Senior Digital Product Designer - Native Apps - 12 Month Maternity Cover

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Digital Product Designer - Native Apps - 12 Month Maternity Cover

Company: Charlotte Tilbury

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Digital Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-05-11

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

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the creation of holistic digital experiences and aesthetics for native mobile applications (iOS and Android), ensuring seamless brand translation across platforms.

• Drive the end-to-end product design lifecycle, from research and ideation to prototyping, testing, and iterative refinement, with a strong focus on human-centered design principles.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Tech, Product, Digital Design, Content, and CRM to influence product creation and ensure strategic alignment.

• Leverage AI tools to expedite exploration of multiple design ideas and assist in asset/copy generation, enhancing design efficiency and output.

• Champion accessibility standards (WCAG, VoiceOver, TalkBack, Dynamic Type) to ensure inclusive design solutions for a diverse customer base.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a 12-month maternity cover position, indicating a need for an experienced designer who can quickly integrate and deliver high-quality work within a defined project timeline. The emphasis on "creative and operational thinking" and a "service design mindset" suggests a strategic role that goes beyond just visual aesthetics, focusing on the entire customer journey and system interactions.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and deliver intuitive, engaging, and visually consistent user experiences for Charlotte Tilbury's native iOS and Android applications.

• Develop user experience maps, customer journey flows, and rapid prototypes to articulate and validate design concepts with stakeholders and end-users.

• Translate complex design principles and directions into detailed design specifications for engineering teams, ensuring accurate implementation.

• Utilize A/B testing and product performance analysis to validate design hypotheses and drive data-informed design decisions for continuous improvement.

• Present design concepts, user research findings, and product updates to stakeholders regularly, employing strong storytelling to gain buy-in throughout the product lifecycle.

• Foster strong, collaborative relationships with cross-functional teams, facilitating clear communication and documentation of design decisions.

• Integrate AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot) into the design workflow for ideation, asset generation, and copy refinement, optimizing efficiency and exploring novel creative avenues.

• Partner with the Director of Customer Experience to define strategic work plans and shape future product roadmaps, prioritizing customer needs and business objectives.

• Ensure product strategies are aligned with overarching strategic pillars and harmonize with other customer touchpoints across the brand's ecosystem.

• Proactively stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and innovative design solutions across various sectors to continuously enhance the customer experience on all platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The inclusion of "service design mindset" and "thinking about experiences as systems rather than in silo" points towards a responsibility to consider the broader ecosystem of customer interactions, not just the app interface itself. This suggests the Senior Digital Product Designer will be instrumental in ensuring consistency and coherence across all customer touchpoints.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While specific educational qualifications are not detailed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for senior-level product design roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be strongly considered.

Experience: Proven professional experience operating at a senior level within digital product design, with a minimum of 5-10 years of dedicated experience in UX/UI design for native mobile platforms (iOS and Android).

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in digital product design, with a strong focus on UX for both iOS and Android mobile platforms.

• Proven experience in visual design-led projects, translating brand identity into compelling digital aesthetics.

• A robust work portfolio showcasing impactful design thinking, end-to-end customer journey creation, and clear rationale behind design decisions.

• In-depth knowledge of Apple's Human Interface Guidelines and Google's Material Design Guidelines.

• Comprehensive understanding of accessibility principles and implementation, including WCAG specifications, VoiceOver, TalkBack, and Dynamic Type.

• Experience planning and executing qualitative and quantitative user research, synthesizing insights to inform design strategies.

• Proficiency in design and prototyping tools, with a strong emphasis on Figma.

• Familiarity with project management and collaboration tools such as JIRA and Microsoft Teams/Outlook.

• Experience collaborating closely with engineering teams to ensure high-fidelity design implementation.

• Knowledge of information architecture, user psychology, and human-centered design methodologies.

• Strong ability to manage time effectively, prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and take accountability for project outcomes.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to present design concepts and gain stakeholder buy-in.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working with Content Management Systems (CMS) for content and asset updates.

• Knowledge of optimizing assets for delivery, including file formats (HEIC/HEIF, WebP), file size constraints, and color profiles for high dynamic displays.

• Experience with service design principles and applying a systems-thinking approach to customer experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a "strong work portfolio that demonstrates impact of work and design thinking" is critical. Candidates should prepare to present case studies that clearly articulate the problem, their design process, the rationale behind their decisions, and measurable outcomes (e.g., improved conversion rates, user satisfaction scores). The expectation of working with AI tools suggests candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience or willingness to explore these technologies in a design context.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Detailed case studies that illustrate the end-to-end design process for native mobile applications (iOS and Android).

• Clear demonstration of design thinking, including problem definition, user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design.

• Articulation of the rationale behind key design decisions, supported by user data, research findings, or usability testing results.

