Experience Design Manager - Argos In-Store

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Experience Design Manager - Argos In-Store

Company: Sainsbury's (Argos)

Location: London, Manchester, or Coventry, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full time

Category: Experience Design / Retail Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-23T14:15:16

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and develop a team of Experience Designers focused on enhancing the in-store and colleague experience for Argos.

• Drive the strategic vision and design execution for all aspects of the in-store customer journey, from kiosks to payment and collection.

• Collaborate closely with Product, Engineering, Retail, and Commercial teams to ensure seamless omni-channel experiences.

• Utilize AI-powered design tools and methodologies to accelerate insight, ideation, and delivery of innovative solutions.

• Accountable for delivering measurable business impact, including improved customer satisfaction, increased conversion rates, and reduced friction in key journeys.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role, while titled "Experience Design Manager," has significant overlap with operational excellence and GTM strategy within the retail sector. The focus on in-store journeys, operational systems, and cross-functional collaboration with retail and commercial teams positions it as a critical role for optimizing the physical retail footprint and its integration with digital channels. The emphasis on "colleague experiences" also points to internal process optimization and user experience for employees.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Development: Manage, coach, and inspire a team of experience designers, fostering a culture of high standards, curiosity, and continuous improvement. Support individual career growth while ensuring team delivery momentum.

• In-Store Experience Ownership: Define and shape the future of in-store and assisted digital journeys, including kiosks, collection points, payment processes, and associated customer interactions.

• Omni-channel Integration: Design cohesive experiences that seamlessly connect the physical store environment with Argos's app, website, and backend operational systems.

• Hands-on Design & Strategy: Actively participate in design work when critical, guiding teams through complex challenges from initial concept to final execution. Move fluidly between high-level strategic thinking and detailed design decisions.

• AI Integration in Design: Leverage AI-powered design tools and workflows to enhance insight generation, ideation processes, and the speed of design delivery.

• Impact Delivery: Drive outcomes that directly impact business goals, such as improving customer and colleague satisfaction, increasing conversion and in-store purchase rates, and minimizing friction across critical customer journeys.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with Product Management, Engineering, Retail Operations, and Commercial teams to align on strategy and execute integrated initiatives.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Effectively communicate design vision, strategies, and outcomes to stakeholders through clear thinking, compelling storytelling, and data-driven insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic leadership and hands-on execution, typical of senior design roles within large retail organizations. The focus on "assisted digital journeys," "operational systems," and "colleague experiences" highlights the operational and process-oriented nature of this role, requiring an understanding of how design impacts efficiency and customer flow within a physical retail environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio and demonstrated experience in relevant design fields are paramount. A degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, Business, or a related field is often preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years in a Design Team Management role.

• Proven hands-on capability in UX Design, Product Design, or Service Design.

• Experience or a strong passion for designing and optimizing omni-channel, end-to-end customer experiences.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with data, user research, and experimentation methodologies.

• Experience in integrating AI tools and concepts into design workflows.

• Track record of delivering impactful design solutions in fast-moving, ambitious environments. Required Skills:

• Design Team Management: Ability to lead, mentor, and grow a team of designers.

• UX/Product/Service Design: Deep expertise in user-centered design principles and methodologies.

• Omni-channel Strategy: Understanding of how to create seamless customer journeys across physical and digital touchpoints.

• Data Analysis & Research: Proficiency in interpreting user data, research findings, and A/B test results to inform design decisions.

• AI in Design: Familiarity and practical experience with using AI tools to enhance design processes (e.g., ideation, prototyping, analysis).

• Stakeholder Management: Skill