Head of UX Product Designer (f/m/d)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Head of UX Product Designer (f/m/d)

Company: Trusted Shops SE (DE)

Location: Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Job Type: Full-time

Category: UX/Product Design Leadership

Date Posted: February 11, 2026

Experience Level: Senior (10+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and develop an interdisciplinary UX team, fostering a culture of user-centered design and continuous improvement.

• Define and execute a long-term UX vision and strategy across the entire Trusted Shops product ecosystem, ensuring a consistent and evidence-based user experience.

• Build, scale, and evolve a holistic UX research framework, coordinating research roadmaps and translating complex insights into actionable recommendations for stakeholders.

• Drive product development through close collaboration with Product Management and Engineering, ensuring accessibility, usability, and visual consistency across all platforms.

• Establish and govern a robust Design System, informed by user research, to maintain high standards of design quality and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a leadership position within the UX function, indicating a strategic and managerial focus. The "Head of" title suggests significant responsibility for team development, strategic vision, and cross-functional alignment, moving beyond individual contributor design tasks. The emphasis on "B2C and B2B product portfolio" implies a need for understanding diverse user needs and business objectives.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop an interdisciplinary UX Team comprising Product Design, Content Design, and Localization specialists, fostering a high-performance environment.

• Champion and promote a user-centered culture across the entire organization through proactive workshops, research reviews, insight sharing sessions, and individual mentoring.

• Develop and articulate a compelling, long-term UX vision and strategic roadmap for the comprehensive Trusted Shops product ecosystem.

• Ensure a cohesive, data-driven, and evidence-based user experience across all digital platforms and touchpoints.

• Build, scale, and mature a holistic UX research framework, encompassing discovery processes, regular testing cycles, exploratory studies, and ongoing research programs.

• Coordinate the entire research roadmap across all product areas, ensuring alignment with business objectives and product priorities.

• Translate complex user research findings and data insights into clear, strategic, and actionable recommendations for executive leadership, product teams, and cross-functional stakeholders.

• Define, maintain, and monitor key UX and research Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), such as usability metrics, Net Promoter Score (NPS), and other relevant user satisfaction indicators, in partnership with a Product Analyst.

• Construct and manage a structured System of Insights to identify recurring patterns, inform strategic decision-making, and support long-term product evolution.

• Foster a close, collaborative partnership with Product Management and Engineering departments to jointly prioritize challenges, validate hypotheses, and define research needs.

• Drive the further development and governance of the company's Design System, ensuring it remains current, scalable, and informed by user insights.

• Guarantee high standards of accessibility, usability, and visual consistency across all Trusted Shops products, adhering to best practices and regulatory requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on strategic leadership (UX vision, strategy, culture) and operational execution (research framework, design system governance, team development). The requirement to partner with Product Analysts and Product Management emphasizes a data-informed approach and close integration with product development cycles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong academic background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, or a related field is often beneficial for understanding user behavior and research methodologies.

Experience: Minimum of several years of experience in a Senior UX role, with demonstrably successful leadership responsibilities. Experience within complex B2B/B2C digital product ecosystems is highly valued.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in Product Design, encompassing user-centered design principles, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design.

• Strong command of UX Strategy development, including defining product vision and roadmap alignment.

• Deep understanding and practical application of User Research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative), encompassing planning, execution, and synthesis.

• Proficiency in Design Operations (Design Ops) principles, focusing on efficiency, scalability, and collaboration within design teams.

• Demonstrated experience in leading, coaching, and developing interdisciplinary design and research teams.

• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and align diverse groups.

• Experience working effectively within cross-functional product teams and agile organizational structures.

• High analytical competence, with the ability to rigorously analyze both quantitative data and qualitative insights.

• Clear, structured, and compelling communication style, adept at explaining complex UX topics to non-expert audiences.

• A genuine passion for driving and embedding a company-wide user-centered design culture.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with building and scaling UX research frameworks or programs from the ground up.

• Familiarity with Design System governance and evolution.

• Experience in managing localization strategies for digital products.

• Knowledge of accessibility standards and best practices (e.g., WCAG).

• Experience with A/B testing and experimentation for UX optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior UX role, ideally with leadership responsibilities" implies a need for candidates who can not only design but also strategize, manage, and mentor. The mention of "complex B2B/B2C ecosystems" suggests that experience in diverse product environments is crucial. Fluency in both German and English is a critical requirement, reflecting the company's operational base and international reach.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a clear progression from problem identification to solution implementation, showcasing strategic thinking and user-centered design processes.

• Include case studies that highlight leadership in UX strategy, research leadership, and team development, not just individual design contributions.

• Present examples of how user research insights were translated into strategic recommendations and directly influenced product roadmaps and business outcomes.

• Showcase experience with building or significantly contributing to Design Systems, including how they were governed and evolved based on user feedback and team needs.

Process Documentation:

• Provide documentation or case studies detailing the development and implementation of UX research frameworks, including methodologies for discovery, testing, and continuous research.

