Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: IVC Evidensia

Location: Keynsham, Bristol, England; Remote, England

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2025-11-17

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

Remote Status: Hybrid (Remote OK)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive end-to-end product design within a dedicated squad, fostering collaboration across Product, Design, and Engineering functions to deliver innovative digital experiences.

• Leverage user research, data-driven insights, and a strong understanding of user-centered design principles to solve complex problems for pet owners and veterinary professionals.

• Translate strategic hypotheses into tangible design solutions through iterative prototyping, experimentation, and continuous feedback loops, focusing on both quick wins and significant opportunities.

• Champion user-centricity by championing user needs, pain points, and preferences, ensuring intuitive and engaging digital products that enhance pet health outcomes and clinic efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior Product Designer," the description suggests a mid-level role with 2-5 years of experience, supported by a Principal Designer. The focus is on driving design within a squad and collaborating, rather than leading a team of designers. The role requires understanding a new industry (veterinary/pet health) through user research.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive user research, including client (pet owner) and healthcare professional (vet) studies, to gain deep domain understanding and inform design decisions.

• Drive the design process from concept to high-fidelity solutions, identifying user problems and translating them into intuitive, user-friendly digital experiences.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineers to define product strategy, iterate on features, and ensure successful implementation of design solutions.

• Develop and present strategic design rationales and creative solutions to cross-functional partners, effectively communicating the "why" behind design decisions.

• Utilize a growth mindset to continuously improve design craft, collaboration processes, and contribute to overall product outcomes.

• Proactively identify opportunities for design innovation and process improvement within the squad and across the broader design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a proactive, hands-on approach to design, including research, ideation, prototyping, and communication. The "Think Big, Test Small" mantra highlights the iterative and experimental nature of the role, which is crucial for driving outcomes in a data-informed environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Not specified, but a Bachelor's degree in Design, HCI, or a related field is often preferred for mid-level design roles. Emphasis is placed on a strong portfolio demonstrating practical experience.

Experience: Minimum of 2-5 years of experience in creating and shipping intuitive digital experiences, with a demonstrable portfolio to support.

Required Skills:

• UX Design: Proven ability to identify user problems and translate them into effective design solutions.

• UI Design: Strong visual design skills with a keen eye for detail and aesthetics.

• Interaction Design: Expertise in designing seamless and intuitive user flows and interactions.

• Prototyping: Proficiency in creating interactive prototypes to test and validate design concepts.

• User Research: Experience conducting various forms of user research to gather insights and inform design decisions.

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced skills in Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Design System Experience: Experience working with and contributing to Design Systems to ensure consistency and scalability.

• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication, with the ability to articulate design intent and rationale clearly.

• Collaboration: Ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering).

• Growth Mindset: Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and self-improvement.

• User-Centered Design Principles: Deep understanding and practical application of UCD methodologies.

Preferred Skills:

• Previous experience in the healthcare or veterinary industry.

• Experience designing solutions that integrate with or surround legacy systems.

• Advanced Figma skills, including variables, auto-layout, and other power features.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "portfolio to back it up" is critical. Candidates should be prepared to showcase end-to-end design projects that highlight problem-solving, user research, iterative design, and final shipped products. The preference for healthcare experience is a strong plus, but not a deal-breaker, indicating a willingness to train on domain-specific knowledge.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 comprehensive case studies demonstrating your ability to take a project from initial problem identification through research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and final shipped product.

• Problem-Solution Framing: Clearly articulate the user problem or business challenge addressed by each project.

• Process Documentation: Detail your design process, including research methodologies, ideation techniques, prototyping tools used, and how feedback was incorporated.

• Visual Design & UI Execution: Present high-fidelity mockups and UI elements that demonstrate strong aesthetic sensibility and adherence to design principles.

• Interaction Design Examples: Highlight specific interaction patterns and user flows that demonstrate intuitiveness and efficiency.

