Senior Product Designer (Contract)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer (Contract)

Company: Foundry Works Design

Location: Manchester, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: March 04, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design process for a prominent global client within the sports and fashion industry, focusing on eCommerce and online retail platforms.

• Drive innovation through the creation and maintenance of scalable design systems, stateful interfaces, and accessible user experiences that adhere to web standards.

• Act as a senior design leader and mentor, fostering professional development and championing best practices in structured workflows and design system governance.

• Collaborate with international stakeholders across Europe and the US, translating complex business requirements into impactful, user-centred design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is contract-based, implying a focus on project delivery and specific deliverables within a defined timeframe. The emphasis on a "global sports and fashion brand" suggests a need for a design aesthetic that is both on-trend and commercially viable, with a strong understanding of consumer behaviour in these sectors.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design of accessible, user-friendly interfaces that meet stringent web standards and align with client business objectives, particularly within the eCommerce domain.

• Develop, govern, and maintain scalable design systems, ensuring consistent brand identity, functional integrity, and efficient lifecycle management across multiple touchpoints.

• Create dynamic, stateful interfaces that provide intuitive and engaging user experiences, adapting seamlessly to user interactions and data inputs.

• Conduct comprehensive user research, including usability testing and user journey mapping, to gather insights that inform and validate design decisions, driving continuous improvement.

• Facilitate collaborative design sessions with cross-functional teams (including product managers, engineers, and marketing) to ensure design initiatives are strategically aligned with broader business objectives and operational processes.

• Present design concepts, prototypes, and final solutions to clients and internal teams with clarity, confidence, and a focus on demonstrating business value and user impact.

• Travel to client locations in Europe and the US to foster strong relationships, deepen project understanding, and enhance the impact of design initiatives.

• Mentor junior and mid-level designers, sharing expertise in structured workflows, design system implementation, and user-centric design principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility for "establishing and using governance frameworks for design systems" indicates a need for a designer who can not only create but also manage and scale design systems, ensuring long-term maintainability and adoption. The mention of "stateful interfaces" suggests a requirement for understanding dynamic content and user interactions, potentially involving data visualization or personalized user experiences.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio and demonstrated expertise in UX/UI design, product design, graphic design, or a related field are essential.

Experience: 10+ years of extensive experience as a senior-level UX/UI designer, with a significant portion focused on eCommerce or online retail environments.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design principles, with a proven track record of creating intuitive and effective digital products.

• Deep understanding and practical experience in establishing and managing scalable Design Systems, including governance frameworks for quality, alignment, and lifecycle management.

• Proficiency in accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and usability best practices to ensure inclusive and user-friendly interfaces.

• Demonstrated experience in User Journey Mapping, identifying pain points and opportunities for optimization within complex user flows.

• Strong Stakeholder Engagement and Management skills, with a proven ability to manage diverse requirements and build consensus.

• Expertise in User Research methodologies and Usability Testing, with the ability to translate findings into actionable design improvements.

• Experience in Cross-functional Collaboration, working effectively with product, engineering, and marketing teams.

• A robust portfolio showcasing innovative design solutions that also demonstrably balance user needs with business objectives, particularly in eCommerce.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience facilitating Design Thinking workshops and applying Design Thinking methodologies to solve complex problems.

• Proficiency in Workshop Facilitation techniques to drive collaborative ideation and problem-solving.

• Familiarity with eCommerce platforms and online retail specific user behaviours and conversion optimization strategies.

• Experience with stateful interface design and dynamic content adaptation.

• Knowledge of international design trends and cultural nuances relevant to global brands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "10+ years" experience level for a Senior Product Designer implies a need for strategic leadership, mentorship capabilities, and a proven ability to influence design direction and strategy, not just execution. The emphasis on "governance frameworks" for design systems suggests a requirement for organizational skills and an understanding of how design systems integrate into larger product development processes.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio that clearly articulates your design process, decision-making rationale, and the impact of your work.

• Demonstrate a minimum of 2-3 significant projects that highlight your expertise in UX/UI design within eCommerce or online retail, showcasing end-to-end design thinking.

• Include detailed case studies illustrating your ability to balance innovative design with tangible business objectives and user needs.