• Examples of user journey mapping and flow diagrams that showcase a holistic understanding of the customer experience.

• Evidence of strong UX copy and microcopy, demonstrating an understanding of tone of voice and user communication.

• Visuals of final UI designs, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes.

Process Documentation:

• Documentation of user research methodologies employed (e.g., user interviews, surveys, usability testing) and key insights derived.

• Records of design iterations and how feedback from stakeholders and users influenced design changes.

• Specifications provided to engineering teams, detailing interactions, states, and visual elements.

• Examples of A/B test plans and analysis reports that led to design optimizations.

• Evidence of collaboration with cross-functional teams, such as wireframes shared with product managers or prototypes reviewed with marketing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "impact of work" and "rational behind design decisions" means the portfolio should not just be a collection of pretty screens, but a narrative that tells the story of how the designer solved a problem and achieved positive business or user outcomes. Candidates should be ready to discuss metrics and KPIs related to their projects.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the Senior Digital Product Designer title, 5-10 years of experience, and location in London, UK, a competitive salary range is estimated between £60,000 - £85,000 per annum. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in London, factoring in the specialist nature of native app design and the temporary maternity cover aspect which might influence negotiation.

Benefits:

• Holiday Entitlement: 25 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays.

• Birthday Leave: An additional day off to celebrate your birthday.

• Parental Leave: Comprehensive and inclusive parental leave policy.

• Financial Security: Pension scheme and life assurance.

• Wellness: Medicash (health cash plan) and Employee Assistance Programs.

• Social Connection: Regular social events and team connects.

• Pet-Friendly: Dog-friendly days and designated spaces.

• Perks: Generous product discount and gifting opportunities.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, with an estimated 40 hours per week. The company operates a hybrid model, offering flexibility in how and where work is conducted, balancing in-office collaboration with remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate and may vary based on the candidate's specific experience, portfolio strength, and negotiation. The benefits package is substantial and highlights Charlotte Tilbury's commitment to employee well-being and work-life balance, which are attractive to experienced professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Luxury Beauty Retail. Charlotte Tilbury Beauty operates in a highly competitive and trend-driven global beauty market, known for its innovative product development, strong digital presence, and aspirational brand positioning.

Company Size: With over 2,300 employees globally, Charlotte Tilbury Beauty is a significant player in the beauty industry, indicating a dynamic and scaling organization with established processes yet retaining a spirit of growth and disruption.

Founded: Founded in 2013 by Charlotte Tilbury MBE, the company has experienced rapid growth, establishing itself as a global beauty phenomenon within a decade. This relatively young age suggests a modern, agile, and forward-thinking company culture.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Digital Product Designer will likely be part of a dedicated Digital Product team, potentially reporting to a Head of Digital Product or Director of Customer Experience.

• Collaboration will be extensive with app development teams ("App Squad"), tech departments, product managers, content creators, and CRM specialists.

Methodology:

• The company emphasizes a human-centered design approach, driven by customer needs and validated through research and data.

• A focus on "disruptive thinking" and "embracing challenges" suggests an environment that encourages innovation and creative problem-solving.

• Data-driven decision-making is key, with responsibilities including A/B testing and product performance analysis.

• The integration of AI tools points to a willingness to adopt cutting-edge technologies to enhance efficiency and creativity.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's rapid growth and focus on innovation suggest an exciting, fast-paced environment. For a Senior Digital Product Designer, this means opportunities to work on impactful projects that shape the brand's digital future, but also demands adaptability and a proactive approach to managing evolving priorities.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Senior level, indicating a requirement for significant autonomy, strategic input, and mentorship capabilities. The designer is expected to lead complex design challenges, influence product direction, and contribute to defining best practices within the team. The 12-month maternity cover nature means the focus is on immediate impact and skilled execution rather than long-term career pathing within this specific contract. However, successful contractors often have opportunities for future roles.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Digital Product Designer will likely report to a Director of Customer Experience or Head of Digital Product. They will collaborate closely with various teams, including Tech, Product, and Content, acting as a key design authority for the native app experiences.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on customer engagement, brand perception, and potentially conversion rates through the design of the native mobile applications. By creating seamless and visually appealing user experiences, the designer contributes to customer satisfaction, loyalty, and ultimately, revenue generation for Charlotte Tilbury's digital channels. Influencing product strategy ensures that customer needs are met, driving business objectives.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in native app UX/UI design, accessibility, and leverage AI in design workflows.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Gain experience leading design initiatives across multiple departments and influencing product strategy.

• Industry Exposure: Work within the dynamic luxury beauty retail sector, understanding its unique customer needs and digital trends.

