OM Bank - UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: OM Bank - UX/UI Designer

Company: Old Mutual Limited

Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa & Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: UX/UI Design, Product Design, Digital Experience Design

Date Posted: December 01, 2025

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on designing intuitive and human-centered digital experiences for OM Bank's customers.

• The UX/UI Designer will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Product Owners, Business Analysts, and Developers, to translate user insights into tangible design solutions.

• Key responsibilities include conducting user research, creating wireframes and prototypes, and crafting high-fidelity UI screens using a Design System.

• The position offers an opportunity for rapid growth, learning from seasoned UX specialists, and contributing to a real product environment within a leading financial institution.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is listed as UX/UI Designer, the emphasis on "digital experiences," "customer journeys," and collaboration with Product Owners and Business Analysts strongly aligns with a product-focused design role within a GTM or Digital Transformation context. The mention of "squads across the bank" suggests an agile, product-team structure common in modern financial services.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Support user research initiatives to analyze user behavior, identify pain points, and uncover opportunities across various digital customer journeys.

• Develop comprehensive user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and user interactions.

• Design and refine high-fidelity UI screens, ensuring adherence to the established Design System for consistent visual and functional integrity.

• Collaborate closely with Product Owners, Business Analysts, and Developers throughout the product development lifecycle to ensure design feasibility and user-centricity.

• Participate actively in usability testing sessions, gathering feedback, and contributing to data-driven iterative design improvements.

• Uphold and implement existing UX guidelines, design patterns, and established design decisions to maintain product consistency.

• Contribute innovative ideas and suggestions for the continuous enhancement of the design system, team processes, and overall working methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of foundational UX research and execution, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and adherence to established design systems, characteristic of mid-level product designers working within established organizations. The mention of "squads" implies agile methodologies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification in UX Design, Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a closely related field.

Experience: Minimum of 2-5 years of relevant professional experience in a UX/UI or product design role.

Required Skills:

• A strong portfolio showcasing problem-solving abilities, design process, and visual craft (student or side projects demonstrating potential are acceptable).

• Foundational understanding of core UX principles and human-centered design methodologies.

• Proficiency in visual design and UI creation, with the ability to produce polished, accessible, and scalable interface designs.

• Expert-level proficiency in Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Demonstrated ability to interpret research findings and translate them into effective design solutions.

• Exceptional attention to detail, with a precise ability to follow and apply a design system.

• A strong sense of visual hierarchy, typography, and spacing principles.

• Curiosity and a growth mindset, with a genuine desire to learn, ask questions, and actively seek feedback.

• High degree of user empathy, with the ability to critically assess products from the customer's perspective.

• Strong collaboration skills, working effectively within multidisciplinary teams and valuing open communication.

• Accountability for one's work, taking ownership from concept to delivery.

• Adaptability and openness to iteration and constructive feedback in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Agile Project Management methodologies.

• Familiarity with user research methods beyond basic interpretation (e.g., conducting interviews, surveys).

• Understanding of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and their application in UI design.

• Experience with or contribution to design system components.

• Basic understanding of front-end development principles to inform design feasibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize practical application and a strong portfolio. The "Key Criteria" section further refines expectations, focusing on design thinking, evidence-based design, design system literacy, and cultural fit, which are critical for success in a collaborative product team.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate strong design thinking and problem-solving methodologies applied to real-world challenges.

• Showcase clear visual hierarchy, effective typography, and balanced spacing in UI designs.

• Present evidence of designs informed by user research, data analysis, or usability testing findings.

• Illustrate competence in using and ideally contributing to a component-based design system.

Process Documentation:

• Include case studies that clearly articulate the design process from problem definition to solution.

• Detail how user insights and feedback were incorporated into iterative design improvements.

• Show evidence of collaboration with Product Owners, Business Analysts, and Developers.

