Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Digital Product Designer

Company: The Gym Group

Location: Clapham Junction, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-08-28

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office, 2 days remote)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design initiatives, from initial research and discovery through to delivery and ongoing optimization of digital experiences.

• Drive continuous discovery processes in collaboration with Product and Engineering teams, leveraging user research, data analytics, and customer insights to define product direction and identify key problems.

• Design comprehensive member experiences across web and mobile applications, encompassing user journeys, wireframes, prototypes, and polished UI, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity.

• Foster a collaborative design culture by evolving the Design System, maintaining quality standards, and actively participating in constructive critique and knowledge sharing within the Product Design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, indicating a need for demonstrated leadership in design processes, strategic thinking, and the ability to mentor or guide other designers. The emphasis on "real influence over what gets built and why" suggests a significant impact on product strategy and roadmap.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead continuous discovery alongside Product and Engineering, using research, data, and customer insight to identify the right problems and shape product direction.

• Plan and conduct user research, including interviews, usability testing, surveys, and behavioural analysis, to build a clear, evidence-based picture of member needs.

• Design end-to-end member experiences across web and app, from early concepts and service blueprints through to polished, accessible UX and UI.

• Prototype and test ideas early to validate hypotheses, reduce risk, and keep teams focused on meaningful outcomes rather than assumed solutions.

• Collaborate closely with the wider Product Design team to evolve the Design System, maintain quality standards, and build a culture of constructive critique and shared learning.

• Utilize analytics and experimentation tools (including GA4, Contentsquare, and HEAP) to evaluate live experiences and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

• Facilitate workshops and collaborative sessions that bring together Product, Engineering, Marketing, Operations, and other stakeholders to align on problems and solutions.

• Champion customer-centred thinking across The Gym Group, helping teams move from a focus on features to a focus on problems, learning, and measurable impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on a data-driven and research-led design process, deeply integrated within an agile, cross-functional team structure. The role requires not only design execution but also strategic influence, problem identification, and stakeholder management.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational foundation in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, or a related field is beneficial.

Experience: Proven experience working across the full product lifecycle within multidisciplinary agile teams, demonstrating genuine ownership of research, design, and delivery. A minimum of 5-10 years of experience in product design is expected for a senior role.

Required Skills:

• A strong portfolio demonstrating end-to-end product design work, including research-led discovery, service or journey design, and high-quality UX and UI across digital products.

• Proven experience working across the full product lifecycle in a multidisciplinary agile team, including genuine ownership of research, design, and delivery.

• Confidence using qualitative and quantitative research methods to understand user needs and translate insight into clear product decisions.

• Proficiency with Figma and collaboration tools such as Miro.

• Solid knowledge of accessibility standards and inclusive design principles.

• Strong communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to present design rationale clearly and influence stakeholders using evidence. Preferred Skills:

• Working familiarity with analytics platforms like GA4, Contentsquare, or HEAP.

• Practical experience working with or contributing to a Design System.

• Experience in facilitating workshops and collaborative sessions with diverse stakeholders.

• Understanding of A/B testing and experimentation methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of strong foundational design skills (UX/UI, research, prototyping), technical proficiency with key tools (Figma, Miro), and crucial soft skills like communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management. The inclusion of specific analytics tools as "working familiarity" suggests that while not strictly mandatory, proficiency here would be a significant advantage.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate end-to-end product design work, showcasing the entire design process from inception to completion.

• Include case studies highlighting research-led discovery, illustrating how user insights informed design decisions and problem definition.

• Showcase service or journey design examples, providing a holistic view of the member experience across various touchpoints.

• Present high-quality UX and UI deliverables, reflecting a strong understanding of interaction design, visual design, and usability principles.

• Detail your specific role and contributions within multidisciplinary agile teams, emphasizing ownership of research, design, and delivery phases. Process Documentation:

• Detail your approach to planning and conducting user research (interviews, usability testing, surveys, behavioural analysis).

• Explain your methods for translating research insights into actionable product decisions and design solutions.

