Lead UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UX Designer

Company: Citi

Location: London, England, GB

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Digital Design Engineering / UX Design

Date Posted: 2025-06-12T00:00:00

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: On-site

AI-Derived Experience Level: 10+ years

🎨 Role Summary

• Lead and manage a team of design professionals within the Digital Design Engineering function at Citi.
• Drive product vision and strategy from initial concept through to production launch and ongoing optimization.
• Apply comprehensive understanding of user experience design principles and methodologies within a complex financial services environment.
• Utilize creative process and design thinking to enhance existing products and develop innovative cross-organizational solutions.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of UX and UI designers, overseeing performance evaluation, compensation, hiring, and disciplinary actions.
• Drive and support the product vision, translating business objectives into compelling user experiences from concept to production launch.
• Proactively analyze user behavior and feedback to inform product enhancements and identify opportunities to sunset underperforming features.
• Develop and implement cross-organizational and cross-disciplinary design solutions that address complex business and user needs across the company.
• Apply creative process and design thinking frameworks to iteratively improve digital products and services.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to align design strategies with marketing campaign objectives and measure their effectiveness.
• Oversee the launch, management, and optimization of digital feature enhancements across all channels, meticulously monitoring and reporting on key performance indicators.
• Provide thought leadership grounded in robust data analysis and user research to inform design decisions and strategic direction.
• Evaluate the viability of new product concepts, converting ideas into foundational wireframes to guide UX and UI designers.
• Effectively negotiate, manage conflicting viewpoints, and influence stakeholders across the organization to ensure alignment and progress on design initiatives.
• Educate stakeholders on new products, interfaces, features, and the overall customer experience.
• Manage relationships and deliverables with external vendors and agencies involved in design and digital initiatives.
• Identify and propose innovative design solutions that align with strategic goals and can be effectively executed.
• Facilitate understanding of broader organizational tenets and strategic goals within the design department.
• Identify trends in development needs within and across design teams and develop plans to enhance skills and capabilities.
• Share best practices in talent development across the organization.
• Ensure department goals are aligned with broader organizational objectives and maintain accountability for department performance.
• Set high performance standards for the design department.
• Plan for and advocate for necessary department resources.
• Develop and communicate a clear department vision that supports the broader organizational vision.
• Ensure the design team culture consistently reflects leadership principles and visibly tie department decisions to these principles.
• Appropriately assess and manage risk in design decisions, safeguarding the firm's reputation and ensuring compliance with regulations and policies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s/University degree required, Master’s degree preferred. While the original description doesn't specify a design discipline for the degree, a background in HCI, Interaction Design, Digital Media, or a related design field is highly advantageous. Relevant certifications in UX, Design Thinking, or Agile methodologies would also be beneficial.

Experience: Significant work experience, including substantial experience in design leadership, program management, and software development environments. The AI-derived experience level is 10+ years, which aligns with a Lead/Group Manager level role in a large financial institution. A robust portfolio demonstrating leadership in complex digital product design, strategic thinking, and successful team management is essential.

Required Skills:

• Significant experience in leading and managing design teams, including performance management, hiring, and talent development.
• Proven ability to drive product vision and strategy from concept through execution in a digital environment.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills, with a data-driven and results-oriented approach to design.
• Experience in designing for high-traffic, distributed, cloud-based services.
• Demonstrated experience in driving large-scale culture change within an organization, particularly related to design maturity and adoption.
• Experience leading infrastructure programs related to design systems, tools, or platforms.
• Skilled at working with and managing relationships with third-party service providers and agencies.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to negotiate, manage conflict, and influence senior stakeholders.
• Ability to evaluate new product concepts and translate them into actionable design direction (e.g., wireframes).

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the financial services industry or other highly regulated environments.
• Proficiency with design and prototyping tools relevant to enterprise-level digital product development (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision).
• Experience with design system implementation and management.
• Knowledge of agile development methodologies and how design integrates within agile workflows.
• Experience with user research methods and usability testing.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Your portfolio should clearly demonstrate leadership in driving design strategy and managing design teams on complex digital products.
• Include case studies that highlight your involvement in defining product vision, influencing strategic decisions, and leading design initiatives from inception to launch and iteration.
• Showcase examples of how you have managed and mentored design talent, fostered a strong design culture, and improved team performance.
• Provide examples of how you have used data and user research to inform design decisions and measure the impact of your team's work.

