At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product design and shape user experiences that drive real value.
- Company: Join Which?, the UK's consumer champion, promoting fairness and safety.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous holiday, and flexible hybrid working.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact while coaching and developing future design leaders.
- Qualifications: Deep product design expertise and strong communication skills required.
- Other info: Be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity and growth.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 75000 £ per year.
This role offers a competitive salary, hybrid working (5-8 days per month in the London office, with mandatory attendance on Thursdays). Salary £76,000 – £80,000 per annum. Location: London/Hybrid (5-8 days per month in the London office, mandatory Thursdays). This role is being offered on a 12-month Fixed Term Contract.
About the role
This is a senior design leadership role responsible for leading high-performing product design across the organisation. You will shape product direction and enable squads to deliver high quality, inclusive, evidence-led digital experiences that drive value for users and the business. You will act as both a hands-on expert practitioner and a coach - bringing clarity to complex journeys, strengthening our design foundations, and raising standards across craft, process and outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
- Set product design vision and standards across craft, process and outcomes aligned to Which? strategy and objectives.
- Lead complex, cross-squad design from discovery through to live, using evidence to define problems well, prototype at pace, reduce risk, and support confident decision-making.
- Shape end-to-end journeys by creating clear journey maps, consistent interfaces/interactions, and coherent experiences that reduce friction and increase confidence (including accessibility and inclusion).
- Coach and grow design capability, building a strong critique/peer review culture and supporting “people who design” beyond specialist product designers.
- Improve foundations and design ops, including design system adoption, patterns, accessibility standards, governance, reusable assets, and guidance on responsible AI use in design practice.
You will have
- Deep product design craft across information design, interaction/UI design, and end-to-end journey/service design.
- A strong evidence-led approach - comfortable partnering with user research and analytics to inform decisions.
- Strong ideation and experimentation skills - choosing the right technology and iterating quickly.
- Inclusive and accessible design expertise with a strong understanding of standards and best practice.
- Excellent communication and storytelling - confident presenting rationale, trade-offs and impact to senior stakeholders; strong facilitation skills.
- Demonstrable experience coaching and developing designers and emerging design leaders, and working with high autonomy.
The interview process for this role involves:
- First interview – circa 30 minute conversation with the hiring manager.
- Candidates who pass the first stage will have a second interview with the hiring manager and two other colleagues across the product, design and technology team. At this interview there will be a presentation.
- Offer stage.
Benefits
- 35 hour working week.
- Generous 28 days holiday a year plus Bank Holidays & Option to buy additional days.
- Excellent pension scheme – when you pay in 3%, Which? pays in 6% (rising to 11% after one year of service).
- Discount site Pluxee which offers large discounts off everyday shopping and holidays.
- Annual Award (depending on employee and company performance).
- Healthcare insurance & Private medical insurance and opportunity to participate in Vitality rewards programme (at 6 months).
- A discretionary death in service benefit provision equivalent to six times your annual salary.
- Free access to Which? member content and free access to Which? money & legal helplines.
- Free wills for all Which? employees, plus, partners of employees can make their will at cost price.
- Work from (almost) anywhere for 4 weeks of the year policy.
About Which?
We promote a great work-life balance (all our roles are now hybrid), offering flexible working options in addition to a full time working week (35 hours) e.g. part time or job shares where possible. If you wish to discuss any of these options, please contact the Resourcing team at recruitment@which.co.uk.
Which? is the UK's consumer champion, here to make life simpler, fairer and safer for everyone. You can find out more about what we do, our people and culture as well as hints and tips on how to complete your application on our Careers site.
At Which? we value diversity and we’re committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone is able to be themselves and to reach their full potential. We are proud that we ranked 3rd in the ‘Top 25 Inclusive Employers’ List 2024.
We want to receive applications from everyone. We believe that a diverse workforce helps us to understand and create a positive impact for consumers.
As a Disability Confident Leader, we ensure that everyone can apply and be part of our recruitment processes and so we’ll make reasonable adjustments if you need them. For this or any other assistance you need with applying (i.e., would like to apply by phone or post), email recruitment@which.co.uk.
Please note you must meet the essential criteria listed within the Role Profile, to have your application reviewed and we reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any given time due to the number of applications received.
Lead Product Designer - 12 months FTC employer: Which?
Contact Detail:
Which? Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Product Designer - 12 months FTC
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research Which? and understand their mission, values, and recent projects. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of the team.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your storytelling skills! When you present your design ideas, make sure to weave a narrative around your thought process and decisions. This will not only engage your interviewers but also demonstrate your communication prowess.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the presentation like it’s the final design reveal! Use clear visuals and be ready to explain your design choices. Remember, they want to see how you think and how you can lead others through complex design challenges.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to ask questions during your interviews! Show your curiosity about the team dynamics, design processes, and how they measure success. This not only helps you gauge if it's the right fit but also shows your enthusiasm for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Product Designer - 12 months FTC
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Design Skills: Make sure to highlight your deep product design craft in your application. We want to see your expertise in information design, interaction/UI design, and end-to-end journey/service design. Use examples that showcase your evidence-led approach and how you've partnered with user research.
Be a Storyteller: Your communication skills are key! When you write your application, think about how you can present your rationale and trade-offs clearly. We love a good story, so share how your design decisions have made an impact in previous roles.
Demonstrate Your Coaching Ability: Since this role involves coaching and developing designers, make sure to include any experience you have in mentoring or leading teams. We’re looking for someone who can build a strong critique culture, so share specific examples of how you've done this.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s super easy, and you’ll find all the details you need there. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Which?
✨Know Your Design Vision
Before the interview, take some time to think about your design vision and how it aligns with the company's objectives. Be ready to discuss how you would set product design standards and lead complex design projects, as this role requires a strong alignment with Which?'s strategy.
✨Showcase Your Evidence-Led Approach
Prepare examples of how you've used data and user research to inform your design decisions in the past. This role values an evidence-led approach, so be ready to discuss specific instances where your decisions were backed by solid research and analytics.
✨Practice Your Presentation Skills
Since the interview includes a presentation, make sure to practice delivering your ideas clearly and confidently. Focus on storytelling techniques that highlight your design rationale and the impact of your work, as you'll need to present to senior stakeholders.
✨Emphasise Coaching and Collaboration
This role involves coaching and developing other designers, so be prepared to share your experiences in mentoring and building a critique culture. Highlight any successful collaborations you've had with cross-functional teams, as this will demonstrate your ability to lead and inspire others.