OM Bank - Lead UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UX Designer

Company: Old Mutual Limited

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa (Hybrid) | Cape Town, South Africa (Hybrid)

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design Leadership

Date Posted: March 06, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and mentor a diverse UX design team to craft innovative and seamless digital banking experiences for a mobile-first platform.

• Drive the strategic vision for user experience, ensuring alignment with OM Bank's business objectives and customer-centricity.

• Champion the adoption and integration of AI tools within the UX design process to foster innovation and efficiency.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Product Owners, Business Analysts, and Development Leads, to ensure accurate and feasible design implementation.

• Oversee the development and maintenance of comprehensive design systems and ensure high standards of quality and consistency across all digital touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is pivotal in shaping the digital future of OM Bank, demanding a blend of strategic leadership, hands-on design expertise, and a forward-thinking approach to technology integration, particularly AI. The hybrid work arrangement suggests a need for strong communication and collaboration skills to maintain team cohesion and project momentum across dispersed teams.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Lead, guide, and mentor a team of UX designers across multiple squads, fostering professional growth and ensuring high-quality design output.

• Strategic UX Vision: Develop and implement comprehensive UX strategies that align with the bank's business objectives, focusing on mobile-first digital banking experiences.

• Design System Management: Architect, maintain, and evolve robust design systems using Figma, ensuring consistency, scalability, and adherence to best practices in component creation, variants, and interactions.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Product Owners, Business Analysts, Development Leads, and other stakeholders to define user experience goals, translate requirements into intuitive designs, and ensure accurate implementation.

• User-Centric Design & Research: Oversee and actively participate in user research, usability testing, and feedback analysis to iterate on designs, enhance user satisfaction, and drive product improvements.

• Innovation & Technology Integration: Stay abreast of emerging UX trends, tools, and technologies, with a specific focus on integrating AI tools to enhance design processes and create innovative solutions.

• Quality Assurance: Ensure the highest levels of consistency, quality, and adherence to design principles across all digital banking products and platforms.

• Process Improvement: Contribute to the refinement of UX team development processes, stand-ups, and overall agile project management methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role emphasizes not just leadership but also hands-on contribution, particularly in Figma proficiency and design system architecture. The mention of "Reports into the Head of UX" indicates a clear reporting structure within a dedicated UX department, suggesting opportunities for strategic influence at a higher level.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• NQF Level 7 (Degree, Advanced Diploma, or Postgraduate Certificate) in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience:

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in UX/UI/Product design.

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in a leadership role, managing and mentoring design teams.

• Extensive experience within the banking or financial services industry is highly preferred.

Required Skills:

• Expert Figma Proficiency: Including design system architecture, file hygiene, asset creation, component management, variants, variables, and interactive prototyping.

• UX/UI/Product Design: Deep understanding of user-centered design principles and methodologies.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop a design team.

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop and implement effective UX strategies aligned with business goals.

• Communication & Presentation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex design concepts and research findings to diverse stakeholders.

• Stakeholder Management: Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels of an organization.

• Agile Project Management: High level of competency in Agile methodologies and practices.

• Collaboration Tools: High level of competency in Jira and Confluence for project tracking and documentation.

• User Research & Testing: Experience in planning and conducting usability tests and other design research activities.

Preferred Skills:

• AI Tools in UX: Strong understanding and demonstrable competency in utilizing AI tools within the UX design workflow.

• Financial Services Domain Knowledge: In-depth understanding of the specific user needs and regulatory landscape of the banking and financial services sector.

• Market Research Analysis: Ability to conduct and interpret market research to inform design decisions.

• Product Development Lifecycle: Familiarity with the end-to-end product development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "expert level skills in Figma" and specific functionalities within it (variants, variables, interactions) indicates a strong need for a candidate who can not only design but also architect and maintain a scalable design system. Proficiency in AI tools is a key differentiator.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrable Leadership: Showcase specific examples of leading design teams, including team structure, project management approaches, and successful outcomes achieved under your guidance.

• Design System Architecture: Present detailed case studies of design systems you have architected or significantly contributed to, highlighting structure, component libraries, scalability, and governance.

• Mobile Banking UX: Feature projects focused on digital banking or financial services applications, with a strong emphasis on mobile platforms and user-centric design.

• Process Optimization: Include examples where you have improved design processes, workflows, or team efficiency, quantifying the impact where possible.

• Figma Expertise: Clearly illustrate your advanced Figma skills through project examples, demonstrating complex prototyping, component states, and variant usage.

• AI Integration Examples: If applicable, showcase projects where AI tools were leveraged to enhance the design process, generate insights, or improve user experiences.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Provide examples of detailed user flows, wireframes, and prototypes that demonstrate a systematic approach to problem-solving and user journey mapping.

