Senior Product Designer (6 months)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer (6 months)

Company: RBS

Location: Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Manchester, England, United Kingdom; Birmingham, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full time, Temporary

Category: Product Design / User Experience Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-12

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

Remote Status: Remote First (Hybrid)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design and strategy within a cross-functional team to deliver high-quality digital solutions.

• Operate in a fast-paced, remote-first environment, leveraging digital collaboration tools and occasional in-office sessions for focused teamwork.

• Drive innovation within the Fintech space by applying design thinking, user research, and creating cutting-edge designs for digital projects.

• Collaborate extensively with engineering, product, and business teams to translate user needs and business objectives into intuitive and effective product designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a 6-month contract, offering a focused opportunity to impact digital product development within RBS's Fintech innovation efforts. The "Remote First" designation with one day per week in the office suggests a structured hybrid model designed to balance flexibility with collaborative needs. The emphasis on Fintech innovation indicates a need for designers who understand complex financial systems and user needs within this domain.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead product design across a portfolio, providing strategic, end-to-end design thinking and execution for digital projects.

• Conduct comprehensive user research, ideation sessions, and brainstorming workshops with diverse stakeholders to uncover user needs and business requirements.

• Develop and present key design artifacts, including journey maps, UX wireframes, high-fidelity UI mockups, and interactive prototypes to secure stakeholder buy-in and guide development.

• Drive the usability and market success of new and existing products by aligning design solutions with business objectives and customer expectations.

• Foster a collaborative design environment through peer reviews, knowledge sharing, and contributing to playback sessions with various business units.

• Work closely with engineering, product management, and business teams to resolve design challenges and ensure the delivery of best-in-class, customer-centric solutions.

• Contribute to the evolution of design practices by exploring new working methods, user research techniques, and innovative product concepts within the Fintech sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a strategic, hands-on approach to product design, requiring the candidate to not only create but also to lead and influence design direction. The mention of "Fintech innovation space" suggests a need for designers who can navigate complex financial product requirements and user journeys.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for senior roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be strongly considered.

Experience: A minimum of 5-10 years of professional experience in product design, with a significant focus on digital product development and customer-facing applications.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in delivering customer-focused digital applications and products, with a strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end design process.

• Expertise in producing journey maps, UX wireframes, high-fidelity UI designs, and interactive prototypes.

• Demonstrated ability to conduct and leverage user research to inform design solutions and drive product success.

• Proficiency in working within agile, fast-paced, and data-driven environments.

• Strong facilitation skills for ideation, brainstorming, and critic workshops with multiple stakeholders.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and influence stakeholders.

• Experience in creating design solutions that balance customer needs with business objectives.

• Familiarity with native mobile design principles and best practices. Preferred Skills:

• Experience specifically within the Fintech industry or designing complex financial products.

• Advanced knowledge of user research methodologies and their strategic application.

• Experience with A/B testing and data analysis to optimize design performance.

• Familiarity with design systems and their implementation.

• Experience working in a remote-first or hybrid team environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 5-10 years of experience positions this as a senior-level role, expecting candidates to demonstrate strategic thinking, leadership in design initiatives, and a proven track record of successful product launches. The emphasis on both UX and UI, along with prototyping and user research, indicates a need for a well-rounded product designer.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating end-to-end product design experience, from initial concept and user research through to final UI and prototyping.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the design problem, your role, the process followed, design decisions made, and the measurable impact of your solutions on user experience and business goals.

• Examples of journey maps, wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes, showcasing your design craft and problem-solving abilities.

• Evidence of experience in collaborating with cross-functional teams (engineering, product, business) and managing stakeholder expectations.

• Specific examples of how you've balanced customer needs with business objectives in your designs. Process Documentation:

• Showcase your approach to user research, including methodologies used and how insights were translated into design actions.

• Illustrate your process for running and managing ideation, brainstorming, and critic workshops with stakeholders.

• Provide examples of how you've used prototyping and iterative design to test and refine concepts before development.

