Lead Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Designer

Company: Co-op

Location: Manchester, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Design Operations / Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-28

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead complex digital product initiatives, focusing on interaction design and usability to create simple, inclusive, and effective customer experiences.

• Drive broader design practice across product ecosystems, integrating research, content, optimisation, and service design for cohesive end-to-end customer journeys.

• Coach and mentor designers across various disciplines (interaction, research, content, service design) to develop team capability and elevate design standards.

• Utilise research, insight, and data to inform design decisions, improve customer outcomes, and measure the impact of design solutions on business performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior individual contributor with significant leadership and mentorship responsibilities within the design function. The emphasis on "Lead design activity across complex product initiatives" and "Coach, mentor and support designers" indicates a strong focus on both strategic design execution and people development, typical of a Lead Designer role in a mature product organisation. The "generalist design role with a strong focus on interaction design" suggests a need for breadth of skill across the design spectrum, with a specialization in interaction design.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and own the design process for significant product initiatives, initially within the Quick Commerce Value Stream, ensuring user-centred and accessible digital experiences.

• Shape and deliver intuitive, user-centred digital experiences, with a particular emphasis on interaction design, usability, and overall customer flow.

• Drive the evolution of design practices across the product ecosystem, orchestrating user research, content strategy, optimisation efforts, and service design to create holistic customer journeys.

• Facilitate impactful workshops, present design concepts and decisions persuasively to diverse audiences, and build consensus among stakeholders.

• Provide coaching, mentorship, and developmental support to interaction, research, content, and service designers, fostering skill growth and team capability.

• Leverage user research, data analytics, and customer insights to guide design decisions and achieve measurable improvements in customer outcomes and business KPIs.

• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, delivery teams, and other stakeholders to identify opportunities, solve complex problems, and deliver tangible value.

• Champion and uphold high standards for design quality, accessibility, and user-centred design principles throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Actively contribute to the continuous improvement of the organisation's design practices, tools, methodologies, and overall ways of working.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design leadership and team enablement. The expectation to "Drive broader design practice" and "Champion high standards" indicates a strategic influence beyond individual project contributions. The focus on "Quick Commerce Value Stream" provides a specific initial context for the role's impact.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While formal education requirements are not explicitly stated, a degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, or a related field is often preferred for senior design roles. The emphasis is on demonstrated experience and portfolio quality.

Experience: 5-10 years of proven experience in interaction design and usability, with a strong track record of solving complex customer problems for digital products. Experience in leading end-to-end design activities from discovery through to delivery, including measuring impact.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in interaction design and usability, with a portfolio showcasing solutions to complex digital product challenges.

• Strong design craft skills, with proficiency in rapid exploration, prototyping, and idea communication using tools such as Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, sketching, and paper prototyping.

• Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence decisions, build alignment, and navigate ambiguity.

• Demonstrated ability to work confidently across multiple design disciplines, including user research, service design, content design, and accessibility.

• Experience working collaboratively within multidisciplinary product teams, including product managers, engineers, and delivery colleagues.

• Experience leading end-to-end design activities, from opportunity identification and problem definition to solution delivery and impact measurement.

• Experience in coaching, mentoring, and supporting the professional development of other designers.

• Pragmatic and collaborative approach to problem-solving.

• Confidence in balancing competing priorities and leading design activities from discovery through to delivery.

• Familiarity with AI-assisted ideation techniques. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in a retail or e-commerce environment, particularly in areas like Quick Commerce.

• Experience with A/B testing and data analysis to validate design hypotheses and measure performance.

• Understanding of agile development methodologies and experience working within agile product teams.

• Familiarity with design systems and their implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements clearly prioritize practical experience and a strong portfolio over formal education. The inclusion of "AI-assisted ideation" points to a forward-thinking approach to design tools and methodologies. The emphasis on "balancing competing priorities" and "leading design activity from discovery through to delivery" highlights the need for strong project management and end-to-end ownership capabilities.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating a deep understanding of interaction design principles and usability best practices.

• Case studies that clearly articulate complex customer problems, the design process undertaken, and the measurable impact of the solutions on customer experience and business outcomes.

• Evidence of end-to-end design leadership, from initial discovery and user research to final delivery and post-launch analysis.

• Examples showcasing collaboration with multidisciplinary teams (product, engineering) and effective stakeholder management.

• Demonstrations of ability to work across various design disciplines, including user research, service design, and content design.

• Proof of coaching and mentoring junior designers, highlighting leadership potential and team development contributions.

• Inclusion of work that highlights accessibility considerations and inclusive design practices. Process Documentation:

• Showcase a structured approach to design problem-solving, detailing how you move from understanding a problem to defining solutions.

