Product Designer (Content Specialist)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer (Content Specialist) Company: Vanguard Location: Manchester, United Kingdom Job Type: Contractor Category: Product Design / Content Strategy Operations Date Posted: 2025-09-23 Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 Years) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on enhancing digital experiences for UK investors by blending Product Design and Content Design expertise for Vanguard's Public Website.
• Key responsibilities include translating complex financial concepts into accessible, user-friendly content and designing intuitive user interfaces.
• The position demands strong collaboration skills within a multi-disciplinary team, including Product Managers, Content Designers, UX Researchers, and Scrum Teams.
• Candidates will be expected to leverage design systems and tools like Figma and Storybook, with a focus on accessibility and user-centric problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core job title is "Product Designer (Content Specialist)," the responsibilities heavily lean into content strategy, UX writing, and digital product enhancement, aligning it with operational aspects of user experience and content management within a financial services context. The "Contractor" employment type suggests a project-based engagement.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Product Managers, Content Designers, Data Analysts, UX Researchers, and Scrum Teams to understand customer needs and design effective digital solutions for the Public Website.
• Translate complex financial and investment concepts into simple, plain English language suitable for a broad investor audience, ensuring clarity and accessibility.
• Produce various content types, including microcopy, conversational elements, product marketing copy, and help/instructional content, adapting style to the medium and audience.
• Utilize and contribute to Design Systems (Storybook & Figma), building prototypes and designs from established components to ensure consistency and efficiency.
• Drive the production of design work, manage the sign-off process with Product, business stakeholders, legal, and compliance, ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements.
• Proactively engage with immediate stakeholders (PM, Marketing, UX, Developers) and subject matter experts (Legal, Compliance, Business Strategy, Customer Services) to gather insights and ensure alignment.
• Contribute to research activities by assisting with research plans, discussion guides, prototype building, and insight synthesis to inform design decisions.
• Adhere to the gov.uk content guidelines and best practices, with a strong emphasis on writing for accessibility.
• Work with AEM (Adobe Experience Manager) for content management, supporting the Public Website's content lifecycle.
• Think strategically about design solutions and their impact beyond the immediate value stream, considering the overall customer journey and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong need for content governance and adherence to financial industry regulations (legal, compliance), which are critical operational aspects for a financial services company like Vanguard. The emphasis on the Public Website suggests a focus on customer acquisition, education, and engagement, requiring a blend of marketing and user support content.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• A degree in Design, Communications, English, Marketing, or a related field is preferred but not strictly required if equivalent professional experience is demonstrated.

Experience:

• Proven experience in the design space, specifically in creating content for user journeys, applications, public websites, or dashboards.
• Experience in the finance, asset management, or other regulated industries is strongly recommended, demonstrating an understanding of industry-specific communication needs and compliance.
• Demonstrated experience in translating complex information into simple, user-friendly language.
• Experience working with and contributing to Design Systems (e.g., Storybook, Figma) is essential for efficient design execution.
• Familiarity or experience with AEM for Content Management is a significant advantage.

Required Skills:

• Content Design & UX Writing: Expertise in crafting clear, concise, and accessible content for digital interfaces, including microcopy, instructional text, and user guidance.
• Figma Proficiency: High proficiency in Figma for all design execution, prototyping, and collaboration.
• Design Systems: Familiarity and ability to work with Design Systems (Storybook & Figma) to build and maintain consistent user experiences.
• Accessibility Standards: Expert knowledge of writing for accessibility and adherence to relevant guidelines (e.g., WCAG).
• Agile Delivery Mindset: Understanding of UX principles, the Double Diamond design process, and Agile delivery methodologies.
• Stakeholder Management: Ability to proactively engage with and manage relationships with cross-functional teams and subject matter experts, including legal and compliance.
• Problem-Solving: Ability to work off hypothesis and problem statements, identifying root causes and developing thoughtful solutions.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to present ideas and solutions clearly and persuasively.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the financial/investing industry or with educational/marketing design.
• Familiarity with gov.uk content guidelines and best practices.
• Experience with AEM for Content Management.
• Contribution to research activities, including plan development and insight synthesis.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma, Design Systems, and accessibility points to a need for standardized yet adaptable design operations. The requirement for financial industry experience is crucial for understanding the regulatory environment and the specific communication nuances required for investment products.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating your process from problem definition to final design solution, with a strong emphasis on the content strategy and user experience.
• Content Transformation: Include examples of how you transformed complex financial/investment concepts into clear, accessible language for digital platforms.
• Design System Utilization: Provide examples of how you've used or contributed to design systems, showcasing your ability to build from existing components and maintain consistency.
• Accessibility Focus: Highlight projects where accessibility was a key consideration, demonstrating your understanding and application of accessibility best practices in content and design.
• Prototyping Examples: Showcase interactive prototypes created in Figma or similar tools, illustrating user flows and design solutions.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the design process, including research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.
• Provide examples of how you have documented design decisions, content rationale, and user feedback to inform future work and team knowledge.
• Showcase your ability to work within an Agile framework, illustrating how you manage tasks, collaborate with development teams, and adapt to project changes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations roles, a portfolio that clearly outlines process efficiency, adherence to standards (like accessibility and design systems), and measurable outcomes is highly valued. The ability to articulate the "how" and "why" behind design decisions, especially concerning content clarity and user engagement in a regulated industry, is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• As this is a contractor role, the compensation will likely be on an hourly or day rate basis. Based on industry standards for a Product Designer (Content Specialist) with 2-5 years of experience in Manchester, UK, the estimated range would be between £300 - £500 per day, depending on the specific project scope, duration, and the candidate's proven expertise.

Benefits:

• As a contractor, benefits are typically not provided directly by the hiring company. However, the role offers the opportunity to gain experience with a globally recognized financial services firm, enhancing your professional profile.
• Exposure to cutting-edge digital design practices and tools within the financial sector.
• Opportunity to contribute to a mission-driven organization focused on investor success.
• Potential for flexible working arrangements as part of Vanguard's hybrid model.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week. There may be flexibility depending on project deadlines and team collaboration needs, aligning with Agile methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on general market data for contract roles in the UK design and content sector, adjusted for the financial industry and the specific skill set required. Benefits for contractors are usually managed by the contracting agency or the individual.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services / Investment Management Company Size: Vanguard is a very large, global financial services organization, known for its significant assets under management and its investor-centric philosophy. This scale means robust processes and opportunities for impact, but also a need for clear communication and adherence to standards. Founded: 1975. Vanguard has a long history and a well-established reputation, built on a foundation of serving the best interests of its clients. This heritage likely influences its culture towards stability, trust, and long-term thinking.

Team Structure:

• The role is within a specific "value stream," indicating an Agile organizational structure focused on delivering value to customers across their lifecycle.
• You will be part of a multi-disciplinary team including Product Managers, Content Designers, Data Analysts, UX Researchers, and Scrum Teams, fostering a collaborative environment.
• The Product Designer (Content Specialist) will likely report to a Design Lead or Product Manager within their value stream, with dotted lines to the broader Content and Design practices.

Methodology:

• The team operates using Agile delivery mindsets and principles, working off hypotheses and problem statements.
• Emphasis is placed on user research, data analysis, and iterative design to solve problems and create sensible user experiences.
• There is a strong focus on collaboration, with regular engagement in show-and-tells and contributions to the betterment of the design craft.

Company Website: https://corporate.vanguard.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Vanguard's culture is deeply rooted in its "client-first" approach and its commitment to fiduciary duty. For operations and design roles, this translates to a focus on accuracy, integrity, user advocacy, and long-term value creation. The "value stream" structure suggests a product-centric, agile operating model.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a mid-level, requiring demonstrable experience and the ability to work autonomously, contribute to strategic discussions, and lead specific design processes. It sits within the broader product development and user experience operations. Reporting Structure: The role operates within a specific value stream, likely reporting to a Product Manager or Design Lead within that stream. Collaboration will be extensive with cross-functional team members. Operations Impact: The Product Designer (Content Specialist) directly impacts the success of Vanguard's Public Website, influencing customer acquisition, engagement, and education. By creating clear, accessible, and compelling content and designs, this role supports Vanguard's mission to help investors succeed, thereby contributing to business growth and customer loyalty.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in content design for financial services, accessibility standards, and advanced Figma techniques.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain experience working with diverse teams across product, data, research, and development, understanding the end-to-end product lifecycle.
• Practice Contribution: Engage with the broader Content and Design practices at Vanguard, contributing to best practices, sharing knowledge, and potentially mentoring junior designers.
• Project Variety: Work on different aspects of the customer lifecycle and various digital products within Vanguard's extensive portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contractor, growth is often measured by the depth of experience gained and the ability to add new skills to their portfolio. Vanguard's size and scope offer significant learning opportunities relevant to operations within a regulated, customer-focused industry.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Vanguard operates a hybrid working model, balancing the benefits of enhanced flexibility with in-person collaboration. This means a mix of remote work and office-based days. Office Location(s): The role is based in Manchester, United Kingdom. Specific office details would be provided upon engagement.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is designed to be highly collaborative, encouraging in-person learning and connection.
• Expect access to modern design tools and technologies, with Figma being the primary workspace.
• Opportunities for direct interaction with team members and stakeholders, fostering a dynamic and communicative work environment.

Work Schedule:

• A standard 40-hour work week is typical for a full-time contractor. Flexibility may be available, particularly concerning start/end times, provided project deliverables and collaboration needs are met. This aligns with the Agile mindset of focusing on outcomes and adaptability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment, requiring self-discipline and strong communication skills for remote collaboration, while also capitalizing on in-office synergy for brainstorming and relationship building.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call to assess basic qualifications, experience alignment, and understanding of the role's content and design focus.
• Portfolio Review & Discussion: A more in-depth session where candidates present their portfolio, discussing specific case studies, design choices, content rationale, and their approach to problem-solving and collaboration. This is where your process and operational thinking will be evaluated.
• Skills-Based Assessment/Exercise: Potentially a short design or content challenge to assess practical skills in Figma, content creation, or problem-solving within a simulated scenario.
• Stakeholder/Team Interviews: Meetings with key team members (e.g., Product Manager, fellow designers, potentially developers) to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and communication effectiveness.
• Final Interview: May involve senior team members or hiring managers to discuss strategic alignment and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project type or by showcasing your process. For each project, clearly state the problem, your role, the process you followed (especially focusing on content strategy and design operations), the solutions, and the outcomes.
• Content Focus: Emphasize your ability to translate complex financial information into clear, accessible language. Showcase examples of microcopy, instructional content, and user journey writing.
• Process Demonstration: Clearly articulate your design process, highlighting how you use research, collaborate with stakeholders, leverage design systems, and ensure accessibility. Show, don't just tell, your operational approach to design.
• Figma & Design Systems: Demonstrate your proficiency in Figma and your understanding of how to work within or contribute to design systems.
• Conciseness and Clarity: Be prepared to speak to your work concisely and clearly, focusing on the impact and lessons learned.

Challenge Preparation:

• Content Clarity: If given a content challenge, focus on simplicity, accuracy, and accessibility.
• Design Thinking: For a design challenge, articulate your problem-solving process, demonstrating how you would approach user needs and business goals.
• Stakeholder Alignment: Be prepared to discuss how you would gather requirements and gain buy-in from various stakeholders, including legal and compliance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize your ability to not only design but also to operationalize design principles – ensuring content is compliant, accessible, and effectively communicates complex information within a structured environment. Demonstrating a process-driven approach to design is crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for all design execution, prototyping, and collaboration. Mastery is expected.
• Storybook: Used in conjunction with Figma for Design Systems, enabling component-based design and development. Familiarity is key.
• Adobe Experience Manager (AEM): Preferred for content management on the Public Website. Experience here is a strong advantage for understanding the content deployment pipeline.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly a design tool, understanding how to interpret data from analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to inform design decisions will be beneficial.
• Familiarity with A/B testing tools to measure the impact of content and design variations.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to this design role, but awareness of how customer data managed in CRM systems might inform user experience is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and Design Systems is paramount for efficient and scalable design operations. Understanding the content management system (AEM) provides insight into the operational workflow for deploying digital content.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of investors, ensuring all designs and content are user-centric.
• Integrity & Trust: Upholding the highest ethical standards, particularly in communication regarding financial products and services. Accuracy and transparency are non-negotiable.
• Excellence: A drive for high-quality output, attention to detail, and continuous improvement in design and content practices.
• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork, open communication, and mutual support to achieve shared goals.
• Efficiency: A pragmatic approach to design and content creation, leveraging tools and processes to deliver effective solutions promptly.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Working seamlessly with Product Managers, Developers, Researchers, and other stakeholders to ensure cohesive product development.
• Open Dialogue: Encouraging constructive feedback, design debates, and knowledge sharing within the design team and across disciplines.
• Proactive Communication: Maintaining transparent and frequent communication to keep stakeholders informed and aligned.