• Demonstrate your understanding of agile development cycles and how design integrates seamlessly within them.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, the portfolio is critical. It should not just display finished work but also the strategic thinking, user-centric methodology, and collaborative process behind it. The emphasis on balancing customer and business needs, along with Fintech context, should be evident in selected case studies.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior Product Designer in Edinburgh, Manchester, or Birmingham, with 5-10 years of experience and a 6-month contract duration, the estimated salary range would typically be between £70,000 - £95,000 per annum (pro-rata). This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior UX/Product Design roles in major UK cities, considering the Fintech sector and the contract nature of the role. The final offer would depend on the specific skills, experience, and qualifications of the candidate.

Benefits:

• Opportunity to work on innovative Fintech projects for a major financial institution.

• Flexible working arrangements with a remote-first policy, complemented by a hybrid model.

• Access to a collaborative and cross-functional design team environment.

• Professional development opportunities through exposure to diverse design challenges and stakeholders.

• Potential for future contract extensions or opportunities within RBS based on performance and business needs.

• Contribution to impactful digital products used by a large customer base.

Working Hours: 35 hours per week, with a remote-first arrangement allowing for significant flexibility in daily work patterns, while requiring one day per week in the office for collaborative activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: As this is a 6-month contract role, benefits may differ from permanent positions. The salary estimate is based on typical market rates for similar contract roles in the UK, adjusted for experience and location. The primary "benefit" is the opportunity to gain experience in a high-demand sector and contribute to significant projects.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Banking and Financial Services, with a specific focus on digital innovation and Fintech solutions. RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) is a prominent player in the UK financial sector, undergoing significant digital transformation.

Company Size: Large (often classified as enterprise-level, with tens of thousands of employees globally). This size implies structured processes, established frameworks, and opportunities for broad impact, but also potential for navigating bureaucracy.

Founded: The Royal Bank of Scotland was founded in 1727, bringing a long history and deep institutional knowledge, now blended with a forward-looking approach to digital services.

Team Structure:

• The role operates within cross-functional design teams, suggesting a collaborative structure where designers work alongside product managers, engineers, researchers, and business stakeholders.

• Senior designers are expected to lead design initiatives within these teams, influencing product strategy and design direction.

• The "Remote First" and hybrid model indicates a modern approach to team collaboration, relying on digital tools for day-to-day interaction and scheduled in-office days for intensive collaboration. Methodology:

• Design thinking is a core methodology, emphasizing user-centric problem-solving.

• Agile methodologies are standard for development and product delivery, requiring designers to be adaptable and iterative.

• A data-driven approach is highlighted, suggesting that design decisions should be informed by user research, analytics, and performance metrics.

• Collaboration and knowledge sharing are encouraged through workshops, peer reviews, and playback sessions.

Company Website: https://www.rbs.co.uk/

📝 Enhancement Note: Working within a large, established financial institution like RBS offers a unique blend of stability and innovation. The company's commitment to digital transformation and Fintech suggests a dynamic environment for designers, with opportunities to shape the future of banking services. The emphasis on data-driven design aligns with modern product development practices.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, typically requiring 5-10 years of experience. It involves leading design efforts, mentoring junior designers (implicitly), and contributing significantly to product strategy and execution. The designer is expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy and strategic input.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Lead, Head of Product Design, or a senior Product Manager, depending on the specific team structure. They will work closely with peers in engineering, product, and user research.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the usability, customer satisfaction, and market success of RBS's digital products, particularly within the Fintech innovation space. By crafting intuitive and effective user experiences, the designer contributes to customer acquisition, retention, and overall business objectives.

Growth Opportunities:

• For a contract role, growth is primarily focused on skill enhancement and portfolio building. This role offers the opportunity to gain deep experience in Fintech product design and work within a large, reputable organization.

• Potential for further contract extensions or transitioning to permanent roles within RBS or its associated entities, depending on business needs and individual performance.

