At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic design for a national payments infrastructure transformation.
- Company: Central government programme focused on innovative financial systems.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, flexible work location, and impactful projects.
- Other info: Complex environment with opportunities to drive significant change.
- Why this job: Shape the future of payments and influence policy at a national level.
- Qualifications: Strong product strategy background and experience with senior stakeholders.
The predicted salary is between 46800 - 65000 £ per year.
A senior Product Design Lead is required to support a major national payments infrastructure transformation within a central government environment. This role sits at the front end of a high profile programme focused on shaping the next generation of RTGS capability.
You will operate at strategic level, leading discovery and early stage design work that will directly influence policy, technical direction, and long term delivery roadmaps. This is not a delivery role. It is about defining what should be built, why it should exist, and how it should be shaped before it enters build.
The environment is complex, heavily stakeholder driven, and sits at the intersection of policy, financial systems, and large scale technology change.
Key Responsibilities- Lead discovery and high level design for a new RTGS capability
- Translate policy intent, user needs, and external industry insight into clear product direction
- Develop structured outputs including business cases, option analysis, and high level requirements
- Shape roadmap thinking and prioritisation through engagement with senior stakeholders
- Support external engagement activity including consultations and discussion papers
- Ensure concepts are feasible, aligned, and ready for transition into delivery teams
- Strong background in product strategy, discovery, or early stage product shaping
- Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and define strategic direction in complex environments
- Comfort operating with ambiguity and structuring unclear problems into clear, actionable outputs
- Experience working across business, policy, and technology functions
- Payments, financial services, or regulated infrastructure experience highly desirable
This is not a hands on UX or delivery design position. It requires someone who can operate upstream, challenge assumptions, and turn political, technical, and operational complexity into a coherent product direction. Candidates who only operate at squad level delivery will not be suitable. This role needs someone who is comfortable shaping at system level, not just feature level.
Product Design Lead in London employer: Meritus
As a Product Design Lead within the Central Government's Payments Infrastructure Programme, you will be part of a transformative initiative that shapes the future of national payments. Our work culture fosters collaboration and innovation, providing you with the opportunity to influence high-level strategic decisions while working in a dynamic environment. With a focus on professional growth and the chance to engage with senior stakeholders, this role offers a unique platform for meaningful contributions to public service.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Design Lead in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can get you in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company and its projects. We want you to be able to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals, especially in complex environments like payments infrastructure.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your strategic thinking! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, highlight your ability to influence stakeholders and shape product direction. We need to see that you can operate at a high level.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. We’re excited to see how you can contribute to shaping the future of payments!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Design Lead in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Product Design Lead role. Highlight your experience in product strategy and early-stage design, especially in complex environments like government or financial services.
Showcase Your Stakeholder Skills:Since this role involves influencing senior stakeholders, be sure to include examples of how you've successfully navigated complex stakeholder landscapes in your previous roles. We want to see your ability to shape strategic direction!
Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Ability:This position requires someone who can turn ambiguity into clear, actionable outputs. Share specific instances where you've tackled unclear problems and provided structured solutions, especially in high-pressure situations.
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 don’t miss out on any important updates regarding the process!
How to prepare for a job interview at Meritus
✨Understand the Strategic Landscape
Before your interview, dive deep into the current landscape of payments infrastructure and RTGS capabilities. Familiarise yourself with recent developments in the sector and how they might influence policy and technology. This will help you articulate your understanding of the role's strategic importance.
✨Prepare to Influence Stakeholders
Given the emphasis on stakeholder engagement, think about examples from your past where you've successfully influenced senior stakeholders. Be ready to discuss how you navigated complex environments and turned ambiguity into actionable insights. This will showcase your ability to operate at a strategic level.
✨Showcase Your Discovery Skills
Since this role focuses on early-stage design and discovery, prepare to discuss your approach to translating user needs and policy intent into product direction. Bring examples of structured outputs you've developed, like business cases or high-level requirements, to demonstrate your expertise.
✨Embrace Complexity and Ambiguity
This position requires comfort with complexity and the ability to shape unclear problems. Think of scenarios where you've tackled ambiguous challenges and turned them into clear, coherent strategies. Highlighting these experiences will show that you're the right fit for navigating the intricate environment of central government.
