Lead UX Designer H/F

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UX Designer H/F

Company: NEXTON

Location: Montpellier, Occitanie, France

Job Type: Temps complet (Full-time)

Category: Design / User Experience Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-09

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the overarching UX strategy and vision for critical digital products within a large-scale digital transformation program.

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of three Senior UX Designers, fostering a culture of methodological consistency and skill enhancement.

• Oversee the quality and coherence of user journeys across all digital touchpoints for a major French banking client.

• Facilitate impactful UX workshops and collaborate closely with Product Managers and technical teams to align user needs with business objectives.

• Drive the definition and implementation of best-in-class UX practices, from initial user research to prototype validation.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is framed as a "Lead UX Designer," indicating a strong emphasis on both strategic UX direction and team leadership. The context of a large-scale digital transformation program for a major French bank suggests a complex, high-impact environment requiring robust UX governance and cross-functional collaboration. The "Operations" aspect is derived from the need to manage processes, teams, and ensure consistent delivery of UX quality within a structured, large-scale project.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and champion the global UX vision for key digital products, ensuring alignment with strategic business goals and user-centric principles.

• Lead, coach, and mentor a team of Senior UX Designers, fostering their professional growth, skill development, and adherence to established UX methodologies.

• Architect and validate comprehensive user journeys, from in-depth user research (quantitative and qualitative) to the final testing and approval of interactive prototypes.

• Design, structure, and facilitate effective UX workshops to drive ideation, problem-solving, and stakeholder alignment.

• Forge strong collaborative partnerships with Product Managers to ensure user needs are seamlessly integrated with business objectives, driving successful product outcomes.

• Ensure the application of accessibility standards and the effective utilization of design systems to maintain consistency and usability across all digital platforms.

• Drive the continuous improvement of UX processes and methodologies within the team and across collaborating departments.

• Contribute to the strategic roadmap for digital product evolution, advocating for user-centered design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, team management, and hands-on UX expertise. The emphasis on "orchestrating design," "piloting vision," and "guaranteeing quality" points to a need for strong operational oversight of the UX process. The mention of a "large-scale digital transformation program" implies a requirement for structured process management and the ability to scale UX efforts effectively.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Postgraduate degree (Bac+5) in a relevant field such as Human-Computer Interaction, Design, Psychology, or a related discipline. Experience:

• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in UX Design.

• Demonstrated significant experience in a lead or management capacity, overseeing a team of UX professionals.

• Proven experience in a context of large-scale redesigns or digital transformation initiatives. Required Skills:

• Comprehensive mastery of end-to-end UX methodologies, including user research (quantitative and qualitative), information architecture, interaction design, and usability testing.

• Proficiency in leading and motivating a team of UX designers, fostering collaboration and professional development.

• Expertise in designing and validating user journeys, ensuring seamless and intuitive user experiences.

• Skilled in structuring and facilitating productive UX workshops with diverse stakeholder groups.

• Strong ability to collaborate effectively with Product Managers and technical teams, aligning user needs with business objectives.

• Deep understanding of accessibility principles (e.g., WCAG) and their practical application in design.

• Familiarity with design system principles and implementation.

• Experience working within Agile development environments and cross-functional product teams.

• Proficiency with key design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Maze, Miro, and Notion. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the financial services or banking sector.

• Familiarity with complex, enterprise-level digital platforms.

• Experience with user analytics platforms and data-driven design iteration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 8+ years of experience with a significant portion in leadership, combined with the mention of a "large-scale transformation program," strongly suggests a senior-level role demanding both strategic acumen and strong operational management capabilities for UX processes. The specific mention of tools like Figma, Maze, Miro, and Notion indicates a hands-on expectation, even at a lead level.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing end-to-end UX design projects, with a clear emphasis on leadership and team management contributions.

• Demonstrated case studies that highlight your ability to define and steer a global UX vision for complex digital products.

• Evidence of experience in managing and mentoring a team of UX designers, including examples of their growth and contributions.

• Projects that illustrate your proficiency in structuring and facilitating UX workshops and driving collaborative design processes.

• Examples of user journey mapping and validation, detailing the research methodologies employed and the resulting improvements.

• Portfolios should clearly articulate the problem, your approach, the solutions implemented, and the measurable impact on user experience and business objectives. Process Documentation:

• Provide documentation or case studies detailing your approach to defining UX methodologies within a team or project.