• Illustrate your prototyping and testing strategies for validating hypotheses and reducing project risk.

• Describe your experience in evolving Design Systems, maintaining quality standards, and fostering a culture of constructive critique.

• Provide examples of how you've used analytics and experimentation tools to evaluate live experiences and identify improvement opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are geared towards demonstrating a holistic and impact-driven design process. Candidates are expected to show not just polished final designs, but also the strategic thinking, research methodologies, and collaborative efforts that led to those outcomes. Emphasis is placed on the ability to articulate the "why" behind design choices and measure their impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in London with 5-10 years of experience, a competitive salary range is estimated between £60,000 - £85,000 per annum. This estimate considers the hybrid work model, the company's market position as a leading gym operator, and the seniority of the role.

Benefits:

• Hybrid working model: 3 days per week in the Clapham Junction office and 2 days remote, offering flexibility.

• Supportive environment: Emphasis on a culture where employees can thrive, with opportunities for personal and professional growth.

• Employee benefits package (details typically include: potential for pension contributions, health and wellness programs, gym membership discounts, and paid time off).

• Opportunities for development and learning within a growing organization.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are expected, likely around 37.5-40 hours per week. The hybrid model provides flexibility in how and where these hours are completed, within team coordination requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on typical compensation for a Senior Product Designer in the London area, considering the stated experience level and the hybrid work arrangement. Specific benefits beyond flexibility and a supportive culture would need to be confirmed with The Gym Group.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Fitness & Leisure / Health & Wellness. The Gym Group operates within a highly competitive and rapidly evolving fitness market, with a strong focus on providing affordable, accessible, and high-quality gym facilities. This environment demands agility and a customer-centric approach to digital product development.

Company Size: The Gym Group is a large organization, described as the 2nd largest gym business in the UK and 4th largest in Europe by membership, employing a significant number of people. This scale implies established processes but also opportunities for impact within specific product teams.

Founded: While not explicitly stated, The Gym Group has a history of significant growth, indicating a dynamic and evolving company culture that embraces innovation to maintain its market position.

Team Structure:

• The role is part of a cross-functional product team, indicating close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers and researchers.

• There is a wider Product Design team, suggesting opportunities for mentorship, shared learning, and contributions to a unified design vision and system.

• Collaboration extends to Marketing, Operations, and other stakeholders, highlighting the need for strong communication and alignment across departments. Methodology:

• Agile methodology is explicitly mentioned, indicating iterative development cycles, close team collaboration, and adaptability to change.

• A strong emphasis is placed on continuous discovery, data-driven decision-making, and customer-centred thinking.

• The use of research, analytics, and experimentation tools (GA4, Contentsquare, HEAP) points to a data-informed approach to product development and optimization.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by a blend of ambition (market leadership), employee well-being (#BeYouWithUs), and a commitment to innovation in the digital space. The "Senior" title suggests a role that contributes to shaping this culture through design leadership and best practices.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, indicating a position of significant responsibility and autonomy. It requires not only expert-level design skills but also the ability to influence product strategy, mentor junior designers, and contribute to the overarching design vision and standards of the company.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Product Design, Design Manager, or a senior Product leader. They will be embedded within cross-functional product teams but will also have a strong connection to the broader Product Design team for mentorship and strategic alignment.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the digital experience of over a million members. By leading discovery and design, the Senior Product Designer will shape how members interact with The Gym Group's digital platforms, influencing engagement, retention, and overall member satisfaction. This impact is measured through data analytics and experimentation, focusing on tangible outcomes and member value.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Opportunity to take on more strategic design challenges, lead larger initiatives, or mentor a team of designers.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of product design, such as user research, interaction design, or design systems.

• Cross-functional Influence: Expand influence across different departments, contributing to broader business strategy and digital transformation initiatives.

