UX Designer - (12-Month FTC)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Designer (12-Month FTC)

Company: Lloyds Banking Group

Location: Manchester, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time, Contract (12-Month Fixed-Term Contract)

Category: User Experience (UX) / User Interface (UI) Design, Digital Product Design

Date Posted: February 09, 2026

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

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and deliver intuitive, accessible digital experiences within a dynamic, start-up style innovation team.

• Drive the end-to-end user experience journey from concept through Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and scaling.

• Utilize Figma for prototyping and design, and lead user testing sessions to validate solutions.

• Collaborate closely with product owners, engineers, and fellow designers to translate complex outcomes into user-centric designs.

• Advocate for customer inclusion, ensuring all designs meet accessibility standards and cater to diverse user needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is framed within an innovation team at Lloyds Banking Group, suggesting a focus on exploring new digital capabilities and bringing them to market rapidly. The 12-month FTC indicates a project-based need, likely for a specific initiative or product development cycle. The "start-up style" environment implies a need for individuals comfortable with ambiguity, rapid iteration, and cross-functional collaboration.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Craft cohesive user journeys by meticulously designing interaction patterns and user flows across multiple modalities.

• Translate user needs and business requirements into compelling and functional digital product designs.

• Develop and maintain scalable interfaces using established design systems, ensuring consistency and efficiency.

• Create rapid prototypes and conduct lightweight experiments to validate design concepts and inform product direction.

• Map out information architecture and synthesize insights to structure complex user flows and journeys, especially in ambiguous environments.

• Champion accessible and inclusive design practices, applying accessibility standards from the outset.

• Balance user needs with product growth objectives, focusing on value proposition and measurable experience outcomes.

• Conduct user research, gather feedback, and present rationale to align stakeholders on design decisions.

• Collaborate effectively with product owners, engineers, and other designers to ensure seamless integration of design into development.

• Adapt designs to technical constraints of different platforms while guiding the creation of optimal end-user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design thinking (product thinking, experience mapping) and hands-on execution (Figma, prototyping, user testing). The emphasis on stakeholder alignment and adapting to technical constraints points to the need for strong communication and problem-solving skills, crucial for GTM and product development success.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While specific educational requirements are not detailed, a Bachelor's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is typically preferred for UX/UI roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: 2-5 years of experience in UX/UI design, with a strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end digital product design. Experience in a financial services or regulated industry is a plus.

Required Skills:

• Interaction Design & Design Systems: Proven ability to build scalable interfaces using design systems and design across multiple modalities and interaction contexts.

• Prototyping & Interaction Experimentation: Proficiency in creating rapid prototypes and conducting lightweight experiments to validate ideas.

• Information Architecture & Experience Mapping: Expertise in structuring user flows and journeys, synthesizing insights, even in ambiguous environments.

• Accessible & Inclusive Design: Demonstrated application of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and a strong commitment to inclusive design practices.

• Product Thinking & Outcome Focus: Ability to balance user needs with product growth, value proposition thinking, and measurable experience outcomes.

• Figma Proficiency: Strong command of Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• User Testing: Experience in planning, conducting, and analyzing user testing sessions.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Ability to gather user research and rationale to gain buy-in from stakeholders.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven experience working effectively with product owners and engineers.

Preferred Skills:

• Behavioural psychology and persuasive design principles.

• Experience collaborating with visual and content design teams.

• Facilitation of multi-disciplinary workshops and critique sessions.

• Familiarity with user experience measurement frameworks (e.g., EBVI - Experience-Based Value Index).

• Experience in mentoring junior designers or contributing to craft development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Essential Skills" align with core UX/UI competencies needed for product development and GTM strategy execution. The "Desirable Skills" suggest opportunities for candidates to differentiate themselves by bringing expertise in areas like behavioral economics and advanced measurement frameworks, which can significantly impact product adoption and customer lifetime value.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end design process for at least 2-3 digital products, from user research to final implementation.

• Clearly articulate your role, the problem statement, your design decisions, and the rationale behind them.

