Lead UX/UI Designer (Fixed Term Contract)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UX/UI Designer (Fixed Term Contract)

Company: Fastmarkets

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time, Fixed Term Contract

Category: UX/UI Design, Product Design, GTM Operations Support

Date Posted: May 21, 2026

Experience Level: 7+ Years (Senior)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end design process for complex, cross-functional product initiatives, translating ambiguous problem spaces into high-impact user experiences.

• Own and shape the Customer Experience (CX) roadmap, leveraging user research and customer feedback to define strategic UX evolution.

• Champion evidence-based design by defining research questions, success metrics, and measurement plans in partnership with Product Management, Engineering, and Data teams.

• Lead the extension and refinement of the company's design system, ensuring scalable, accessible components and patterns across multiple product delivery channels.

• Provide informal leadership and mentorship to junior and mid-level designers, uplifting design quality, consistency, and maturity across the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is primarily a UX/UI Design position, its focus on shaping the CX roadmap, driving product strategy, and collaborating closely with Product Managers and Data teams positions it as a critical support function for Go-to-Market (GTM) operations. The emphasis on data-driven design and measurable UX outcomes directly impacts the effectiveness of sales and customer success efforts by improving user adoption, engagement, and retention for Fastmarkets' data and intelligence services.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the complete design lifecycle for intricate product initiatives, encompassing discovery, definition, design, and delivery across diverse customer segments and delivery channels.

• Develop comprehensive user flows, information architecture, wireframes, and high-fidelity interactive prototypes using Figma at an expert level.

• Facilitate complex stakeholder alignment through clear rationale, compelling storytelling, and structured communication methods, including workshops and walkthroughs.

• Ensure all design outputs adhere to the highest standards of aesthetic craft, accessibility (e.g., WCAG), and overall usability.

• Partner with Product Managers, Engineers, and Data Analysts to define key success events and measurable user experience (UX) outcomes.

• Utilize analytics tools such as Heap to validate design hypotheses and inform iterative design improvements.

• Extend and refine the existing design system with reusable, scalable, and accessible components, design tokens, and established patterns.

• Create clear and concise documentation for the design system to ensure consistency and understanding across all product development teams.

• Proactively identify opportunities for design convergence across different products to enhance user coherence and operational efficiency.

• Collaborate with user researchers or conduct lean testing independently, including usability studies, concept validation, and rapid experimentation to gather customer insights.

• Translate research insights into actionable design decisions and iterate designs based on user feedback and performance data.

• Work closely with engineering teams throughout the development process, providing detailed specifications, ensuring clarity, and conducting quality assurance (QA) to maintain design integrity.

• Maintain organized and well-structured Figma files with consistent naming conventions, clear annotations, and proper versioning hygiene.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a senior-level role with significant ownership and strategic influence. The emphasis on "end-to-end design for complex product initiatives" and "shaping the CX roadmap" suggests a need for strategic thinking beyond typical task execution. The requirement to "lead design work independently and influence product direction" points to a role that requires proactive engagement and thought leadership.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio and demonstrated experience in UX/UI design principles are paramount. A background in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, or a related field is beneficial.

Experience: A minimum of 7+ years of experience in product-focused UX/UI design is required, with a proven track record of successfully delivering complex, data-rich, or B2B/SaaS applications.

Required Skills:

• Expert-level proficiency in Figma, including mastery of components, variants, design tokens, auto-layout, advanced prototyping, and design system management.

• Strong interaction design skills with impeccable visual design craft and attention to detail.

• Demonstrated ability to lead design work independently and effectively influence product strategy and direction.

• Experience designing for multi-device experiences and creating responsive layouts that adapt seamlessly across various screen sizes.

• Proven ability to develop user flows, information architecture, wireframes, and high-fidelity UI mockups.

• Familiarity with data analytics, experimentation platforms, and metrics-driven design iteration processes.

• Superb communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale clearly and persuasively.

• Experience in designing for data-rich or financial information-heavy interfaces.