Process Documentation:

• User Research Insights: Provide examples of how user research findings directly influenced design decisions and iterations.

• Iterative Design Approach: Demonstrate how you incorporated feedback and data to refine designs over time.

• Prototyping & Testing: Detail the types of prototypes created (e.g., low-fi, high-fi) and how they were used for user testing and stakeholder validation.

• Collaboration & Communication: Illustrate how you collaborated with Product and Engineering teams, and how you presented your work and rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the primary way to assess a candidate's practical skills and process. It should clearly demonstrate a user-centered approach, strong problem-solving abilities, and proficiency with Figma and design systems. For this role, showing experience in iterative design and presenting design rationale to non-designers will be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Senior Product Designer with 2-5 years of experience in the UK (specifically Bristol/South West England), a competitive salary range would typically fall between £45,000 - £65,000 per annum. This can vary based on the candidate's exact experience, skills, and the specific negotiation.

Benefits:

• Work-life balance: Emphasis on sustainable working practices.

• 26 days annual leave: Generous allowance for rest and personal time.

• Cycle to Work scheme: Encourages active commuting and provides cost savings.

• Employee wellbeing initiatives: Programs and resources to support mental and physical health.

• Pension scheme: Contribution towards long-term financial security.

• Discretionary Bonus: Potential for additional compensation based on company and individual performance.

• Discounted staff pet care: A significant perk for pet owners working within the veterinary sector.

• Free Parking: Available at the Head Office location in Keynsham.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are not explicitly stated but are assumed to be around 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time role. The "Remote OK" status and emphasis on work-life balance suggest flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on typical UK market rates for a "Senior Product Designer" role with the specified experience level in a major city like Bristol. The benefits package is comprehensive and tailored to employee wellbeing and work-life balance, with a unique perk for pet care discounts.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Veterinary Services / Pet Health. IVC Evidensia is a leading provider of veterinary care, operating across Europe and North America, with a focus on delivering high-quality animal health services.

Company Size: Large enterprise, with a significant global presence and a growing digital technology team spread across multiple international hubs.

Founded: IVC was founded in 2011, and Evidensia was founded in 2012. They merged in 2017 to form IVC Evidensia, creating one of the largest veterinary groups in Europe. This history suggests a company that has experienced rapid growth and integration, now focusing on scaling its operations and digital capabilities.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Product Designer will report directly to the Head of Design, Clinics (Kieron-Scott Woodhouse).

• They will be part of the newly formed Care Delivery Team, focusing on ensuring medical practitioners can serve patients efficiently and effectively.

• This team will collaborate closely with other clinic-focused teams, including those managing medical care, receptionist experience, practice manager needs, and central operations.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Delivery: Emphasis on using data and user insights to guide product development.

• User-Centred Design: Core principle for all design activities, ensuring solutions meet user needs.

• Agile & Iterative Development: "Think Big, Test Small" approach, focusing on rapid iteration, experimentation, and learning.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working closely with Product and Engineering.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: IVC Evidensia is a significant player in the pet health market, undergoing digital transformation. The company culture appears to value collaboration, user-centricity, and continuous improvement. The "remote-first" approach within technology teams suggests a modern, flexible work environment. The "Chocolate Factory, Keynsham" employment type seems like an internal code or miscategorization from the source; the primary location is Keynsham, Bristol.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-level Senior Product Designer. This role is positioned to take ownership of design within a specific squad, contributing significantly to product outcomes. It's a step up from a standard Product Designer, requiring more autonomy, strategic thinking, and the ability to mentor or guide more junior designers if needed, though direct team management is not indicated.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Head of Design, Clinics, and works within a cross-functional squad. This structure allows for direct impact on specific product areas while being part of a larger design community.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer's work will directly impact the efficiency and effectiveness of veterinary practitioners, leading to healthier outcomes for pets and a better experience for pet owners. This role is crucial in driving user engagement with digital platforms and improving the operational capabilities of clinics through technology.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in veterinary/pet health UX and UI design.

