Lead Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer

Company: Evotix

Location: United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time, Salaried

Category: Product Design & Development

Date Posted: 2026-10-06

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years implied)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the design direction and establish the quality benchmark for Evotix's suite of products, including 360, Assure, and Learn.

• Drive hands-on design execution for high-impact projects while strategically prioritizing critical initiatives.

• Lead comprehensive customer research initiatives to inform and validate design decisions and system enhancements.

• Foster strong collaborative partnerships with Product and Engineering teams to translate complex business requirements into user-centric, technically feasible solutions.

• Own and manage the design backlog, ensuring efficient prioritization and allocation of resources across multiple product lines.

• Cultivate and grow the design team, supporting hiring, mentorship, and professional development as the organization scales.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Lead Product Designer," the responsibilities and requirements suggest a role that blends hands-on design execution with significant leadership, team management, and strategic portfolio oversight. The emphasis on "combining design leadership with hands-on delivery" and "owning and prioritising the design backlog" indicates a strategic operations-adjacent function within the product development lifecycle.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and champion the overall design vision and quality standards across all Evotix product offerings, ensuring a cohesive and high-caliber user experience.

• Actively participate in and lead customer research activities, utilizing qualitative and quantitative data to validate design concepts, assumptions, and design system decisions.

• Proactively manage and prioritize the design backlog, balancing immediate needs with long-term strategic objectives across diverse product lines.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineering leads to translate business requirements and user needs into actionable design specifications and buildable solutions.

• Develop and govern scalable design systems, promoting consistency, efficiency, and maintainability across multiple products.

• Mentor, coach, and develop a team of product designers, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.

• Evaluate and integrate AI-enabled design practices into the workflow, identifying opportunities for AI to enhance research, prototyping, and production design processes.

• Oversee the end-to-end design process from concept ideation and user research to high-fidelity prototyping and final production-ready assets.

• Communicate design strategies, priorities, and trade-offs effectively to a broad range of stakeholders, including executive leadership, product teams, and engineering.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a strategic leadership role focused on driving design excellence and operational efficiency within product development. The mention of "balancing customer value, product consistency and technical feasibility" highlights a key operational challenge for this role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: No specific educational requirements are listed, but a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for such a role.

Experience: Proven experience in leading design teams and hands-on product design, with a track record of delivering complex, configurable platform experiences.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated experience in leading and managing a design team across concurrent product lines, effectively prioritizing work amidst competing urgent demands.

• Expertise in designing user experiences for complex, configurable platforms that cater to multiple user personas.

• Proven ability to balance design leadership responsibilities with hands-on design contributions in a lean team environment.

• Practical experience in applying AI within research, prototyping, and production design, with a clear understanding of its benefits and limitations.

• Strong partnership and collaboration skills with Product and Engineering teams, adept at translating business requirements into effective, buildable design outcomes.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of articulating design direction, priorities, and trade-offs clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Proficiency in user research methodologies, including planning, conducting, and synthesizing findings to drive design decisions.

• Experience in building, governing, and scaling design systems across multiple products. Preferred Skills:

• Experience inheriting and managing a substantial existing design backlog.

• Background in designing B2B SaaS products.

• Familiarity with EHS (Environment, Health, and Safety), compliance, or other regulated industry platforms.

• Experience within a private equity-backed SaaS company.

• Experience operating in a fast-paced, scaling organizational environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Essential" qualifications highlight a blend of leadership, technical design proficiency, and strategic operational thinking. The emphasis on AI and complex platforms suggests a forward-thinking design leader.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 significant design projects that demonstrate leadership in product design, ideally involving complex platforms or B2B SaaS products.

• Clearly articulate your role and contributions within each project, specifically highlighting leadership responsibilities, team management aspects, and strategic decision-making.

• Provide evidence of your approach to customer research, including how you gathered insights and translated them into design solutions.

• Include examples of how you have contributed to or led the development of design systems, demonstrating an understanding of scalability and consistency.

• Present case studies that illustrate your ability to collaborate effectively with Product and Engineering, highlighting how you balanced user needs, business requirements, and technical feasibility.

