Head of Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Head of Design

Company: Haleon

Location: London Bankside, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full time

Category: Design Leadership / Commercial Digital Services

Date Posted: 2026-08-17

Experience Level: Senior / 10+ years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the vision, strategy, and evolution of Haleon's Design function within the Commercial Digital Services Value Pool.

• Lead the establishment and scaling of an enterprise-wide Design Centre of Excellence, setting standards, governance, and best practices.

• Drive design excellence and embed experience-led thinking into strategic decision-making across a global, complex organization.

• Influence investment priorities and ensure digital experiences deliver measurable commercial and business value.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a critical leadership function within Haleon's Commercial Digital Services transformation, emphasizing its strategic importance in driving significant commercial benefit (£250m+ over 3-5 years). The focus is on enterprise-scale design leadership and organizational transformation through experience-led innovation.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and deliver the long-term vision, strategy, and operating model for the Design function across Haleon's commercial organization, aligning with business objectives and growth outcomes.

• Lead the development and operationalization of a Design Centre of Excellence, including establishing robust governance, clear standards, effective methodologies, appropriate tooling, and best practices.

• Shape portfolio priorities and influence key investment decisions by leveraging customer insights, market intelligence, and a strong emphasis on experience-led thinking.

• Proactively identify future opportunities through horizon scanning, evaluating emerging technologies, and understanding evolving customer needs and market trends.

• Serve as the senior Design advisor to executive leadership teams across Commercial, Marketing, and Digital & Technology functions.

• Foster alignment across product, technology, data, and commercial functions to ensure shared experience outcomes and a cohesive customer journey.

• Drive organizational and behavioral change through complex transformation programs, championing design thinking and human-centered approaches.

• Collaborate with global Operating Units to balance enterprise-level design strategy with effective local market execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: Responsibilities are framed around strategic leadership, organizational development (Design CoE), and cross-functional influence, typical for a senior role impacting enterprise-wide digital strategy and commercial outcomes. The emphasis on "experience-led thinking" and "customer-centric operating models" highlights a modern approach to design leadership.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, Business, or a related field is typically expected for such a senior leadership role.

Experience: Extensive experience in design leadership, with a proven track record of success in enterprise-scale environments and complex multinational organizations.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated success leading enterprise-scale Design functions within large multinational organizations.

• Proven ability to define and execute multi-year design strategies aligned to business objectives and growth outcomes.

• Experience establishing or leading Design Centres of Excellence, including governance, standards, operating models, and capability frameworks.

• Strong commercial acumen with proven experience supporting sales, marketing, CRM, customer engagement, and commercial transformation initiatives.

• Exceptional ability to influence executive stakeholders and shape strategic decisions through evidence-based design leadership.

• Experience leading organizational and behavioral change within complex transformation programs.

• Proficiency in understanding and applying journey management, systems thinking, and customer-centric operating models. Preferred Skills:

• Experience within Consumer Health, FMCG, Retail, Pharmacy, or Healthcare industries.

• Experience operating within global organizations, effectively balancing enterprise strategy with local market execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize strategic leadership, enterprise-scale operations, and significant influence capabilities, typical for a Head of Design role in a large multinational. The "desirable" skills point towards industry-specific knowledge that would be advantageous but not strictly mandatory.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a portfolio showcasing leadership in defining and executing enterprise-level design strategies that have driven measurable business outcomes.

• Provide case studies of establishing or significantly enhancing Design Centres of Excellence, highlighting governance structures, methodology development, and capability uplift.

• Showcase experience in shaping investment priorities and influencing strategic decisions, with examples of how design thinking impacted commercial outcomes.

• Include examples of leading organizational transformation through experience-led innovation, detailing the change management processes and stakeholder engagement. Process Documentation:

• Evidence of developing and implementing design methodologies, standards, and governance frameworks for large-scale digital initiatives.

• Documentation of processes used to integrate customer insights and market intelligence into strategic planning and portfolio prioritization.

• Examples of creating and managing cross-functional alignment around shared experience outcomes, involving product, technology, data, and commercial teams.

• Demonstrate experience in horizon scanning and identifying emerging technologies or customer needs to inform future design strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: While a traditional design portfolio is implied, the emphasis here is on strategic leadership, organizational impact, and process development (Design CoE, governance, methodologies) rather than individual design artifacts. The portfolio should demonstrate strategic thinking, change leadership, and business acumen.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the seniority of the role (Head of Design), the location (London), and the significant impact (£250m+ commercial benefit), a competitive salary range for this position in London would likely be in the region of £100,000 - £150,000 per annum. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior design leadership roles in large multinational corporations in the UK, considering factors like leadership scope, strategic responsibility, and the transformation portfolio value.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health and wellness programs, reflecting Haleon's purpose in everyday health.