• Demonstrate proficiency in Figma for creating wireframes, interactive prototypes, and final UI designs.

• Include examples of how you've applied design systems and ensured consistency across platforms.

• Present case studies that highlight your ability to balance user needs with business objectives and technical constraints.

Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how you document user flows, information architecture, and interaction specifications.

• Showcase your approach to user research, including methodologies used and how insights were synthesized.

• Illustrate your process for collaborating with engineering and product management teams, including handoff procedures.

• Include examples of how you ensure accessibility and inclusion are integrated throughout the design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX/UI role, the portfolio is paramount. It serves as tangible proof of a candidate's design thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to execute. A strong portfolio will demonstrate a deep understanding of user-centered design principles and how they translate into successful digital products, directly impacting GTM strategies.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £59,850 - £66,500 per annum. The specific salary within this range will be determined by the candidate's experience and qualifications.

Benefits:

• Pension Contribution: A generous pension contribution of up to 15%.

• Performance Bonus: An annual performance-related bonus.

• Share Schemes: Including free shares, offering long-term financial participation.

• Lifestyle Adaptations: Benefits that can be tailored to individual needs, such as discounted shopping.

• Holiday Allowance: 30 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays.

• Wellbeing Initiatives: A range of programs and resources to support employee wellbeing.

• Parental Leave: Generous policies for parental leave.

Working Hours: Full-time, with a standard working pattern that involves spending at least two days per week (40% of time) in the Manchester office. The stated working hours are approximately 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a mid-level UX/UI Designer in the UK market, particularly within a large financial institution. The comprehensive benefits package reflects Lloyds Banking Group's commitment to employee welfare and long-term engagement, which can be a significant factor for candidates evaluating a role's overall value proposition. The hybrid model with a specific office commitment is a key detail for candidates to consider.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services, Banking, Digital Transformation. Lloyds Banking Group is a cornerstone of the UK's financial sector, undergoing significant digital transformation to remain competitive and customer-centric. This context means a strong focus on security, compliance, and customer trust, alongside innovation.

Company Size: Large enterprise (over 10,000 employees). This implies a structured environment with established processes, but also opportunities for impact within specialized teams.

Founded: 2009 (Lloyds Banking Group formed through merger). The group has a long heritage in UK banking, with a modern focus on digital innovation and customer service.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Group Innovation team, which operates with a "start-up style" environment.

• This team is part of the GCOO (Group Chief Operating Officer) organisation, suggesting a focus on operational excellence, efficiency, and driving strategic initiatives.

Methodology:

• Agile & Iterative Development: The "start-up style" and focus on MVP suggest an agile methodology, emphasizing rapid iteration, experimentation, and continuous feedback loops.

• User-Centric Design: A core tenet, with a focus on understanding customer needs and translating them into intuitive digital experiences.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: While not explicitly stated, innovation teams typically leverage data and user research to validate hypotheses and guide product development.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The "start-up style" within a large, established organization like Lloyds Banking Group offers a unique environment. It combines the agility and innovation focus of a startup with the stability, resources, and reach of a major corporation. This is an attractive proposition for operations professionals looking for impactful work without sacrificing security.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level UX/UI Designer. This role is suitable for individuals with a solid foundation in UX/UI principles and a proven track record of contributing to digital product development. The focus on end-to-end experience design and stakeholder alignment suggests a role with significant individual contribution and influence.

Reporting Structure: The UX/UI Designer reports within the Group Innovation team, likely to a Design Lead, Innovation Lead, or Product Owner. Collaboration will be cross-functional, involving Product Owners and Engineers.

Operations Impact: This role directly impacts the user experience of digital products, which is critical for customer acquisition, retention, and satisfaction in the financial services sector. Well-designed digital interfaces drive customer engagement, reduce support costs, and support the bank's broader GTM strategies by making products accessible and appealing. The innovation team's output can shape future product offerings and revenue streams.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like accessibility, interaction design, or user research methodologies.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining experience working with diverse teams (engineering, product, business) within a large financial institution.