• Showcase your understanding and practical application of AI in design workflows, if applicable, detailing the problem, your approach, and the outcomes. Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate a structured approach to managing a design backlog, including prioritization frameworks and stakeholder alignment strategies.

• Illustrate your process for leading customer research, from planning and execution to synthesis and actionable insights generation.

• Detail your methodology for developing and maintaining design systems, including component libraries, style guides, and governance processes.

• Provide examples of how you have translated business requirements into detailed design specifications and prototypes for engineering handoff.

• Explain your approach to balancing design leadership with hands-on design work, illustrating how you manage your time and team's capacity.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "Portfolio Panel interview" stage, candidates will need to prepare a robust portfolio that not only showcases design quality but also demonstrates leadership, strategic thinking, and operational management of the design process and backlog.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Lead Product Designer role in the United Kingdom with 5-10 years of experience, the estimated salary range is £70,000 - £100,000 per annum. This estimate considers the company's focus on SaaS, its private equity backing (which often implies competitive compensation structures), and the seniority of the role.

Benefits:

• Competitive base salary.

• Company-based performance bonus, linking compensation to organizational success.

• Unlimited Annual Leave, offering flexibility and trust in managing work-life balance.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing access to mental health, legal, and financial support.

• Educational benefits to support continuous learning and professional development.

• Regular team events and an inclusive environment fostering a strong team culture.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week (standard full-time).

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on UK market data for comparable roles and company profiles. The unlimited annual leave is a significant perk, though candidates should clarify expectations around minimum usage or team coverage during absences.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Evotix operates within the Software/Technology sector, specifically focusing on B2B SaaS solutions. Their products (360, Assure, Learn) are designed to improve health, safety, and compliance, indicating a focus on regulated industries and enterprise clients.

Company Size: Evotix is described as a "scaling organization," and while exact numbers aren't provided, the mention of growing the design team suggests it's beyond a startup phase but still in a growth trajectory. This implies a dynamic, potentially fast-paced environment with opportunities for impact.

Founded: Evotix was founded to bring together companies like Coras, SafetyCulture, and others under a unified platform, aiming to create a leading global provider in the EHS and compliance space. This history suggests a company built on acquisitions and integration, with a vision for consolidating market share.

Team Structure:

• The Lead Product Designer will lead a design team, implying direct reports. The exact size of this team is not specified but is expected to grow.

• This role requires close collaboration with Product Management and Engineering teams, indicating cross-functional team structures are common.

• The reporting structure will likely place the Lead Product Designer under a Head of Product, VP of Product, or similar senior leadership role within the Product organization. Methodology:

• Evotix's product suite suggests a methodology focused on delivering robust, reliable, and compliant solutions. This likely involves a strong emphasis on user research, iterative design, and rigorous quality assurance.

• The mention of AI-enabled practice suggests an openness to adopting new technologies to enhance design efficiency and effectiveness.

• The company's growth phase and private equity backing imply a focus on scalability, efficiency, and demonstrable ROI from product development efforts.

Company Website: Evotix.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on EHS and compliance means that design decisions must prioritize clarity, accuracy, and adherence to regulatory standards. This is a critical operational consideration for any candidate.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a senior leadership level within the product design function. It requires a blend of strategic oversight, team management, and hands-on design expertise. The Lead Product Designer is expected to influence product strategy, set design standards, and mentor other designers.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer will report to a senior leader in the Product organization (e.g., Head of Product, VP of Product). They will manage a team of designers and collaborate extensively with Product Managers and Engineering Leads.

Operations Impact: The Lead Product Designer has a significant impact on the operational efficiency and market success of Evotix's products. By setting design quality, streamlining the design process, and ensuring user-centricity, they directly influence user adoption, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, revenue growth. Their leadership in design systems contributes to development efficiency and consistency.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into Head of Product Design, VP of Design, or a similar executive leadership role as the company continues to scale.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas such as B2B SaaS design, AI-driven design processes, or design for regulated industries.

• Team Building: Play a key role in shaping the future of the design team at Evotix, defining its structure, culture, and talent acquisition strategy.

