Head of UX Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Head of UX Design

Company: Mott MacDonald

Location: Cambridge, England, United Kingdom / London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: UX/UI Design Leadership

Date Posted: August 7, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and evolve the User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design function for a global engineering, management, and development consultancy.

• Drive the UX vision and strategy across digital products and services, influencing senior stakeholders and key strategic initiatives.

• Develop and mentor a multidisciplinary design team, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence in user-centered design.

• Collaborate with external UX partners to integrate fresh perspectives and best practices into the internal design capability.

• Champion user research and evidence-led design principles throughout the entire UX design lifecycle, ensuring data-driven decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior leadership opportunity within Mott MacDonald's Digital and Technology team, focusing on elevating their UX/UI design maturity. The emphasis on shaping strategy, leading a team, and collaborating with external partners indicates a significant scope of responsibility for driving design excellence across a complex, global organization.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and own the overarching UX vision and strategic roadmap for Mott MacDonald's diverse portfolio of digital products and services.

• Lead, recruit, mentor, and support the career development of a multidisciplinary UX/UI design team, cultivating a high-performing design function.

• Evaluate and integrate emerging design tooling and AI-assisted approaches to enhance the UX/UI design practice, establishing standards for their responsible application.

• Manage and nurture relationships with external UX design partners, facilitating knowledge transfer and incorporating innovative methodologies.

• Establish and enforce rigorous UX/UI design quality standards, serving as the final arbiter for critical design decisions.

• Foster close collaboration with product managers, engineering teams, and project stakeholders across various global regions and time zones to define user problems and architect effective digital solutions.

• Champion and maintain design systems to ensure consistency, accessibility, and scalability across all digital products and platforms.

• Advocate for and implement robust user research practices, ensuring all design decisions are firmly grounded in user insights and data.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, team development, and hands-on oversight. The inclusion of managing external partners, setting quality standards, and championing design systems indicates a need for a leader who can balance strategic vision with practical implementation and process governance.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While specific educational requirements are not detailed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for such a leadership role. Relevant professional certifications in UX/UI design or leadership can also be advantageous.

Experience: A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in UX/UI design, with a significant portion dedicated to leadership and team management roles. Proven ability to deliver end-to-end UX/UI design for complex digital products and services is essential.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience leading or building a UX design team, demonstrating a strong capability for mentoring and developing design talent.

• Demonstrated comfort and effectiveness in working with established UX design practices or external partners, adding value and introducing new perspectives.

• A robust track record of delivering end-to-end UX and UI design work for digital products or services, with clear evidence of design decision-making through a portfolio.

• Confidence in shaping UX/UI design strategy and influencing decisions at a senior, cross-functional level within a large organization.

• A pragmatic, proactive, and results-oriented approach to strengthening UX design's impact while balancing business needs and project delivery.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills, with a high degree of curiosity and openness to feedback.

• Structured, reliable, and organized work habits, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, navigate ambiguity, and drive projects and team progress effectively.

• Proficiency in the latest design tooling, with in-depth knowledge of using Figma within an organizational context.

• Strong understanding and experience in utilizing and managing design systems to ensure consistency, scalability, and accessibility.

• Familiarity with web technologies, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, to facilitate effective collaboration with engineering teams. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with or a strong interest in the Microsoft Power Platform, including Power BI and Power Apps, for potential integration and application development.

• Experience working within the consultancy, engineering, or large infrastructure/public-sector program environments.

• Familiarity with AI-assisted design tools and methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize practical experience and leadership capabilities over specific academic credentials. The strong emphasis on Figma, design systems, and collaborative skills, alongside a portfolio, points towards a role that values hands-on expertise and the ability to translate strategy into tangible design outcomes. The mention of Microsoft Power Platform as desirable suggests potential future integration or focus areas.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end UX/UI design projects, clearly demonstrating the design process, problem-solving approaches, and final outcomes.

• Evidence of design decision-making rationale, explaining "why" certain design choices were made, supported by user research and data.

• Examples of how design systems were utilized, managed, or contributed to, highlighting consistency and scalability.