Process Documentation:

• Document your strategic design process, including how you approach problem definition, research synthesis, and translating business goals into design objectives.
• Illustrate your approach to ideation and iteration, showing how you guide teams through concept development and refinement.
• Detail your methods for validating design solutions, including how you incorporate user testing, feedback, and performance metrics.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £80,000 - £120,000 per year. This range is an estimate based on typical Lead UX Designer salaries in London, UK, for a large financial institution like Citi, considering the required experience level (10+ years) and the leadership responsibilities outlined. Exact compensation will depend on experience, qualifications, and negotiation. Salary data sources include Glassdoor, Payscale, and LinkedIn Salary, adjusted for the London technology and finance sectors.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health benefits package (specifics like medical, dental, vision coverage are common).
• Retirement savings plan (e.g., pension scheme, 401k equivalent) with potential company match.
• Paid time off (vacation, sick leave, holidays), typically generous for senior roles.
• Professional development opportunities, including training budgets and conference attendance relevant to design leadership and financial technology.
• Potential for performance-based bonuses and equity options, common in senior roles at large financial firms.
• Employee wellness programs and resources.
• Commuter benefits or assistance (relevant for an on-site role in London).

Working Hours: Typically full-time, standard business hours (approx. 40 hours per week). Given the leadership nature and global context of a large financial institution, some flexibility may be required, and occasional work outside standard hours for global collaboration or critical initiatives may be necessary. The role is on-site in London, indicating a primary presence at the office is expected.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Financial Services. Citi is a global bank with over 200 years of history, operating in over 100 countries. This context implies a highly regulated, complex environment where design must balance innovation with security, compliance, and established processes. Design solutions need to be robust, scalable, and trustworthy for a diverse global customer base.

Company Size: 10,001+ employees (LinkedIn reports 195,512 employees). As a very large organization, the design function likely operates within a matrix structure. This means designers may work across various business lines, product teams, and geographical regions, requiring strong collaboration and communication skills. Processes and decision-making may involve multiple stakeholders and require navigating organizational complexity.

Founded: 1812. Citi has a long history, which can influence its culture, favoring established processes and requiring a leader who can navigate both tradition and the need for digital transformation. The design culture likely values rigor, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of user needs within the financial domain.

Team Structure:

• The role falls under the "Digital Design Engineering" job family, suggesting a close integration with engineering and technology teams.
• As a "Group Mgr," this role involves direct management of a team of design professionals.
• Collaboration is likely cross-functional, involving product management, engineering, marketing, compliance, and various business units across the organization.

Methodology:

• Likely utilizes a blend of Agile and potentially Waterfall methodologies, common in large financial institutions, requiring design to adapt and integrate effectively.
• User research and discovery methods are likely employed to understand the complex needs of financial service users.
• Design thinking approaches are probably encouraged for problem-solving and innovation, adapted to the constraints of a regulated industry.
• Rigorous testing and validation practices are crucial for ensuring design solutions are secure, compliant, and meet user needs effectively.

Company Website: http://www.citigroup.com

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This role is positioned at a senior leadership level, likely equivalent to a Director or Senior Manager within the design hierarchy. Responsibilities include team management, strategic input, and influencing organizational direction within the digital design space. This is a role for an experienced design leader capable of managing a team and driving significant initiatives.

Reporting Structure: The "Group Mgr" title suggests reporting to a higher-level Director or Head of Digital Design/Engineering. The role has full management responsibility for a team, including budget and planning, indicating a significant level of autonomy and responsibility within the digital design function.

Design Impact: Design at this level has a significant impact on product and business decisions. The role is accountable for driving product vision, evaluating new concepts, and optimizing digital features across channels, directly influencing the user experience for Citi's customers and potentially employees. The ability to influence senior stakeholders is explicitly mentioned, highlighting the strategic importance of design leadership.