• Strategic Influence: Contribute to broader product strategy and company direction through design leadership and cross-functional collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities are substantial, particularly for individuals looking to build and scale a design function within a growing SaaS company. The emphasis on AI integration offers a chance to be at the forefront of design technology adoption.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site" in the United Kingdom, implying a physical office presence. This suggests a collaborative work environment where in-person interaction is valued for team cohesion and brainstorming.

Office Location(s): The job is located in the "United Kingdom." Specific city details are not provided, but candidates should assume a primary office location.

Workspace Context:

• The environment is described as a "scaling organization," suggesting a dynamic and potentially fast-paced workplace.

• Collaboration is a key aspect, with expectations of close partnership with Product and Engineering teams. This points to an open and communicative office setup.

• As a lead role, the workspace is expected to support both focused individual work (designing, research analysis) and collaborative sessions (team meetings, stakeholder presentations).

• Access to necessary design tools and technology will be provided by the company.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are 40 per week, typical for a full-time role. The "Unlimited Annual Leave" policy suggests flexibility in how individuals manage their time off, provided work responsibilities are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: While designated as on-site, the "scaling organization" context might imply a hybrid work model is becoming more common, or that flexibility within the on-site framework is possible. Candidates should clarify this during the interview process.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Chat: A preliminary discussion with the Talent team to assess initial fit, motivations, and address any immediate questions. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their career journey and interest in Evotix.

• Portfolio Panel Interview: A 90-minute session with a panel where candidates will present selected portfolio pieces. This is a critical stage where you must demonstrate not only design execution but also your strategic approach to design leadership, backlog management, and AI integration. Be ready to discuss your design philosophy, problem-solving methodology, and how you lead teams.

• Final Interview: A conversation with a senior leader in the Product organization, likely focusing on strategic alignment, leadership style, and long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your leadership, strategic thinking, and hands-on design skills. Prioritize complex projects, B2B SaaS examples, and instances where you managed a backlog or led a team.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role and approach, the challenges faced, the solutions implemented, and the measurable impact. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

• Highlight Leadership: Emphasize how you influenced design direction, managed priorities, mentored designers, and collaborated with cross-functional teams.

• Demonstrate Process: Explain your design process, including research methodologies, system design, and how you incorporated AI. Show your understanding of balancing user needs, business goals, and technical constraints.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about design trade-offs, handling difficult stakeholders, managing conflicting priorities, and your vision for design at Evotix.

Challenge Preparation:

• While no specific "challenge" is detailed, the Portfolio Panel interview serves as a comprehensive evaluation. Be prepared to discuss hypothetical scenarios related to design leadership, backlog prioritization, and AI implementation.

• Practice articulating your design strategy and leadership approach concisely and impactfully.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Portfolio Panel interview" is a key differentiator. Candidates must prepare a presentation that goes beyond showcasing visuals to detailing strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and operational management of the design function.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Expect proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator), and prototyping tools like InVision or similar. Figma is increasingly common for collaborative design systems.

• User Research: Tools for user interviews, surveys, usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, SurveyMonkey, Typeform).

• Design Systems: Familiarity with tools for managing component libraries, style guides, and documentation (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook, or integrated within Figma).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned for designers, understanding analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to interpret user behavior data would be beneficial for data-driven design decisions.

• Experience with data visualization tools for reporting on design impact could also be valuable. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant for a Product Designer, but awareness of how design integrates with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) or automation platforms used by sales and marketing might provide context.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core tools will be design-focused, understanding how design outputs feed into development workflows and impact end-user engagement through analytics is increasingly important for senior designers. Proficiency in Figma for collaborative design systems is highly probable.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Impact-Driven: A strong focus on making a tangible difference, particularly in the EHS and compliance space, where product success directly impacts user safety and regulatory adherence.

• Customer-Centricity: Dedication to understanding and solving customer problems through user research and iterative design.

• Collaboration: Emphasis on strong partnerships between Design, Product, and Engineering to achieve shared goals.

• Excellence & Quality: A commitment to high standards in design execution, product quality, and overall user experience.