• Industry Exposure: Gain experience within a large, established player in the fitness industry, understanding the unique challenges and opportunities of this sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" designation implies a path for further growth into lead designer, design manager, or principal designer roles. The emphasis on influencing product direction suggests that this role is a stepping stone for individuals looking to have a significant strategic impact on digital products.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is hybrid, requiring 3 days per week at the Clapham Junction office. This suggests a modern, collaborative office space designed to facilitate team interaction, workshops, and focused work.

Office Location(s): Clapham Junction, London, United Kingdom. This location offers good transport links and access to amenities, making it a convenient hub for team collaboration.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office space is likely designed to encourage interaction between Product, Engineering, and Design teams, supporting agile ceremonies and spontaneous problem-solving.

• Tools & Technology: Access to necessary design and collaboration tools (Figma, Miro, etc.) is expected, along with reliable internet and IT support. The company also utilizes analytics platforms (GA4, Contentsquare, HEAP) which are integrated into the workflow.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular face-to-face interaction with the Product Design team and cross-functional colleagues are built into the hybrid schedule, fostering a strong sense of team and shared purpose.

Work Schedule: The standard full-time schedule is flexible due to the hybrid nature, allowing for a balance between in-office collaboration and remote focus. Core hours may be established to ensure team availability for meetings and collaborative sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment, designed to balance the benefits of in-person collaboration with the flexibility and focus of remote work. This setup is common for senior roles requiring both deep individual work and active team engagement.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: An in-depth session where you present your portfolio, discussing your process, key projects, and impact. Expect questions on your research methodologies, design decisions, and problem-solving approaches.

• Cross-functional Interview: An interview with members of the Product and Engineering teams to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and cultural fit within an agile environment.

• Stakeholder Interview: Potentially an interview with a senior leader or stakeholder to discuss strategic thinking, leadership potential, and alignment with company values.

• Final Interview: A concluding interview, possibly with a hiring manager or senior design lead, to finalize the decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio into 3-4 strong case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your process, your role, the solution, and the measurable impact.

• Process Focus: Emphasize your end-to-end design process, highlighting your research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration stages. Clearly explain the "why" behind your decisions.

• Data & Impact: Showcase how you've used data (analytics, user feedback, A/B tests) to inform your designs and measure their success. Quantify outcomes whenever possible (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction).

• Tool Proficiency: Briefly mention the tools you used (Figma, Miro, GA4, etc.) and how they facilitated your work, but focus more on the outcomes and your strategic thinking.

• Accessibility & Inclusivity: If applicable, highlight projects where you specifically considered and implemented accessibility and inclusive design principles.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a take-home design challenge or a live design exercise during the interview process. This will likely involve analyzing a problem, proposing solutions, and presenting your rationale.

• Problem-Solving: Practice articulating how you would approach a given design problem, considering user needs, business goals, and technical constraints.

• Facilitation: Be ready to discuss how you would facilitate workshops and collaborate with diverse teams to achieve alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to thoroughly assess a candidate's design expertise, strategic thinking, collaborative abilities, and fit within an agile, data-driven product development environment. A well-curated portfolio that clearly demonstrates impact and process is critical.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and collaborative design workflows. Proficiency is a core requirement.

• Miro: Critical for collaborative ideation, workshops, user journey mapping, and brainstorming sessions.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Google Analytics 4 (GA4): Familiarity is preferred for evaluating live experiences, understanding user behaviour, and identifying optimization opportunities.

• Contentsquare / HEAP: Working familiarity with these user behaviour analytics platforms is a plus, indicating an ability to derive deeper insights from user data.

CRM & Automation: While not explicitly mentioned for this role, understanding how design impacts CRM and marketing automation systems is beneficial for broader GTM alignment.

Design Systems: Experience working with or contributing to Design Systems is highly valued, ensuring consistency and scalability across digital products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack emphasizes modern digital product development tools, with a strong focus on collaborative design (Figma, Miro) and data-informed decision-making through analytics platforms (GA4, Contentsquare, HEAP). Proficiency in these tools is key to success in this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centred: A primary focus on understanding and meeting member needs through thoughtful design and research.

