Cross-Functionally: Work closely with product managers, researchers, engineers, analysts, and commercial stakeholders to shape the future of Cleo.
  • Tell the Story: Craft compelling narratives—visually and verbally—that communicate the value and potential of new ideas to the broader team.
  • Build the Case: Combine customer insight with strategic thinking and data to advocate for investment in the most promising concepts.

What We’re Looking For

  • Creative Vision: You’re a big-picture thinker who can imagine and design products that don’t yet exist—but should.
  • Strategic Design Mindset: You love solving fuzzy problems, identifying opportunities, and designing thoughtful, end-to-end user experiences.
  • Experimentation-Driven: You’re comfortable with rapid prototyping and low-fidelity testing, and you know how to validate ideas early and often.
  • Collaborative Energy: You know that the best ideas come from diverse minds working together. You bring people into your process and inspire with your craft.
  • Customer-Centric: You ground your design decisions in real user needs and are passionate about creating products that genuinely improve lives.
  • Startup Mentality: You’re comfortable in ambiguity, energized by 0→1 work, and ready to turn vision into scrappy MVPs and prototypes.

Bonus Points

  • Experience in consumer-facing fintech or personal finance products
  • Background in innovation labs, new venture teams, or early-stage startups
  • Strong storytelling, facilitation, and visual communication skills
  • Familiarity with product discovery methods, user research, and design strategy

What do you get for all your hard work?

  • A competitive compensation package (base + equity) with bi-annual reviews, aligned to our quarterly OKR planning cycles.
  • Work at one of the fastest-growing tech startups, backed by top VC firms, Balderton & EQT Ventures.
  • A clear progression plan. We want you to keep growing. That means trying new things, leading others, challenging the status quo and owning your impact. Always with our complete support.
  • Flexibility: We can’t fight for the world’s financial health if we’re not healthy ourselves. We work with everyone to make sure they have the balance they need to do their best work.
  • Work where you work best: We’re a globally distributed team. If you live in London we have a hybrid approach, we’d love you to spend one day a week or more in our beautiful office. If you’re outside of London, we’ll encourage you to spend a couple of days with us a few times per year. And we’ll cover your travel costs, naturally.
  • Other benefits: Company-wide performance reviews every 6 months, generous pay increases for high-performing team members, equity top-ups for team members getting promoted, 25 days annual leave a year + public holidays (+ an additional day for every year you spend at Cleo, up to 30 days), 6% employer-matched pension in the UK, private medical insurance via Vitality, dental cover, and life assurance, enhanced parental leave, 1 month paid sabbatical after 4 years at Cleo, regular socials and activities, online and in-person, we'll pay for your OpenAI subscription, online mental health support via Spill, workplace nursery scheme, and many more!

We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, parents, carers, and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. If there’s anything we can do to accommodate your specific situation, please let us know.

Lead Product Designer - Discovery/New Bets New London, UK employer: cleo

At Cleo, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration in the heart of London. As a Lead Product Designer, you'll not only have the opportunity to shape innovative financial solutions but also benefit from a clear progression plan, generous annual leave, and a supportive environment that prioritises employee well-being and growth. With a hybrid working model and a commitment to diversity and inclusion, Cleo is dedicated to empowering its team members to thrive both personally and professionally.
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Contact Detail:

cleo Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Lead Product Designer - Discovery/New Bets New London, UK

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with Cleo's mission and values. Understanding their approach to financial wellness will help you align your design philosophy with theirs, making it easier to demonstrate how you can contribute to their goals.

✨Tip Number 2

Showcase your experience in early-stage product design. Prepare examples of past projects where you've taken concepts from ideation to testing, highlighting your ability to thrive in ambiguity and create compelling user experiences.

✨Tip Number 3

Network with current or former Cleo employees on platforms like LinkedIn. Engaging with them can provide insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be invaluable during interviews.

✨Tip Number 4

Prepare to discuss your collaborative approach. Since the role involves working cross-functionally, think of specific instances where you've successfully collaborated with diverse teams to bring a product vision to life.

We think you need these skills to ace Lead Product Designer - Discovery/New Bets New London, UK

Creative Vision
Strategic Design Mindset
User-Centric Design
Prototyping Skills
Lean Research Methodologies
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Storytelling and Visual Communication
Problem-Solving Skills
Data-Driven Decision Making
Experience in Fintech or Personal Finance
Familiarity with Product Discovery Methods
Facilitation Skills
Adaptability in Ambiguous Environments
Startup Mentality

Some tips for your application 🫡

Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and expectations of the Lead Product Designer position at Cleo. Tailor your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with their needs.

Showcase Your Creativity: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your creative vision and ability to design innovative products. Include specific examples of past projects where you have successfully turned concepts into compelling user experiences.

Highlight Collaboration Skills: Cleo values collaboration across teams. Make sure to mention any experience you have working with cross-functional teams, and how you’ve contributed to successful outcomes through teamwork.

Craft a Compelling Narrative: When writing your cover letter, tell a story about your journey as a designer. Explain your passion for human-centred design and how it drives your work. This will help you stand out and connect with the hiring team.

How to prepare for a job interview at cleo

✨Showcase Your Creative Vision

As a Lead Product Designer, it's crucial to demonstrate your ability to think outside the box. Prepare examples of past projects where you transformed abstract ideas into tangible designs, highlighting your creative process and the impact of your work.

✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills

Cleo values teamwork, so be ready to discuss how you've successfully collaborated with cross-functional teams in the past. Share specific instances where your collaborative energy led to innovative solutions or improved outcomes.

✨Prepare for User-Centric Discussions

Since the role focuses on human-centered design, come equipped with insights about user needs and how you've addressed them in previous projects. Be prepared to discuss your approach to user research and how it informs your design decisions.

✨Demonstrate Your Strategic Mindset

Cleo is looking for someone who can identify opportunities and solve complex problems. Be ready to talk about how you've approached fuzzy problems in the past, including your thought process and the strategies you employed to arrive at effective solutions.

Lead Product Designer - Discovery/New Bets New London, UK
cleo
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  • Lead Product Designer - Discovery/New Bets New London, UK

    London
    Full-Time
    48000 - 84000 £ / year (est.)

    Application deadline: 2027-05-03

  • C

    cleo

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