• Showcase examples of your experience in developing, implementing, or managing Design Systems, including any governance structures or processes you've established.

Process Documentation:

• Clearly outline your approach to user research, usability testing, and how you translate these findings into iterative design improvements.

• Detail your methodology for collaborating with cross-functional teams, including how you manage feedback and ensure alignment across departments.

• Provide examples of how you've managed structured feedback and iteration loops, demonstrating your ability to use data and user insights to refine designs.

• Illustrate your process for presenting design concepts and solutions to stakeholders and clients, emphasizing clarity, confidence, and the communication of value.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior role, the portfolio should not just showcase final designs but also the strategic thinking, problem-solving process, and measurable outcomes. Emphasis on design system governance and cross-functional collaboration within the portfolio is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the Senior Product Designer (Contract) title, the location (Manchester, UK), and the extensive experience requirement (10+ years), a competitive hourly or daily rate is expected. Based on industry benchmarks for senior contract UX/UI designers in the UK, the estimated range could be £60 - £90 per hour or £480 - £720 per day. This rate will vary based on the specific client's budget, the candidate's precise experience, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Flexible, remote-first work arrangement, offering significant autonomy and work-life balance.

• Opportunity to work with a globally recognised client, enhancing professional profile and portfolio.

• Access to continuous learning and professional development opportunities, fostering skill advancement.

• Exposure to defining and refining industry-leading workflows and best practices within a high-profile account.

• Regular international travel opportunities, providing diverse project exposure and networking.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with potential for flexibility depending on project demands and client needs. The contract nature may allow for negotiation of specific working patterns.

📝 Enhancement Note: As this is a contract role, traditional employee benefits like health insurance, pension contributions, and paid time off are typically not included and would need to be factored into the hourly/daily rate or arranged independently by the contractor. The salary range is an estimate based on market data for contract roles in the UK for senior design professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Design Consulting / Creative Services, with a focus on embedded design partnerships.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, Foundry Works Design operates as a consultancy that embeds designers within client organizations. This suggests a lean, agile, and highly skilled internal team, likely ranging from 20-50 employees, focused on strategic client engagements.

Founded: The company's founding date is not provided, but its focus on strategic partnerships and empowering design teams suggests a modern, forward-thinking approach to design services.

Team Structure:

• The internal Foundry Works Design team likely consists of experienced design leaders, project managers, and a pool of specialized designers (UX/UI, Product, Service, etc.).

• This Senior Product Designer will report to a Lead Designer or a Director at Foundry Works Design while working closely with client-side product managers and engineering leads.

Methodology:

• Foundry Works Design emphasizes a clear, purposeful, and results-driven approach, embedding themselves strategically with clients.

• Their methodology likely involves Design Thinking, user-centred design, and a strong focus on delivering measurable value and driving client design capability enhancement.

• Emphasis on structured workflows, design system development, and continuous improvement through data and user feedback.

Company Website: https://foundryworksdesign.teamtailor.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Foundry Works Design positions itself as a strategic partner, not just a service provider. This implies a culture that values deep client integration, problem-solving, and continuous professional growth for its embedded team members.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior-level individual contributor position. It demands significant autonomy, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead complex design initiatives and mentor others. It sits at the top tier of design execution before potentially moving into management or a Principal/Lead Designer track.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will report to leadership within Foundry Works Design (e.g., a Design Director or Lead) for internal operational matters and professional development. Day-to-day project work will involve close collaboration with client-side stakeholders, including product managers, engineering leads, and potentially marketing or brand managers.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer is expected to have a direct and significant impact on the client's digital product strategy and user experience. This includes driving user engagement, conversion rates, brand consistency, and operational efficiency within the design and development process through effective design systems and streamlined workflows. Their work directly influences customer satisfaction and the client's commercial success in the eCommerce space.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like advanced design system governance, accessibility leadership, or eCommerce UX strategy.

• Leadership: Transition into a Lead Designer role, managing a small team or a specific client account, or a Principal Designer role focusing on architectural design decisions.

• Consulting Acumen: Develop stronger client management, strategic advisory, and business development skills within the consulting framework.