• Exposure to a wide range of digital projects and stakeholders, fostering continuous learning and broadening professional networks.

• Opportunity to refine skills in agile methodologies, user research techniques, and stakeholder management in a large-scale corporate environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: While a 6-month contract limits traditional long-term career progression within RBS, it offers significant opportunities for skill development, portfolio enhancement, and industry-specific experience, particularly in Fintech. Success in this role could lead to further contract opportunities or a permanent position.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment, with a "Remote First" policy. This means the primary mode of work is remote, with a requirement to attend the office (Edinburgh, Manchester, or Birmingham) approximately once a week for collaborative purposes.

Office Location(s): Edinburgh, Scotland; Manchester, England; Birmingham, England. Candidates may be expected to attend an office in one of these locations, depending on team proximity and project needs.

Workspace Context:

• The remote-first nature necessitates a well-equipped home office setup and proficiency in digital collaboration tools.

• In-office days are designed for high-impact collaboration, such as team workshops, design sprints, and crucial stakeholder meetings, fostering team cohesion and idea generation.

• The environment is likely fast-paced and dynamic, typical of digital product development within a large financial institution undergoing transformation.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (35 hours per week), with flexibility inherent in the remote-first setup. However, adherence to team schedules for meetings, collaboration sessions, and project deadlines is essential.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model aims to combine the benefits of remote work (flexibility, reduced commute) with the advantages of in-person collaboration. Candidates should be comfortable working independently for much of the week and engaging actively during designated office days.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess suitability for the Senior Product Designer role and contract duration.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion focused on your experience, design philosophy, approach to user research, and how you handle complex design challenges. Be prepared to discuss your portfolio in detail.

• Design Challenge/Workshop: You may be asked to complete a take-home design exercise or participate in a live design workshop (potentially virtual) with members of the design team. This assesses your practical design skills, problem-solving abilities, and collaboration style.

• Stakeholder Interview: An interview with cross-functional team members (e.g., Product Manager, Lead Engineer) to evaluate your ability to collaborate, communicate, and align design with business and technical constraints.

• Final Interview/Offer: Potential final interview with a senior leader, followed by an offer if successful.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact, particularly those relevant to Fintech or complex digital products.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your specific role and contributions, the design process you followed (user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, testing), your design rationale, and the measurable outcomes or learnings.

• Showcase Process, Not Just Polish: Include artifacts like wireframes, user flows, and research insights to demonstrate your thought process, not just high-fidelity mockups.

• Highlight Collaboration: Emphasize how you worked with cross-functional teams and managed stakeholder feedback.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction).

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a design challenge, thoroughly research RBS and the Fintech landscape to inform your approach.

• Focus on Process: Even if time is limited, demonstrate your design thinking process, user research approach, and iterative ideation.

• Communicate Clearly: Articulate your assumptions, design decisions, and rationale clearly and concisely. Be prepared to present your work and answer questions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a senior contract role will likely be rigorous, focusing on practical application and ability to integrate quickly into a team. A strong, well-documented portfolio that highlights strategic thinking and measurable results is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD (proficiency in at least one, ideally Figma or Sketch, is expected).

• Wireframing & User Flows: Tools like Balsamiq, Miro, or features within Figma/Sketch.

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

• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Confluence, Jira.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to understand user behavior and product performance.

• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) is a plus for interpreting and presenting data insights. CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how design impacts CRM data and user journeys within customer management systems is beneficial.

• Familiarity with how design outputs are translated into development tickets via tools like Jira.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools like Figma or Sketch is non-negotiable. The ability to leverage collaboration and project management tools is also crucial for success in a remote/hybrid, cross-functional environment.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and meeting customer needs through thoughtful design.

• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork, open communication, and knowledge sharing across disciplines.

• Innovation: Encouraging creative problem-solving and the exploration of new ideas within the Fintech space.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Using insights from research and analytics to inform design choices and measure impact.

• Agility & Adaptability: Embracing change, iterating quickly, and responding effectively to evolving project requirements.