• Leadership: Potential to grow into a Principal Designer role or lead design initiatives within larger product areas.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning in user research, advanced Figma techniques, and data-driven design methodologies.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gaining experience working with diverse teams across technology, operations, and clinical services.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from the Head of Design and potentially mentor less experienced designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for growth within a rapidly expanding organization in a growing industry. The emphasis on "driving design within their squad" suggests an opportunity for increasing responsibility and influence over time, potentially leading to leadership roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "remote-first" for the technology teams, with physical hubs in London, Bristol, Stockholm, and Porto. This implies a hybrid work model where remote work is the norm, but office presence is available for collaboration and specific needs. The Keynsham location is identified as a "Chocolate Factory," which is likely an internal reference or the specific site of operations, offering a unique work environment.

Office Location(s):

• Keynsham, Bristol, England (main identified physical location).

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hubs: The physical hubs in major cities provide spaces for in-person collaboration, workshops, and team building.

• Technology & Tools: Access to modern design tools like Figma and established design systems.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with product managers, engineers, and fellow designers, both remotely via digital tools and potentially in person.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, likely around 40 hours per week. The "remote-first" and "work-life balance" emphasis suggests flexibility in daily scheduling, provided that core collaboration hours and project deadlines are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid and remote-first nature of the role offers significant flexibility. Candidates should be comfortable working autonomously and effectively communicating across different locations and time zones. The availability of physical hubs for collaboration is a plus for those who prefer some in-office interaction.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A core part of the process will involve presenting your portfolio, discussing your process, and potentially completing a design challenge that simulates real-world problems faced by IVC Evidensia.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with Kieron-Scott Woodhouse (Head of Design) to delve deeper into your experience, design philosophy, and strategic thinking.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product and Engineering team members to assess collaboration skills and technical understanding.

• Final Interview: Potentially a final round with senior leadership to confirm fit and vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase your end-to-end design process.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, your process, the challenges you faced, the solutions you designed, and the impact of your work (quantifiable if possible).

• Highlight Research & Iteration: Emphasize how user research informed your decisions and how you iterated based on feedback and data.

• Showcase Figma Skills: Be ready to discuss your use of Figma, including any advanced features or how you've utilized design systems.

• Explain Your "Why": Be prepared to articulate the strategic thinking behind your design choices and why you believe they are the right solutions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research IVC Evidensia, the veterinary industry, and common challenges faced by pet owners and vets.

• Focus on Process: For any design challenge, clearly outline your approach, even if you can't complete the entire thing. Demonstrate your thinking.

• Consider Constraints: Be mindful of practical constraints like legacy systems, budget, and implementation feasibility, as mentioned in the job description.

• Practice Presentation: Rehearse explaining your thought process concisely and clearly, as you'll need to present your work and rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely heavily weigh your portfolio and your ability to articulate your design process and strategic thinking. Preparing specific examples for how you've driven outcomes, collaborated with engineers, and championed user-centered design will be key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for all UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency with advanced features like variables and auto-layout is preferred.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is mentioned, other prototyping tools might be used or appreciated.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Tools: While not explicitly mentioned for designers, understanding how to interpret data from analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to inform design decisions is beneficial.

• User Feedback Platforms: Tools for collecting and analyzing user feedback.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly in the designer's remit, understanding how the design impacts user journeys within CRM systems or automated workflows can be advantageous. Understanding the broader technology ecosystem is valuable.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the core tool. Familiarity with design systems is crucial. While not explicitly required, an understanding of how design integrates with analytics for data-driven decision-making and how design impacts user journeys within broader systems is a significant advantage for a "Senior" level role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Kindness, Humility, Authenticity: Core personal values expected from all team members, fostering a supportive and respectful environment.

• Seeking to Understand: Emphasizes empathy and active listening towards colleagues and users.

