Head of Product Design

As a Head of Product Design, you will be responsible for developing and implementing a forward-thinking product design strategy that aligns with Barclays’ Transformation agenda and our evolving Scaled Agile framework You will drive digital innovation at scale, ensuring that the creativity, quality and consistency of the Product Design team supports the company’s broader objectives, upholding Barclays’ brand identity across all digital banking channels.

To be successful as a Head of Product Design, you should have experience with

• Have previous experience in leading and managing design teams. 

• Have experience of working in Scaled Agile delivery teams to develop an operating model that balances CX value with technical feasibility and commercial goals. 

• Experience in leading the development of best-in-class Product Design practice, with a deep understanding of user-centred design principles, a keen eye for aesthetics, and the ability to balance business goals with user needs. 

• Experience in overseeing budgets and defining the team’s learning and development strategy.

• Building a culture of innovation and community of practice across Product Design team.

• Ability to network with a wide network of senior journey, product and technology stakeholders.

• Have strong experience in managing and influencing stakeholders across a wide portfolio of work.

• Proficient in using Figma and Jira tools.

Some other highly valued skills may include

• Experience working in Design Ops

• Experience in collaborating with brand and marketing teams, with a focus on how design drives brand value.

• Have previous experience in portfolio management and quarterly planning

You may be assessed on the key critical skills relevant for success in role, such as risk and controls, change and transformation, business acumen strategic thinking and digital and technology, as well as job-specific technical skills.

This role can be based in London (1CP), Knutsford, Manchester (4PP) or Northampton.

Purpose of the role

To create best in class user experiences that are aligned to customer needs and drive optimal commercial and customer outcomes. Creating products and journeys that meet customers informational, functional and emotional needs.  

Accountabilities

• Conceptualisation, design and implementation of user-centric digital banking products and experiences, ensuring alignment with customer needs, industry best practices and business objectives. Monitoring impact of design post launch through relevant CX metrics.   .
• Collaboration with cross-functional teams including product managers, developers, business analysts to translate business requirements into compelling user experiences. Efficiently communicate design rationale and advocate for user-centred design principles. Advocate and champion Design Principles within the organisation.   .
• Development of interactive prototypes and wireframes to visualise design concepts and validate solutions. Iterate designs based on feedback, incorporating changing technical and business requirements and user feedback.   .
• Evaluation of the technical feasibility, legal compliance, and potential risks associated with the development and launch of the new product. Securing governance oversite and providing design assurance.
• User research, usability testing and data analysis to gather insights in user behaviour, preferences and pain points. Utilise findings to inform design decisions and enhance the over user experience and translate these into commercial and customer outcomes.
• Stay abreast of emerging trends, technologies and design tools within the fintech and banking industry. Proactively identify opportunities for innovation and improvement in product design processes, tools and methodologies.

Vice President Expectations

• To contribute or set strategy, drive requirements and make recommendations for change. Plan resources, budgets, and policies; manage and maintain policies/ processes; deliver continuous improvements and escalate breaches of policies/procedures..
• If managing a team, they define jobs and responsibilities, planning for the department’s future needs and operations, counselling employees on performance and contributing to employee pay decisions/changes. They may also lead a number of specialists to influence the operations of a department, in alignment with strategic as well as tactical priorities, while balancing short and long term goals and ensuring that budgets and schedules meet corporate requirements..
• If the position has leadership responsibilities, People Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others..
• OR for an individual contributor, they will be a subject matter expert within own discipline and will guide technical direction. They will lead collaborative, multi-year assignments and guide team members through structured assignments, identify the need for the inclusion of other areas of specialisation to complete assignments. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions..
• Advise key stakeholders, including functional leadership teams and senior management on functional and cross functional areas of impact and alignment.
• Manage and mitigate risks through assessment, in support of the control and governance agenda.
• Demonstrate leadership and accountability for managing risk and strengthening controls in relation to the work your team does.
• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the organisation functions to contribute to achieving the goals of the business.
• Collaborate with other areas of work, for business aligned support areas to keep up to speed with business activity and the business strategies.
• Create solutions based on sophisticated analytical thought comparing and selecting complex alternatives. In-depth analysis with interpretative thinking will be required to define problems and develop innovative solutions.
• Adopt and include the outcomes of extensive research in problem solving processes.
• Seek out, build and maintain trusting relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders in order to accomplish key business objectives, using influencing and negotiating skills to achieve outcomes.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.