• Generous paid time off (PTO) and holiday allowances.

• Pension scheme with employer contributions.

• Opportunities for professional development, including leadership training and industry conferences.

• Employee assistance programs (EAP) for well-being support.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses and long-term incentive plans tied to strategic objectives.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, likely requiring approximately 40 hours per week. However, given the senior leadership nature and global scope, flexibility and extended hours may be necessary to meet business demands and stakeholder engagement requirements across different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary range is an estimation based on general market data for senior leadership roles in London. Specific compensation will depend on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and negotiation. Benefits are assumed based on standard offerings for large multinational corporations, particularly those with a focus on health and wellness.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Consumer Healthcare / Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG). Haleon operates with a portfolio of trusted brands like Sensodyne, Panadol, Advil, and Centrum, focusing on delivering everyday health solutions.

Company Size: Large multinational corporation, indicated by its global presence and significant transformation portfolio value. This implies a structured environment with established processes but also opportunities for significant impact.

Founded: Haleon was launched as an independent company approximately three years prior to the job posting date, emerging from a demerger. This suggests a dynamic, evolving organization entering a new growth phase with a clear strategy ("Win as One").

Team Structure:

• The Head of Design will lead the Design function within the "Commercial Digital Services Value Pool," working closely with senior leaders across Commercial, Marketing, Digital & Technology, and Operating Units.

• The role involves establishing a "Design Centre of Excellence," suggesting a structured approach to design operations and capability building.

• Collaboration is key, requiring alignment with product, technology, and data teams to ensure cohesive customer experiences. Methodology:

• Emphasis on "purpose-driven" and "human understanding" combined with "trusted science" to deliver "better everyday health."

• Adoption of an "agile, performance-focused culture" driven by the "Win as One" strategy.

• Significant investment in digital capabilities and "experience-led thinking" to accelerate commercial growth.

Company Website: [Company URL not provided, but Haleon's public website is haleon.com]

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context highlights a recent spin-off, a strong purpose-driven mission, and a strategic focus on digital transformation and customer experience. This paints a picture of a dynamic, growth-oriented organization where design leadership is pivotal.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior leadership position, equivalent to a Director or VP level within a design organization. It is responsible for setting strategic direction, building capabilities, and influencing executive decision-making at an enterprise scale. The scope includes defining the future of design at Haleon and embedding experience-led principles across the commercial organization.

Reporting Structure: The Head of Design reports into senior leadership within the Commercial Digital Services Value Pool, likely a VP or Chief Digital Officer. They will work closely with other senior functional leaders (Commercial, Marketing, Digital & Technology) and collaborate with leaders of global Operating Units.

Operations Impact: The Head of Design's impact is directly tied to accelerating commercial growth through exceptional consumer, customer, and healthcare professional experiences. Their work is expected to deliver significant commercial benefits (£250m+ over 3-5 years) by driving innovation, optimizing digital touchpoints, and ensuring a customer-centric approach to all digital initiatives.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership: Opportunity to shape and evolve a critical function within a major consumer health company, defining its long-term design trajectory.

• Capability Building: Lead the creation and scaling of a Design Centre of Excellence, developing talent, processes, and standards that can serve as a benchmark.

• Organizational Transformation: Play a pivotal role in driving a significant digital and experience transformation across a global organization, influencing culture and strategic priorities.

• Executive Influence: Develop strong relationships and influence at the C-suite level, impacting major business decisions and investment strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth analysis focuses on the strategic leadership and transformation aspects of the role, positioning it as a high-impact opportunity for experienced design leaders looking to drive significant organizational change and business results.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in London Bankside, indicating a primary office-based work environment. This suggests a need for physical presence to foster collaboration and engagement.

Office Location(s): London Bankside, United Kingdom. This is a well-established business district, likely offering good connectivity and access to amenities.

Workspace Context:

• The environment is expected to be collaborative, requiring close interaction with senior leaders across various departments (Commercial, Marketing, Digital & Technology).

• As a Head of Design, access to modern design tools and technologies would be expected, supporting the development of enterprise-level design strategies and prototypes.

• Opportunities for team interaction would involve leading the Design Centre of Excellence, fostering a culture of innovation, shared learning, and best practice exchange among design professionals.