• Assuming Good Intentions: Promotes a positive and constructive team dynamic.

• Bringing Your Best Self: Encourages high performance and commitment.

• Challenging Others to Do the Same: Fosters a culture of continuous improvement and mutual accountability.

• User-Centredness: A foundational principle for all product and design work.

• Data-Driven Approach: Decisions are informed by research and analytics.

• Efficiency and Effectiveness: Focus on enabling practitioners to deliver high-quality care efficiently.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers work closely with Product Managers and Engineers in a squad model.

• Open Communication: Encourages honest and actionable feedback among colleagues.

• Proactive Engagement: Team members are expected to take initiative and ask questions to improve together.

• Domain Exploration: Willingness to collaborate and learn about new domains (veterinary health).

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture emphasizes strong interpersonal skills and collaborative values, alongside professional excellence. The emphasis on "kindness, humility, and authenticity" suggests a supportive and inclusive work environment, which is increasingly important for attracting and retaining talent in the tech industry.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Domain Newness: Adapting to and quickly understanding the complexities of the veterinary and pet health industry.

• Legacy Systems: Designing alongside or integrating with existing, potentially older, technology infrastructure.

• Balancing Ambition with Iteration: Achieving creative ambition while delivering iteratively and learning quickly.

• Cross-functional Communication: Effectively articulating design strategy to stakeholders who may not have a design background.

• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong team cohesion and effective communication in a remote-first environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Expertise: Gaining deep knowledge in the growing pet health technology sector.

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to master Figma's advanced features and contribute to sophisticated design systems.

• Product Strategy: Involvement in strategic product discussions and decision-making processes.

• Mentorship: Learning from experienced design leadership and potentially guiding junior team members.

• Industry Trends: Staying current with UX/UI best practices and emerging technologies in digital product design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a growing tech company in a specialized industry. The opportunities for learning and development are significant, particularly for those looking to build expertise in a niche but rapidly expanding market.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to quickly learn a new domain to inform your design. How did you approach it?" (Focus on user research methods and learning agility).

• "How do you balance creative ambition with the constraints of legacy systems or iterative delivery?" (Highlight your "Think Big, Test Small" approach and pragmatic problem-solving).

• "Walk us through a project where you had to present your design rationale to stakeholders who were unfamiliar with design principles. How did you ensure they understood and bought into your vision?" (Prepare a specific case study and focus on communication strategy).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about IVC Evidensia and the pet health industry?" (Show genuine research and enthusiasm for the domain).

• "How do you embody the values of kindness, humility, and authenticity in a team setting?" (Provide specific examples of your collaborative behavior).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your presentation logically: Problem -> Research -> Ideation -> Solution -> Impact.

• Focus on Your Role: Clearly define your contribution, especially if it was a collaborative project.

• Visual Storytelling: Use visuals effectively, but ensure they support your narrative, not replace it.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, improved efficiency, reduced errors).

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, trade-offs, and alternative solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills but also strategic thinking, strong communication, and a collaborative, growth-oriented mindset. Being able to articulate the "why" behind your design decisions and showcasing how you've driven tangible outcomes will be critical.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application directly through the provided Lever.co link.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest end-to-end design projects. Ensure they clearly showcase your UX, UI, interaction design skills, and your process, especially your user research and iterative design approach. Tailor the project selection to highlight relevant experience if possible (e.g., complex workflows, user engagement features).

• Optimize Your Resume: Highlight keywords from the job description such as "UX Design," "UI Design," "Figma," "Design Systems," "User Research," "Prototyping," and "Collaboration." Quantify your achievements wherever possible.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Rehearse walking through your portfolio projects. Be ready to discuss your design rationale, trade-offs, and the impact of your work. Practice explaining your process and how you collaborate with cross-functional teams.

• Research IVC Evidensia: Understand their mission, the veterinary industry, and their digital products. Identify potential areas where design could further enhance their services for pet owners and professionals.

⚠️ 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.

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