• Innovation: An openness to adopting new technologies like AI to improve design processes and product capabilities.

• Growth Mindset: Encouragement of continuous learning, professional development, and adapting to a scaling environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnerships: The role necessitates close working relationships with Product Managers and Engineers, requiring open communication, active listening, and a shared sense of ownership.

• Data-Informed: Design decisions are expected to be supported by customer research and potentially product analytics.

• Iterative Process: A culture that embraces feedback, iteration, and continuous improvement in both design and development processes.

• Mentorship & Support: As a lead role, fostering a supportive environment for junior designers and sharing knowledge is crucial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission in EHS and compliance suggests a culture that values responsibility, accuracy, and making a positive impact beyond just commercial success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Priorities: Managing a design backlog with competing urgent needs across multiple product lines requires strong prioritization skills and effective stakeholder negotiation.

• Scaling Design Systems: Ensuring design systems remain robust, scalable, and adopted across a growing product suite and team presents an ongoing challenge.

• Integrating AI: Effectively identifying and implementing AI tools and workflows in a practical, value-adding manner, while managing potential limitations and ethical considerations.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Maintaining alignment between Design, Product, and Engineering, especially in a fast-paced scaling environment, requires continuous communication and strategic influence.

• Team Growth & Development: As the team scales, ensuring consistent quality, mentorship, and professional growth for all designers will be a key challenge.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to hone leadership, team management, and strategic planning skills.

• AI in Design: Deepen expertise in leveraging AI for design research, ideation, and production.

• B2B SaaS & Regulated Industries: Gain specialized knowledge in designing for complex B2B SaaS applications and regulated environments.

• Strategic Product Input: Contribute to high-level product strategy discussions and influence the company's product roadmap.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor and be mentored, fostering professional growth within the design community.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are significant but offer substantial opportunities for professional growth and impact, particularly in areas like AI integration and scaling design operations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you prioritize the design backlog if faced with urgent requests from Sales, Customer Success, and Product Management simultaneously?" (Focus on frameworks, data, and stakeholder management.)

• "Describe your approach to building and scaling a design system across multiple product lines. What are the key challenges and how do you address them?" (Highlight governance, adoption strategies, and collaboration.)

• "How have you leveraged AI in your design process? What were the outcomes, and what limitations did you encounter?" (Be specific with examples of AI tools and their impact on efficiency or quality.)

• "How do you ensure technical feasibility is considered early in the design process when collaborating with engineering?" (Discuss iterative feedback loops and prototyping for validation.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Evotix's mission in EHS and compliance?" (Research the company's impact and values.)

• "How do you foster a collaborative and high-performing design team culture?" (Discuss your leadership style, mentorship approach, and conflict resolution.)

• "Describe a time you had to communicate a difficult design trade-off to senior stakeholders. How did you approach it and what was the outcome?" (Focus on communication, rationale, and negotiation.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, starting with an overview of your role and the project's context. For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your process, your specific contributions (especially leadership), design decisions, and measurable outcomes.

• Highlight Leadership: Explicitly point out where you led initiatives, mentored team members, managed priorities, or influenced strategic direction.

• Showcase Process: Walk through your design process, emphasizing research, ideation, prototyping, and collaboration with engineering.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced support tickets, increased user engagement).

• AI Integration: If applicable, clearly detail how AI was used and its tangible benefits.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of the 90-minute time limit. Practice to ensure you can cover key points efficiently.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership capability, and operational excellence in design, not just visual design skills. Your portfolio presentation should be a strategic narrative.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Evotix careers portal or the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Carefully select 3-4 of your strongest projects that best showcase your leadership, strategic thinking, and hands-on design skills for complex platforms. Tailor your presentation to highlight your experience with design systems, customer research, and AI integration.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your experience in design leadership, team management, backlog prioritization, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description naturally.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, leadership philosophy, and strategic approach to design challenges. Prepare specific examples for the Portfolio Panel interview, focusing on demonstrating impact and operational efficiency.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Evotix's mission, products (360, Assure, Learn), and its position in the EHS/compliance SaaS market. Understand their company culture and values to align your responses during interviews.

⚠️ 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.