Work Schedule: While the role is full-time (approximately 40 hours/week), the senior leadership and global nature of the position suggest a need for flexibility. This may involve managing communication across different time zones and potentially working beyond standard hours to facilitate global collaboration and strategic initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment is characterized by its on-site nature in a major city, emphasizing collaboration with diverse, senior stakeholders and the need for a well-equipped workspace to support strategic design leadership. Flexibility is implied due to the global scope.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of CV and cover letter, focusing on enterprise-scale design leadership, strategy development, and transformation experience.

• First Interview: With a recruiter or hiring manager to assess overall fit, experience, and alignment with the role's core responsibilities. Preparation should include articulating your leadership philosophy and strategic approach to design.

• Panel Interviews: With senior stakeholders from Commercial, Digital & Technology, and potentially HR. These interviews will likely delve into strategic thinking, stakeholder management, organizational change leadership, and commercial acumen. Be prepared to discuss your experience in building Design Centres of Excellence and driving experience-led innovation.

• Presentation/Case Study: Candidates may be asked to present a strategic approach to a hypothetical design challenge at Haleon or discuss a past major transformation initiative, focusing on vision, strategy, execution, and impact. This is where your portfolio and case studies will be crucial.

• Final Round: Potentially with a very senior executive (e.g., Chief Digital Officer, CCO) to assess executive presence, strategic vision, and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Focus: Your portfolio should highlight strategic leadership, not just individual design execution. Showcase examples of defining vision, strategy, and operating models for design functions.

• Enterprise Scale: Emphasize experience in large, multinational organizations. Include case studies on building Design Centres of Excellence, establishing governance, and driving organizational change.

• Business Impact: Clearly articulate the commercial and business value generated by your design strategies and initiatives. Quantify results with data and ROI where possible.

• Transformation Leadership: Present examples of leading significant organizational or digital transformations through experience-led innovation. Detail your role in stakeholder management and driving behavioral change.

• Conciseness and Clarity: Be prepared to walk through your portfolio concisely, focusing on the strategic narrative and key achievements relevant to the Head of Design role at Haleon.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate questions about how you would approach building a Design Centre of Excellence at Haleon, defining its mission, scope, and key deliverables.

• Prepare to discuss your strategy for embedding experience-led thinking across a large, complex commercial organization, including how you would gain buy-in from diverse stakeholders.

• Be ready to articulate your vision for the future of design at Haleon, considering emerging technologies and evolving consumer needs.

• Consider how you would balance enterprise-wide design standards with the need for local market adaptation in a global company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process is structured to thoroughly assess strategic leadership, transformation capabilities, and executive influence. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate their ability to operate at an enterprise level and drive significant business impact through design.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: While specific tools aren't listed, expect proficiency with industry-standard enterprise design software such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar platforms for complex design systems and collaboration.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Tools like Jira, Confluence, Asana, or Monday.com are likely used for managing workflows, tracking progress, and facilitating cross-functional team collaboration on transformation initiatives.

• Presentation & Strategy: Advanced proficiency with presentation software (e.g., PowerPoint, Google Slides) for executive-level reporting and strategic planning.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Customer Data Platforms (CDP) & Analytics: Familiarity with tools that track customer behavior and provide insights (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, CDP solutions).

• Business Intelligence (BI) Tools: Experience with platforms like Tableau, Power BI, or Looker for visualizing data, tracking KPIs, and reporting on the impact of design initiatives.

• CRM Systems: Understanding of how CRM data (e.g., Salesforce) informs customer journeys and can be leveraged by design.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Platforms: Deep understanding of enterprise CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and their role in customer engagement and commercial transformation.

• Marketing Automation Tools: Familiarity with platforms like Marketo, HubSpot, or similar, used for customer engagement and campaign management.

• Integration & Workflow Tools: Awareness of how different systems connect and how workflows can be automated to support seamless customer experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is inferred based on the role's scope in digital transformation, commercial services, and enterprise-level design. Proficiency with tools that support design systems, collaborative workflows, data analysis, and executive reporting is essential.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Purpose-Driven: A strong commitment to Haleon's purpose of delivering better everyday health with humanity, integrating this into design decisions and strategies.

• Human Understanding: Placing deep human understanding at the core of all design efforts, ensuring solutions are empathetic and meet genuine consumer needs.

• Agile & Performance-Focused: Embracing an agile mindset and a focus on delivering measurable performance and commercial benefits through design.

• Collaboration & Unity: Fostering a "Win as One" mentality, encouraging cross-functional teamwork and breaking down silos to achieve shared goals.

