At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team to create engaging digital experiences for a leading media brand.
- Company: Join News UK, a top media business with a passion for storytelling.
- Benefits: Enjoy private medical insurance, gym discounts, and generous holiday leave.
- Other info: Embrace a hybrid work model and be part of a diverse, inclusive culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in media design while fostering innovation and creativity.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in digital product design and strong UX/UI portfolio required.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 66000 £ per year.
Your team: The Times Media Product team is organised around three core pillars of Subscription Growth, Reader Experience and Commercial.
As Head of Product design, you will lead a talented and engaged group of product designers contributing across each of these pillars.
The goal is to deliver clean, engaging ways of attracting customers and telling stories.
Our overarching aim is to deliver a beautiful product that serves our journalism in the best way possible, with new and innovative ways of reaching existing subscribers and attracting potential new readers.
Your role
We are looking for an experienced
Head of Product Design to lead, mentor and inspire a multidisciplinary team of user research, UX and UI experts in creating intuitive, engaging, and high-performing digital experiences.
You will work collaboratively across the product team alongside product management, editorial leadership, engineering, marketing, and other key stakeholders.
Oversee the execution of an emerging design system, foster innovation, and ensure our digital products meet the highest standards of usability and aesthetics.
In this role, you will collaborate within a guild of senior designers across brand, editorial, marketing, and product to ensure consistent execution of our core design principles across all formats and platforms.
Day to day you will
- Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing digital product design team.
- Implement our user-centered design strategy that adheres to core design principles and business goals.
- Oversee the end-to-end design process, from research and ideation to prototyping and implementation.
- Champion design thinking and innovative best practices by participating in the border design guild across the organisation.
- Advocate for accessibility, inclusivity, and usability in all design decisions.
- Use customer interviews, research tools, testing and data analysis to help understand the customers and validate design decisions.
- Continuous discovery - be outcome-oriented with the goal of weekly touchpoints with customers, creating a feedback loop with users, testing in small increments and frequently.
- Manage design budgets, resources, and vendor relationships as needed.
What we're looking for from you
- Proven experience leading a digital product design team in a fast-paced environment, with a track record of developing top design talent.
Ideally within media or similar audience centric, digital-first industries.
- Strong portfolio showcasing expertise in UX/UI design, interaction design, and visual design.
- Understanding of user-centred design principles. A track record of making impactful change through smart, data-driven UX implementation.
- Deep understanding of user research methodologies, usability testing, and analytics.
- Experience and knowledge of industry-standard product design software, such as Figma, as well as research tools such as Userzoom etc.
- Ability to balance business objectives with audience needs to create impactful design solutions.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, confident leading workshops and presenting, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
- Understanding of front-end development principles and experience working closely with engineering teams.
- Experience with AI first & AI augmented product design processes and methodologies
- Passion for innovation, problem-solving, and continuous learning.
- Familiarity with Agile and Lean UX methodologies.
- Ideally editorial/publishing or subscriber-based product experience, but not essential.
News UK is one of the leading media businesses in the UK and Ireland.
Our newsbrands include The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun, The Sun on Sunday and The TLS.
Our national broadcast brands include talk SPORT, Times Radio and Virgin Radio UK, and we have market-leading local stations across Ireland.
Our world-famous brands provide news, analysis, opinion and entertainment to almost 40 million people each month.
Spanning print and pixel, audio and video, events and experiences, our multi-format brands are home to a plurality of opinion, representing the diverse communities we serve.
Driven by passion, guided by principles and acting with purpose, we exist to promote a fair society, freedom of speech and a little bit of fun.
Rethinking continually the business of storytelling, we represent, reflect and reach the nation, telling the stories that matter.
At News UK, we embrace a hybrid work model, currently requiring a minimum of three days per week in the office.
This approach fosters collaboration, innovation, and team spirit within our workspace.
Certain roles may necessitate additional in-office days; please discuss this with your recruiter for specific requirements.
Life at News
Driven by passion, guided by principles and acting with purpose. We represent, reflect and reach the nation, telling the stories that matter.
We represent, reflect and reach the nation, telling the stories that matter most.
To ensure these stories resonate with as broad an audience as possible, it is essential that our organisation reflects the diversity of the people we reach.
Whether through age, gender, ethnicity, disability, social class or sexuality, we are committed to representing the rich variety of voices that make up our society.
And we champion a culture where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and thrive as we continue to innovate and drive long term sustainable growth.
This is done through our Diversity Strategy.
At News UK, we take pride in our exceptional employee-led networks that bring together individuals with shared interests and create a vibrant sense of community.