• Implementation & Collaboration: Illustrate how you have collaborated with development and product teams to ensure accurate design implementation, including documentation and feedback loops.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Include case studies where design decisions were informed by user research and data, and where the impact of those designs was measured against key performance indicators (KPIs).

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates are expected to present a portfolio that not only showcases design output but also highlights strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and a deep understanding of design system architecture and collaboration protocols within an Agile framework. The ability to demonstrate ROI or efficiency gains through design is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

The salary for this Lead UX Designer position in Johannesburg/Cape Town, South Africa, is estimated to be between ZAR 750,000 and ZAR 1,100,000 per annum, depending on experience, qualifications, and specific skill set. This estimation is based on industry benchmarks for lead-level design roles in major South African metropolitan areas, considering the financial services sector and the required level of expertise.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical Aid coverage.

• Generous Provident Fund contributions.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses.

• Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning.

• Access to Old Mutual's employee wellness programs.

• Hybrid work model promoting work-life balance.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are approximately 40 hours per week.

• The hybrid work arrangement allows for flexibility, with a combination of remote and in-office workdays. Specific in-office days will be determined by team and project needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate considers the "5-10 years" experience level, the leadership component of the role, and the specific industry (financial services). South Africa's cost of living and typical compensation structures for senior tech/design roles were also factored into this estimation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Banking) - Old Mutual is a leading financial services group in Africa, with OM Bank representing a significant expansion into the digital banking sector. This industry demands a high level of trust, security, and customer focus.

Company Size: Old Mutual Limited is a large, established financial institution with a significant employee base across Africa. This means the Lead UX Designer will be part of a robust organizational structure with access to extensive resources and established processes, but also potentially navigate larger corporate dynamics.

Founded: Old Mutual was founded in 1845, giving it a long history and a deep understanding of the African financial landscape. OM Bank, as a newer venture, likely combines this established trust with a modern, agile approach to digital innovation.

Team Structure:

• The UX team operates within OM Bank, reporting to the Head of UX.

• The Lead UX Designer will manage designers distributed across multiple "squads," indicating an Agile/Scrum team structure.

• Close collaboration is expected with Product Owners, Business Analysts, and Development Leads within these squads.

Methodology:

• Agile & Customer-Centric: The role operates within an Agile framework, emphasizing iterative development and continuous feedback. A strong customer-centered approach is paramount, driving all design decisions.

• Data-Driven Design: User research, usability testing, and data analysis are integral to informing design strategies and measuring impact.

• Design System Driven: A centralized and well-maintained design system is key to ensuring consistency and efficiency across digital products.

• Innovation Focus: Encouragement to explore and integrate new technologies, such as AI, to enhance user experience and drive digital banking forward.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The combination of a historic company name (Old Mutual) with a new venture (OM Bank) suggests a culture that values both stability and innovation. The emphasis on "building something unique and aspirational" points towards a dynamic and forward-thinking environment within the bank.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Lead position, signifying a senior individual contributor with significant management and strategic responsibilities. It sits above individual contributor UX designers and below a Head of UX or Director-level role. The scope includes team leadership, strategic input, and deep technical expertise in UX design and tooling.

Reporting Structure: The Lead UX Designer reports directly to the Head of UX. This provides a clear line of mentorship and strategic alignment. The role also involves extensive collaboration with Product Owners and Development Leads within various Agile squads.

Operations Impact: The Lead UX Designer's impact is directly tied to the success of OM Bank's digital products, particularly the mobile banking platform. By ensuring user-friendly, innovative, and strategically aligned experiences, the role significantly influences customer acquisition, retention, engagement, and overall customer satisfaction, which are critical drivers of revenue and business growth in the banking sector. Strong UX can reduce support costs and increase transaction volumes.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into a Head of UX or Director of Product Design role, managing larger teams and broader strategic initiatives.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like design systems, AI in UX, or financial services UX.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Potential to move into product management or broader GTM strategy roles leveraging deep user understanding.

• Industry Recognition: Contributing to innovative digital banking solutions can lead to industry recognition and professional development opportunities.

• Mentorship Development: Honing leadership and mentorship skills through guiding junior designers and contributing to the UX community within Old Mutual.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear pathway for growth within a large financial institution, with opportunities to both deepen technical expertise and expand leadership responsibilities. The focus on AI integration also presents a chance to be at the forefront of technological advancements in UX.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This role is designated as Hybrid, meaning it will involve a combination of remote work and in-office presence. The office environment is likely designed to foster collaboration, with meeting rooms, co-working spaces, and potentially dedicated team areas. Given it's a bank, security and professional standards will be high.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa. This offers candidates the opportunity to work in major economic hubs with access to talent and amenities. The hybrid model means travel between home and an office location will be required.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hubs: Office spaces are designed to facilitate collaboration, team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional workshops.