• Illustrate experience with user research methodologies and how insights were translated into actionable design decisions.

• Detail your prototyping process, from low-fidelity sketches to high-fidelity interactive prototypes, and how these were used for testing and communication.

• Demonstrate how you collaborate with engineering and product teams to ensure successful implementation and iteration of designs.

• Provide examples of how you measure the success of your designs post-launch, using data and customer feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are central to this role, emphasizing not just the final output but the entire design process, problem-solving approach, and impact measurement. The explicit mention of "end-to-end design leadership" and "coaching and mentoring" suggests that the portfolio should also reflect leadership and team development capabilities.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: From £60,000 per annum.

Benefits:

• Annual bonus (based on personal and business performance).

• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays.

• Pension scheme with up to 10% employer contributions.

• Private healthcare.

• Access to a subsidised onsite gym at the Manchester HQ.

• 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands.

• Stream: Early access to a percentage of earned pay.

• Virtual healthcare, including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition, and fitness advice.

• 24/7 colleague support service.

• Training and support for development and career progression.

• Cycle-to-work scheme.

Working Hours: Standard working hours are implied to be around 40 hours per week, with flexibility and hybrid working arrangements encouraged. The role is full-time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The stated salary of £60,000 is a starting point. Given the "Lead" title, 5-10 years of experience, and hybrid working environment in Manchester, the salary could potentially extend higher for exceptionally qualified candidates. The benefits package is comprehensive, with strong emphasis on employee well-being, financial security, and work-life balance. The inclusion of a subsidised gym and discounts on Co-op products are specific perks.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Retail (Co-operative Retail Services). The Co-op is a unique consumer co-operative business, owned by its members, with a strong focus on community, ethical practices, and social responsibility. This context influences its approach to customer experience and digital product development, often prioritizing long-term value and customer well-being over short-term gains.

Company Size: Large enterprise. As a major UK retailer with a significant digital presence, Co-op likely employs thousands of individuals across various functions, including a substantial digital, technology, and data team.

Founded: The Co-op was founded in 1844, giving it a long history and established presence. This historical context often imbues a strong sense of purpose and legacy into its operations and culture.

Team Structure:

• The Lead Designer will be part of the Experience and Product Design team, which is a sub-function within the broader Digital, Technology, and Data organisation.

• This role will initially support the Quick Commerce Value Stream, implying a product-centric team structure where designers work closely with Product Managers, Engineers, Researchers, and Content Strategists.

• The role involves coaching and mentoring other designers, suggesting a flat or matrixed team structure where leadership is distributed and influence is key.

• Collaboration is expected to be cross-functional, involving various departments and stakeholders to deliver cohesive customer experiences. Methodology:

• The Co-op is actively reshaping its Digital, Technology, and Data functions, indicating a move towards more modern, agile, and user-centric ways of working.

• Emphasis is placed on creating simple, inclusive, and effective digital experiences, suggesting a commitment to user-centred design principles and accessibility standards.

• The role requires using research, insight, and data to inform design decisions, pointing towards a data-driven approach to product development and optimisation.

• Continuous improvement of design practices, tools, and ways of working is a stated goal, suggesting an iterative and learning-oriented culture.

Company Website: https://www.coop.co.uk/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's co-operative model and historical legacy are significant cultural differentiators. For a designer, this implies a focus on ethical design, community impact, and long-term customer relationships, which can be a strong motivator for candidates. The "reshaping" of their digital functions suggests an organisation undergoing transformation, offering opportunities for individuals to influence and drive change.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Lead Designer. This signifies a senior individual contributor role with significant responsibility for leading design initiatives, mentoring junior team members, and influencing design strategy and practice across product teams. It bridges advanced individual contribution with emerging leadership responsibilities.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Lead Designer typically reports to a Design Manager, Head of Design, or a Director within the Digital/Technology organisation. They will, however, work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within their assigned value stream.

Operations Impact: The Lead Designer is expected to have a direct impact on customer experience, business performance, and the overall effectiveness of digital products, particularly within the rapidly evolving Quick Commerce area. Their work will influence customer acquisition, retention, satisfaction, and ultimately, revenue generation through improved digital engagement and transaction success.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Progression to Design Manager or Head of Design roles, overseeing larger teams and strategic design initiatives.

• Specialisation: Deepening expertise in specific areas of design (e.g., service design strategy, accessibility leadership, advanced interaction design) or moving into product management.

• Cross-Functional Moves: Opportunities to move into Product Management, UX Strategy, or other related roles within the Digital, Technology, and Data functions.