We believe our networks play a vital role in fostering a collaborative and supportive work culture at News UK.
Groups that we support include the African & Caribbean Network, Parents and Carers, and LGBTQ+ group News Is Out, and the Apprentice Society.
Some of our benefits include
- Private medical insurance including coverage for pre-existing conditions
- Discounted gym memberships, free Class Pass at Home, weekly in person/ virtual exercise classes
- ‘Bikes for Work’ and ‘Electric Car’ scheme
- Up to 60% discount on Harper Collins books
- Maternity leave up to 18 weeks full basic salary & paternity leave up to 2 weeks
- Access to exclusive events and competitions with exciting brands such as talk SPORT, Virgin Radio UK & The Times. Weekly virtual panel chats with top journalists and celebrities
- Access to wellbeing benefits such as EAP, physio/massage and counselling
- A generous pension scheme with employer contributions of up to 5%
- Wide range of training available, plus full Linked In Learning access
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, as well as an extra anniversary day off
- Up to 3 paid volunteering days per year to support causes you care about
We are committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process.
If you require reasonable adjustments due to a disability or health condition at any stage of your application or interview, please let us know.
You can contact us at careers@news. co. uk to discuss how we can support you to perform at your best.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Head of Product Design employer: The Times
The Times is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters creativity and innovation in the field of communications. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we provide opportunities for professional development and a supportive culture that values collaboration and diversity. Located in a vibrant city, our team enjoys competitive benefits, including maternity leave and medical insurance, making it a rewarding place to advance your career in media PR.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Product Design
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
In the world of UX/UI design, your portfolio speaks volumes! Make sure it's packed with your best work and showcases your process, not just the final product. We want to see how you tackle design challenges, so consider adding case studies that reflect your thought process and user-centric approach.
✨Get Involved in Design Communities
Jump into local or online design meetups and workshops! Places like UXPA or local design events can be goldmines for networking and learning. Plus, mingling with fellow designers can introduce you to potential job openings that might not be listed elsewhere.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you find a role that excites you, like the one at The Times for a Head of Product Design, make your application count! Highlight specific projects and skills that directly relate to the job description. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who fit into their specific team, so show them you’re the one!
✨Leverage Social Media
Don't underestimate the power of social media in finding a UX/UI design job! Follow design leaders on platforms like Twitter or Instagram, share your work, and engage in conversations. It’s a great way to get noticed by recruiters and even catch wind of openings at companies like The Times before they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Product Design
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Head of Product Design at The Times, make sure to include examples that clearly highlight your design process. We want to see not just the final product but also the journey that led you there—wireframes, user personas, and iterations demonstrate your thought process and user-centric approach!
Tailor Your Portfolio:A tailor-made portfolio is crucial for a full-time design role! Curate your best projects that align with the kind of work The Times does. We suggest including 3-5 case studies that showcase a variety of skills such as wireframing, prototyping, and user testing to really make your application pop.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should not just be a summary of your CV. Use it to express why you’re excited about UX/UI Design and what draws you specifically to The Times. Mention any relevant experience, tools you’re proficient in (like Sketch or Figma), and how you can contribute to their projects.
Highlight Collaboration Skills:In the world of UX/UI Design, teamwork is crucial. Make sure to highlight any past experiences where you worked in cross-functional teams. Illustrate how you communicated design decisions and listened to feedback, as this will resonate well with the culture at The Times.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Times
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
When you're gunning for a full-time UX/UI design role, your portfolio is your best friend! Make sure you've got a solid selection of your work, showcasing not just the final designs, but the process behind them—think wireframes, user flows, and any user research you've conducted. During the interview with The Times, be prepared to discuss your design decisions and how they solve specific user problems.
✨Prepare for Design Challenges
Expect to face some practical design tasks during your interview. The Times might ask you to tackle a quick design challenge or critique an existing interface. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and try to articulate your thought process as you work through these scenarios. Showing how you approach a design problem is just as important as the final output!
✨Know the Tools of the Trade
Familiarise yourself with the tools commonly used in the industry—figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch should be second nature to you. Be ready to discuss your preferred tools during the interview and how they've shaped your design process at previous positions. This knowledge could give you an edge at The Times!
✨Show Passion for User Experience
In a full-time UX/UI design role, having a genuine passion for improving user interactions can set you apart. Be prepared to share instances when you went above and beyond to ensure a great user experience in your previous projects. This will demonstrate that you’re not just a designer, but a user advocate, which is exactly what The Times is looking for.