• Demonstrate an understanding of how designs align with business objectives and customer value propositions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Key Criteria" section directly translates into portfolio expectations. Candidates must be prepared to articulate their design process, defend their design decisions with evidence, and demonstrate proficiency with design systems and collaborative workflows. This is crucial for demonstrating their ability to deliver high-quality, user-centric designs within Old Mutual's framework.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Given the mid-level experience requirement (2-5 years) and the location in major South African economic hubs (Johannesburg and Cape Town), a competitive salary range is estimated. For a UX/UI Designer with this experience and skillset in South Africa, the typical annual salary range would be between ZAR 450,000 to ZAR 700,000. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for UX/UI roles in the South African financial services sector, considering factors like cost of living, demand for specialized design skills, and the scale of operations at a company like Old Mutual.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical aid coverage, including hospital plans and day-to-day benefits.

• Retirement savings plan (pension fund/provident fund) with company contributions.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses or incentives.

• Generous leave allocation, including annual leave, sick leave, and family responsibility leave.

• Access to Old Mutual's employee wellness programs, focusing on physical, mental, and financial well-being.

• Opportunities for professional development, training, and further education.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, typically 40 hours per week.

• While the role is on-site, there may be flexibility for occasional remote work or adjusted start/end times, subject to team and business needs.

• Working hours are generally aligned with standard business hours in South Africa (e.g., 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, with a lunch break).

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on industry data for mid-level UX/UI designers in South Africa. Specific compensation will depend on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and negotiation. Benefits are typical for large financial institutions in the region.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Banking, Insurance, Investments). Old Mutual operates within a highly regulated sector, emphasizing trust, security, and customer-centricity.

Company Size: Large Enterprise. Old Mutual is a significant player in the African financial services market, employing thousands of individuals across various divisions and geographies. This scale implies structured processes, established hierarchies, and opportunities for impact within a large organization.

Founded: 1845. With a long history, Old Mutual possesses a deep understanding of the African market and a legacy of financial expertise. This longevity suggests stability and a commitment to long-term growth and customer relationships.

Team Structure:

• The UX/UI Designer will likely be part of a dedicated UX team, possibly structured as a "Chapter" within an Agile framework, as hinted by the "Chapter's principles" mentioned.

• This Chapter likely comprises various design specialists (UX Researchers, UI Designers, Content Designers) who collaborate.

Methodology:

• The team emphasizes evidence-based design, user empathy, quality, collaboration, and a growth mindset.

• Agile methodologies are implied ("squads," "iterative design"), suggesting an adaptive approach to product development and design.

• A strong focus is placed on leveraging a Design System for consistency and efficiency.

• Data compilation, market research analysis, and customer value proposition development are likely integrated into the design process.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's long history and large size suggest a blend of established best practices and a modern approach to digital product development, likely within an agile framework. The emphasis on specific values like "quality, empathy, collaboration, and evidence-based design" provides clear cultural indicators for potential candidates.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level Designer. This role is positioned for individuals who have moved beyond entry-level tasks and can independently manage design projects, contribute strategically, and mentor junior designers. The 2-5 years of experience requirement solidifies this.

Reporting Structure: The UX/UI Designer will likely report to a UX Lead or Design Manager within the UX Chapter, while being embedded in one or more product squads. This dual reporting structure is common in agile organizations, allowing for both specialized guidance and product-team integration.

Operations Impact: The UX/UI Designer directly impacts customer acquisition, retention, and satisfaction by creating seamless and trustworthy digital banking experiences. Their work influences customer engagement, transaction success rates, and overall brand perception, contributing directly to OM Bank's digital strategy and revenue growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Progress into Senior UX/UI Designer roles, focusing on complex user journeys, leading design initiatives, or specializing in areas like UX research, interaction design, or design system management.

• Leadership: Transition into a UX Lead or Design Manager position, overseeing a team of designers, guiding design strategy, and managing stakeholder relationships.

• Cross-functional Mobility: Develop deeper product management skills or move into Product Owner roles within agile squads, leveraging their strong understanding of user needs and product development.