• Mentorship & Coaching: Developing strong leadership and coaching skills, which are transferable to various management and senior individual contributor roles.

• Industry Influence: Contributing to the broader design practice at Co-op, potentially by leading community initiatives, developing design systems, or championing new methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title is a critical indicator of career progression. It suggests that candidates should be looking for opportunities to not only execute design but also to shape processes, mentor others, and have a strategic voice. The emphasis on "developing capability across the team" points to a strong pathway for individuals interested in people management or design leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid working model, with a requirement to spend time at the Manchester HQ (1 Angel Square, M60 0AG) for workshops, team meetings, and events, while also working remotely. This indicates a modern, flexible work environment designed to balance in-person collaboration with remote autonomy.

Office Location(s): The primary office is located at 1 Angel Square, Manchester, M60 0AG. This is a central Manchester location, likely well-connected by public transport. The company also has a broader network of locations, but this role is based in Manchester.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The Manchester HQ is designed to foster collaboration, with spaces for workshops, team meetings, and events, encouraging in-person interaction and idea exchange.

• Modern Tech Stack: Access to necessary design tools and technology is implied, including Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, and potentially other emerging tools for prototyping and ideation.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with multidisciplinary product teams, design peers, and stakeholders, both virtually and in person, to drive projects forward and share knowledge.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with a hybrid arrangement. This suggests a degree of flexibility in daily work hours, allowing individuals to manage their schedules while ensuring core working hours and in-office days are met for collaborative activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key feature. Candidates should expect a structured approach to hybrid work, with clear expectations around in-office days for collaborative purposes, rather than a fully remote setup. The Manchester HQ is a significant hub, suggesting a vibrant office environment when present.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: Typically involves multiple stages to assess a candidate's skills, experience, and cultural fit.

• Initial Screening: A review of CV and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager.

• Technical/Design Interview: A deep dive into the candidate's portfolio, discussing specific projects, design decisions, problem-solving approaches, and impact. This may involve a design challenge or case study presentation.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential peers, product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and alignment with team dynamics.

• Leadership/Cultural Fit Interview: A final interview with senior leadership to discuss leadership potential, cultural alignment, and overall fit with the Co-op's values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure is Key: Organise your portfolio logically, using case studies to tell a compelling story about each project. Start with the problem, detail your process and role, and clearly articulate the outcomes and impact.

• Showcase Process: Don't just show final designs; demonstrate your thinking, research methods, iterations, and how you arrived at your solutions. Include sketches, wireframes, user flows, and prototypes.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data, metrics, and testimonials to demonstrate the measurable success of your designs. Focus on how you improved customer experience or business performance.

• Highlight Leadership & Mentorship: Since this is a Lead role, include examples of how you've guided projects, mentored junior designers, or influenced design strategy.

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasise projects that align with interaction design, usability, and working in multidisciplinary teams. If you have relevant retail or Quick Commerce experience, make sure it's prominent.

• Accessibility Focus: Showcase your commitment to accessibility and inclusive design by detailing how you incorporated these principles into your work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a design challenge that might involve solving a specific user problem, critiquing an existing experience, or outlining a design strategy.

• Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely. Explain why you made certain decisions.

• Be ready to present your portfolio and answer in-depth questions about your projects, your role, and your approach to design challenges.

• Research Co-op's digital presence and their Quick Commerce offering to understand their current user experience and potential areas for improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio review and potential design challenges underscores the practical nature of this role. Candidates should prepare to not only discuss their past work but also to demonstrate their design thinking and problem-solving abilities in real-time. The "Lead" aspect means demonstrating leadership and mentorship capabilities is crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for interaction design, prototyping, and collaborative design workflows. Proficiency is expected.

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Likely used for various design tasks, including visual design, image editing, and potentially motion graphics.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, candidates should be comfortable with tools for rapid prototyping, including sketching and paper prototyping.

• AI-Assisted Ideation Tools: Emerging tools for idea generation and concept exploration.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to understand user behaviour, track key metrics, and inform design decisions.

• Ability to interpret data and insights from these tools to identify opportunities for improvement. CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how design impacts customer journeys within CRM and marketing automation contexts can be beneficial.

• Experience with tools that facilitate collaboration and workflow management within product teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specified tools (Figma, Adobe CC) are standard for interaction designers. The inclusion of "AI-assisted ideation" highlights a forward-looking approach. While not explicitly listed as required, familiarity with analytics tools is crucial for demonstrating data-informed design and measuring impact.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A core value at Co-op, with a strong emphasis on understanding and serving customer needs to create simple, inclusive, and effective experiences.

• Community Focus: As a co-operative, a commitment to benefiting members and communities, which translates into ethical product development and a focus on long-term value.

