UX Designer (12-Month FTC)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer (12-Month FTC) Company: Lloyds Banking Group Location: Halifax / Leeds, United Kingdom Job Type: Full-Time, Contract (12-Month FTC) Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Digital Product Design Date Posted: August 27, 2025 Experience Level: Entry-Level to Junior (0-2 years) Remote Status: Hybrid (2 days/week in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on user-centered design within a large financial services organization, emphasizing the creation of intuitive and accessible digital experiences.
• The UX Designer will collaborate with a full-stack design team, contributing to the development and application of a central design system.
• Key responsibilities include translating business requirements and user needs into effective UI designs and prototypes.
• The position offers a structured 12-month fixed-term contract, providing valuable experience within a major UK financial institution.
• A strong emphasis is placed on understanding and advocating for customer inclusion and accessibility in all design outputs.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the input data suggests an "entry-level to junior" experience level, the responsibilities and expectations for balancing business requirements with user needs, presenting designs to stakeholders, and working with design systems indicate that candidates with some prior internship or project experience in UX design will be best suited. The "12-Month FTC" nature of the role suggests a need for candidates who can quickly integrate and contribute.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and layout user interfaces and pages, leveraging components from an established design system to optimize content and UI element balance.
• Create interactive prototypes using various software such as Sketch, InVision, Figma, Axure, or Adobe XD to visualize and test design concepts.
• Act as a bridge between business requirements and user needs, learning to align internal customer needs with user research insights.
• Provide guidance on user experience, adapting to the technical constraints of different platforms while ensuring optimal end-user experiences.
• Champion customer inclusion and accessibility, ensuring designs cater to users of diverse ages, backgrounds, and technical abilities.
• Collaborate effectively with a full-stack design team, including UX Writers and Service Designers, to connect different design disciplines through rapid prototyping.
• Present designs to internal stakeholders, incorporating feedback and iterating on designs to meet evolving requirements.
• Test designs with various user groups, gathering feedback, and presenting findings and design iterations to internal customers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a practical, hands-on approach to UX design, emphasizing collaboration and iterative development. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how they can integrate into an existing design framework and contribute to ongoing projects, rather than initiating entirely new design paradigms.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• A degree or equivalent practical experience in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Digital Media, Psychology, or a related field is typically expected for UX roles.

Experience:

• 0-2 years of demonstrable experience in User Experience (UX) Design or a closely related field, ideally through internships, projects, or junior roles.
• Experience in designing and iterating on digital products, with a focus on user flows, wireframes, and prototypes.
• Familiarity with working within established design systems and style guides.

Required Skills:

• Human-Centered Design Approach: A strong understanding and application of user-centered design principles and methodologies.
• Prototyping Software Proficiency: Ability to use at least one common prototyping tool (e.g., Sketch, InVision, Figma, Axure, Adobe XD) to create interactive mockups.
• User Experience (UX) Principles: Solid grasp of UX best practices, including information architecture, user flows, and usability heuristics.
• Collaboration Skills: Proven ability to work effectively within a team environment, sharing ideas and incorporating feedback from peers and stakeholders.
• Customer Inclusion & Accessibility: Understanding of inclusive design principles and how to create accessible digital experiences for diverse user groups.
• Adaptability: Willingness to adjust designs based on technical constraints and stakeholder feedback.
• Feedback Presentation: Comfort and skill in presenting design work and user feedback to internal customers and stakeholders.
• Design System Familiarity: Experience or understanding of working with and contributing to design systems.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with user research methodologies and usability testing.
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies.
• Basic understanding of front-end development principles (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to better understand technical constraints.
• Experience in the financial services industry or a regulated environment.
• Strong visual design sensibilities and an understanding of visual hierarchy.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the entry-level to junior nature of the role and the fixed-term contract, the emphasis is on foundational UX skills, a strong willingness to learn and collaborate, and the ability to adapt quickly to existing processes and tools. Demonstrating a proactive approach to learning and a clear understanding of user-centered design will be crucial.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing 3-5 relevant UX design projects that demonstrate a human-centered design process from conception to completion.
• Each project should clearly articulate the user problem, design process, key decisions, and the final solution, highlighting your specific contributions.
• Include examples of user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and ideally, any user research or testing conducted.
• Showcase your ability to work with or contribute to design systems, providing examples if possible.
• Clearly present how you balanced user needs with business requirements and any technical constraints.