• Innovation Exposure: Involvement in cutting-edge projects and new product development, potentially leading to future opportunities within innovation or product teams.

• Mentorship: Potential to mentor junior designers or be mentored by senior leaders within the innovation or design functions.

• Contract Extension/Conversion: While a 12-month FTC, successful performance could lead to extensions or opportunities for permanent roles within Lloyds Banking Group.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities are tied to both specialized skill development within UX/UI and broader exposure to product strategy and innovation within a large enterprise. This role can serve as a stepping stone for further career progression in digital product design or innovation roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. Employees are expected to spend at least two days per week (40%) in the Manchester office. This model aims to balance the benefits of in-person collaboration with the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): Manchester, Westminster House. Occasional travel to other group locations (e.g., Leeds, London, and Edinburgh) may be required.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The Manchester office likely serves as a hub for collaboration, team meetings, workshops, and fostering team cohesion.

• In-house Resources: As part of a large organization, expect access to standard office amenities, technology, and potentially dedicated design labs or collaboration spaces within the office.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model encourages concentrated in-person interaction during office days, facilitating teamwork, brainstorming, and quick problem-solving sessions with designers, product owners, and engineers.

Work Schedule: Full-time, approximately 40 hours per week. The hybrid schedule allows for flexibility in structuring the work week, with a clear expectation for in-office presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment is a key aspect of this role. Candidates should be comfortable with a structured hybrid model that requires regular in-office presence for collaboration, while also valuing the flexibility it offers. The specific office location in Manchester is a practical consideration for local candidates.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter will review applications and conduct a brief screening call to assess basic qualifications and alignment with the role.

2. Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing their design process, problem-solving approach, and specific project details. This stage often includes technical questions related to UX/UI principles, tools, and methodologies.

3. Team/Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the hiring manager and potentially team members to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and deeper understanding of the role's requirements and challenges.

4. Final Interview/Assessment: May involve a design challenge or a more in-depth discussion about strategic thinking and impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio around project case studies, clearly outlining the problem, your process, your role, the solutions, and the outcomes.

• Showcase Your Process: Emphasize your design thinking, research methods, iteration cycles, and how you arrived at your final designs. Don't just show final screens.

• Highlight Impact: Quantify results where possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, positive user feedback). Link your design decisions to measurable outcomes.

• Demonstrate Figma Proficiency: Ensure your Figma work is well-organized and clearly presented, showcasing your skills in prototyping and component-based design.

• Address Accessibility: Explicitly detail how you incorporate accessibility and inclusive design principles into your work.

• Tailor to the Role: While showcasing breadth, highlight projects that best align with the responsibilities outlined for this specific role (innovation, end-to-end design, hybrid environments).

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a design challenge that might involve solving a problem within a simulated banking or innovation context.

• Focus on your process: how you approach the problem, what questions you ask, how you would conduct research, and how you'd iterate.

• Practice presenting your thought process concisely and clearly, as if you were explaining it to a product owner or engineer.

• Consider how you would balance user needs with business constraints and technical feasibility, common in enterprise environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes a strong portfolio and practical application of UX/UI skills. Candidates should be ready to articulate their design decisions and demonstrate their problem-solving capabilities in a structured manner, reflecting the professional standards of a large financial institution.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The primary tool for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is essential.

• Prototyping Tools: In addition to Figma's capabilities, experience with other prototyping tools might be beneficial for rapid experimentation.

• User Research Platforms: Familiarity with tools for conducting remote user testing, surveys, and interviews (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, SurveyMonkey).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Understanding of tools like Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics for tracking user behavior on digital platforms.

• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools that can help visualize user data and performance metrics (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) can be advantageous for understanding product outcomes.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a UX/UI tool, an understanding of how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms integrate with digital experiences can provide valuable context for product design.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is clearly identified as the core tool. Candidates should be adept at using its advanced features for complex prototyping and design system management. Familiarity with user research and analytics tools will enable the designer to effectively validate designs and measure their impact, crucial for GTM success.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Centricity: A primary focus on understanding and serving customer needs through intuitive and accessible design.