• Industry Expertise: Become a recognized expert in the sports and fashion eCommerce sector through sustained project engagement.

• Mentorship: Formalize mentorship of junior designers, contributing to the talent development within Foundry Works Design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The contract nature of the role means "growth" is often project-based and skill-driven rather than a guaranteed upward trajectory within one organization. However, successful contract engagements can lead to extensions, new client opportunities, or internal roles within Foundry Works Design if the candidate demonstrates exceptional value.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a predominantly remote-first role, meaning the primary work environment will be the designer's home office. Foundry Works Design may offer occasional co-working days or client site visits.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, the physical presence of 39 Blossom St, Manchester, M4 5AF, GB, suggests a potential hub or administrative office for Foundry Works Design. Client locations will include sites in Europe and the US.

Workspace Context:

• The work environment is expected to be highly collaborative, utilizing digital tools for communication, design, and project management.

• Access to industry-standard design software and collaboration platforms will be essential. The company likely provides guidelines or access to necessary tools.

• Opportunities for interaction will occur through virtual meetings, design critiques, workshops, and client presentations, both remote and in-person during travel.

Work Schedule: Approximately 40 hours per week. While remote, adherence to a consistent schedule is usually expected to facilitate team collaboration and client responsiveness. Flexibility may be possible, but core working hours for meetings and team syncs will likely be required, especially given international collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "remote-first" nature combined with international travel indicates a need for a highly self-disciplined and adaptable individual who can manage their own time effectively and thrive in both independent and collaborative settings.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Deep Dive: A dedicated session where the candidate presents their portfolio, focusing on key projects, design process, and impact. This is where senior-level strategic thinking and problem-solving will be evaluated. Expect questions about design system governance, accessibility implementation, and eCommerce strategies.

• Skills and Scenario-Based Interview: This may involve a hypothetical design challenge or a discussion around how the candidate would approach specific problems related to the client's business. Focus will be on Design Thinking, workshop facilitation, and stakeholder management.

• Client Interview (Potentially): Depending on the client's process, a final interview with key client stakeholders might occur to ensure alignment and assess fit for their specific team and project.

• Offer & Onboarding: For contract roles, this involves finalizing terms, rates, and initiating the onboarding process.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase your senior-level expertise in eCommerce, design systems, and problem-solving.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the challenges you overcame, your design decisions, and the quantifiable outcomes (e.g., increased conversion, improved user satisfaction, efficiency gains from design systems).

• Highlight Governance: Specifically detail your experience with design system governance frameworks, showing how you've ensured quality, consistency, and scalability.

• Demonstrate Impact: Quantify results wherever possible. Use metrics, user feedback, and business impact statements.

• Process Focus: Emphasize your structured approach to research, user testing, stakeholder engagement, and iterative design.

• Presentation Readiness: Be prepared to walk through your work confidently, answer in-depth questions about your rationale, and discuss how your approach aligns with Foundry Works Design's methodology.

Challenge Preparation:

• Practice articulating your design process concisely and effectively.

• Be ready to discuss how you would approach a design challenge for a global sports and fashion brand, considering factors like brand identity, global user base, and eCommerce specific needs.

• Prepare examples of how you've used Design Thinking and workshop facilitation to drive outcomes.

• Anticipate questions about managing difficult stakeholders or navigating complex project requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "contract" and "senior" means the evaluation will be heavily focused on demonstrable experience, problem-solving capability, and the ability to hit the ground running with minimal supervision. The portfolio is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable given industry trends), Sketch, Adobe XD.

• Prototyping & User Testing: InVision, Maze, UserTesting.com, Lookback.

• Design System Management: Zeroheight, Storybook (for documentation and component libraries).

• Collaboration & Project Management: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Asana, Trello, Confluence.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics (understanding how to interpret data from these is key).

• Hotjar, FullStory (for user behaviour analysis).

• Amplitude, Mixpanel (for product analytics).

CRM & Automation: While not directly a designer's tool, an understanding of how design impacts CRM and marketing automation platforms (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) can be beneficial for eCommerce roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is almost a given for modern UX/UI roles, especially at a senior level. Familiarity with tools that support design system creation, documentation, and user feedback is also critical.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence & Impact: A commitment to delivering high-quality, impactful design solutions that drive tangible business results for clients.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Fostering strong, integrated working relationships with clients and internal teams, acting as a true strategic partner.