Preferred Skills:

• Working knowledge of HTML/CSS, providing a foundational understanding of front-end development constraints and possibilities.

• Experience designing and maintaining comprehensive design systems, including component libraries and style guides.

• Familiarity with accessibility standards, such as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), to ensure inclusive design practices.

• Experience working within Agile development environments, utilizing tools like Jira and participating in FigJam workshops.

• Experience with user research methodologies, including usability studies and concept validation.

• Mentorship capabilities, with experience providing direction and feedback to junior designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "7+ years experience in product-focused UX/UI" indicates a senior leadership or specialist role. The emphasis on "expert-level Figma capability" and "design systems" points to a need for someone who can not only design but also architect and scale design solutions. The "nice to have" skills like HTML/CSS and Agile experience suggest a practical, collaborative approach to design within a development lifecycle.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end design work on complex, data-rich, or B2B/SaaS applications.

• Demonstrations of your ability to lead design initiatives independently and influence product direction, supported by case studies.

• Examples of expert-level Figma utilization, including advanced component usage, design tokens, auto-layout, and interactive prototypes.

• Case studies illustrating your interaction design skills and impeccable visual design craft across various projects.

Process Documentation:

• Case studies detailing your approach to translating ambiguous problem spaces into clear hypotheses and design directions.

• Documentation of your involvement in defining research questions, success metrics, and measurement plans for UX initiatives.

• Examples of your process for extending and refining design systems, including the creation of scalable, accessible components and patterns.

• Demonstrations of your ability to create clear documentation for design systems, ensuring consistency across teams.

• Evidence of using analytics tools (e.g., Heap) to validate assumptions and inform design iterations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirement is critical for this role, emphasizing "end-to-end work on complex, data-rich, or B2B/SaaS applications." This suggests that candidates must be able to demonstrate not just aesthetic design skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to manage complex design challenges within a business context. The focus on "influence product direction" and "metrics-driven iteration" indicates a need for quantifiable results and strategic impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Lead UX/UI Designer with 7+ years of experience in London, a competitive salary range would typically fall between £70,000 - £95,000 per annum, depending on the specific duration of the contract, the candidate's precise experience, and the scope of responsibilities.

Benefits:

• Fixed Term Contract (FTC) employment status.

• Opportunity to work on significant, complex product initiatives within a leading price-reporting agency.

• Exposure to diverse commodity markets (agriculture, forest products, metals, mining, new-generation energy).

• Potential for professional development and skill enhancement through challenging design projects.

• Collaborative work environment with opportunities to mentor junior designers.

• Access to company-wide events and potentially internal training sessions.

• (Specific benefits like health insurance, pension contributions, or paid time off for FTC roles would need to be confirmed with the hiring manager, as they can vary significantly.)

Working Hours: This is a full-time role, typically equating to 40 hours per week. Flexibility may be offered, but the primary expectation is on-site presence in London.

📝 Enhancement Note: As this is a Fixed Term Contract (FTC), benefits packages can differ from permanent roles. Salary estimates are based on industry benchmarks for senior UX/UI Design roles in London, considering the specified experience level and the company's industry. It is crucial for candidates to clarify the exact terms, benefits, and duration of the contract during the interview process.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Fastmarkets operates within the Information Services and Price Reporting Agency (PRA) sector, specializing in global commodities. This industry is characterized by its reliance on data accuracy, market expertise, and timely delivery of critical information for trading and risk management.

Company Size: Fastmarkets is a global business with over 700 employees, indicating a medium-to-large enterprise structure with established processes and a global footprint.

Founded: With a history dating back to 1865, Fastmarkets has a long-standing reputation and deep market knowledge, suggesting a culture that values experience, stability, and continuous evolution to remain a leader in its field.

Team Structure:

• The UX/UI Design team likely operates within a Product or Technology department, collaborating closely with Product Management, Engineering, Data Science, and potentially Marketing.

• As a Lead role, this position will likely report to a Head of Design, Director of Product, or a similar senior leadership figure.

Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: The company's core business relies on data. Expect a strong emphasis on using market data, user analytics (e.g., Heap), and customer feedback to inform strategic decisions and design solutions.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: The role requires leading design initiatives from discovery to delivery, implying a structured approach to workflow planning, process mapping, and continuous optimization.

• Automation & Efficiency: While not explicitly stated for design, the broader company ethos and the "Metrics Driven" and "Growth Mindset" values suggest an appreciation for efficiency and leveraging tools to streamline processes, which extends to design system development.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's industry and history suggest a blend of established best practices and a need for modern digital experiences. The "Metrics Driven" and "Growth Mindset" values are particularly relevant to an operations-focused role, implying an environment where data and continuous improvement are highly valued.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Individual Contributor role, specifically a Lead UX/UI Designer. It sits at a crucial intersection, influencing product strategy and user experience that directly impacts GTM effectiveness. The role demands leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to drive complex initiatives, setting a high bar for design quality and user-centricity.

Reporting Structure: The Lead UX/UI Designer will likely report to a Head of Design, Director of Product, or a similar senior figure within the Product or Technology division. They will collaborate extensively with Product Managers, Engineers, and Data Analysts.

Operations Impact:

• Enhanced User Adoption & Engagement: By creating intuitive and efficient user experiences for Fastmarkets' data platforms, this role directly contributes to higher user adoption, increased engagement, and improved retention rates. This is critical for customer success and recurring revenue.

• Streamlined Sales Enablement: Well-designed interfaces and user journeys can simplify the understanding and utilization of complex commodity data, indirectly aiding sales enablement by making product value propositions clearer and easier to demonstrate.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The role's emphasis on metrics and analytics ensures that design decisions are grounded in data, providing insights that can inform broader GTM strategies and product development priorities.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a formal management role (e.g., Design Manager) or deepen specialization as a Principal UX/UI Designer, leading larger, more strategic design programs.

• Product Strategy Influence: Continued opportunity to influence product direction and contribute to the overall CX roadmap, gaining broader strategic business acumen.

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas such as design systems, accessibility, or data visualization within complex B2B/SaaS environments.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain deeper understanding of sales, marketing, and customer success operations through close collaboration, potentially opening doors to GTM strategy roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title signifies a stepping stone towards management or principal-level individual contributor roles. The impact on "user task completion, adoption, engagement or retention" mentioned in the job description directly translates to key GTM metrics, highlighting the operational significance of this design role.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fastmarkets maintains a global presence with offices in the UK, US, China, India, Singapore, Brazil, Belgium, and Bulgaria. The London office is likely a professional corporate environment designed to foster collaboration and productivity.

Office Location(s): The role is based in London, United Kingdom. Specific office address details would be provided by the hiring team. Commuting will be necessary for this on-site position.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The company culture emphasizes collaboration ("COLLABORATIVE. We are collaborative, able to work across teams..."). This suggests an open-plan office or dedicated team spaces designed for interaction, brainstorming, and cross-functional work.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Expect access to standard professional design software (Figma is mandatory), collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams), project management software (e.g., Jira), and potentially company-specific analytics platforms.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with designers, product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders through meetings, workshops, and informal discussions.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are likely 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday to Friday, totaling 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, some flexibility might be available, but core hours will be expected to facilitate team collaboration and project delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mention of "global locations" and "cross-functional collaboration" implies a dynamic work environment. For a UX/UI designer, the workspace context is crucial for effective collaboration, brainstorming, and the use of design tools. The on-site requirement emphasizes the importance of in-person interaction for this role.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications and fit.

• Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: A likely multi-stage process involving:

  • A portfolio review where you present your work, focusing on complex projects, your process, and impact. Be prepared to discuss your rationale, problem-solving approach, and how you've used data.
  • A design exercise or case study, potentially conducted live or as a take-home assignment, to evaluate your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and proficiency with tools like Figma. This will likely focus on a specific business problem relevant to Fastmarkets.

• Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and technical understanding.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership to evaluate strategic thinking, leadership potential, and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 of your strongest, most relevant projects that demonstrate end-to-end design on complex B2B/SaaS applications. Prioritize data-rich examples.

• Structure for Impact: For each project, clearly outline the problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the design process you followed (discovery, research, ideation, prototyping, testing, delivery), key decisions, challenges faced, and the measurable outcomes or impact achieved.

• Highlight Figma Expertise: Be ready to showcase your Figma skills, including design system components, variants, tokens, and advanced prototyping techniques.

• Emphasize Data & Metrics: Showcase how you've used data (user analytics, A/B tests, market data insights) to inform your design decisions and measure success. Quantify impact wherever possible (e.g., X% increase in task completion, Y% reduction in errors).

• Tell a Story: Frame your projects as narratives that showcase your problem-solving abilities and strategic thinking, not just a showcase of final mockups.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Business: Research Fastmarkets, its industry (commodity markets, price reporting), its products, and its target users. Understand the types of data and information they provide.

• Anticipate UX/UI Challenges: Consider common challenges in designing for data-rich interfaces, financial platforms, or B2B SaaS products (e.g., information density, user workflows, complex data visualization).

• Practice Figma: Be ready to demonstrate your Figma skills live or present work created in Figma. Ensure you are comfortable with advanced features.

• Articulate Your Process: Be prepared to walk through your design process for any given challenge, explaining your rationale at each step and how you would gather feedback and iterate.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "complex, data-rich, or B2B/SaaS applications" and "metrics-driven iteration" means the interview process will likely test not only design craft but also strategic acumen, problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to demonstrate tangible business impact through design. The portfolio is a crucial component that must clearly articulate this.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Mandatory expert-level proficiency required for UI design, prototyping, design systems, and collaboration. This includes mastery of components, variants, design tokens, auto-layout, and advanced prototyping features.

• Design System Management: Experience creating, extending, and maintaining scalable design systems.

• Prototyping Tools: Expertise in Figma's prototyping capabilities; familiarity with other tools may be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Heap (or similar): Familiarity with using analytics tools to validate assumptions, track user behavior, and inform design iterations is required.

• Data Visualization Tools: While not explicitly listed, experience with data visualization principles and tools will be beneficial for designing interfaces that present complex commodity data effectively.

CRM & Automation:

• Jira & FigJam: Experience working within Agile environments using these tools for project management, collaboration, and design workshops is preferred.

• HTML/CSS: Working knowledge is listed as a "nice to have," indicating an understanding of front-end development principles that can aid collaboration with engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the central tool for this role, and expert-level proficiency is non-negotiable. The mention of Heap highlights the company's commitment to data-driven decision-making, which extends to UX/UI design. Familiarity with Agile tools like Jira is also important for integration into the development workflow.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• METRICS DRIVEN: A core value that directly applies to this role. Expect to use data, analytics, and KPIs to measure the success of your designs and their impact on user behavior and business performance.

• ACCOUNTABLE: Taking ownership of complex design initiatives from conception to delivery and ensuring high-quality, reliable outcomes.

• GROWTH MINDSET: Embracing challenges, learning from feedback, and continuously seeking ways to improve designs, processes, and personal skills. This is crucial for adapting to evolving market needs and technologies.

• INCLUSIVE: Designing with accessibility (WCAG) in mind and ensuring user experiences are usable and welcoming for all potential users.

• CUSTOMER CENTRIC: Placing the needs and experience of Fastmarkets' customers at the forefront of all design decisions, ensuring the products effectively serve their critical information needs.

• COLLABORATIVE: Working effectively across teams (Product, Engineering, Data) to achieve shared goals, sharing knowledge, and contributing to a positive team dynamic.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires seamless collaboration with Product Managers to align on strategy and roadmaps, Engineers for implementation, and Data Analysts for insights.

• Process Review & Feedback: A culture of design critiques and constructive feedback is implied, essential for maintaining high design standards and fostering growth.