Growth Opportunities:

• Advancement to higher-level design leadership roles, such as Head of UX/Design or a broader Digital Experience leadership position, potentially overseeing multiple design teams or disciplines.
• Opportunities to specialize further in specific areas of financial product design, enterprise design systems, or digital transformation initiatives within the banking sector.
• Potential to take on broader program management or strategic roles within the digital or technology organization, leveraging the experience in leading infrastructure programs and managing complex initiatives.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: On-site in London. This indicates a traditional office-based role, likely within a corporate office building in a major financial district like Canary Wharf or the City of London. The specific address is 33 Canada Square, London, England E14 5, which is in Canary Wharf, a major financial hub.

Office Location(s): The primary location is London, UK (33 Canada Square, London, England E14 5). As a global bank, there are numerous other office locations worldwide, which may necessitate collaboration with teams in different time zones.

Design Workspace Context:

• The on-site nature suggests dedicated workspace within the office environment, potentially including meeting rooms and collaborative spaces.
• Access to necessary design tools, software, and hardware would be provided within the corporate IT infrastructure.
• Opportunities for direct, in-person collaboration with design team members, product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders.

Work Schedule: Full-time, on-site. Standard business hours are expected. The nature of a global role may involve occasional early or late meetings to accommodate teams in other regions. Given the seniority, some flexibility in managing one's time might be possible, but a consistent presence in the London office is required.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

• Initial screening call with HR or a recruiter to discuss experience, fit, and salary expectations. Prepare to articulate your design leadership philosophy and experience managing teams.
• Interview(s) with key stakeholders, likely including the hiring manager (the head of the Digital Design Engineering group), potentially other design leaders, product managers, and engineering leads. Focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, collaboration skills, and experience in driving impact.
• Portfolio review presentation: A dedicated session where you walk through selected case studies that highlight your leadership, strategic impact, and process documentation. Tailor your presentation to showcase relevant experience in financial services or complex enterprise environments.
• Potentially a design challenge or strategic exercise: You may be asked to address a hypothetical design problem or strategic scenario relevant to Citi's business. Focus on demonstrating your problem-solving approach, strategic thinking, and ability to lead a team through a design process.
• Interviews focused on behavioral and cultural fit, assessing your leadership style, communication skills, and ability to thrive in a large, complex organization.
• Final interview(s) with senior leadership, potentially including a higher-level executive. Be prepared to discuss your vision for the design team, strategic priorities, and how design contributes to business goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate a portfolio that emphasizes your leadership experience, strategic impact, and ability to manage and mentor design teams.
• Structure case studies to tell a compelling story about the problems you solved, the strategic decisions you made, your role in leading the team, and the measurable outcomes of your work.
• Highlight your process, focusing on how you approach research, strategy, collaboration, and iteration as a leader.
• Include examples of how you have influenced product roadmaps, advocated for user needs at a strategic level, and driven design maturity within an organization.
• Be prepared to discuss the challenges you faced, how you navigated them, and the lessons learned from your leadership experiences.

Challenge Preparation:

• Research Citi's digital products and services, understanding their target audience, business goals, and potential areas for improvement.
• Practice articulating your strategic thinking and problem-solving process under pressure.
• If given a design challenge, focus on demonstrating a structured approach, considering user needs, business constraints (especially in finance), and potential technical feasibility.
• Be prepared to discuss how you would lead a team through the challenge, delegate tasks, and manage timelines.

ATS Keywords: Design Leadership, UX Strategy, Product Design, Digital Design, User Experience, Design Thinking, Agile, Scrum, Portfolio Management, Team Management, Mentoring, Stakeholder Management, Cross-functional Collaboration, Financial Services, Banking, Digital Transformation, User Research, Usability Testing, Wireframing, Prototyping, Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, Design Systems, Program Management, Data Analysis, Quantitative Skills, Communication Skills, Culture Change, Infrastructure Programs, Vendor Management, Problem Solving, Strategic Thinking, Product Vision, Digital Channels, Optimization, Performance Measurement, Compliance, Regulation.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools is expected. While not explicitly listed, tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD are commonly used for UI/UX design. Experience with enterprise-level features and collaborative functionalities within these tools is likely required.
• Experience with tools for creating wireframes and flows to communicate high-level design concepts and guide the team.