• Innovation & Evolution: Continuously seeking new opportunities through emerging technologies and evolving customer needs, driving the organization forward.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role necessitates close collaboration with leaders in Commercial, Marketing, Digital & Technology, and Operating Units, requiring strong communication and negotiation skills.

• Strategic Partnership: Acting as a senior advisor to executive leadership, building trusted partnerships to influence strategic priorities and investment.

• Team Development & Mentorship: Leading and nurturing a Design Centre of Excellence, fostering a culture of continuous learning, feedback exchange, and shared knowledge.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: Championing a data-driven approach to design, using insights to inform strategy and measure impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture and values are derived from the company's mission statement and strategic priorities, emphasizing a human-centric, performance-driven, and collaborative approach to achieving business goals.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Large Multinational: Operating effectively within a complex, global organization requires navigating diverse stakeholder needs, established hierarchies, and varying levels of digital maturity across different markets.

• Driving Organizational Transformation: Shifting an established commercial organization towards a more experience-led and design-centric mindset requires significant change management, influencing skills, and persistent effort.

• Balancing Global Strategy and Local Execution: Establishing enterprise-wide design standards while ensuring they are relevant and adaptable to diverse local market requirements can be a complex balancing act.

• Quantifying Design Impact: Demonstrating the direct commercial and business value of design initiatives, especially in areas like brand perception or long-term customer loyalty, requires robust measurement frameworks.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Development: Enhanced opportunities to hone executive-level strategic planning, influence, and large-scale organizational leadership skills.

• Industry Transformation Expertise: Deepen expertise in digital transformation, customer experience strategy, and building design capabilities within large consumer-focused organizations.

• Cross-Functional Mastery: Gain deeper insights into commercial, marketing, and technology functions, understanding their interdependencies and contributing to integrated business strategies.

• Mentorship and Influence: Opportunity to mentor emerging design leaders and influence the strategic direction of a major global consumer health company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed around the complexities of a senior leadership role in a large, global, transforming organization, while growth opportunities focus on developing strategic, transformational, and cross-functional leadership skills.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you define and deliver the long-term vision and strategy for Design at Haleon, considering our purpose and 'Win as One' strategy?" Prepare to outline a phased approach, key pillars, and how you'd align with commercial objectives.

• "Describe your experience in establishing or scaling a Design Centre of Excellence. What are the critical components of governance, standards, and operating models you would implement?" Be ready to discuss frameworks and best practices for capability building.

• "How do you influence executive stakeholders and shape strategic investment decisions using experience-led thinking and market intelligence?" Prepare case studies demonstrating your ability to drive change and secure buy-in from senior leaders.

• "Given Haleon's focus on everyday health and trusted brands, how would you ensure our digital experiences are both innovative and deeply human-centric?" Discuss your approach to customer insight integration and empathetic design. Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Haleon's purpose and our position in the consumer health market?" Research Haleon's brands, mission, and recent strategic initiatives.

• "How would you foster collaboration between the Design function and our Commercial, Marketing, and Digital & Technology teams?" Discuss your approach to building cross-functional partnerships and breaking down silos.

• "How do you measure the success and business impact of design initiatives within a large commercial organization?" Be prepared to discuss KPIs, ROI, and data-driven evaluation methods. Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your presentation around a compelling narrative that showcases your strategic leadership journey, from vision setting to tangible business impact.

• Focus on Transformation: Prioritize case studies demonstrating enterprise-scale design leadership, organizational change, and the establishment of design capabilities (e.g., Design CoE).

• Quantify Impact: Clearly articulate the business outcomes and commercial benefits achieved through your strategies. Use data, metrics, and ROI figures where possible.

• Executive Summary: For each case study, provide a brief executive summary highlighting the challenge, your strategic approach, key actions, and measurable results.

• Q&A Readiness: Anticipate questions about your leadership style, decision-making process, and how you handle challenges in complex environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation focuses on strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and the ability to articulate impact in a business context, aligning with the senior leadership demands of the role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Head of Design position at Haleon:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Haleon Careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight enterprise-scale design leadership, strategy development, and organizational transformation. Showcase case studies of building design capabilities (Design CoE) and driving measurable business impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your experience in leading design functions within large, multinational organizations, emphasizing strategic influence, stakeholder management, and commercial acumen. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your strategic vision, leadership philosophy, and approach to building and scaling design functions. Prepare specific examples demonstrating your ability to influence executive stakeholders and drive organizational change.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Haleon's purpose, brands, "Win as One" strategy, and its commitment to digital transformation. Understand the consumer health landscape and how design contributes to business success in this sector.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.