• Illustrate your process for translating complex research findings into actionable insights and strategic recommendations for diverse stakeholders.

• Include examples of how you have fostered a user-centered culture through workshops, training, or cross-functional collaboration initiatives.

• Showcase your experience in defining, tracking, and reporting on UX and research KPIs, demonstrating how data informed decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the leadership nature of this role, the portfolio should emphasize strategic impact, team leadership, and process development over individual design execution. Demonstrating the ability to build and scale UX functions, influence organizational culture, and measure UX impact will be critical.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Head of UX Product Design in Germany, with 10+ years of experience and leadership responsibilities, the estimated salary range is €90,000 - €130,000 annually. This range can vary based on specific experience, qualifications, and the bonus scheme.

Benefits:

• Hybrid working model offering flexibility between home and office.

• Workation program allowing temporary work from EU destinations.

• 25 vacation days per year for rest and rejuvenation.

• Buddy program to support new employees during their initial weeks.

• Individual development opportunities for continuous skill enhancement and career growth.

• Comprehensive mental health support through OpenUp, providing confidential access to specialists.

• Regular team and unit events to foster camaraderie and engagement.

• Health pass offering access to online and offline sports, fitness, and wellness activities.

• Competitive base salary complemented by an uncapped bonus scheme.

• Reimbursement for travel expenses.

• A solid pension plan to support long-term financial security.

• Social perks like Friday afternoon drinks on a rooftop terrace.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, typically around 40 hours per week, with a hybrid arrangement offering flexibility in structuring the workday.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided benefits list is extensive and covers aspects beyond standard offerings, such as "Workation" and "Mental health support," indicating a strong employee-centric culture. The "uncapped bonus scheme" suggests a performance-driven compensation structure tied to company and individual success. Salary estimate is based on typical German market rates for senior leadership roles in tech/design.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce Services, Trust & Security, SaaS. Trusted Shops operates within the digital commerce space, providing trust services, consumer protection, and shop solutions to online retailers.

Company Size: Over 700 employees, indicating a medium to large-sized organization with established processes but still retaining agility.

Founded: Information not directly provided, but the company has been operating long enough to build a significant presence across Europe, suggesting a mature organization.

Team Structure:

• The UX Team is interdisciplinary, including Product Design, Content Design, and Localization.

• This role reports to senior leadership (likely Group Product Managers or a VP of Product/Engineering), with direct reports within the UX team.

Methodology:

• User-centered design principles are fundamental, driven by UX research and data analysis.

• Agile organizational structures are in place, facilitating iterative product development and cross-functional teamwork.

• Emphasis on building a "System of Insights" suggests a commitment to data-driven decision-making and continuous learning.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission to build "Europe’s Community of Trust" implies a strong focus on reliability, security, and customer well-being, which should translate into the UX philosophy. The "Trustee" internal terminology suggests a strong sense of shared purpose and values.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership role, Head of UX Product Design, positioned at the top of the UX function. It involves strategic oversight, team management, and significant influence on product direction and company culture.

Reporting Structure: The Head of UX Product Design will likely report to a Director or VP level within Product, Technology, or a related GTM function. They will manage a team of designers, researchers, and content specialists.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct and significant impact on the user experience of both B2C consumers and B2B retailers interacting with Trusted Shops' products. By elevating UX strategy and research, the role drives user satisfaction, adoption, retention, and ultimately, contributes to the company's reputation and business growth within the e-commerce trust sector.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow into a broader Head of Product Design, VP of Design, or Chief Product Officer role, overseeing larger teams or multiple product areas.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the long-term product vision and drive significant cultural shifts towards user-centricity across the entire organization.

• Industry Expertise Development: Deepen expertise in e-commerce, trust technologies, and B2B/B2C product ecosystems through ongoing involvement in strategic projects.

• Mentorship & Development: Coach and mentor a growing team, developing future design leaders and specialists within the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role represents a significant career step for experienced UX professionals looking to transition into leadership, with a clear path for impacting product strategy and organizational culture. The company's European focus and diverse product portfolio offer broad growth potential.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid working model, combining fixed office days with remote flexibility. The office is located in Cologne, Germany.

Office Location(s): Subbelrather Str. 15c, 50823 Cologne, Germany. This location offers a central hub for collaboration.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment likely supports collaborative work, with opportunities to connect with team members and colleagues.

• The hybrid model allows for focused individual work at home and collaborative sessions in the office.

• Access to modern office amenities, including a rooftop terrace for informal gatherings (as mentioned in the job description), contributes to a positive work atmosphere.

• The company culture emphasizes flexibility and employee well-being.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time schedule (approx. 40 hours/week) with flexibility to manage personal workspace and collaboration schedules within the hybrid framework. The "Self Education Day" monthly suggests a commitment to employee learning and development outside of regular meetings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model and emphasis on work-life balance (mental health support, flexible hours) suggest a modern and supportive work environment. The mention of office perks like a rooftop terrace indicates an effort to create a positive and engaging in-office experience.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: