Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Barclays

Location: Knutsford (Radbroke Hall), United Kingdom / Manchester (Piccadilly Place), United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-06-19

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

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and implement user-centric digital banking products and experiences, focusing on customer needs and driving optimal commercial and customer outcomes within the Customer Care technology space.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product managers and developers, to translate business requirements into compelling user experiences for colleague-assisted platforms and AI-driven capabilities.

• Develop interactive prototypes, wireframes, and conduct user research and usability testing to inform design decisions and enhance the overall user experience.

• Ensure designs meet technical feasibility, legal compliance, and risk management requirements, providing design assurance and securing governance oversight.

• Champion customer-centric design principles and advocate for design best practices within the organization, staying abreast of emerging trends in fintech and banking.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is described as "Product Designer" but the core responsibilities heavily emphasize UX/UI design, user research, and the creation of digital experiences, aligning it strongly with a Senior UX/UI Designer or Product Designer with a strong UX focus. The "Assistant Vice President Expectations" section suggests a mid-to-senior level role, potentially with leadership or significant individual contribution responsibilities.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and implement user-centric digital banking products and experiences, ensuring alignment with customer needs, industry best practices, and business objectives.

• Monitor the impact of designs post-launch through relevant Customer Experience (CX) metrics, iterating based on performance data.

• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including product managers, developers, and business analysts, to translate business requirements into compelling user experiences and advocate for user-centered design principles.

• Develop interactive prototypes and wireframes to visualize design concepts, validate solutions, and iterate designs based on feedback, changing requirements, and user insights.

• Conduct user research, usability testing, and data analysis to gather insights into user behavior, preferences, and pain points, using these findings to inform design decisions and enhance the overall user experience.

• Evaluate the technical feasibility, legal compliance, and potential risks associated with new product development and launch, securing governance oversight and providing design assurance.

• Stay current with emerging trends, technologies, and design tools within the fintech and banking industry, proactively identifying opportunities for innovation and process improvement.

• Contribute to policy development and take responsibility for operational effectiveness, collaborating closely with other business divisions.

• Lead collaborative assignments, guide team members through structured tasks, and identify the need for specialized expertise to achieve required outcomes.

• Consult on complex issues, providing advice to leadership to support the resolution of escalated problems.

• Identify ways to mitigate risk and develop new policies/procedures to strengthen the control and governance agenda.

• Perform work that requires an understanding of how different areas coordinate and contribute to organizational objectives.

• Engage in complex analysis of data from multiple sources to creatively and effectively solve problems.

• Communicate complex information clearly and persuasively to various stakeholders.

• Influence or convince stakeholders to achieve desired outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Assistant Vice President Expectations" section details responsibilities typical for a senior individual contributor or a team lead role. For a Product Designer role, these translate to leading design efforts, influencing product strategy, mentoring junior designers, and ensuring design quality and compliance across complex projects. The emphasis on risk, controls, and governance is critical for a financial services context.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• BSc degree or equivalent in a relevant user experience, design, or software-related discipline (Highly Valued). Experience:

• Proven experience in designing complex applications, demonstrated through a strong portfolio.

• Experience working in agile delivery environments within cross-disciplinary feature teams.

• Experience in interacting directly with users and stakeholders to understand business requirements and workflows.

• Experience in the fintech industry or designing financial products (Highly Valued).

• Experience designing AI-driven experiences (Highly Valued).

• Experience in customer care technology or designing tools for frontline teams. Required Skills:

• Expertise in Figma and modern UX/UI design practices.

• Strong strategic thinking and hands-on design experience.

• Proficiency in user experience techniques and principles.

• Ability to conduct user research and usability testing.

• Skill in developing interactive prototypes and wireframes.

• Familiarity with agile delivery methodologies.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Ability to analyze data and translate insights into design. Preferred Skills:

• Solid knowledge of HTML, CSS, or JavaScript.

• Experience with AI-driven design principles and applications.

• Familiarity with financial product design and fintech industry standards.

• Understanding of risk and controls within a regulated environment.