Collaboration & Handoff:

• Tools for design collaboration and handoff to engineering teams are essential. This could include InVision, Zeplin, or integrated features within primary design tools.
• Experience with project management and collaboration platforms like Jira, Confluence, or similar tools for tracking design tasks and communicating with cross-functional teams.
• Knowledge of documentation tools for maintaining design specifications, guidelines, and potentially contributing to a design system.

Research & Testing:

• Familiarity with tools or platforms used for user research, such as survey tools (e.g., Qualtrics), user interview platforms, and potentially analytics tools for understanding user behavior on digital platforms (e.g., Adobe Analytics, Google Analytics).
• Experience with tools for conducting usability testing and gathering user feedback.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

• A strong emphasis on creating user-centered experiences that are intuitive, efficient, and trustworthy, particularly important in the financial sector where trust and clarity are paramount.
• A focus on data-driven design decisions, using analytics and user research to inform and validate design choices.
• A commitment to innovation within the constraints of a regulated industry, finding creative solutions that meet both user needs and compliance requirements.
• Value placed on collaboration and communication across disciplines and business units to deliver integrated digital solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional collaboration is key, working closely with product management, engineering, marketing, legal, and compliance teams.
• Likely involves a structured approach to design critique and feedback, ensuring design quality and alignment with strategic goals.
• Emphasis on clear and effective communication, including the ability to articulate design rationale to both design and non-design stakeholders.
• Contribution to and utilization of a shared design system for consistency and efficiency across digital products.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

• Navigating the complexity and regulatory landscape of the financial services industry, ensuring design solutions are compliant and secure while remaining user-friendly.
• Driving design innovation and culture change within a large, established organization with potentially entrenched processes.
• Managing and mentoring a design team in a fast-paced environment, ensuring team growth, performance, and morale.
• Balancing global design consistency and scalability with local market needs and regulations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Opportunities to deepen expertise in financial technology (FinTech) and the specific design challenges within banking and investment platforms.
• Access to internal and external training programs focused on leadership development, program management, and advanced design methodologies.
• Potential to participate in industry conferences and workshops related to UX in finance, digital transformation, and design leadership.
• Mentorship opportunities from senior leaders within Citi's technology and business organizations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to leading a design team through the end-to-end design process, from discovery and research to ideation, prototyping, testing, and implementation. Provide specific examples from your portfolio.
• Explain how you incorporate user research and data into your team's design process and how you measure the success and impact of design solutions.
• Describe your experience working in an Agile environment and how your design team collaborates with product managers and engineers throughout the development lifecycle.

Company Culture Questions:

• Research Citi's values and recent digital initiatives. Be prepared to discuss how your design leadership style aligns with their culture and how you would contribute to the team and organization.
• Discuss your experience managing and mentoring design professionals, including how you foster a collaborative and high-performing team environment.
• Be ready to talk about how you handle conflict, negotiate with stakeholders, and influence decisions in a complex organizational structure.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select 2-3 case studies that best demonstrate your leadership in driving strategic design initiatives and managing teams on complex digital products, ideally in a regulated or enterprise environment.
• For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your strategic approach, your role in leading the design effort, the process your team followed, the challenges encountered, and the measurable impact of the design solution.
• Focus on the "why" behind your design decisions and how you guided your team, rather than just the final visual design. Highlight instances where you influenced product direction or drove significant improvements.
• Be prepared to answer detailed questions about your process, team dynamics, and the impact of your work.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

• Submit your application through this link.
• Customize your resume to highlight your design leadership experience, team management skills, strategic contributions, and experience in complex digital environments. Use relevant ATS keywords found in this description.
• Prepare a portfolio that effectively showcases your strategic impact, leadership on significant design initiatives, and experience managing and developing design teams. Focus on compelling case studies.
• Practice articulating your design leadership philosophy, experience navigating organizational complexity, and ability to influence stakeholders. Prepare for questions related to team management, strategic thinking, and operating in a regulated industry.
• Research Citi's digital products, target audience, and recent news to understand their current landscape and demonstrate your interest and understanding during interviews.