• Case studies that illustrate experience in leading design initiatives, managing teams, or influencing strategic design direction.

• Demonstrations of proficiency with industry-standard design tools, particularly Figma, and an understanding of its collaborative features. Process Documentation:

• The ability to articulate and document UX design processes, including user research methodologies, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing, and iteration cycles.

• Experience in defining and refining workflows for design team operations, including handoff processes to engineering and collaboration with product management.

• A clear understanding of how to integrate design processes with agile development methodologies and cross-functional team workflows.

• Documentation of how design quality is ensured, including the establishment and maintenance of design standards and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role, serving as the primary evidence of a candidate's end-to-end design capabilities and leadership potential. The emphasis on demonstrating design decision-making and process governance is key for a Head of UX role.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Head of UX Design role in London or Cambridge with 10+ years of experience, the estimated salary range is £80,000 - £120,000 per annum. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior design leadership positions in major UK cities, considering the consultancy sector and the responsibilities outlined.

Benefits:

• Financial Wellbeing:

  • Pension contributions with company match (4.5% - 7%).
  • Life assurance (up to 4x basic salary, option to increase to 6x).
  • Income protection scheme with absence and return-to-work support.
  • Flexible benefits including critical illness insurance, payroll saving, and will writing.
  • Annual bonus schemes reflecting company financial success.

• Employee Ownership:

  • Stake and voice in the business due to employee ownership model.
  • Personal and group performance bonuses.
  • Increasing stake in the business with career growth.
  • Direct connection to senior leadership.
  • Pathway towards ownership from day one for senior roles.

• Health and Wellbeing:

  • Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
  • Health cash plan for everyday health costs.
  • Access to Peppy for menopause expert support.
  • Comprehensive wellbeing program with family access.
  • Flexible salary options for health benefits, extendable to family.

• Lifestyle:

  • Generous holiday entitlement (minimum 33-35 days/year, inclusive of public holidays, increasing to 35+ after 5 years).
  • Ability to buy or sell leave.
  • Additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists/Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
  • Employee saving schemes and high-street retailer discounts.

• Family and Carers Leave:

  • Enhanced family leave policies (e.g., 26 weeks paid maternity/adoption leave, 2 weeks paid paternity/partner leave).
  • Shared parental leave matching maternity leave (up to 24 weeks at full pay).
  • Up to five additional days leave for significant caring responsibilities (two paid).
  • Support for military families.

• Learning and Development:

  • Primary annual professional institution subscription.
  • Broad opportunities for technical and soft skill enhancement (mentoring, formal training, self-development).

• Networks and Communities:

  • Access to Advanced Employee Networks (LGBTQ+, gender, race, disability, parents/carers).

  • Support through the Armed Forces Network.

  • Opportunities to contribute to social outcomes initiatives. Working Hours: The role is based on a standard 40-hour work week, with an emphasis on agile and hybrid working, allowing for flexibility to meet client, team, and personal commitments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles in the specified UK locations. The benefits package is extensive, reflecting Mott MacDonald's commitment to employee wellbeing, financial security, and career development, with a notable emphasis on their employee ownership model.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Mott MacDonald operates within the global engineering, management, and development consultancy sector. This industry is characterized by large-scale, complex projects, often involving significant infrastructure, public sector programs, and a strong focus on sustainability and societal impact. For UX/UI design, this means an opportunity to influence critical projects that shape communities and economies.

Company Size: Mott MacDonald is a large global organization with over 20,000 employees across more than 140 offices in over 50 countries. This size indicates a robust organizational structure, extensive resources, and a wide range of potential projects and challenges, providing significant opportunities for a Head of UX to scale design practices and impact.

Founded: Mott MacDonald was founded in 1986 through the merger of Mott, Hay and Anderson (founded 1902) and Sir M. MacDonald & Partners (founded 1928). This long history signifies stability, deep industry expertise, and a well-established reputation, which can influence the pace of change and the integration of new methodologies like advanced UX/UI design.