• Showcase examples of how you have ensured the quality and consistency of UX deliverables across a team.

• Include documentation of how you have integrated user research findings into the design and development lifecycle.

• Examples of how you have managed the handoff of design assets and specifications to development teams, ensuring fidelity.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Lead UX Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to go beyond individual contributions to demonstrate leadership in process definition, team development, and strategic UX direction. The emphasis on "orchestrating," "piloting," and "guaranteeing quality" implies a need to show how processes are established and maintained to achieve consistent, high-quality UX outcomes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for a Lead UX Designer with 10+ years of experience in Montpellier, France, the estimated annual salary range is between €65,000 and €85,000 gross. This range can vary based on the specific project scope, the candidate's exact experience, and negotiation. Benefits:

• Professional Communities: Access to internal and external communities for knowledge sharing and networking within the design and tech space.

• Meet Ups: Opportunities to participate in regular meetups focused on skill development and industry trends.

• Training Programs: Access to ongoing training and development programs to enhance UX skills and leadership capabilities.

• Sports and Festive Events: Participation in company-sponsored sports activities and social events to foster team cohesion and well-being.

• Sustainable Mobility Allowance: A financial contribution to support eco-friendly commuting options.

• Latest Generation Phone: Provision of a high-end mobile phone for professional use.

• CDI Contract: Permanent full-time employment contract. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours, typically around 40 hours per week, with potential for flexibility depending on project needs and team agreements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on French market data for senior UX roles in major cities, considering the experience level and the client's industry (banking). The provided benefits are directly from the job description, highlighting NEXTON's commitment to employee development and well-being.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Consulting, Digital Transformation, IT Services (ESN - Enterprise Services Network), Design Factory.

Company Size: Over 450 experts. This size indicates a well-established firm with a good balance between the agility of a startup and the resources of a larger organization, offering diverse project opportunities.

Founded: 2011. Founded in 2011, NEXTON has over a decade of experience in the digital transformation space, suggesting a mature understanding of industry trends and client needs.

Team Structure:

• The role is embedded within a client's product team, described as "multidisciplinary." This team comprises Product, Tech, and Design professionals, indicating a collaborative, agile environment.

• The Lead UX Designer will manage a team of 3 Senior UX Designers, creating a dedicated UX function within the larger product team.

• This structure emphasizes close collaboration between UX, Product Management, and Engineering to drive digital innovation. Methodology:

• Data Analysis and Insights: Emphasis on user research (quantitative and qualitative) to inform design decisions, aligning user needs with business objectives.

• Workflow Planning and Optimization: Focus on defining and guaranteeing the quality of user journeys, implying a structured approach to workflow design and optimization within the UX process.

• Automation and Efficiency: While not explicitly stated for UX, the context of a digital transformation program suggests a drive for efficiency, which would extend to streamlined UX processes and tool utilization.

Company Website: [NEXTON Company Website - Assuming nexton.com based on domain_derived]

📝 Enhancement Note: NEXTON positions itself as a blend of consultancy, creative factory, and ESN, suggesting a culture that values both strategic thinking and creative execution. The company's growth to over 450 experts since 2011 indicates a successful model focused on digital innovation and client success, likely fostering a dynamic and challenging work environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Lead / Management. This role represents a significant step into leadership within the UX domain. It requires not only deep expertise in UX design but also the ability to manage, mentor, and strategically guide a team. The scope involves influencing the UX direction of major digital products for a large client.

Reporting Structure: The Lead UX Designer will report into a senior product leadership role within the client's organization, working closely with Product Managers and potentially other leads (e.g., Tech Lead, Design Director). The Lead UX Designer will directly manage a team of 3 Senior UX Designers.

Operations Impact: The UX operations function under this lead is critical for the success of a large-scale digital transformation. By ensuring fluid, accessible, and coherent user experiences, this role directly impacts customer satisfaction, adoption rates, and ultimately, the business objectives of the banking client. Effective UX leadership translates directly into improved client engagement and digital service performance.

Growth Opportunities:

• UX Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into more senior leadership roles, overseeing larger UX teams, multiple product lines, or expanding into broader design strategy roles within NEXTON or the client organization.

• Specialization & Skill Development: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific areas of UX, such as complex enterprise design systems, advanced user research methodologies, or UX strategy for large-scale transformations.