• Experience with quantitative and qualitative data analysis for design insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills are heavily focused on core UX/UI design competencies and tools like Figma. Preferred skills indicate a desire for candidates who can bridge the gap between design and front-end development, and who have specific domain experience in finance and emerging technologies like AI. The "Assistant Vice President Expectations" imply a need for strategic thinking, problem-solving, and influencing skills beyond pure design execution.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A strong, comprehensive portfolio demonstrating extensive experience in designing complex applications, particularly in digital banking or financial services.

• Showcase a range of projects that highlight your end-to-end design process, from initial research and ideation to final implementation and iteration.

• Include case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your design approach, the solutions you developed, and the impact of your work on user experience and business outcomes.

• Demonstrate proficiency with modern design tools, with a particular emphasis on Figma, and showcase your ability to create high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes.

• Evidence of designing for user-centricity, highlighting how user needs and feedback informed your design decisions. Process Documentation:

• Ability to document design processes, workflows, and rationale clearly and concisely.

• Experience in creating user flows, journey maps, and wireframes as part of the design documentation.

• Understanding of how to translate user research findings and data analysis into actionable design specifications.

• Familiarity with maintaining design consistency across multiple platforms and products through style guides or design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role at this level within a financial institution, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to demonstrate not just aesthetic design skills but also a deep understanding of user research, problem-solving, and the ability to deliver tangible, impactful designs within complex systems and regulated environments. The "Assistant Vice President Expectations" imply a need to demonstrate strategic thinking and an ability to influence process and policy through design.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on the location (Knutsford/Manchester, UK), experience level (Mid-Senior/Assistant Vice President equivalent), and industry (Financial Services), a competitive salary range is expected. For an Assistant Vice President level Product Designer in the UK financial sector, the annual salary could range from approximately £60,000 to £85,000, potentially higher for exceptional candidates with specialized experience in AI or fintech transformation. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in major UK financial hubs and the specified responsibilities. Benefits:

• Comprehensive health and wellness programs.

• Generous pension scheme.

• Opportunities for professional development, training, and certifications.

• Paid time off, including holidays and vacation days.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses.

• Employee assistance programs.

• Access to internal networking and employee resource groups.

• Discounts on Barclays products and services. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, likely around 35-40 hours per week.

• The role is on-site, requiring a consistent presence in the office, though some flexibility may be available depending on team needs and management discretion.

• Expect standard business hours, with potential for occasional extended hours to meet project deadlines or critical launch windows.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary ranges are estimates for the UK market for a senior-level Product Designer in a large financial institution. Actual compensation will depend on the candidate's specific experience, skills, and performance during the interview process. The "Assistant Vice President Expectations" suggest a role with significant responsibility, which would be reflected in the compensation and benefits package.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Banking and Financial Services. Barclays is a global financial services provider engaged in banking and investment. This context means a strong emphasis on security, compliance, regulation, and customer trust.

Company Size: Large, global financial institution (Barclays is a Fortune 500 company with tens of thousands of employees worldwide). This implies a structured environment with established processes, opportunities for cross-functional collaboration, and potential for career progression.

Founded: 1690. Barclays has a long and rich history, indicating stability and a deep understanding of the financial landscape.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Customer Care technology space, focusing on colleague-assisted experiences and servicing platforms.

• The Product Designer will likely be part of a dedicated product or technology team, working closely with Product Managers, Business Analysts, Developers, QA testers, and potentially User Researchers.

• Reporting structure is likely to a Product Design Lead, Head of UX, or a senior Product Manager, with potential for leading or influencing junior team members as per "Assistant Vice President Expectations."

• Cross-functional collaboration is central, requiring close partnerships with business divisions and other technology teams to drive transformation programs. Methodology:

• Agile delivery environments are specified, indicating iterative development cycles, sprint planning, and continuous feedback loops.

• Emphasis on user-centric design principles, data analysis, and CX metrics to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Focus on innovation, particularly with AI-driven capabilities and automation, suggesting a forward-thinking approach to technology adoption.

