Senior eCommerce Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior eCommerce Designer

Company: Velstar

Location: Leeds, England, United Kingdom / Liverpool, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Design Operations / GTM Design Strategy

Date Posted: 2026-05-02T09:58:12

Experience Level: Senior (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (minimum 3 days per week in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end UX/UI design process for a diverse portfolio of eCommerce clients, from initial discovery and wireframing to polished, production-ready interfaces.

• Drive creative direction and concept design for pitches and proposals, contributing to pre-sale activities and client acquisition efforts.

• Design and iterate on high-converting eCommerce storefronts and marketing assets, ensuring visual identity and performance align with client objectives across DTC and B2B sectors.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with CRO, SEO, Performance, Data, and Development teams to translate insights into practical, performant, and commercially viable design solutions.

• Contribute to and maintain Velstar's centralized eCommerce best practice design system, ensuring consistency and elevating design standards across the agency.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Designer with a strong emphasis on eCommerce performance and commercial acumen, rather than a traditional Revenue Operations or Sales Operations role. The focus is on driving conversions through design, which directly impacts revenue. The "Operations" aspect is in the operationalization of design within an agency context, managing client projects, contributing to design systems (a form of operational efficiency), and collaborating with performance-oriented teams.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead UX and UI design initiatives for eCommerce projects, managing the entire design lifecycle from initial client discovery and user research through to final developer handover.

• Develop compelling creative concepts and visual directions for new business pitches and client proposals, directly influencing sales outcomes.

• Craft and refine eCommerce storefront designs, alongside creating impactful digital assets for in-store promotions and marketing campaigns, serving a variety of Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) and Business-to-Business (B2B) clients.

• Apply and evolve established eCommerce design patterns and conversion-focused frameworks to create user experiences optimized for maximum sales performance.

• Foster strong collaborative relationships with Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO), Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Performance Marketing, Data Analytics, and Development teams to ensure designs are technically feasible, performant, and commercially effective.

• Clearly articulate design decisions, rationale, and strategic thinking to both internal teams and external clients through compelling presentations.

• Actively participate in the enhancement and maintenance of Velstar's proprietary eCommerce best practice design system, promoting scalable and consistent design solutions.

• Provide constructive, actionable critique and feedback on design work from other team members, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and skill development.

• Accurately manage personal workload, including time estimation, resource allocation, and timely delivery of projects within defined budgets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of individual design contribution and leadership, emphasizing client-facing communication, cross-functional collaboration with performance-focused teams, and contribution to agency-wide design operational efficiency through the design system.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Formal education in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is beneficial but not strictly required; a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent experience and expertise is paramount.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of dedicated UX and UI design experience, with a significant portion ideally gained within the eCommerce sector or a fast-paced digital agency environment. Proven track record of managing design projects from conception to completion.

Required Skills:

• UX/UI Design Expertise: Deep understanding of user experience principles, user-centered design methodologies, and user interface design best practices.

• eCommerce Acumen: Strong grasp of eCommerce design patterns, user journey mapping for online shoppers, and conversion-centric design thinking.

• Design Software Proficiency: Advanced skills in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and UI design. Expertise in the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator) for asset creation and manipulation.

• Portfolio of Work: A robust and compelling portfolio showcasing successful eCommerce design projects across web and mobile platforms, with clear articulation of design rationale and impact.

• Commercial & Brief Alignment: Ability to effectively balance creative ambition with the commercial objectives of clients and the specific constraints of project briefs.

• Communication & Presentation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to present and confidently justify design decisions to diverse audiences, including clients and stakeholders.

• Technical Understanding: Familiarity with front-end development constraints (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and best practices for seamless developer handover.

Preferred Skills:

• Platform Experience: Hands-on experience designing for popular eCommerce platforms such as Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, or similar.

• Performance Optimization Knowledge: Understanding of how design choices impact Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO), Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and accessibility standards.

• Design System Contribution: Experience in contributing to, maintaining, or building design systems for scalability and consistency.

• AI Design Tool Integration: Active use of AI-powered design tools within a workflow, with an expressed interest in further exploration and adoption.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize practical, hands-on experience and a commercial mindset over purely academic credentials. The emphasis on Figma, Adobe Suite, and a strong portfolio with eCommerce examples is critical for this role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• eCommerce Case Studies: Showcase at least 3-5 detailed case studies of eCommerce website redesigns or new builds, highlighting the problem, your process, design solutions, and quantifiable outcomes (e.g., conversion rate increases, AOV improvement).

• UX/UI Process Demonstration: Clearly illustrate your design process from user research, wireframing, prototyping, visual design, to final UI, using tools like Figma.

• Conversion-Focused Design: Examples that specifically demonstrate how your design choices aimed to improve conversion rates, average order value, or customer retention.

• Cross-functional Collaboration Examples: If possible, include examples or descriptions of how you collaborated with developers, CRO specialists, or SEO experts on projects.

• Asset Creation: Examples of creative assets designed for marketing campaigns or on-site promotions that align with brand identity and drive engagement.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Provide examples of how you map out user flows, information architecture, and site maps for complex eCommerce sites.

• Design System Contribution: If you have experience with design systems, include examples of components, style guides, or documentation you've contributed to.

• Developer Handoff: Demonstrate your process for preparing design files and specifications for developer implementation, ensuring clarity and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is crucial for this role, serving as the primary validation of the candidate’s skills and experience. It needs to go beyond aesthetics to demonstrate commercial impact and process rigor, especially in the context of eCommerce and cross-functional collaboration.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior eCommerce Designers in the UK with 5-10 years of experience, and considering the hybrid work model and agency environment, a competitive salary range is estimated to be between £45,000 - £65,000 per annum. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, portfolio strength, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Hybrid Working: Flexibility to work from home with a minimum of 3 days per week required in the Liverpool or Leeds office, promoting work-life balance.

• Health Coverage: Comprehensive Vitality Health cover provided from the commencement of employment.

• Generous Holiday Allowance: 28 days of annual leave, plus an additional day off for your birthday, and an extra day added for each year of service, up to a maximum of 5 additional days.

• Family Support: Enhanced maternity pay benefits to support new parents.

• Retirement Planning: Salary sacrifice pension scheme to help employees save for retirement.

• Lifestyle Schemes: Access to Cycle to Work scheme, tech and home schemes, offering savings on essential purchases.

• Recognition Program: Peer recognition rewards to acknowledge outstanding contributions and teamwork.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week, with flexibility to accommodate project needs and deadlines, aligned with agency operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on UK market data for senior design roles in agencies, factoring in the specified experience level and location. Benefits are directly extracted from the job description and highlight a strong employee value proposition.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Agency, specializing in eCommerce growth and Shopify solutions. Velstar operates within the competitive digital transformation and online retail sector, helping ambitious DTC and B2B businesses scale.

Company Size: Mid-to-Large agency (likely 50-250 employees, based on multiple office locations and Shopify Platinum Partner status). This size implies structured processes, opportunities for specialization, and a robust client roster.

Founded: Founded in 2015. This relatively young company history suggests a dynamic, growth-oriented culture, likely still evolving its operational frameworks and embracing innovation.

Team Structure:

• The design team is likely structured with a Lead Designer, Senior Designers (this role), and potentially mid-level or junior designers, reporting to a Head of Design or Creative Director.

• Designers are integrated into cross-functional client teams, working closely with specialists in CRO, SEO, Data, Performance Marketing, and Development.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasizes using data from CRO, SEO, and analytics to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Agile Project Management: Projects are likely managed using agile principles, with iterative design cycles and regular client check-ins.

• Design System Approach: Utilizes a centralized design system to ensure consistency, efficiency, and scalability across client projects.

• Conversion Optimization Focus: All design efforts are geared towards improving key eCommerce metrics and driving commercial success for clients.

Company Website: https://velstar.co.uk/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is described as commercially sharp, collaborative, and focused on delivering measurable results for eCommerce clients. The agency's status as a Shopify Platinum Partner indicates a high level of expertise and commitment to the platform.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a Senior Individual Contributor level, with a strong emphasis on leadership within design execution and mentorship. It's a pivotal role for driving design quality and client success within the eCommerce space.

Reporting Structure: The Senior eCommerce Designer will likely report to a Head of Design, Creative Director, or potentially a Design Lead. They will work within project-based teams, reporting functionally to project managers or client leads as needed.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is directly tied to revenue generation for clients. By designing high-converting eCommerce experiences, the Senior Designer directly influences client sales performance, customer acquisition, and retention rates, thereby driving revenue growth for both the client and Velstar.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Progression: Potential to advance into a Design Lead or Head of Design role, managing larger teams and strategic design initiatives.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific eCommerce platforms (e.g., Shopify Plus), conversion rate optimization, or user research methodologies.