• Quality & Excellence: Striving for high-quality design outcomes that are both user-friendly and meet business objectives.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, working closely with product managers, engineers, user researchers, and business stakeholders.

• Emphasis on constructive feedback through peer reviews and design critiques.

• Active participation in workshops and playback sessions to ensure alignment and shared understanding.

• A proactive approach to communication, especially in a remote-first setting, to maintain transparency and team cohesion.

📝 Enhancement Note: RBS likely fosters a culture that balances the tradition of a large financial institution with the dynamism required for digital innovation. The values emphasize a blend of user advocacy, rigorous process, and collaborative spirit, essential for success in complex product development.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Navigating diverse and sometimes conflicting requirements from various business units, product teams, and engineering.

• Pace of Innovation: Keeping up with rapid advancements in Fintech and digital design trends while delivering within project timelines.

• Remote Collaboration: Ensuring effective communication, ideation, and team cohesion in a predominantly remote work setting.

• Complex Financial Systems: Translating intricate financial concepts and regulations into simple, intuitive user experiences.

• Data Interpretation: Effectively using data to drive design decisions and measure impact, especially in a new or evolving product area.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Fintech Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for the financial services industry.

• Advanced Design Techniques: Hone skills in areas like complex user flows, data visualization, and accessibility standards.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain broader understanding of product management, engineering processes, and business strategy within a large corporation.

• Remote/Hybrid Work Mastery: Develop best practices for effective collaboration and productivity in flexible work models.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Build a strong case study demonstrating significant impact on a major digital product.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior roles in large, innovative companies. The growth opportunities are geared towards skill refinement and gaining specialized experience relevant to the financial technology sector.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance competing stakeholder needs in a design project. How did you manage this, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your stakeholder management and negotiation skills.)

• "How do you approach user research for a new Fintech product where user behavior might be uncharted?" (Highlight your research methodologies and adaptability.)

• "Walk me through a complex user journey you designed. What were the key pain points, and how did your design address them?" (Prepare a specific portfolio case study focusing on process and problem-solving.)

• "How do you ensure your designs are accessible and inclusive, especially for a diverse customer base?" (Demonstrate awareness of accessibility standards and best practices.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about RBS and this specific Senior Product Designer role, especially given the 6-month contract?" (Show genuine interest in the company's Fintech initiatives and the challenge of the role.)

• "How do you contribute to a positive and collaborative team culture, particularly in a remote-first environment?" (Provide examples of your collaborative behaviors and communication style.)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest trends in product design and the Fintech industry?" (Showcase your commitment to continuous learning.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a high-level overview of your career and design philosophy. Then, dive into 2-3 key portfolio projects, dedicating sufficient time to each.

• Narrative: For each project, tell a compelling story: the problem, your role, the process, the decisions, the outcome, and your learnings.

• Visuals: Use clear, high-quality visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes) to illustrate your points.

• Interaction: Be prepared to demonstrate interactive prototypes if possible, or describe user flows in detail.

• Metrics: Clearly present any quantitative results or impacts achieved by your designs.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time; practice your presentation to ensure it's comprehensive yet efficient.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, practical design skills, and an understanding of the Fintech landscape. Be ready to showcase your portfolio with detailed explanations of your process and impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the RBS Workday portal.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select and refine 3-5 key projects that best showcase your end-to-end product design expertise, focusing on digital products, user research, and measurable impact. Ensure your portfolio clearly articulates your problem-solving process and contributions.

• Tailor Your CV: Highlight experience relevant to product design, UX/UI, user research, agile methodologies, stakeholder management, and any Fintech-specific projects. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice walking through your portfolio projects, emphasizing your strategic approach, design decisions, and the outcomes achieved. Be ready to discuss your experience with user research and balancing customer/business needs.

• Research RBS: Familiarize yourself with RBS's digital offerings, Fintech initiatives, and company values to tailor your responses during interviews and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.

---