• Professional Growth: A culture that encourages continuous learning, skill development, and career advancement for its team members.

• Purpose-Driven Design: Ensuring that design decisions are clear, purposeful, and aligned with long-term client goals and user needs.

• Innovation: Encouraging creative problem-solving and exploring new approaches to design challenges.

Collaboration Style:

• Embedded & Integrated: Working closely within client teams, acting as an extension of their internal capabilities.

• Cross-functional: Seamlessly collaborating with product, engineering, marketing, and other departments to ensure holistic product development.

• Transparent & Communicative: Maintaining open lines of communication, sharing progress, insights, and challenges proactively.

• Feedback-Oriented: Embracing constructive feedback and using it to refine designs and processes, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: Foundry Works Design's model emphasizes deep integration. This means the ideal candidate will be comfortable working within an external client's structure, adapting to their culture while upholding the standards and values of Foundry Works Design.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Client Integration: Navigating different client cultures, processes, and stakeholder dynamics to effectively embed design expertise.

• Global Scale: Designing for a diverse, global audience with varying cultural nuances, languages, and technical access.

• Design System Governance: Ensuring adoption, maintenance, and evolution of design systems across a large organization and multiple product lines.

• Balancing Innovation & Business Needs: Constantly mediating between cutting-edge design trends and the practical, commercial requirements of an eCommerce brand.

• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong team cohesion and effective communication in a remote-first environment with international team members.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design System Strategy: Gaining deeper expertise in large-scale design system implementation and governance.

• eCommerce UX Mastery: Becoming a specialist in user behaviour, conversion optimization, and the unique challenges of online retail.

• International Client Exposure: Broadening understanding of global markets and cross-cultural design considerations.

• Strategic Consulting Skills: Developing client management, negotiation, and advisory capabilities.

• Mentorship: Honing leadership and coaching skills by guiding junior designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior consultants working on large, international accounts. The growth opportunities are directly linked to overcoming these challenges and deepening specialized expertise.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the development and governance of a design system for a large-scale product or client. What challenges did you face, and how did you ensure its success and adoption?" (Focus on governance frameworks, stakeholder buy-in, and scalability.)

• "How would you approach designing for a global sports and fashion brand with a diverse user base across Europe and the US? What specific considerations would you prioritize for their eCommerce platform?" (Focus on user research, cultural sensitivity, and eCommerce best practices.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Foundry Works Design and our approach to client partnerships?" (Research their website, case studies, and methodology.)

• "How do you approach mentoring junior designers and fostering a collaborative team environment, especially in a remote setting?" (Highlight your leadership style and commitment to team growth.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a high-level overview of your career and key strengths. Then, dive into 2-3 detailed case studies, emphasizing the problem, your process, your specific contributions (especially as a senior designer), and the outcomes.

• Highlight Governance: For any design system projects, explicitly discuss the governance model, decision-making processes, and how you managed its evolution.

• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics to demonstrate the value of your designs. If exact numbers aren't available, use proxies or qualitative impact statements backed by user feedback.

• Showcase Process: Clearly articulate your UX process, including research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.

• Engage: Be prepared for interactive discussions. Ask clarifying questions and engage with the interviewers to demonstrate your collaborative approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a blend of strategic thinking, deep technical expertise in UX/UI and design systems, strong communication skills, and the ability to thrive in a client-facing consulting role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on the Foundry Works Design Teamtailor portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your most relevant experience in eCommerce, design systems, and senior-level UX/UI design. Ensure case studies clearly demonstrate your strategic thinking, problem-solving process, and quantifiable impact.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize your 10+ years of experience, specific achievements in design system governance, accessibility, and stakeholder management. Use keywords from the job description naturally.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and presenting your portfolio. Prepare answers to common senior UX/UI interview questions, focusing on leadership, strategy, and client collaboration.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Foundry Works Design's approach, client types, and values. Understand their model of embedding designers and how you can contribute to their client success.

⚠️ 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.