• Skill Development: Opportunities for further training, certifications in advanced UX/UI techniques, user research methodologies, and emerging design technologies. Participation in industry conferences and workshops.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path within Old Mutual appears well-defined, emphasizing both deepening design expertise and potential leadership roles. The company's scale offers diverse avenues for career progression beyond a singular design track.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site" with "TELECOMMUTE" as a location type, indicating that while the primary work location is an office, there might be provisions for remote work or hybrid arrangements, though the default expectation is in-office presence. This suggests a hybrid or traditional office setup designed for collaboration.

Office Location(s): Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa & Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. These are major metropolitan areas with established business infrastructure.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a workspace designed to foster interaction, likely with open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and collaborative zones conducive to working within agile squads.

• Tools & Technology: Access to modern design tools (Figma is mandatory), collaboration platforms, and potentially dedicated UX research labs or equipment.

• Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with fellow designers in the UX Chapter, as well as close daily collaboration with Product Owners, Business Analysts, Developers, and other stakeholders within product squads.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time work schedule, typically 40 hours per week.

• While the role is on-site, Old Mutual may offer some flexibility in working hours or occasional remote work days, subject to business needs and team agreements. This flexibility can aid in balancing project demands with personal commitments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "TELECOMMUTE" location type alongside "On-site" is slightly ambiguous. It's best interpreted as an office-based role that might offer some remote flexibility, rather than a fully remote position. Candidates should clarify this during the interview process.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application & Initial Screening: Submit resume and portfolio. HR or a Talent Acquisition specialist will review for basic qualifications and alignment.

• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A hiring manager or senior designer will conduct a deep dive into your portfolio. Be prepared to walk through 2-3 key projects, explaining your process, challenges, solutions, and outcomes. Expect questions on UX principles, design systems, Figma proficiency, and how you handle feedback.

• Team/Squad Interview: You'll likely meet with members of the UX team and potentially members of a product squad (e.g., Product Owner, Developer). This assesses cultural fit, collaboration style, and how you integrate into a team.

• Final Interview: May involve a senior leader or HR for a final assessment of cultural alignment, career aspirations, and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate the skills and qualities listed in the job description (problem-solving, evidence-based design, design system usage, visual craft).

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role and process, the challenges faced, the solutions you designed, and the impact or outcome. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Process: Emphasize your thinking process, research methodologies, and how you iterated based on feedback or data.

• Showcase Design System Application: If applicable, demonstrate how you've worked with or contributed to a design system.

• Be Ready to Defend: Be prepared to discuss your decisions, justify your choices, and articulate how your designs solve user problems and meet business goals.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Expect a take-home design challenge or a live design exercise. This will likely involve a specific problem statement related to banking or financial services.

• Focus on Process: Demonstrate your ability to break down a problem, conduct quick research (even if hypothetical), create user flows, wireframes, and UI mockups.

• Time Management: Practice working within simulated time constraints.

• Presentation: Prepare to present your solution clearly and concisely, explaining your rationale and trade-offs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to assess both technical design skills and cultural/team fit. A strong, well-articulated portfolio is paramount, as is the ability to clearly explain one's design thinking and process.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Mandatory and central to the design workflow for wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is essential.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma's built-in prototyping capabilities will be key.

• Design System Tools: Understanding and utilizing components within a design system (likely managed within Figma or a linked tool).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary design tool, familiarity with how user analytics (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) and A/B testing results inform design decisions is beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the UX/UI Designer role, but awareness of how design impacts customer relationship management systems and automated customer journeys is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the cornerstone of this role's technology stack. Candidates must be highly proficient. While not explicitly stated, familiarity with project management tools like Jira (common in agile environments) would be advantageous.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Quality: A commitment to delivering polished, pixel-perfect designs that meet high standards of usability and aesthetics.

• Empathy: Deep understanding and consideration for the customer's perspective, needs, and pain points in every design decision.

• Collaboration: A belief in teamwork, open communication, and working effectively with diverse stakeholders across product teams.