Team Structure:

• The Digital and Technology team is growing, indicating an investment in digital capabilities and a dynamic environment. The Head of UX Design will lead a multidisciplinary design team within this broader group.

• The reporting structure will likely place the Head of UX Design under a Director or VP of Digital/Technology, with direct reports comprising UX/UI designers.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a key aspect, involving close work with product managers, engineering teams, project managers, and senior stakeholders across various business units and global regions. Methodology:

• Data Analysis and Insights: The role explicitly champions user research and evidence-led design, implying a strong reliance on data analysis to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Workflow Planning and Optimization: Developing and maintaining design systems, refining design processes, and ensuring efficient handoffs to engineering are core to optimizing workflows.

• Automation and Efficiency: While not explicitly detailed for UX, the company's broader digital strategy likely includes automation. The Head of UX will need to consider how design tools and processes can be made more efficient, potentially leveraging AI.

Company Website: https://www.mottmac.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's global scale and long history in engineering and development provide a unique context for UX design. The emphasis on societal impact and sustainability means design challenges will be significant and meaningful. The growing digital team suggests a push towards modernization and innovation.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at the senior leadership level, specifically "Head of UX Design." It signifies a strategic position responsible for defining and executing the design vision, managing a team, and influencing organizational strategy. The scope extends beyond individual contribution to encompass team development, process improvement, and cross-functional leadership within a global context.

Reporting Structure: The Head of UX Design will likely report to a senior leader within the Digital and Technology function, such as a Chief Digital Officer, VP of Technology, or Head of Digital Transformation. They will directly manage a team of UX/UI designers, potentially including UX researchers and UI specialists.

Operations Impact: The Head of UX Design's impact is crucial for improving user adoption, satisfaction, and efficiency of Mott MacDonald's digital products and services. This directly influences client satisfaction, project delivery success, internal operational efficiency, and the company's overall digital transformation efforts. By ensuring user-centered design, they contribute to better project outcomes and potentially new business opportunities.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in strategic design leadership, advanced UX methodologies, AI in design, and managing design systems at scale within a large enterprise.

• Industry Exposure: Working on high-impact infrastructure and public-sector projects provides exposure to diverse challenges and opportunities to learn about different industry sectors.

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into broader digital leadership roles, influence executive-level strategy, and contribute to the overall direction of digital transformation within Mott MacDonald. Further opportunities for ownership within the employee-owned structure.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant leadership trajectory, moving beyond pure design execution to strategic influence and team building within a respected global consultancy. The employee ownership model provides a unique growth path tied to company success.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Mott MacDonald operates a hybrid working model, allowing employees to balance office-based work with remote working. This model is designed to foster collaboration and team cohesion while providing flexibility. The London and Cambridge offices are likely to be modern, professional environments conducive to design work and collaboration.

Office Location(s): The role can be based in either their London or Cambridge office, offering flexibility for candidates located in or willing to commute to these major UK hubs. Both locations provide access to professional amenities and transportation networks.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment will support collaborative work, with spaces for team meetings, workshops, and brainstorming sessions essential for UX design.

• Access to relevant design tools and technology, including Figma and potentially other collaborative platforms, will be provided.

• Opportunities for regular interaction with the design team, product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders, both within the office and remotely, are expected.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are approximately 40 per week, with the hybrid model allowing for flexibility. This structure enables designers to manage their time effectively, balancing focused design work with collaborative activities and personal commitments, which is beneficial for deep work required in design processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key feature, indicating a modern approach to work that prioritizes flexibility while ensuring necessary in-person collaboration for a leadership role.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of CV and portfolio by the recruitment team to assess alignment with essential qualifications and experience.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the Head of UX Design hiring manager to delve into leadership experience, strategic thinking, team management philosophies, and portfolio examples. Preparation should focus on articulating your approach to UX strategy and team development.

• Design Challenge/Workshop: A potential practical exercise or workshop to assess problem-solving skills, design process, and ability to collaborate within a multidisciplinary team setting. Focus on demonstrating your structured approach to user-centered design and problem-solving.

• Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with senior leaders from product, engineering, and potentially business units to assess strategic influence, communication skills, and cultural fit. Highlight your ability to communicate design value to non-design audiences.

• Final Interview: A concluding discussion, potentially with a more senior executive, to finalize the decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 of your most impactful projects that best demonstrate leadership, strategic thinking, end-to-end design process, and complex problem-solving.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the business problem, your role, the design process (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), key decisions and rationale, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Leadership: Showcase instances where you led a team, mentored designers, influenced strategy, or managed design systems.

• Demonstrate Figma Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your workflow in Figma, its collaborative features, and how you leverage it for efficiency and team alignment.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics and data to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced support tickets, increased user satisfaction scores).

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Research Mott MacDonald's business, their industry (consultancy, infrastructure, public sector), and their digital initiatives.

• Focus on Process: Be prepared to walk through your design process and decision-making for a given problem. Emphasize user research, iterative design, and stakeholder collaboration.

• Articulate Strategy: Practice explaining how you would approach developing a UX strategy for a new product or improving an existing one within a large, complex organization.

• Team Management: Be ready to discuss your philosophy on building and managing design teams, fostering talent, and promoting a positive design culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely to be thorough, involving multiple stages and stakeholders. A strong portfolio that clearly articulates strategic thinking and leadership is paramount, alongside the ability to discuss design processes and impact with non-design professionals.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and collaborative design work. Deep proficiency is a key requirement.

• Design Systems Management Tools: Experience with tools or methodologies for creating, maintaining, and scaling design systems (e.g., Storybook, Zeroheight, or built within Figma).

• Prototyping Tools: Proficiency in tools like Figma, InVision, Axure, or similar for creating interactive prototypes.

• User Research Platforms: Familiarity with tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, SurveyMonkey).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Tools: Knowledge of tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar for understanding user behavior on digital platforms.

• Product Analytics Tools: Familiarity with platforms like Mixpanel, Amplitude, or Pendo for in-depth product usage analysis.

• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools such as Tableau, Power BI, or Looker for creating dashboards and reports to communicate design impact and user insights.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct focus for UX leadership, an understanding of how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and automation tools impact user journeys and data collection would be beneficial.

• Microsoft Power Platform (Desirable): Specifically Power BI for data visualization and reporting, and Power Apps for potential low-code application development, indicating an interest in integrating design with these Microsoft tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma and design systems is strong. The desirable mention of Microsoft Power Platform suggests an area where the company might be looking to expand its digital capabilities, and a candidate with familiarity would have an advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence and Impact: A commitment to delivering high-quality, user-centered designs that have a tangible impact on Mott MacDonald's projects and clients.

• Collaboration and Inclusion: Fostering an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and cross-functional collaboration is seamless.

• Innovation and Continuous Improvement: Encouraging new ideas, embracing emerging technologies (like AI in design), and continuously refining design processes and outcomes.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Basing design choices on user research, analytics, and evidence to ensure effectiveness and efficiency.

• Pragmatism and Reliability: A balanced approach to design that is both forward-thinking and grounded in practical execution, ensuring projects are delivered reliably.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The Head of UX will be expected to integrate closely with product management, engineering, and business stakeholders, acting as a bridge between user needs and technical/business realities.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging a culture where constructive feedback is regularly exchanged within the design team and with cross-functional partners to drive continuous improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting practices that facilitate knowledge sharing, such as design critiques, documentation, and internal presentations, to elevate the entire team's capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: Mott MacDonald emphasizes a culture of "brilliance" and employee ownership, suggesting a drive for high performance, innovation, and a collaborative, inclusive environment. The values align with a modern design leadership approach focused on impact and continuous learning.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling Design Practices: Extending and standardizing UX/UI design capabilities across a large, global organization with diverse project needs and existing digital maturity levels.

• Balancing Global Consistency with Local Needs: Ensuring design systems and standards are applied consistently worldwide while accommodating regional specificities or project requirements.