• Collaboration: Working effectively within multidisciplinary teams and across different departments to achieve shared goals.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Using research, insights, and data to inform design choices and measure impact.

• Continuous Improvement: A drive to constantly refine processes, tools, and ways of working to enhance design practice and team effectiveness.

• Inclusivity & Accessibility: A commitment to creating products and experiences that are accessible to everyone.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to be embedded within product teams, working closely with Product Managers, Engineers, Researchers, and Content Strategists.

• Facilitative Leadership: The ability to lead workshops, guide discussions, and build consensus among diverse stakeholders.

• Open Communication: Encouraging a culture of feedback, knowledge sharing, and transparent communication.

• Pragmatic Problem-Solving: A hands-on, results-oriented approach to tackling challenges and delivering solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Co-op's unique co-operative model deeply influences its values. Candidates should be prepared to articulate how their design philosophy aligns with ethical considerations, community impact, and long-term customer value, beyond just functional design excellence.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Competing Priorities: Managing multiple complex product initiatives simultaneously within a fast-paced environment.

• Navigating Ambiguity: Driving design forward in a rapidly evolving digital landscape and within an organisation undergoing transformation.

• Influencing Stakeholders: Gaining buy-in and alignment from diverse stakeholders with varying priorities and perspectives.

• Scaling Design Practice: Contributing to the continuous improvement and scaling of design methodologies and standards across the organisation.

• Driving Innovation in Quick Commerce: Identifying and implementing innovative solutions in a competitive and fast-moving market.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to hone coaching, mentoring, and team leadership skills, preparing for more senior management roles.

• Strategic Design Influence: Gaining experience in shaping design strategy at a value stream or organisational level.

• Cross-Disciplinary Growth: Deepening expertise in areas beyond core interaction design, such as service design, user research, or accessibility strategy.

• Industry Trends: Staying at the forefront of design trends, tools (like AI-assisted ideation), and methodologies within the retail and digital product space.

• Co-op's Purpose-Driven Culture: Opportunities to contribute to a business with a strong social mission, fostering a sense of purpose in one's work.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents a significant opportunity for growth for designers looking to move into leadership. The challenges are typical of senior roles in dynamic environments, requiring strong problem-solving, communication, and strategic thinking skills.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led a complex design initiative from discovery to delivery. What were the key challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on process, problem-solving, leadership, and impact).

• "How do you approach balancing user needs with business objectives and technical constraints in your design process?" (Demonstrate strategic thinking and pragmatism).

• "How would you coach or mentor a junior designer who is struggling with a particular design problem or skill?" (Assess leadership and mentorship capabilities).

• "Imagine you need to convince a skeptical stakeholder about a new design direction. How would you approach this conversation?" (Evaluate communication, persuasion, and stakeholder management skills). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about the Co-op's co-operative model and its impact on customer experience?" (Showcase research and alignment with company values).

• "How do you ensure your designs are inclusive and meet accessibility standards?" (Assess commitment to these critical design principles).

• "Describe your experience working in multidisciplinary product teams. What makes for effective collaboration?" (Evaluate teamwork and communication style). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: For each case study, frame it as a narrative: the challenge, your role and approach, the solutions, and the results.

• Visual Clarity: Ensure your visuals are clean, well-annotated, and effectively communicate your design concepts and user flows.

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the measurable outcomes of your work, using data and metrics where possible.

• Process Transparency: Be ready to discuss your decision-making process, including research, ideation, iteration, and collaboration.

• Leadership Highlights: For this role, be prepared to discuss how you've led projects, mentored others, and contributed to team or practice improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a blend of strong design craft, strategic thinking, leadership potential, and alignment with the Co-op's values. The portfolio is your primary tool, so be prepared to discuss it in detail, highlighting your process, impact, and leadership contributions.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Oracle Cloud portal link.

• Portfolio Customisation: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature interaction design, usability, end-to-end project leadership, and mentorship examples. Tailor case studies to highlight problem-solving and measurable impact, aligning with the Quick Commerce context if possible.

• Resume Optimisation: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience, key responsibilities, and achievements, using keywords such as "Interaction Design," "Usability," "Design Leadership," "Mentorship," "Figma," and "User-Centred Design." Quantify your achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, decision-making rationale, and leadership experiences. Prepare to present your portfolio confidently and answer behavioural questions related to collaboration, problem-solving, and stakeholder management. Research Co-op's digital offerings, particularly Quick Commerce.

• Company Research: Familiarise yourself with the Co-op's co-operative model, mission, values, and recent digital initiatives. Understand how their unique structure influences their approach to customer experience and design.

⚠️ 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.