• Mentorship & Training: Develop leadership skills by mentoring junior designers and contributing to the agency's design training programs.

• Client Relationship Management: Grow expertise in client-facing roles, managing key accounts and becoming a trusted advisor on eCommerce design strategy.

• Agency Growth: Contribute to the agency's growth by participating in business development, creating compelling pitches, and shaping the agency's design offering.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for growth within a specialized agency environment, focusing on both individual craft improvement and leadership development within the eCommerce design domain.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment, requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in either the Liverpool or Leeds office. This suggests modern office spaces designed for collaboration and focused work.

Office Location(s):

• Liverpool: Tempest on Tithebarn, L2 2DT. A central business district location.

• Leeds: Platform, LS1 4JB. Also a prime city centre location.

Both locations are situated in major UK cities, offering good accessibility and amenities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hubs: Offices are likely equipped with meeting rooms, breakout spaces, and open-plan areas to facilitate teamwork and client presentations.

• Tool Access: Employees will have access to necessary hardware and software, including high-performance workstations suitable for design software like Figma and Adobe Creative Suite.

• Cross-Functional Interaction: The hybrid model encourages in-person collaboration with colleagues from CRO, SEO, Data, and Development teams, fostering a dynamic and integrated work environment.

Work Schedule: The standard full-time schedule (approx. 40 hours/week) is complemented by the hybrid model, offering flexibility. Project deadlines may require occasional adjustments, but the emphasis is on efficient time management and output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key feature, balancing the benefits of in-office collaboration and structure with the flexibility of remote work. The office locations suggest a professional, amenity-rich work environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess suitability for the role and alignment with Velstar's eCommerce focus.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A dedicated session where you present your portfolio, focusing on 2-3 key eCommerce projects. Be prepared to articulate your design process, rationale, and the commercial impact of your work. Expect questions on your approach to UX, UI, conversion optimization, and client collaboration.

• Technical/Skills Assessment: Potentially a short design exercise or a discussion about your proficiency with Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, including how you approach developer handoffs.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: A conversation with potential team members (designers, CRO specialists, developers) to assess collaboration style, problem-solving approach, and cultural alignment with Velstar's values.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership (e.g., Head of Design, Director) to finalize offers and discuss career progression.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Impact: Select projects that best demonstrate your eCommerce expertise, commercial thinking, and ability to drive results. Prioritize quality over quantity.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly define the client's challenge, your role, your strategic approach, the design solutions you implemented, and the measurable outcomes. Use data to support your claims.

• Showcase Process: Detail your UX/UI process, from research and wireframing to high-fidelity mockups and prototyping. Highlight how you incorporate user feedback and business requirements.

• Highlight Collaboration: If possible, briefly explain how you worked with other disciplines (development, CRO, SEO) and how that collaboration influenced the final design.

• Commercial Acumen: Be ready to discuss how your design decisions specifically aimed to improve conversion rates, AOV, or other key eCommerce KPIs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: If a design exercise is given, focus on understanding the brief thoroughly, outlining your approach, and delivering a well-reasoned solution within the given timeframe. Prioritize core UX/UI principles and commercial considerations.

• Presentation Skills: Practice presenting your portfolio and any hypothetical solutions clearly and concisely. Be prepared to answer challenging questions about your design choices and trade-offs.

• Agency Context: Research Velstar's client work and agency ethos. Understand their focus on eCommerce performance and how your skills align with their mission.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is heavily focused on practical application and demonstrating tangible results through a portfolio. Candidates should prepare to discuss their process, rationale, and impact on commercial metrics.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and collaborative design workflows. Proficiency is essential.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Primarily Photoshop for image editing and asset creation, and Illustrator for vector graphics and icons.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma has robust prototyping capabilities, familiarity with other tools like InVision or Principle may be beneficial for specific project needs.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Google Analytics / Adobe Analytics: Understanding how to interpret data from these platforms to inform design decisions and measure performance is crucial.

• Heatmapping & Session Recording Tools: Familiarity with tools like Hotjar or Crazy Egg to understand user behavior on websites.

• Data Visualization Tools: While not directly designing them, an understanding of how data is presented in dashboards (e.g., Tableau, Looker Studio) can inform design for data-rich interfaces.

CRM & Automation:

• eCommerce Platforms: Deep familiarity with Shopify is highly desirable, as Velstar is a Shopify Platinum Partner. Experience with other platforms like BigCommerce or Magento is also valuable.