• Evidence-Based Design: Designs are informed by research, data, user feedback, and usability testing, rather than solely subjective opinions.

• Growth Mindset: A continuous desire to learn, improve skills, seek feedback, and adapt to new challenges and technologies.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated within Squads: Designers work closely and daily with Product Owners, Business Analysts, Developers, and QA testers in agile product teams.

• Chapter Collaboration: Regular interaction with other UX/UI designers within the "Chapter" for knowledge sharing, design critiques, and alignment on best practices and the design system.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encourages constructive criticism and a willingness to iterate on designs based on feedback from peers and stakeholders.

• Cross-functional Communication: Proactive engagement with various departments to understand business needs and ensure design solutions align with broader organizational goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on specific values and a collaborative, evidence-based approach is a strong indicator of the team's working ethos. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate these qualities in their application and interviews.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Constraints: Designing intuitive experiences within the regulated and often complex environment of a financial institution.

• Maintaining Design System Integrity: Ensuring consistent application of the design system across numerous product features and updates, while also contributing to its evolution.

• Fast-Paced Agile Environment: Adapting to rapid iteration cycles, evolving requirements, and tight deadlines common in agile product development.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Navigating diverse stakeholder opinions and priorities to achieve consensus on design solutions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX/UI Techniques: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like user research methodologies, interaction design patterns, accessibility standards, and prototyping advanced interactions.

• Design System Mastery: Become a key contributor to or maintainer of the design system, enhancing skills in component design and governance.

• Financial Services Domain Expertise: Gain in-depth knowledge of the banking and financial services industry, understanding unique user needs and regulatory requirements.

• Mentorship: Learning from experienced UX/UI specialists and potentially mentoring junior designers as skills and experience grow.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Support for attending relevant design conferences and obtaining professional certifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for design roles in large, established companies, particularly in regulated industries. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering clear pathways for skill development and career advancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Walk me through a project in your portfolio where you had to balance user needs with technical or business constraints. How did you approach it?" (Focus on problem-solving, negotiation, and trade-offs.)

• "Describe your experience with design systems. How have you used them, and how would you contribute to one?" (Assess understanding of consistency, components, and scalability.)

• "How do you incorporate user research and feedback into your design process? Can you give an example?" (Evaluate evidence-based design approach.)

• "Imagine you're designing a new feature for our mobile banking app. What would be your first steps, and who would you involve?" (Test process, collaboration, and strategic thinking.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to Old Mutual and specifically to OM Bank?" (Research the company's purpose, values, and recent initiatives.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with developers and product managers?" (Assess teamwork and communication skills.)

• "Describe a time you received constructive criticism on your design. How did you handle it?" (Evaluate adaptability and openness to feedback.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: For each case study, clearly define the Problem, Your Role, Process, Solution, and Outcome/Impact.

• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals (wireframes, mockups, user flows) to support your narrative. Don't just show pretty pictures; explain the why behind them.

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

• Highlight Collaboration: Mention how you worked with others, especially developers and product owners, and how that collaboration influenced the final design.

• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice your presentation to be clear, confident, and within the allotted time. Be ready for follow-up questions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills, but also a strong understanding of the design process, collaborative capabilities, and alignment with Old Mutual's stated values. The portfolio is the primary tool for this demonstration.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects that highlight your problem-solving skills, user-centered design process, visual design craft, and experience with Figma. Tailor the selection to showcase work relevant to digital experiences and financial services if possible.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to explicitly mention key skills and responsibilities outlined in the job description, such as UX Design, UI Design, Prototyping, Wireframing, User Research, Figma proficiency, Design System usage, and Agile methodologies. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process for 2-3 key portfolio projects. Prepare responses to behavioral and situational questions, focusing on collaboration, problem-solving, and handling feedback. Be ready to discuss your understanding of UX principles and design systems.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Old Mutual's mission, values, and recent digital initiatives. Understand their commitment to customer prosperity and their position in the African financial market. This will help you tailor your answers and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.