• Mentorship & Training: Formal and informal opportunities to mentor junior designers, contribute to NEXTON's UX community, and participate in advanced training programs offered by the company.

• Client Relationship Management: Developing stronger skills in client engagement, strategic consulting, and managing high-stakes transformation projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a key leadership opportunity. The "Operations" aspect here is about managing the practice of UX design at scale, ensuring process efficiency, team effectiveness, and strategic alignment within a client-facing consulting framework. Growth paths are clearly linked to expanding leadership scope and strategic influence.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "On-site" in Montpellier, France. This suggests a traditional office-based work environment, likely within the client's premises or a dedicated NEXTON office space serving the client. The emphasis on a "multidisciplinary product team" indicates a collaborative office setup.

Office Location(s): Montpellier, Occitanie, France. This location is known for its vibrant tech and digital scene, offering a good quality of life and access to talent.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a dynamic, team-oriented workspace with close interaction among Product Managers, Developers, and fellow Designers. The multidisciplinary team structure is key.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design and prototyping tools (Figma, Maze, Miro, Notion) will be essential, likely provided or supported by the client/NEXTON.

• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities for face-to-face collaboration, workshops, and design critiques, fostering a strong sense of team synergy and shared ownership.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time schedule (approx. 40 hours/week), typical for client-facing roles in consulting and ESNs. While on-site, there may be some flexibility depending on project demands and team agreements, but the primary expectation is presence at the client's location.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "on-site" requirement in Montpellier implies a need for candidates comfortable with a physical presence in the office, facilitating direct collaboration and immersion in the client's project environment. This is typical for roles involving deep team integration and hands-on workshop facilitation.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A preliminary call with an HR or recruitment specialist from NEXTON to assess basic qualifications, motivation, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: An in-depth discussion with the direct manager (likely a senior UX leader or Head of Design at NEXTON or the client) focusing on leadership experience, team management philosophy, and strategic UX approach.

• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, discussing specific projects, their role, methodologies, and impact. This will likely include technical questions on UX processes, tools, and problem-solving scenarios.

• Team/Client Interview: A meeting with potential team members (Senior UX Designers) and/or client stakeholders (e.g., Product Managers) to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and alignment with the team's working dynamics.

• Final Interview: Potentially a final round with senior leadership at NEXTON to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and finalize terms.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Leadership: Emphasize projects where you led UX efforts, managed teams, and influenced product strategy. Showcase your ability to mentor and develop others.

• Showcase Process: Detail your end-to-end UX process, from research and ideation to prototyping and validation. Explain why you chose specific methodologies.

• Quantify Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your solution, and the measurable business or user outcomes. Use data and metrics wherever possible (e.g., conversion rate improvements, user satisfaction scores).

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Illustrate how you worked with Product Managers, developers, and other stakeholders. Highlight your communication and facilitation skills.

• Address Scale: If possible, include examples of working on large-scale projects or transformations, demonstrating your ability to handle complexity and ensure consistency.

• Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma, Maze, Miro, Notion, and other relevant tools, and how you leverage them effectively.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential UX challenge or case study, either pre-interview or during the process. This might involve analyzing a problem, proposing a UX solution, or outlining a strategy for a given scenario.

• Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, especially when discussing complex UX challenges or strategic decisions.

• Prepare to answer behavioral questions related to leadership, conflict resolution, team motivation, and stakeholder management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Lead role typically involves multiple stages to assess leadership, technical acumen, and cultural fit. The portfolio review is critical and should focus on demonstrating the candidate's ability to operate at a strategic level and manage a team effectively, not just individual design skills.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and collaborative design workflows. Proficiency in advanced features, component libraries, and collaboration modes is expected.

• Maze: Likely used for unmoderated user testing and gathering feedback on prototypes and live products quickly.

• Miro: A critical tool for remote collaboration, ideation, workshop facilitation, user journey mapping, and affinity diagramming.

• Notion: Potentially used for documentation, project management, knowledge base, and team organization.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as required tools, a Lead UX Designer should be comfortable interpreting data from analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) and user feedback tools to inform design decisions and measure impact. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this UX role, but understanding how UX impacts CRM-driven customer journeys might be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific tools listed (Figma, Maze, Miro, Notion) are standard in modern UX and product development workflows. A Lead UX Designer must not only be proficient in using these tools but also understand how to leverage them effectively for team collaboration, efficient process management, and impactful design outcomes.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A fundamental commitment to understanding and prioritizing user needs in all design decisions.