• Data-Driven: Decisions are informed by research, analytics, and experimentation, ensuring a focus on measurable impact.

• Collaborative: Strong emphasis on working effectively within multidisciplinary agile teams and cross-functionally with other departments.

• Continuous Improvement: A commitment to iterative design, learning from user feedback and data to optimize experiences.

• Inclusivity & Belonging: A drive to create welcoming and accessible digital experiences for all members, reflecting the company's broader commitment to diversity.

Collaboration Style:

• Agile & Iterative: Working within agile sprints, embracing feedback, and adapting designs based on learnings.

• Cross-functional Partnership: Building strong relationships with Product Managers, Engineers, Marketing, and Operations to ensure alignment and shared ownership of product outcomes.

• Constructive Critique: A culture that encourages open feedback and shared learning within the design team to elevate the quality of work.

• Facilitation: Actively leading and participating in workshops and collaborative sessions to drive consensus and shared understanding.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture values a blend of user empathy, analytical rigor, and strong teamwork. The Senior Product Designer is expected to embody these values and champion them within their product teams and the wider organization.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Member Needs with Business Goals: Effectively translating diverse member needs and business objectives into cohesive and impactful digital solutions.

• Driving Adoption of New Designs: Ensuring that new features and design improvements are effectively implemented and adopted by users, requiring strong collaboration with engineering and marketing.

• Evolving the Design System: Continuously developing and maintaining a robust design system that scales with the company's growth and evolving product portfolio.

• Measuring Impact: Clearly articulating and demonstrating the ROI and impact of design initiatives through data and user feedback.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Methodologies: Opportunity to deepen expertise in areas like service design, behavioural design, or advanced user research techniques.

• Leadership Development: Potential to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives, or contribute to setting design strategy for new product areas.

• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of emerging trends in UX/UI, fitness technology, and digital product development through internal knowledge sharing and external resources.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gaining a deeper understanding of business operations, marketing strategies, and engineering processes within a large retail/service organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents a significant opportunity for growth by tackling complex design challenges within a large user base and contributing to strategic product decisions. The company's commitment to employee development suggests a supportive environment for skill enhancement and career progression.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the discovery phase for a new digital product feature. What methods did you use, what were your key findings, and how did they shape the final product?" (Focus on research, problem framing, and data-driven decisions.)

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for a fitness app that aims to increase member engagement, considering both user needs and business objectives?" (Demonstrate your process: research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and how you'd balance competing priorities.)

• "Walk me through a complex design challenge you faced where stakeholders had differing opinions. How did you facilitate alignment and reach a consensus?" (Highlight your communication, negotiation, and facilitation skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about The Gym Group and our mission to make fitness accessible?" (Show genuine interest in the company and its user base.)

• "How do you champion customer-centred thinking and inclusive design within a team?" (Connect your values to the company's stated culture.)

• "How do you leverage data and analytics (like GA4) to inform your design decisions and measure success?" (Demonstrate your analytical approach and focus on impact.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame each case study as a narrative: the challenge, your journey to a solution, and the outcome.

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

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., "Increased feature adoption by 15%", "Reduced task completion time by 20%").

• Your Role: Be crystal clear about your specific contributions, especially in team projects.

• Conciseness: Respect time limits; focus on the most impactful aspects of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating a robust, user-centric, and data-informed design process, strong collaborative skills, and the ability to articulate the impact of your work. Understanding The Gym Group's business and user base will be crucial for tailoring responses.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Digital Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience with end-to-end product design, user research, agile methodologies, and proficiency in Figma and relevant analytics tools. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-4 of your strongest case studies that best showcase your skills in research-led discovery, UX/UI design, and measurable impact. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your process, your role, the solution, and the results.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on clear storytelling, demonstrating your design process, and quantifying the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your approach to collaboration and problem-solving.

• Research The Gym Group: Understand their business model, target audience, and digital presence. Familiarize yourself with their current app and website to identify potential areas for improvement and to tailor your interview responses.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with The Gym Group before making application decisions.