• Strong governance and risk management processes are integral to all operations within a regulated financial institution.

Company Website: https://home.barclays/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture within a large bank like Barclays will be a blend of established corporate practices and a drive for innovation, especially in areas like digital transformation and AI. The Product Designer must be comfortable navigating both established processes and a forward-looking technological agenda.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a mid-to-senior level, indicated by the "Assistant Vice President Expectations." It requires significant independent contribution, strategic thinking, and the ability to influence decision-making and potentially lead complex assignments. It's a step beyond a junior or mid-level designer, demanding a broader understanding of business impact and technical feasibility.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report to a senior leader within the product or design function, likely a Head of UX, Design Lead, or Senior Product Manager. They will collaborate extensively with product managers, developers, and business analysts, acting as a key design authority within feature teams. The "Assistant Vice President Expectations" also outline potential people leadership or senior individual contributor responsibilities, suggesting interaction with and guidance for other team members.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer has a direct impact on improving customer service delivery by designing intuitive and efficient tools for frontline colleagues. This directly influences customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and potentially revenue through better customer retention and service. The role is critical in a major transformation program focused on automation and AI, implying a significant strategic impact on how Barclays delivers service globally.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven design, fintech product design, or advanced UX research methodologies.

• Leadership: Progress into a UX Lead, Design Manager, or Head of Product Design role, managing teams and shaping design strategy.

• Cross-functional Roles: Transition into Product Management, Program Management, or even business strategy roles leveraging design thinking and user advocacy.

• Skill Development: Opportunities for advanced training in areas like service design, behavioral economics, and emerging technologies.

• Project Leadership: Lead significant design initiatives within transformation programs, gaining exposure to high-level strategic decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Assistant Vice President Expectations" are crucial for understanding the growth trajectory. This role is not just about execution but also about strategic contribution, influencing others, and potentially managing people or complex projects, offering a clear path for advancement within Barclays' design and product organizations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is on-site, requiring a presence at either Radbroke Hall in Knutsford or Piccadilly Place in Manchester. These are likely modern, corporate office environments designed for collaboration, innovation, and focused work.

Office Location(s):

• Knutsford, Radbroke Hall: A significant Barclays campus, often housing technology and operations teams. It offers a dedicated work environment with extensive facilities.

• Manchester, Piccadilly Place: A city-center location, providing accessibility and proximity to a vibrant business ecosystem.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative workspaces designed to foster teamwork among cross-functional teams (product managers, developers, analysts).

• Access to modern design tools and technology, including Figma, and potentially other software for prototyping, research, and collaboration.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with colleagues from various departments, facilitating knowledge sharing and understanding of diverse business needs.

• A professional, corporate environment with an expectation of adherence to established procedures and security protocols. Work Schedule:

• Full-time, on-site role. Standard business hours are expected, likely Monday to Friday.

• While the core hours are fixed, there might be some flexibility in start/end times depending on team needs, but the expectation is regular office attendance.

• Occasional need to work beyond standard hours may arise to meet critical project deadlines or support global team interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is a key factor. Candidates should be prepared for a structured office environment common in large financial institutions, with a focus on in-person collaboration and adherence to corporate standards.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio by the recruitment team to assess alignment with core requirements.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion focused on your experience, design philosophy, and understanding of the role's objectives. This is where your portfolio will be a central talking point.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: You may be asked to complete a design exercise (take-home or live) or present a deep dive into one of your portfolio projects. This will assess your problem-solving skills, design process, and ability to articulate rationale.

• Team/Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with potential colleagues (e.g., Product Managers, Developers, other Designers) to evaluate collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit.

• Senior Leadership Interview: Potentially an interview with a more senior leader (e.g., Head of UX, Director) to assess strategic thinking, leadership potential, and alignment with company values, especially considering the "Assistant Vice President Expectations."

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-5 of your most relevant and impactful projects that showcase your skills in Figma, UX/UI design, user research, and problem-solving for complex applications.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the design process you followed (research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, testing), the solutions you implemented, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Figma Expertise: Showcase interactive prototypes, high-fidelity mockups, and any complex component systems you've built within Figma.

• Demonstrate User-Centricity: Explain how user research and testing informed your design decisions and led to improvements.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use data and metrics (e.g., conversion rate increases, task completion time reduction, user satisfaction scores) to demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Address Financial Context: If you have fintech or financial product design experience, highlight it. If not, explain how your experience designing complex systems is transferable.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a case study, thoroughly research Barclays, its customer base, and the challenges in the financial services industry (e.g., digital transformation, AI integration, regulatory compliance).

• Articulate Your Process: Be ready to explain your design thinking process step-by-step, justifying your decisions with user insights and business objectives.

• Focus on Impact: Emphasize how your design solutions will drive commercial and customer outcomes, aligning with the role's objectives.

• Consider Constraints: Be prepared to discuss technical feasibility, legal compliance, and risk mitigation as mentioned in the responsibilities.

• Practice Presentation: Rehearse your presentation to ensure clarity, conciseness, and confidence. Be ready to answer questions about your process and decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Assistant Vice President Expectations" suggest that interviewers will be looking for more than just design skills. They'll be assessing your ability to influence, lead, and contribute strategically to complex initiatives within a regulated environment. Your portfolio and any design challenge should reflect this broader capability.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly required expertise for UX/UI design, prototyping, and creating high-fidelity mockups. This will be a primary tool for daily work.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other prototyping or wireframing tools like Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, or Axure may be beneficial.

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting user interviews, usability testing, and surveys (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze).

• Collaboration Tools: Platforms like Jira, Confluence, Slack, Microsoft Teams for team communication, project management, and workflow tracking within agile environments.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar for tracking user behavior on digital platforms.

• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Looker for interpreting and presenting data insights, and potentially creating dashboards.

• CX Metrics Tools: Understanding and experience with tools or methods for measuring customer experience metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• While not explicitly stated, understanding how designs integrate with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) or workflow automation tools used in customer care would be advantageous.

• Understanding of AI-driven capabilities implies potential interaction with AI platforms or tools that facilitate intelligent customer service.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is non-negotiable. The other tools are important for a comprehensive Product Designer role, especially in understanding the broader ecosystem of digital product development, user research, and performance analysis within a large enterprise.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Respect: Valuing diverse perspectives and fostering an inclusive environment for all colleagues and customers.

• Integrity: Acting with honesty and transparency in all dealings, upholding ethical standards, and ensuring compliance with regulations.

• Service: Committing to providing excellent service to customers and colleagues, understanding their needs, and striving to exceed expectations.

• Excellence: Pursuing the highest standards in all work, driving continuous improvement, and delivering high-quality outcomes.

• Stewardship: Taking responsibility for the long-term well-being of the company, its customers, and society, acting with care and foresight.

• Empower, Challenge, Drive (Barclays Mindset): Encouraging colleagues to take initiative, question the status quo constructively, and proactively work towards achieving goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Working seamlessly with product managers, developers, business analysts, and potentially legal/compliance teams to achieve shared goals.

• User-Centric Advocacy: Championing the user's needs and perspective in all discussions, ensuring designs are user-friendly and effective.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: Collaborating with analysts to leverage data and insights that inform design choices and measure success.

• Agile Teamwork: Embracing iterative processes, participating actively in team ceremonies, and providing constructive feedback to peers.

• Influence and Consensus Building: Effectively communicating design rationale and persuading stakeholders to adopt user-centered solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Barclays values and mindset are crucial for cultural fit. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how they embody these principles in their work and interactions, particularly regarding integrity, service excellence, and a proactive, challenging approach within a collaborative framework.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Large Corporate Structure: Balancing innovative design ideas with established processes, governance, and compliance requirements within a global financial institution.

• Designing for Complex Systems: Creating intuitive user experiences for intricate digital banking products and colleague-servicing platforms that handle sensitive data and critical functions.

• Integrating AI and Automation: Designing effective user interfaces and experiences for emerging AI-driven capabilities while managing user expectations and potential ethical considerations.