• Project Management Tools: Experience with tools like Asana, Trello, Jira, or Monday.com for managing tasks, workflows, and team collaboration.

• Collaboration Tools: Proficiency with Slack, Microsoft Teams, or similar for internal and client communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily geared towards modern web design and eCommerce platforms, with Figma and Shopify being central. An understanding of how design integrates with data analytics and performance marketing tools is key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Commercial Acumen: A deep understanding that design must drive business results, specifically conversions and revenue for clients.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Valuing cross-functional partnership with CRO, SEO, Data, and Development teams to achieve collective success.

• Client-Centricity: A commitment to understanding client needs and delivering solutions that exceed expectations and drive growth.

• Continuous Improvement: Embracing feedback, learning new skills, and actively contributing to refining processes and the design system.

• Quality & Craftsmanship: Taking pride in delivering high-quality, well-executed design solutions that are both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teams: Designers are not siloed but are integral members of client-specific, cross-functional teams.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging constructive critique and knowledge sharing to elevate the quality of work across the agency.

• Proactive Communication: Maintaining clear and consistent communication with internal teams and clients to ensure alignment and manage expectations.

• Solution-Oriented: Focusing on problem-solving and finding effective design solutions that meet both user needs and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Velstar's culture appears to be highly collaborative, performance-driven, and focused on delivering tangible business outcomes for eCommerce clients through integrated team efforts.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Performance: The primary challenge is to push creative boundaries while ensuring designs demonstrably improve conversion rates and meet strict commercial brief constraints.

• Managing Diverse Client Needs: Adapting design approaches and styles to suit a wide range of DTC and B2B clients with different brand identities and target audiences.

• Rapidly Evolving eCommerce Landscape: Staying abreast of new platform features, design trends, AI tools, and user behavior shifts in the fast-paced eCommerce industry.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring seamless integration of design with CRO, SEO, and Development, navigating potential differing priorities or technical limitations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Platform Expertise: Deepen knowledge of Shopify and other leading eCommerce platforms through official training and hands-on project experience.

• Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) Skills: Gain a more profound understanding of CRO principles and how to design for A/B testing and iterative improvement.

• AI in Design: Explore and integrate emerging AI design tools to enhance efficiency and creativity in workflows.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Develop skills in guiding junior designers, providing feedback, and contributing to team growth.

• Industry Conferences & Workshops: Opportunities to attend relevant industry events to stay current and network.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for professional growth within a specialized and high-demand field, with challenges that foster continuous learning and adaptation.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance a client's creative vision with data-driven insights for conversion optimization. What was the outcome?" (Focus on your process for integrating data and user feedback into design decisions.)

• "How would you approach designing a new homepage for an eCommerce brand that has seen declining conversion rates, given limited budget and a tight deadline?" (Demonstrate your strategic thinking, prioritization skills, and understanding of core eCommerce principles.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Velstar's focus on eCommerce performance and its position as a Shopify Platinum Partner?" (Show you've researched the company and understand its niche.)

• "How do you approach giving and receiving constructive feedback within a design team?" (Assess your collaboration style and contribution to team growth.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your role, the strategic objectives, your design process (research, wireframes, UI), the solutions, and the quantifiable results.

• Quantify Impact: Use data (e.g., conversion rate lifts, AOV increases, engagement metrics) to support the success of your designs.

• Highlight Commercial Thinking: Emphasize how your design decisions directly contributed to the client's business goals and revenue.

• Showcase Tool Proficiency: Briefly mention how you leveraged Figma and other tools to achieve your design outcomes.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your UX decisions, UI choices, and rationale behind specific design elements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should heavily focus on showcasing a portfolio that demonstrates commercial impact, a strong understanding of eCommerce, and effective collaboration skills, alongside technical proficiency.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior eCommerce Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Velstar teamtailor portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features eCommerce design projects, clearly detailing your process, rationale, and quantifiable results. Tailor your case studies to highlight conversion optimization and commercial impact.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize your 5+ years of UX/UI experience, specific eCommerce project achievements, proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, and any experience with Shopify or design systems. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, articulating your design thinking, and preparing responses to common interview questions related to eCommerce strategy, client collaboration, and problem-solving.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Velstar's client work, agency values, and their specialization in eCommerce growth. Understand their culture and how your skills and aspirations align with their mission.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions to provide a comprehensive overview. All details should be verified directly with Velstar during the application and interview process.