• Knowledge Sharing: Opportunities to share best practices, mentor junior designers, and contribute to the overall design maturity of the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values are highly aligned with operational excellence. "Metrics Driven," "Accountable," and "Customer Centric" are fundamental to any successful operations or GTM function, and they directly inform how a UX/UI designer should approach their work. The emphasis on collaboration underscores the importance of teamwork in achieving business objectives.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Data Complexity: Fastmarkets deals with intricate commodity data. A key challenge will be designing interfaces that present this complex information clearly, intuitively, and efficiently for professional users.

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Navigating the needs of diverse customer segments while aligning with Fastmarkets' business objectives and technical constraints.

• Driving Design System Adoption: Ensuring the design system is not only extended but also consistently adopted and utilized across various product teams to maintain coherence and efficiency.

• Influencing Stakeholders: Effectively communicating design rationale and advocating for user-centric solutions among stakeholders with potentially differing priorities.

• Fixed Term Contract Context: Adapting quickly to a new environment and delivering significant impact within a defined contract period.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Commodity Markets: Gaining in-depth knowledge of specific commodity markets and the information needs of professionals within those sectors.

• Advanced UX/UI Leadership: Developing leadership skills through mentorship and leading complex design initiatives.

• Design System Architecture: Contributing to and potentially leading the evolution of a robust design system for a global organization.

• Data-Driven Design Mastery: Enhancing skills in using analytics and user research to drive product strategy and measurable UX improvements.

• Cross-functional Acumen: Gaining a broader understanding of product development, GTM strategies, and business operations through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to working with complex data and in a senior role. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a chance to deepen expertise in a niche but critical industry and develop leadership capabilities. The FTC nature of the role presents both a challenge (time-bound impact) and an opportunity (focused, high-impact project).

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex, data-rich B2B/SaaS product you designed from end-to-end. What were the key challenges, your approach, and the measurable impact?" (Focus on process, data, and outcomes).

• "How would you go about defining and shaping the CX roadmap for a product suite like Fastmarkets'?" (Demonstrate strategic thinking, user research integration, and prioritization skills).

• "Walk us through your process for developing and maintaining a design system. How do you ensure adoption and scalability?" (Highlight Figma expertise, component strategy, and documentation).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on our values (Metrics Driven, Accountable, Growth Mindset, Inclusive, Customer Centric, Collaborative), which resonates most with you and how have you applied it in your work?" (Align your experience with their stated values).

• "How do you typically collaborate with Product Managers and Engineers? Describe a time you had to influence a stakeholder with a different perspective." (Assess your communication and collaboration style).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the 'Why': Clearly articulate the business problem or user need before diving into your solution.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (mockups, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your process and final designs.

• Explain Your Rationale: For every design decision, explain the 'why' – what research, data, or principles informed your choice.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the positive impact of your work (e.g., increased completion rates, reduced errors, improved engagement).

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your process, tools, and decision-making at every stage.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation should heavily focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, data-driven decision-making, and the ability to manage complex design challenges within a B2B/SaaS context. Your portfolio presentation is your primary tool to showcase these capabilities, so practice articulating your process and impact clearly and concisely.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.smartrecruiters.com.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight at least two complex, data-rich B2B/SaaS application projects. Specifically showcase your Figma expertise, design system contributions, and how you've used data to drive design decisions and measure impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly states your 7+ years of relevant UX/UI experience, highlights your leadership skills, and uses keywords such as "UX Design," "UI Design," "Figma," "Design Systems," "Data-Rich Interfaces," and "B2B/SaaS." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving approach, and the business impact of your work. Prepare to discuss your experience with Fastmarkets' industry and potential UX challenges for commodity data platforms. Rehearse your portfolio presentation.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Fastmarkets, its mission, its products, and its target markets. Understand their company values and consider how your approach aligns with their "Metrics Driven," "Customer Centric," and "Collaborative" ethos.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. As this is a Fixed Term Contract (FTC) role, specific details regarding contract duration, benefits, and exact compensation should be clarified directly with the hiring organization during the interview process. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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