Senior UX Design Specialist

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Design Specialist

Company: Skipton Building Society

Location: Skipton, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Digital Experience Operations

Date Posted: 12 May 2026

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

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic development and execution of high-quality UX design deliverables, leveraging member insights and behavioral data to drive exceptional digital experiences.

• Design and oversee end-to-end user journeys, intuitive interfaces, and scalable design systems that align with the organization's corporate plan and product roadmaps.

• Champion user-centered design principles and design thinking methodologies across cross-functional teams to foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement in digital product development.

• Collaborate closely with Product, Engineering, and Research teams to define problems, co-create solutions, and iterate rapidly based on feedback and usability testing to ensure technical feasibility and business outcomes.

• Act as a key contributor to the Journey Experience team, shaping and driving seamless, valuable experiences that enhance member satisfaction and contribute to business objectives within an outcome-focused product team structure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is categorized under User Experience (UX) Design / Digital Experience Operations due to the emphasis on designing member experiences, utilizing data and insights, and collaborating with product and engineering teams to deliver digital solutions. The experience level is inferred from the "Senior" title and the breadth of responsibilities, suggesting a need for substantial prior experience in UX design.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design of end-to-end member journeys, user flows, and interfaces, balancing member needs, technical feasibility, and business outcomes to deliver tangible value.

• Translate desired organizational outcomes into clear UX activities, ensuring design priorities are strategically aligned with corporate goals and product roadmaps.

• Utilize member insight, behavioral data, and market trends as critical inputs to influence product direction, roadmap decisions, and prioritization frameworks.

• Plan, conduct, and synthesize usability testing to validate design concepts, identify areas for improvement, and drive iterative design enhancements.

• Contribute actively to the evolution and maintenance of the organization's design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and efficiency in member experiences.

• Champion user-centered design and design thinking principles across the organization, sharing best practices to elevate the overall design capability and maturity.

• Establish and uphold consistent UX standards, processes, and toolsets to ensure the delivery of outstanding and reliable digital experiences for members.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, Researchers, and other stakeholders to define problems, co-create innovative solutions, and iterate quickly based on feedback and testing.

• Advocate for and implement accessibility standards (including WCAG) and inclusive design practices to ensure digital experiences are usable and valuable for all members.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are detailed to reflect the senior nature of the role, emphasizing leadership in design strategy, cross-functional collaboration, and the application of data-driven insights for continuous improvement of member experiences.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design (e.g., UX Design, Interaction Design, Graphic Design), Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, or a related field is typically expected for senior-level UX roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: Extensive UX design experience is required, with a proven track record of delivering impactful UX outcomes at a senior level. This implies a minimum of 5-10 years of progressive experience in UX design roles.

Required Skills:

• Extensive experience in interaction design, visual design, and responsive/mobile-first design principles.

• Proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and influencing skills, with the ability to confidently challenge decisions and navigate complex stakeholder conversations.

• Demonstrated ability to translate complex problems into clear, intuitive, and user-centered design solutions that deliver value for both members and the organization.

• Experience planning and conducting usability testing, and effectively feeding insights back into iterative design improvements.

• Analytical mindset with comfort in interpreting data, research findings, and behavioral insights to guide design direction and prioritization.

• Strong understanding of accessibility standards (including WCAG) and inclusive design practices.

• Comfort working within agile development environments, managing design priorities, and collaborating closely with Product, Research, and Engineering teams.

• Proven track record of delivering impactful UX outcomes at a senior level.

• Skilled in creating prototypes, design artifacts, and test materials, and communicating concepts clearly and persuasively.

Preferred Skills:

• Awareness of user research methods, service design, and content design to support holistic end-to-end experience design.

• Ability to design for diverse user needs, including assisted-digital scenarios.

• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trust, influence outcomes, and maintain a focus on member value in decision-making.

• Experience contributing to or evolving design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills are directly extracted from the job description, emphasizing core UX competencies, tool proficiency, and soft skills essential for a senior role. Preferred skills add depth and highlight related disciplines that enhance a candidate's profile.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a range of end-to-end UX design projects demonstrating your process from problem definition to final solution.

• Include case studies that highlight your ability to balance member needs, technical feasibility, and business outcomes.

• Present examples of your work with modern design tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) and prototypes.

• Detail your experience with usability testing, including how you planned, executed, and incorporated feedback into iterative design improvements.

Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate your UX design process, from initial research and ideation through to prototyping, testing, and implementation support.

• Provide examples of how you have used member insights, behavioral data, and market trends to inform design decisions and product direction.

• Illustrate your experience in contributing to or evolving design systems to ensure consistency and scalability.

• Showcase your experience in facilitating workshops, co-design sessions, and ideation activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: Portfolio requirements are inferred based on the stated responsibilities and required skills for a Senior UX Design Specialist, focusing on demonstrating practical application of UX methodologies, tool proficiency, and data-driven design.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on the Senior UX Design Specialist role, location (Skipton, UK), and the estimated experience level (5-10 years), a competitive salary range for this position in the UK market would typically fall between £45,000 and £65,000 per annum. This estimate considers the cost of living in Skipton, the financial services industry benchmark for specialized design roles, and the responsibilities outlined.