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and cross-functional partnerships with Product, Tech, and Business stakeholders.

• Excellence & Quality: A dedication to delivering high-quality, well-crafted user experiences that meet both user and business objectives.

• Continuous Improvement: A drive to constantly learn, adapt, and refine UX processes and methodologies for greater efficiency and impact.

• Innovation: Encouraging creative problem-solving and exploring new approaches to enhance digital products.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires seamless integration with Product Management and Engineering teams, fostering a shared understanding of goals and challenges.

• Process Review Culture: An environment where UX processes are regularly reviewed and optimized, with feedback actively sought and incorporated.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging a culture of sharing best practices, insights, and learnings across the UX team and with other departments through meetups and internal communities.

📝 Enhancement Note: NEXTON's culture, as implied by its description and offerings, likely values expertise, collaboration, and continuous growth. For a Lead UX Designer, embodying these values means not only practicing them but also instilling them within their team and influencing the broader project culture.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Managing Large-Scale Complexity: Navigating the intricate requirements and stakeholder landscape of a major digital transformation program for a large bank.

• Team Leadership & Development: Effectively mentoring and growing a team of senior UX designers, ensuring consistent quality and fostering individual career progression.

• Balancing User Needs and Business Goals: Strategically aligning user experience requirements with the business objectives and technical constraints of a large organization.

• Maintaining UX Cohesion: Ensuring a consistent and coherent user experience across a diverse range of digital products and touchpoints.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Leadership Training: Opportunities to hone leadership skills, strategic planning, and stakeholder management through dedicated programs.

• Industry Best Practices: Deepening knowledge of cutting-edge UX methodologies, tools, and trends through conferences, workshops, and internal knowledge sharing.

• Mentorship: Receiving mentorship from senior leaders within NEXTON or the client organization, and providing mentorship to junior team members.

• Exposure to Financial Services: Gaining deep insights into the specific UX challenges and opportunities within the banking and financial services sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges revolve around leadership in a complex, large-scale environment, requiring strong operational management of UX processes and team dynamics. Growth opportunities are geared towards expanding leadership scope and strategic influence within the operations of digital product development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you established or significantly improved a UX process within a team. What was the outcome?" (Focus on process definition, implementation, and impact.)

• "How do you balance the needs of multiple stakeholders (e.g., Product Managers, Engineering, Business) when they have conflicting priorities?" (Prepare examples of negotiation, alignment, and compromise.)

• "Walk me through a challenging UX problem you solved. What was your approach, and what was the measurable result?" (Use the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result, emphasizing your leadership role.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about NEXTON and our approach to digital transformation?" (Research their website, case studies, and values.)

• "How do you foster a collaborative and high-performing UX team culture?" (Discuss your leadership philosophy, mentorship approach, and team-building strategies.)

• "How do you measure the success and impact of UX initiatives?" (Discuss key UX metrics and reporting strategies.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role (especially leadership aspects), the process followed, the solutions, and the impact/results.

• Emphasize Leadership: Highlight instances where you guided the team, made strategic decisions, or influenced the product direction.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, research methodologies, and stakeholder interactions.

• Showcase Process Tools: Be prepared to discuss how you used tools like Figma, Miro, and Notion to facilitate your team's work and achieve project goals.

• Connect to the Role: Tailor your presentation to show how your experience aligns with the specific requirements of this Lead UX Designer role at NEXTON, particularly regarding team management and large-scale projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and a deep understanding of UX operations within a complex project environment. The portfolio is the primary tool for showcasing these abilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 key projects that best showcase your leadership in UX design, team management, and experience with large-scale initiatives. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your strategic approach, the methodologies used, your team's contributions, and measurable outcomes.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 8+ years of UX experience, specifically mentioning any team leadership or management roles, your proficiency with key UX tools (Figma, Miro, etc.), and your experience in complex digital transformation projects. Use operations-focused keywords relevant to UX strategy and team management.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio with a focus on articulating your leadership philosophy, process management skills, and ability to drive UX quality. Be ready to discuss how you would approach leading the UX team at NEXTON.

• Research NEXTON: Understand their company mission, values, client base, and approach to digital transformation. Prepare thoughtful questions about the role, the team, and the client project.

⚠️ 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.