• Potential for Future Roles: A successful 12-month contract can serve as a strong stepping stone for permanent positions within Charlotte Tilbury, given the company's growth trajectory.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a contract role, the "Senior" designation implies significant responsibility and the opportunity to act as a design leader during the contract period. Candidates should view this as a chance to showcase their advanced skills and strategic thinking, potentially opening doors for longer-term engagement if desired and opportunities arise.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Charlotte Tilbury operates a hybrid model, suggesting a blend of remote work and in-office collaboration. This provides flexibility while maintaining opportunities for team interaction and cohesion.

Office Location(s): The primary work location is London, England, United Kingdom. Specific details about the office environment, such as amenities and accessibility, are not provided but are typical for a London-based corporate office.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model encourages collaboration through scheduled in-office days, team meetings, and cross-functional workshops.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma), project management tools (JIRA), and AI tools will be available.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with design peers, product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to foster a shared understanding and drive cohesive product development.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time (approx. 40 hours/week) with a hybrid arrangement, allowing for flexibility in daily work patterns while ensuring project deadlines and team commitments are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role is a significant benefit, offering a balance between focused remote work and in-person collaboration. Candidates should be prepared to articulate how they thrive in such an environment, emphasizing their ability to manage their time effectively and contribute positively both independently and as part of a team.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: While not explicitly detailed, a typical process for a Senior Digital Product Designer role at a company like Charlotte Tilbury would involve:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with HR or a recruiter to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A more in-depth session with the hiring manager and potentially a design lead or senior team members. This may involve presenting a portfolio and/or tackling a specific design problem or case study relevant to the company.

• Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with key cross-functional partners (e.g., Product Manager, Lead Engineer) to evaluate collaboration skills and understanding of the product development lifecycle.

• Final Interview: A discussion with a senior leader (e.g., Director of CX, VP of Product) to assess strategic thinking and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Highlight quantifiable results and the business impact of your design decisions. Use metrics where possible (e.g., increased conversion, reduced bounce rate, improved task completion time).

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies to clearly articulate the problem, your process, the challenges, your solutions, and the outcome.

• Showcase Design Thinking: Explain why you made certain design decisions, not just what you designed. Demonstrate your understanding of user needs, research, and testing.

• Highlight Native App Expertise: Ensure your portfolio prominently features native iOS and Android app projects, showcasing your understanding of platform-specific guidelines and best practices.

• Accessibility Integration: Clearly demonstrate how you've incorporated accessibility principles into your designs.

• Conciseness and Clarity: Present your work clearly and concisely. Be prepared to walk through your portfolio with confidence and answer in-depth questions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brand: Research Charlotte Tilbury's brand identity, target audience, existing digital products (especially the app), and competitors.

• Practice Presenting: Rehearse your portfolio presentation and any potential design challenge responses. Focus on clear communication and storytelling.

• Prepare for Behavioral Questions: Anticipate questions about teamwork, problem-solving, handling feedback, and managing priorities.

• Think Systemically: Given the emphasis on service design, be prepared to discuss how your proposed solutions fit into a broader customer journey or ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "creative and operational thinking" and "service design mindset" suggests interviewers will be looking for candidates who can balance aesthetic vision with practical implementation and a holistic view of the customer experience. Be ready to discuss how you've managed competing priorities and collaborated with technical teams.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expected to be the primary tool for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency in its advanced features for design systems, component libraries, and interactive prototyping is essential.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is strong, other tools like InVision or Adobe XD might be used or expected knowledge.

• AI Tools: Explicitly mentioned are ChatGPT and Copilot, indicating an expectation to leverage AI for ideation, content generation, and potentially code assistance. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience or approach to using these tools in a design context.

Analytics & Reporting:

• A/B Testing Tools: Experience with platforms for conducting and analyzing A/B tests (e.g., Optimizely, Google Optimize, or in-app analytics tools) is crucial for validating design decisions and measuring impact.

• Product Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar, for tracking user behavior, engagement, and conversion metrics within the app.

• Data Visualization Tools: Ability to interpret data from analytics platforms and potentially create basic dashboards or reports to communicate insights.

CRM & Automation:

• Content Management Systems (CMS): Preferred skill, indicating potential involvement in content updates or asset management within the app.

• Project Management Software: JIRA is specifically mentioned, highlighting its importance for task tracking, bug reporting, and sprint management within development cycles.

• Collaboration Platforms: Microsoft Teams/Outlook are standard for communication, scheduling, and file sharing.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and a willingness to integrate AI tools are key technical requirements. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they use these tools to enhance their design process and deliver efficient, high-quality results. Understanding how to translate design insights into actionable data for analytics teams is also critical.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Empowerment: The company's mission is to empower everyone to be their best selves, suggesting a culture that supports individual growth and development.

• Magic & Innovation: The brand is built on a sense of "magic," implying a culture that values creativity, aspiration, and a touch of wonder, alongside disruptive thinking and embracing challenges.