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Satisfying diverse requirements from product managers, business units, technical teams, and compliance officers, ensuring design solutions are viable and accepted.

• Driving Transformation: Contributing to a major transformation program that fundamentally changes how banking services are delivered, requiring adaptability and a forward-thinking mindset.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI & Emerging Tech: Gaining hands-on experience designing with and for AI-driven features, staying at the forefront of technological advancements in fintech.

• Fintech & Financial Product Expertise: Deepening knowledge of the financial services industry, its regulations, and the unique challenges of designing financial products.

• Leadership & Influence: Developing skills in stakeholder management, strategic thinking, and potentially people leadership, as outlined in the "Assistant Vice President Expectations."

• Cross-functional Exposure: Working closely with various business and technology departments, broadening understanding of the banking ecosystem.

• Formal Training & Certifications: Access to Barclays' learning resources, industry conferences, and potentially certifications relevant to UX, product design, or financial technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges inherent in this role are significant but also present substantial growth opportunities. Candidates who thrive in complex, regulated environments and are excited by technological innovation will find this role particularly rewarding.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting stakeholder requirements for a product feature. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Assesses stakeholder management, negotiation, and solution-finding.)

• "How do you ensure your designs are not only user-friendly but also meet strict regulatory and compliance standards in the financial industry?" (Tests understanding of industry constraints and risk mitigation.)

• "Walk us through a complex application you designed. What were the biggest challenges, and how did your design address them to improve user experience and business outcomes?" (Evaluates end-to-end design process, problem-solving, and impact articulation.)

• "Given our focus on AI-driven capabilities, how would you approach designing an AI-powered feature for customer service agents? What ethical considerations would you prioritize?" (Assesses forward-thinking, AI design understanding, and ethical awareness.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why Barclays? What interests you about working in the banking and financial services sector, particularly within customer care technology?" (Tests motivation and alignment with the company's mission.)

• "How do you embody Barclays' values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship in your daily work?" (Assesses cultural fit and understanding of corporate values.)

• "Describe your experience working in agile environments and collaborating with cross-functional teams like product managers and developers." (Evaluates teamwork and agile methodology experience.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact and Process: For your chosen case study, clearly articulate the business problem, your user research insights, your design process (wireframes, prototypes, testing), the final solution, and the quantifiable results.

• Highlight Figma Proficiency: Be ready to navigate your Figma file to show specific design decisions, component usage, and interactive prototypes.

• Demonstrate Strategic Thinking: Explain not just what you designed, but why, linking your design choices to user needs and business objectives.

• Address Constraints: Be prepared to discuss any technical, legal, or business constraints you encountered and how you navigated them.

• Engage and Listen: Present your work clearly, but also be ready to listen to feedback and engage in a discussion about your design choices and potential alternatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely assess not only your design skills but also your strategic thinking, understanding of the financial services context, and ability to operate effectively within a large, regulated organization. Be prepared to discuss how your work drives business outcomes and aligns with company values.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link: https://barclays.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/External_Career_Site_Barclays/job/Knutsford-Radbroke-Hall/Product-Designer_JR-0000112618

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features 3-5 of your strongest projects, with a clear emphasis on Figma expertise, complex application design, and user-centric problem-solving. Tailor your project descriptions to highlight achievements relevant to financial services or complex enterprise systems.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your experience with UX/UI design, user research, prototyping, agile methodologies, and stakeholder management. Use keywords from the job description, such as "Figma," "user-centric," "digital banking," "AI-driven design," and "CX metrics." Quantify your achievements with data whenever possible.

• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly review your portfolio projects and prepare to discuss your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work. Research Barclays, its values, and the current landscape of digital banking and fintech. Practice answering strategy and behavioral questions, focusing on demonstrating your understanding of the role's responsibilities and the company's context.

• Company Research: Understand Barclays' mission, values, and recent initiatives, particularly in digital transformation and customer care. Familiarize yourself with the challenges and opportunities within the financial services industry.

⚠️ 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.