• Innovation & Experimentation: A willingness to explore new ideas, test hypotheses rapidly, and embrace a start-up mentality within the innovation team.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working effectively with cross-functional teams (product, engineering) to achieve shared goals.

• Inclusivity & Accessibility: A commitment to designing for all users, ensuring digital products are usable by people of all abilities and backgrounds.

• Outcome Orientation: A focus on delivering measurable value and driving positive results for both customers and the business.

Collaboration Style:

• Agile & Iterative: Working in short cycles, with frequent feedback and adjustments.

• Cross-functional Partnership: Close collaboration with Product Owners for requirements and strategy, and Engineers for feasibility and implementation.

• Design Critiques: Participating in and leading design reviews to provide and receive constructive feedback.

• Transparent Communication: Openly sharing progress, challenges, and insights with team members and stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture blends the dynamism of innovation with the core values of a major financial institution. This means a drive for new solutions tempered by a strong sense of responsibility, security, and customer well-being. Candidates who thrive in collaborative, iterative environments and are passionate about user advocacy will fit well.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation with Regulation: Navigating the inherent need for innovation within a highly regulated industry like banking, ensuring designs are both cutting-edge and compliant.

• Managing Ambiguity in Innovation: Working in a start-up style environment means dealing with evolving requirements and potentially undefined problem spaces.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring buy-in and clear communication across diverse stakeholders with potentially differing priorities.

• Technical Constraints: Adapting designs to the realities of existing technology stacks and platform limitations.

• Fixed-Term Contract: The 12-month duration requires rapid integration and immediate contribution.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Exposure to Financial Services Innovation: Gaining insights into how a large bank approaches digital transformation and new product development.

• Advanced UX/UI Skills: Opportunity to refine skills in areas like complex user flows, design systems, and user research methodologies.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Working closely with product managers, engineers, and business analysts, understanding their perspectives and contributions.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Building a strong portfolio with impactful projects that can accelerate future career growth.

• Networking: Building professional connections within Lloyds Banking Group.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for innovation roles within established enterprises. Success will depend on adaptability, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to translate complex requirements into user-friendly designs efficiently, which directly supports the GTM execution of new products.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting user needs and business requirements. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your negotiation and problem-solving process).

• "How do you ensure your designs are accessible and inclusive? Walk us through a specific example." (Highlight your understanding of standards and practical application).

• "Describe your process for conducting user research and translating those insights into design decisions." (Emphasize your methodology and impact).

• "How do you collaborate with engineers and product owners to ensure a smooth design-to-development handoff?" (Focus on communication and process).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for Lloyds Banking Group and specifically within our Group Innovation team?" (Research the company's recent digital initiatives, innovation efforts, and values).

• "How do you define success for a UX/UI designer in an innovation setting?" (Connect your definition to impact, collaboration, and iteration).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the "Why": Clearly articulate the problem you were solving for each project.

• Walk Through Your Process: Explain your steps logically, from research to ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.

• Justify Your Decisions: Be prepared to explain why you made specific design choices, referencing user research, design principles, or business goals.

• Showcase Figma Skills: Have your Figma files ready to demonstrate your interaction design, prototyping capabilities, and organizational structure.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, present metrics or user feedback that demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice your presentation to ensure it flows well and stays within a reasonable timeframe.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong understanding of the UX/UI design process, the ability to articulate design decisions, and a collaborative, user-centric mindset. Tailoring responses to the financial services context and the innovative nature of the team will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Lloyds Banking Group careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects that demonstrate end-to-end design thinking, Figma proficiency, user research, and collaboration, aligning with the role's responsibilities.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight relevant UX/UI skills, experience with design systems, prototyping, and any experience in regulated industries or innovation environments. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, key decisions, and project outcomes clearly and concisely, with a focus on user impact and business value.

• Research Lloyds Banking Group: Understand their digital strategy, innovation initiatives, and company values to tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions based on the provided information. All details, including specific responsibilities, qualifications, and compensation, should be verified directly with the hiring organization during the application and interview process.