• Winning Together: A strong emphasis on collaboration and teamwork, indicating that success is achieved collectively.

• Data-Driven: Decisions are informed by data and performance analysis, reinforcing a pragmatic and results-oriented approach.

• Customer-Centricity: The "customer needs are at the forefront of everything we do" highlights a deep commitment to understanding and serving the end-user.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect close collaboration with diverse teams, requiring strong communication and the ability to translate design concepts for different audiences.

• Feedback Culture: An environment that likely encourages constructive feedback to refine designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: The company's growth and innovative spirit suggest a culture that values sharing insights, best practices, and learnings across teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Charlotte Tilbury fosters a culture that blends creativity and aspiration with a results-driven, collaborative approach. For a Senior Digital Product Designer, this means bringing both innovative ideas and a pragmatic, team-oriented mindset to the role. Demonstrating how you align with these values during the interview process will be crucial.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand & Functionality: Ensuring that the app's aesthetic aligns with the luxury brand identity while maintaining intuitive functionality and usability for a diverse user base.

• Cross-Platform Consistency: Maintaining a cohesive user experience and visual design across both iOS and Android platforms, while respecting their unique guidelines.

• Rapid Iteration: Working within a fast-paced environment that requires quick turnarounds and continuous adaptation to feedback and market trends.

• Stakeholder Management: Effectively communicating complex design decisions and gaining buy-in from various stakeholders with potentially different priorities.

• Leveraging New Technologies: Integrating AI tools effectively into the design workflow and staying ahead of evolving digital design trends.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX/UI Skills: Opportunities to refine expertise in native app design, accessibility standards, and complex user journey mapping.

• AI Integration: Gaining hands-on experience and developing best practices for using AI tools in the design process.

• Strategic Influence: Contributing to product strategy and roadmap definition, enhancing strategic thinking and leadership capabilities.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Deepening understanding of product development lifecycles by working closely with tech, product, content, and CRM teams.

• Brand Immersion: Gaining insights into the luxury beauty industry and its unique customer engagement strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents an excellent opportunity to tackle complex design challenges within a high-growth, globally recognized brand. The focus on AI tools and cross-functional collaboration offers significant avenues for professional development and skill enhancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for designing a new feature for a native mobile app, from initial concept to launch. How do you incorporate user research and A/B testing?" (Focus on your end-to-end process, data validation, and user-centricity).

• "How do you ensure your designs are accessible to all users, and what specific standards or guidelines do you follow?" (Highlight your knowledge of WCAG, VoiceOver, TalkBack, and practical application).

• "How would you approach translating the Charlotte Tilbury brand identity and aesthetic into a digital product experience for both iOS and Android?" (Demonstrate understanding of brand immersion and platform-specific design).

• "How have you used AI tools (like ChatGPT or Copilot) in your design workflow, and what benefits did they bring?" (Be prepared to discuss specific use cases, efficiency gains, or creative exploration).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Charlotte Tilbury as a brand and this specific role?" (Show genuine interest in the brand, its mission, and the product design challenges).

• "How do you approach working in a hybrid environment and collaborating with remote and in-office team members?" (Emphasize your ability to stay connected, communicate effectively, and manage your time).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the problem statement, your role, the objectives, your design process, key decisions and their rationale, challenges faced, solutions implemented, and the measurable impact/outcomes.

• Showcase Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, user flows, and prototypes. If possible, include interactive prototypes to demonstrate user interactions.

• Highlight Key Skills: Explicitly point out instances where you applied UX research, UI design, accessibility principles, A/B testing, and AI tool integration.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improvement in conversion rates, user satisfaction scores, engagement metrics).

• Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse your presentation to ensure it flows logically, stays within time limits, and allows ample time for Q&A. Be ready to dive deeper into any aspect of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely assess not only your design skills but also your strategic thinking, ability to collaborate within a hybrid environment, and your understanding of how design drives business objectives for a luxury brand. Be prepared to discuss the "service design mindset" and how your work contributes to the overall customer journey.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Digital Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workable application link.

• Tailor your CV and Cover Letter: Highlight your experience in native mobile app design (iOS & Android), UX/UI, visual design, accessibility, and any experience with AI tools. Quantify your achievements using metrics relevant to product design.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features your strongest native app projects. Clearly articulate the problem, your process, your rationale, and the impact of your work, with a specific focus on end-to-end customer journeys and design thinking.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies, focusing on storytelling, data-driven decisions, and how you collaborated with teams. Be ready to discuss your approach to accessibility and leveraging AI.

• Research Charlotte Tilbury: Understand the brand's mission, values, target audience, and current digital presence, particularly their app. Prepare to discuss how your design philosophy aligns with their brand aesthetic and customer-centric approach.

⚠️ 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.