• Influencing Stakeholders: Effectively communicating the value of UX design and driving adoption of user-centered practices among senior leadership and project teams who may have differing priorities or levels of design understanding.

• Integrating New Technologies: Navigating the adoption of emerging technologies like AI in design, establishing best practices for their responsible and effective use within the team.

• Managing External Partnerships: Effectively collaborating with and leveraging external UX partners while ensuring internal capability development and knowledge retention.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Design Leadership: Opportunities to refine skills in setting design vision, managing design portfolios, and influencing organizational strategy.

• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of and implementing best practices in UX/UI design, AI-assisted design, and digital transformation within the engineering and consultancy sectors.

• Mentorship and Team Building: Developing leadership skills through mentoring a diverse design team and potentially contributing to broader talent development initiatives within Mott MacDonald.

• Employee Ownership Growth: Understanding and contributing to the success of an employee-owned business, with potential for increased personal stake and influence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a large, global consultancy aiming to mature its digital design function. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a chance to shape a critical function and advance within a unique organizational structure.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to developing a UX vision and strategy for a global organization like Mott MacDonald, considering our industry and project types." - Preparation: Focus on how you'd align design strategy with business objectives, research organizational needs, and gain stakeholder buy-in.

• "How would you build, mentor, and lead a multidisciplinary UX/UI design team to foster excellence and innovation?" - Preparation: Discuss your leadership philosophy, experience with team growth, performance management, and creating a positive team culture.

• "Walk us through a complex UX design challenge you've solved. What was the problem, your process, the key decisions, and the measurable outcome?" - Preparation: Select a robust case study from your portfolio that showcases end-to-end design thinking, problem-solving, and impact.

• "How do you ensure consistency and quality in design across multiple products and platforms, especially when working with external partners?" - Preparation: Discuss your experience with design systems, style guides, design quality assurance processes, and managing external vendor relationships.

• "What is your perspective on the role of AI in UX design, and how would you explore its responsible application within our team?" - Preparation: Research current AI tools for design, discuss potential benefits and risks, and outline a phased approach to adoption and experimentation. Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to Mott MacDonald and this Head of UX Design role specifically?" - Preparation: Research Mott MacDonald's projects, values, and recent news. Connect your skills and aspirations to their mission and the role's challenges.

• "How do you foster collaboration between design, product, and engineering teams, especially in a hybrid/remote environment?" - Preparation: Provide examples of successful cross-functional collaboration and your strategies for building strong working relationships.

• "Describe a time you had to influence senior stakeholders to adopt a user-centered approach. How did you communicate the value and overcome resistance?" - Preparation: Prepare a concise story demonstrating your persuasion and stakeholder management skills. Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a high-level overview of your leadership philosophy and design approach. For each project, use a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Impact.

• Highlight Strategic Thinking: Emphasize the "why" behind your decisions, demonstrating how design choices aligned with business goals and user needs.

• Showcase Team Leadership: If applicable, discuss how you managed or guided team members on these projects.

• Demonstrate Figma Proficiency: Be ready to share relevant screens or prototypes from Figma and explain your workflow and how you leverage its features for collaboration and efficiency.

• Quantify Results: Use data and metrics to support the success of your projects. If direct metrics are unavailable, discuss the intended impact and how you would measure it.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviews for this role will assess not only design expertise but also strategic vision, leadership capability, and the ability to drive change within a large, established organization. A well-prepared, data-backed portfolio presentation is crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Head of UX Design position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Mott MacDonald careers portal.

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight leadership experience, team management successes, strategic UX vision setting, and proficiency with Figma and design systems. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate your Portfolio: Select 3-4 key projects that best showcase your end-to-end design process, strategic thinking, leadership in design, and measurable impact. Ensure it clearly demonstrates your proficiency in Figma.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your approach to UX strategy, team leadership, stakeholder influence, and your understanding of Mott MacDonald's industry and values. Be ready to present your portfolio confidently.

• Research Mott MacDonald: Understand their business, key projects, company culture, and digital initiatives to demonstrate genuine interest and alignment during interviews.

⚠️ 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.

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