• Technology-Enabled: Access to necessary hardware, software, and high-speed internet to support both remote and in-office work. This includes advanced design software and collaboration tools.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular face-to-face interaction with design team members, product owners, and other stakeholders, fostering team cohesion and efficient communication.

• Focus Time: The hybrid model allows for dedicated blocks of time for focused individual work and deep design thinking, away from office distractions.

Work Schedule:

• A standard 40-hour work week is expected.

• The hybrid nature offers flexibility in structuring the work week, allowing for better integration of personal commitments with professional responsibilities. Specific in-office days will likely be coordinated with team needs and project timelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role requires strong self-discipline and effective communication skills to ensure seamless collaboration and project delivery regardless of physical location. The company likely provides the necessary infrastructure to support this model.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, experience, cultural fit, and salary expectations.

2. Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion with the Head of UX focusing on leadership experience, strategic thinking, team management philosophy, and understanding of the financial services domain.

3. Portfolio Review Presentation: A dedicated session where the candidate presents their portfolio, showcasing key projects, leadership examples, design system expertise, and problem-solving approaches. This is a critical stage to evaluate practical skills and strategic thinking.

4. Cross-functional Panel Interview: Interviews with Product Owners, BA Leads, and Development Leads to assess collaboration skills, communication effectiveness, and ability to work within an Agile team structure.

5. Final Interview/Executive Review: Potentially a final interview with a senior leader to confirm alignment with company culture and strategic vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent your leadership, UX strategy, design system architecture, and mobile banking experience.

• Quantify Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the solution, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., increased conversion rates, reduced task completion time, improved user satisfaction scores). Use data and metrics wherever possible.

• Highlight Leadership: Dedicate a section or specific examples within your presentation to showcase how you have led, mentored, and developed design teams.

• Demonstrate Figma Mastery: Be prepared to walk through complex Figma files, explaining your design system architecture, component logic, variant usage, and prototyping capabilities.

• Tell a Story: Structure your presentations around compelling narratives that highlight your problem-solving process, strategic decision-making, and ability to influence stakeholders.

• Address AI Integration: If you have relevant experience, clearly articulate how you’ve used AI tools to enhance the design process or outcomes.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge (Potential): Be prepared for a take-home design challenge or a live whiteboarding session focusing on a specific problem within digital banking. This will likely involve user flow mapping, wireframing, and high-level UI concepts.

• Strategic Questions: Anticipate questions about your approach to developing UX strategy, managing design debt, fostering innovation, and handling challenging stakeholder feedback.

• Team Dynamics: Prepare to discuss how you build and maintain a high-performing design team, resolve conflicts, and promote a collaborative culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is a central component of this hiring process. Candidates should focus on demonstrating not only design skills but also strategic leadership and the ability to articulate complex design concepts and their business impact effectively.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expert-level proficiency required for UI design, prototyping, and advanced design system management (variants, variables, interactive components). This is the core design tool.

• Jira: High competency for project tracking, sprint planning, backlog management, and collaboration within Agile teams.

• Confluence: High competency for documentation, knowledge sharing, design specifications, and team process documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics): Familiarity with using data from these platforms to understand user behavior and inform design decisions.

• User Feedback Tools (e.g., Hotjar, UserTesting.com): Experience utilizing tools for heatmaps, session recordings, and direct user feedback.

• BI Tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI): Ability to interpret data visualizations and reports to understand product performance and user trends.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems (e.g., Salesforce, Dynamics 365): While not a primary UX tool, understanding how UX impacts CRM interactions and data flow is beneficial, especially in a banking context.

• Prototyping Tools (Beyond Figma): Familiarity with other prototyping tools (e.g., InVision, ProtoPie) might be advantageous, though Figma is the primary focus.

• Collaboration Suites (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Slack): Essential for day-to-day communication and remote team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma and specific functionalities like variants and variables highlights the need for a candidate who can architect and maintain a sophisticated design system. Proficiency in Jira and Confluence is critical for integration within the bank's Agile development processes.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the customer's needs, placing the user at the heart of all design decisions. This translates to empathy in research and intuitive design solutions.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Valuing collective intelligence and fostering a supportive environment where designers work together, share knowledge, and contribute to shared goals. Expectation of active participation in cross-functional teams.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: A drive to explore new ideas, technologies (like AI), and design approaches to enhance user experiences and stay ahead in the digital banking landscape. Encouragement of experimentation and learning from failures.

• Accountability & Ownership: Taking responsibility for design outcomes, from initial concept through to implementation and post-launch analysis. This includes owning design decisions and their impact.