Process Documentation:

• For each portfolio project, provide a concise overview of the design process followed, emphasizing iterative steps, user feedback integration, and problem-solving approaches.
• Detail the tools and software used for design and prototyping.
• If applicable, include examples of how accessibility and inclusion were considered throughout the design lifecycle.
• Be prepared to discuss the rationale behind your design choices and how they led to improved user experience or met business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role. Candidates should focus on demonstrating their understanding of the UX process and their ability to apply it practically. Projects that show collaboration, problem-solving, and a consideration for accessibility will be highly valued. Since it's a fixed-term contract, showcasing the ability to quickly contribute and adapt to a team's workflow is also important.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £39,825 - £44,250 per annum (GBP)

Benefits:

• Generous Pension Contribution: Up to 15% contribution to your pension.
• Share Schemes: Includes free shares, offering an opportunity to benefit from the company's performance.
• Adaptable Benefits: Access to benefits that can be tailored to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping.
• Holiday Entitlement: 28 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays.
• Wellbeing Initiatives: Participation in various wellbeing programs designed to support employee health.
• Generous Parental Leave: Comprehensive parental leave policies.
• Flexible Working: Hybrid working model (minimum 2 days/week in office) and Job Share options available.

Working Hours: Full-time, with an expectation of approximately 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a junior UX Designer in the UK market, particularly within a large, established financial institution. The comprehensive benefits package, including a strong pension and share schemes, adds significant value. The hybrid working arrangement offers a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services / Banking. Lloyds Banking Group is a prominent UK-based financial institution with a vast customer base and a commitment to digital transformation. Company Size: Large enterprise (over 10,000 employees). This indicates a structured environment with established processes, extensive resources, and opportunities for large-scale impact. Founded: 2009 (Lloyds Banking Group as it is known today, though its constituent banks have much longer histories). The company has a long heritage and a forward-looking strategy focused on digital innovation.

Team Structure:

• The UX Designer will be part of a broader design team, likely integrating with other UX Designers, Interaction Designers, Service Designers, UX Writers, and Visual Designers.
• The role involves collaboration with cross-functional teams, including product managers, developers, researchers, and business stakeholders.
• Reporting likely falls under a Design Lead or Head of UX within a digital product or transformation division.

Methodology:

• The company emphasizes a human-centered and collaborative approach to design, leveraging existing design systems and user research to inform decisions.
• Agile methodologies are likely employed, requiring adaptability and iterative development.
• A strong focus on customer inclusion and digital accessibility is a core tenet.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Working within a large financial institution like LBG means adhering to stringent regulatory requirements and a focus on security and customer trust, which can influence design decisions. The scale of operations offers opportunities to impact millions of users.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an entry to junior-level UX Designer position, focusing on the execution of design tasks under guidance. It's an excellent stepping stone for individuals looking to build a career in UX design within a corporate environment. Reporting Structure: The UX Designer will likely report to a Senior UX Designer, Design Lead, or a Manager within the Digital Design or Product organization. They will collaborate closely with a team of designers and product development professionals. Operations Impact: While this role is focused on design execution, the UX Designer's work directly influences customer satisfaction, digital engagement, and the usability of Lloyds Banking Group's digital platforms. Well-designed interfaces can improve conversion rates, reduce customer support queries, and enhance brand perception.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas of UX, such as user research, interaction design, or accessibility.
• Design System Contribution: Potential to contribute to the evolution and maintenance of the company's design system.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining experience working with various departments (e.g., product, engineering, marketing, compliance) to understand the broader business context.
• Potential for Further Contracts/Permanent Roles: Successful performance in this FTC could lead to opportunities for further contract extensions or permanent positions within Lloyds Banking Group, dependent on business needs and individual performance.
• Learning & Development: Access to internal training, workshops, and potentially external conferences or courses to enhance UX skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The 12-month fixed-term contract is a key factor in career growth. It's an opportunity to gain significant corporate experience and build a professional network, with the potential for future employment. Candidates should view this as a significant learning and development phase.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid working model. This means a blend of working from home and in the office, with a requirement to be in the office for at least two days per week or 40% of the time. Office Location(s): Halifax and Leeds, United Kingdom. These locations are major hubs for financial services and technology in the UK.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model fosters a balance between focused individual work and collaborative team interaction.
• Office days will likely involve collaboration with colleagues, team meetings, design reviews, and workshops.
• Expect a professional corporate environment with access to standard office amenities and digital collaboration tools.
• The design team is likely to foster a culture of shared learning and constructive feedback.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time working hours, likely Monday to Friday, with flexibility offered through the hybrid working model.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role requires self-discipline and strong time management skills to balance remote work with in-office collaboration and team integration. Understanding the expectations for in-office days (e.g., for specific meetings or collaborative sessions) will be important.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: CV and portfolio review by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess suitability against the core requirements.
• Technical/Design Interview: Likely involves a discussion about your portfolio, UX process, design philosophies, and problem-solving approach. You may be asked to walk through specific projects.
• Skills Assessment/Challenge: Potentially a small design task or case study, either take-home or conducted during an interview, to assess your practical design skills, approach to problem-solving, and ability to work within constraints.
• Cultural Fit Interview: Discussion with team members or hiring manager to assess alignment with company values, team dynamics, and communication style.
• Final Interview: May involve senior stakeholders to discuss your fit for the role and potential contributions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Structure your portfolio projects as narratives. Clearly define the problem, your role, the process, the solutions, and the outcomes or learnings.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes) to illustrate your design thinking.
• Highlight Process: Emphasize your design methodology, how you incorporate user feedback, and how you collaborate with others.
• Demonstrate Impact: Quantify results where possible (e.g., "improved task completion time by X%", "reduced error rates"). For this role, focus on how your designs aim to improve user experience and accessibility.
• Tailor to the Role: Ensure your portfolio showcases projects that align with the responsibilities and skills mentioned in the job description, particularly those involving design systems and user-centered design.
• Accessibility Focus: Clearly articulate how you considered accessibility and inclusion in your projects.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Challenge: If a design challenge is given, thoroughly read and understand the brief. Ask clarifying questions.
• Define the Problem: Start by clearly defining the user problem and business objectives.
• Outline Your Approach: Briefly explain your process for tackling the challenge.
• Focus on Core UX: Prioritize user flows, information architecture, and key interactions.
• Prototype (if applicable): Create a simple, functional prototype to demonstrate your core ideas.
• Justify Decisions: Be prepared to explain the rationale behind every design choice.
• Consider Constraints: Acknowledge any technical or time constraints and how they influenced your design.
• Practice Presentation: Rehearse presenting your solution concisely and clearly.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a junior role with a fixed-term contract, the interview process will heavily weigh your potential and foundational skills. Demonstrating enthusiasm, a willingness to learn, and a clear understanding of UX principles, especially in relation to the company's focus on customer inclusion, will be paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping & Design: Sketch, InVision, Figma, Axure, Adobe XD (candidates are expected to be proficient in at least one).
• Design Systems: Experience with or understanding of how to utilize and contribute to design systems.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned for this role, familiarity with analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) and dashboarding tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) can be beneficial for understanding user behavior post-launch.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the UX Designer role, but understanding how design integrates with CRM (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms can provide broader context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in at least one of the specified prototyping tools is a hard requirement. Experience with design systems is also highly valued. The company likely uses a robust set of tools for digital product development, so familiarity with common industry standards is a plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: A primary value is to be the "best bank for customers," meaning user needs and satisfaction are central to all activities.
• Inclusion: Strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, aiming to create an organization that reflects modern society and ensuring all colleagues feel they belong.
• Integrity: Upholding high ethical standards and trust in all dealings.
• Collaboration: Encouraging teamwork and shared learning across departments and design disciplines.
• Innovation: Driving digital transformation and improving customer experiences through technology and design.
• Efficiency: Optimizing processes and digital offerings to deliver value to customers and the business.

Collaboration Style:

• Collaborative, with a focus on cross-functional teamwork involving product managers, engineers, researchers, and other designers.
• Open to feedback and iterative design discussions, fostering a supportive environment for design critique.
• Emphasis on sharing knowledge and best practices within the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they embody these values, particularly customer focus, inclusion, and collaboration, aligning their past experiences with Lloyds Banking Group's stated principles.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Diverse Needs: Effectively balancing the needs of millions of diverse customers with complex business requirements and regulatory constraints.
• Integration with Large Design Systems: Learning and adhering to a comprehensive design system while contributing to its evolution.
• Agile Environment Adaptation: Quickly integrating into an Agile workflow and contributing effectively within tight timelines.
• Stakeholder Management: Effectively communicating design rationale and incorporating feedback from various internal stakeholders with potentially differing priorities.
• Fixed-Term Contract: Navigating a role with a defined end date, requiring a strong focus on immediate contribution and learning.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• UX Skill Enhancement: Opportunities to refine skills in user research, prototyping, interaction design, and accessibility through hands-on project work.
• Industry Exposure: Gaining experience within a leading UK financial services organization, understanding the nuances of designing for a highly regulated industry.
• Design System Mastery: Deepening understanding of design system principles and best practices.
• Cross-Functional Experience: Learning from diverse teams and understanding the end-to-end product development lifecycle.
• Potential for Future Opportunities: Building a strong track record that could lead to further contract extensions or permanent roles within Lloyds Banking Group.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a junior role in a large corporation. Framing these challenges as learning opportunities and demonstrating a proactive approach to overcoming them will be key for candidates.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Walk me through a UX project from your portfolio. What was the problem, your process, and the outcome?"
  • Preparation: Select a project that best showcases your human-centered design process, your specific contributions, and your ability to articulate design decisions. Focus on the "why" behind your choices and any user feedback incorporated.
• "How do you approach balancing user needs with business requirements?"
  • Preparation: Discuss your understanding of user-centered design and how you identify and prioritize user needs. Explain methods for synthesizing business goals with user insights and how you might negotiate or find compromises when conflicts arise.
• "Describe your experience with design systems. Have you used one? Have you contributed to one?"
  • Preparation: Be ready to discuss your familiarity with design systems, their importance in creating consistent and efficient user experiences, and any specific tools or components you've worked with. If you've contributed, explain your role.
• "How do you ensure your designs are inclusive and accessible?"
  • Preparation: Discuss your understanding of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and how you incorporate them into your design process, from user research to final mockups. Mention specific considerations for different user groups.
• "What are your preferred prototyping tools and why?"
  • Preparation: Be prepared to discuss your proficiency with specific tools and why you choose them for different tasks (e.g., wireframing, high-fidelity prototyping, collaboration).
• "How do you handle constructive criticism or feedback on your designs?"
  • Preparation: Emphasize your ability to receive feedback objectively, understand its context, and iterate on designs collaboratively. Highlight a specific instance where feedback improved your work.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Lloyds Banking Group, and why are you interested in working here?"
  • Preparation: Research the company's mission, values, recent news, and digital initiatives. Connect your career aspirations and design philosophy to their goals, especially their focus on customer service and digital transformation.
• "How do you see yourself contributing to our design team's culture?"
  • Preparation: Reflect on what makes a positive team environment and how your collaborative style, willingness to learn, and proactive attitude align with the company's emphasis on teamwork and inclusion.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Concise Storytelling: Aim for 5-7 minutes per project to keep the interview moving.
• Visual Clarity: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate.
• Focus on Process: Clearly articulate the UX journey for each project.
• Stakeholder Communication: Be ready to discuss who your stakeholders were and how you communicated with them.
• Highlight Impact: Even for conceptual projects, discuss the intended impact and how you would measure success.
• Accessibility Integration: Explicitly mention how accessibility was considered in your work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Deconstruct the Brief: Understand the core problem and constraints.
• Structure Your Response: Outline your approach, key considerations, and proposed solutions.
• Focus on Rationale: Explain why you made certain design choices.
• Visual Aids: Use simple sketches or wireframes to communicate your ideas effectively.
• Time Management: Practice completing tasks within a given timeframe.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, demonstrating a solid grasp of UX fundamentals, a proactive learning attitude, and the ability to integrate into a team and existing processes are crucial. The interview will likely assess your potential and your fit within the company's culture as much as your current skill level.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Lloyds Banking Group careers portal.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating human-centered design, collaboration, and experience with design systems. Ensure it clearly showcases your UX process and problem-solving capabilities.
• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize relevant UX skills, tools, and any project experience that aligns with the job description, using keywords like "UX Design," "Human-Centered Design," "Prototyping," "Figma/Sketch," and "Accessibility."
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and project outcomes clearly. Be ready to discuss your understanding of customer inclusion and how you've applied it. Prepare to present your portfolio and potentially complete a design challenge.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Lloyds Banking Group's mission, values, and digital strategy. Understand their commitment to customer service and inclusion to better tailor your responses and demonstrate cultural fit.

⚠️ 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.