📝 Enhancement Note: Vanguard’s values, particularly integrity and client-focus, are deeply embedded in its operational ethos. Designers are expected to embody these values in their work, ensuring that all content and designs are not only user-friendly but also responsible and trustworthy.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Financial Complexity: The primary challenge is making sophisticated financial and investment concepts easily understandable and engaging for a diverse audience.
• Regulatory Environment: Working within a regulated industry requires strict adherence to legal and compliance guidelines, which can influence creative freedom and necessitate rigorous review processes.
• Balancing Consistency and Innovation: Maintaining brand consistency and adherence to design systems while also innovating to create compelling user experiences.
• Content Velocity: Producing high-quality content and designs efficiently within an Agile development cycle, often managing multiple projects simultaneously.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Financial Content: Develop a deep understanding of financial products, investment strategies, and investor behavior.
• Accessibility Expertise: Become an expert in implementing WCAG standards and best practices for accessible digital content.
• Design System Mastery: Gain hands-on experience with advanced design system principles and implementation.
• Industry Best Practices: Learn from experienced professionals at a leading financial services firm about effective content strategy and product design operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges in this role are intrinsically tied to the operational demands of the financial sector—accuracy, compliance, and clarity—which also present significant opportunities for professional growth and specialization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Content Simplification: "Describe a time you had to take a complex financial concept and simplify it for a non-expert audience. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Prepare a specific case study focusing on your content transformation process).
• Design System Application: "How do you approach using and contributing to a design system? Walk us through an example of how you leveraged existing components to build a new feature or improve an existing one." (Be ready to discuss your process for working with Storybook/Figma).
• Stakeholder Collaboration: "How do you manage feedback and sign-off from diverse stakeholders, including legal and compliance teams, when designing content for regulated products?" (Focus on your communication and negotiation strategies).
• Accessibility Implementation: "What steps do you take to ensure your designs and content are accessible? Can you provide examples of accessibility considerations you've implemented in past projects?" (Highlight specific techniques and guidelines followed).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you specifically about Vanguard and its mission?" (Research Vanguard's values, history, and investor-centric approach).
• "How do you see your skills in content design and product design contributing to our goal of helping investors succeed?" (Connect your expertise to Vanguard's mission).
• "Describe your ideal team environment and how you contribute to a collaborative culture." (Emphasize teamwork, proactive communication, and openness to feedback).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Flow: Structure your presentation to tell a story for each project. Start with the problem, detail your process (emphasizing research, content strategy, design decisions, and operational considerations), showcase your solutions, and quantify impact where possible.
• Focus on Process: Clearly articulate how you arrived at your solutions, not just what the solutions are. This is crucial for evaluating your operational thinking.
• Highlight Key Skills: Ensure your presentation explicitly demonstrates your proficiency in Figma, Design Systems, accessibility, and content simplification for financial concepts.
• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your decision-making, challenges faced, and how you handled feedback or constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on showcasing not just design output, but also the operational rigor behind it – how you manage processes, collaborate effectively, and adhere to industry-specific requirements like compliance and accessibility.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-focused Product Designer (Content Specialist) position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio clearly showcases projects demonstrating your content design skills, particularly in simplifying complex information, and your proficiency in Figma and design systems. Highlight any experience within regulated industries.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize achievements related to content strategy, UX writing, accessibility, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords such as "content design," "UX writing," "accessibility," "Figma," "design systems," and "financial services."
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, particularly how you approach problem-solving, stakeholder management, and content creation within operational constraints. Be ready to present your portfolio with specific examples that highlight your relevant skills.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Vanguard's mission, values, and its approach to customer experience in the financial services sector. Understand the importance of trust, integrity, and client-first principles in their operations.

⚠️ 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.