• Business Acumen: Understanding how design contributes to broader business objectives, demonstrating an ability to balance user needs with commercial goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Active participation in Agile squads, working closely with Product Owners, BAs, Developers, and QA. This involves regular communication, feedback sessions, and joint problem-solving.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging constructive feedback among team members and with stakeholders to continuously refine designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: A willingness to share insights, best practices, and learnings within the UX team and across the organization through presentations, documentation, and informal discussions.

• Proactive Communication: Maintaining clear and consistent communication with all relevant parties, especially given the hybrid work model and distributed teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's emphasis on "building something unique and aspirational" and being "rooted in our purpose" suggests a culture that values impact, purpose-driven work, and a collaborative spirit to achieve ambitious goals.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Large Organization: Integrating UX best practices and driving design innovation within a large, established financial institution like Old Mutual can present challenges related to legacy systems, bureaucratic processes, and diverse stakeholder priorities.

• Balancing Innovation with Regulation: The financial services industry is heavily regulated. Balancing the drive for innovative, cutting-edge UX with strict compliance and security requirements will be a key challenge.

• Leading Diverse Teams: Effectively leading and motivating a diverse design team across different squads and potentially locations, ensuring consistent quality and cohesion, especially in a hybrid environment.

• Adoption of New Technologies: Championing and successfully integrating new tools and methodologies, such as AI in UX, requires overcoming potential resistance to change and demonstrating clear value.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Ensuring buy-in and alignment from various stakeholders with potentially competing priorities and different levels of understanding regarding UX principles.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design System Leadership: Opportunity to refine and expand expertise in building and managing complex, scalable design systems for a major financial institution.

• AI in UX Specialization: Deepen practical knowledge and application of AI tools and techniques within the UX design process, positioning oneself at the forefront of this emerging field.

• Financial Services UX Expertise: Gain in-depth knowledge of user needs, behaviors, and regulatory environments specific to digital banking and financial services.

• Strategic Leadership Development: Develop strategic planning, stakeholder management, and team leadership skills through hands-on experience and mentorship from the Head of UX.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Potential for participation in leading UX and design conferences, workshops, and specialized training programs to stay current with industry trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior roles in established companies entering new digital frontiers. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering pathways for both technical specialization and broader leadership development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to developing a UX strategy for a mobile banking application. How do you ensure it aligns with business objectives and customer needs?" (Prepare to discuss frameworks, research methods, and alignment processes.)

• "How do you balance the need for innovation and user delight with the strict regulatory and security requirements in the financial services industry?" (Focus on risk assessment, phased rollouts, and user education.)

• "Walk me through a time you had to influence a senior stakeholder who was resistant to a design recommendation. What was your strategy, and what was the outcome?" (Use the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Highlight communication and data-driven persuasion.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you specifically about OM Bank and the digital banking space in South Africa?" (Research OM Bank's mission, recent initiatives, and the competitive landscape.)

• "How do you approach building and maintaining a high-performing design team in a hybrid work environment?" (Discuss communication strategies, team building, performance management, and fostering inclusion.)

• "Describe your experience working with Agile methodologies. How do you ensure UX is effectively integrated into the sprint process?" (Focus on collaboration with Product Owners, BAs, and Devs, and your role in ceremonies.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your presentation logically: Introduction, Problem Statement, Your Role/Team, Solution (with detailed UX/UI examples), Process (research, design, testing), Results (quantified impact), and Key Learnings.

• Lead with Impact: Start with your most compelling leadership example or a project that clearly demonstrates significant business impact.

• Deep Dive into Figma: Be ready to screen-share and navigate through your Figma files to demonstrate your design system architecture, component logic, and prototyping skills. Explain why you made certain design decisions.

• Quantify Everything: For every project, present metrics. If exact metrics aren't available, discuss proxy metrics or qualitative outcomes that demonstrate success.

• Tell a Story: Engage your audience by presenting your projects as narratives. Highlight challenges overcome and the strategic thinking involved.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your decision-making process, how you handle trade-offs, and your future vision for UX in digital banking.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not only their design skills but also their strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and ability to articulate complex concepts and their business impact effectively. Understanding Old Mutual's purpose and OM Bank's specific market position will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link: https://oldmutual.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/Old_Mutual_Careers/job/Johannesburg/OM-Bank---Lead-UX-Designer_JR-75115

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your leadership experience, extensive UX/UI/Product design background in financial services, expert Figma skills, and experience with Agile methodologies. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your most impactful projects that showcase leadership, design system architecture, mobile banking UX, and quantifiable results. Prepare a clear narrative for each.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio presentation thoroughly, focusing on clarity, conciseness, and the ability to articulate design decisions, leadership impact, and business outcomes.

• Research Old Mutual & OM Bank: Understand the company's purpose, values, recent news, and the competitive landscape of digital banking in South Africa. Prepare thoughtful questions for the interviewers.

⚠️ 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.