Benefits:

• Annual discretionary bonus scheme

• 25 days’ annual leave + bank holidays, increasing by 1 day per year of service up to 30 days.

• Holiday trading scheme allowing purchase or sale of additional annual leave.

• Matching employer pension contribution (up to 10% per annum).

• Colleague mortgage scheme (subject to conditions).

• Salary sacrifice scheme for hybrid & electric cars.

• Commitment to ongoing training and development opportunities.

• Private medical insurance for all colleagues.

• 3 paid volunteering days per year.

• Access to diverse and inclusive colleague networks (e.g., Carers and Pride Alliance groups).

• A range of health and wellbeing benefits, including cycle-to-work scheme and discounted gym membership.

Working Hours: 35 hours per week. The role supports hybrid and flexible working where possible.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on industry benchmarks for senior UX roles in the UK, considering location and the benefits package offered. The provided benefits are directly listed from the job description.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Building Society). Skipton Building Society operates within the UK's financial services sector, focusing on providing mortgages, savings, and financial advice. As a mutual organization, it prioritizes member interests over shareholder profits, fostering a customer-centric and community-oriented culture.

Company Size: Approximately 2,000-5,000 employees (estimated based on being the fourth-largest building society in the UK). This size suggests a well-established organization with defined processes but also a capacity for agile team structures and cross-functional collaboration.

Founded: Skipton Building Society was founded in 1859. This long history indicates stability, a deep understanding of its customer base, and a commitment to long-term relationships and member value.

Team Structure:

• The Journey Experience team is a key part of the organization, comprising 2 Service Design Leads, 4 Senior Service Design Specialists, 3 Senior Researchers, and 6 Senior UX Design Specialists. This indicates a significant investment in understanding and improving member experiences.

• The team operates within outcome-focused product teams, suggesting a structure aligned with agile methodologies and business objectives.

Methodology:

• The team's core role is to design simple, seamless experiences that deliver meaningful value, implying a focus on user-centered design and lean/agile development practices.

• Emphasis is placed on using member insight, behavioral data, and market trends to influence decisions, suggesting a data-driven approach to design and strategy.

• The design process involves translating desired outcomes into clear UX activities and designing end-to-end journeys, flows, and interfaces.

Company Website: Skipton.co.uk

📝 Enhancement Note: Company context is derived from the "Who Are We?" section and general knowledge of building societies. The team structure and methodology are inferred from the description of the Journey Experience team and the role's responsibilities.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Senior Specialist level within the UX Design discipline, specifically within the Journey Experience team. It implies a significant level of autonomy, strategic contribution, and the expectation to mentor or guide less experienced team members implicitly. The focus is on driving impactful UX outcomes and influencing product direction, which is characteristic of senior operational roles in design.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, Senior UX Design Specialists typically report to a UX Design Lead, Service Design Lead, or a Head of Digital Experience/Product. The collaborative nature of the role suggests direct interaction with Product Managers, Engineers, and Researchers within outcome-focused product teams.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX Design Specialist has a direct impact on member satisfaction, digital engagement, and the overall efficiency of member interactions. By designing seamless and valuable experiences, they contribute to customer retention, acquisition, and the achievement of the organization's corporate plan, ultimately influencing revenue and operational efficiency.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of UX, such as interaction design, accessibility, or design system management.

• Leadership: Progress to a Lead UX Designer, Service Design Lead, or management role within the digital experience function, overseeing teams and strategic initiatives.

• Cross-functional Development: Gain broader experience in product management, service design, or user research by working closely with these disciplines.

• Training & Development: Leverage the company's commitment to training and development for continuous skill enhancement, potentially through courses, conferences, or certifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The analysis of career and growth is based on the "Senior" title, the team structure, and the company's stated commitment to training and development, placing the role within typical UX career progression paths.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. The role is based at the Skipton head office but supports hybrid and flexible working, indicating a blend of in-office collaboration and remote work.

Office Location(s): Skipton - The Bailey, Skipton, England. This is the primary location for the role. The refurbished head office is described as a "vibrant and collaborative working space."

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is designed to be modern, refurbished, and conducive to collaboration, supporting the team's outcome-focused product team structure.

• Access to modern design tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) is expected, forming the core of the digital workspace for UX designers.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with Product, Engineering, and Research teams are inherent in the role's collaborative nature, fostering a dynamic and integrated work environment.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are 35 hours per week, with flexibility offered where possible, accommodating the hybrid work model and promoting work-life balance for operations and design tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment details are a synthesis of the "hybrid" status, the description of the head office, and the inherent needs of a UX design role within a collaborative team structure.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application and portfolio to assess your experience, skills, and alignment with the role requirements.

• First Interview: Likely a discussion with a hiring manager or a senior member of the Journey Experience team to delve into your UX process, project experience, and problem-solving approach. Be prepared to discuss your portfolio in detail.

• Technical/Portfolio Review: A more in-depth evaluation of your portfolio, potentially including a design challenge or a presentation of a past project. This stage assesses your practical design skills, strategic thinking, and ability to articulate your design rationale.

• Final Interview: May involve meeting with key stakeholders from Product, Engineering, or other departments to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and overall suitability for the team and organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase End-to-End Process: Clearly demonstrate your involvement from problem definition, research, ideation, design, testing, to iteration.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, include metrics and data (e.g., conversion rate improvements, task completion times, user satisfaction scores) to demonstrate the business value and impact of your designs.

• Highlight Collaboration: Illustrate how you worked with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Research) and stakeholders, and how you facilitated workshops.

• Accessibility Focus: Ensure any relevant projects clearly showcase your understanding and application of WCAG standards and inclusive design principles.

• Tool Proficiency: Mention and show examples of your work in Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD.

• Storytelling: Structure your case studies to tell a compelling story about the problem, your approach, your contributions, and the outcomes.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a design challenge that may involve problem-solving within a financial services context, requiring you to apply user-centered design principles, data interpretation, and potentially accessibility considerations.

• Practice articulating your design decisions clearly and concisely, explaining your rationale and how your solution addresses user needs and business objectives.

• Consider how you would approach defining requirements, ideating solutions, and planning for testing within a limited timeframe.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview and portfolio advice are tailored to a Senior UX Design Specialist role, emphasizing the importance of demonstrating process, impact, collaboration, and specific technical skills relevant to the financial services industry.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD (Proficiency required in at least one, ideally exposure to multiple). These tools are crucial for creating wireframes, mockups, interactive prototypes, and design artifacts.

• Collaboration & Workflow: Tools like Jira, Confluence, or similar project management and documentation platforms are likely used for agile workflow management, task tracking, and knowledge sharing.

• Communication: Microsoft Teams, Slack, or similar platforms for real-time communication and team collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics for understanding user behavior on digital platforms.

• Data Visualization: Tools like Tableau, Power BI, or even built-in features of analytics platforms may be used to interpret and present behavioral data and research findings.

• User Feedback Platforms: Tools for collecting and analyzing user feedback, surveys, and NPS scores.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a UX tool, understanding how UX design integrates with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms can be beneficial for understanding the broader customer journey and data flow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools listed are based on industry standards for UX design roles and the mention of "modern design tools" and "behavioural data" in the job description.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Member-Centricity: A core value, evident in the focus on designing "experiences that make our members happier" and ensuring "member value at the heart of decision-making." This means prioritizing user needs and satisfaction in all design outcomes.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working closely with Product, Engineering, Research, and stakeholders to "define problems, co-create solutions and iterate quickly." This fosters a team-oriented and communicative environment.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing "member insight, behavioural data and market trends to influence product direction, roadmap decisions and prioritisation." This highlights a commitment to evidence-based design rather than solely intuition.

• Excellence & Quality: Aiming for "high-quality UX deliverables" and "outstanding digital experiences," indicating a drive for professional standards and continuous improvement in design output.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Encouraging "new ideas on how we can keep customers at the heart" and iterating based on feedback suggests a culture that values forward-thinking and adaptability.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires deep collaboration with Product, Engineering, and Research teams, suggesting an integrated approach where design is not siloed but a core component of the product development lifecycle.

• Co-creation & Ideation: Experience in facilitating workshops and co-design sessions points to a collaborative style that actively involves diverse perspectives in problem-solving and solution generation.

• Feedback-Oriented: The emphasis on iterating quickly based on feedback and testing indicates a culture that values constructive criticism and is open to refining designs based on user input and team insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture and values are inferred from the company's mission as a mutual building society, the description of the Journey Experience team, and the explicit mention of collaboration and data usage in the job posting.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Effectively managing and aligning the diverse needs and expectations of various stakeholders (members, business, technical teams) while maintaining a strong user-centric focus.

• Translating Complex Data: Synthesizing complex member insights, behavioral data, and market trends into actionable design strategies and intuitive user experiences.

• Driving Organizational Change: Championing user-centered design principles and influencing design thinking across an established organization, potentially navigating resistance to new methodologies.

• Technical Constraints: Designing within the boundaries of technical feasibility and existing system architecture while still delivering innovative and user-friendly solutions.

• Maintaining Consistency: Ensuring consistent application of UX standards and the design system across a growing suite of digital products and services.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX Techniques: Opportunities to explore and master specialized UX areas like advanced interaction design, user research methodologies, or service design.

• Design System Evolution: Contributing to and potentially leading the development and governance of the organization's design system, a key area for scalability and efficiency.

• Financial Services UX Expertise: Gaining deep domain knowledge in financial services UX, understanding the unique challenges and opportunities within this regulated industry.

• Leadership Skills: Developing leadership capabilities through mentoring junior designers, leading design initiatives, and influencing strategic product decisions.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Broadening understanding of Product Management, Agile methodologies, and Engineering processes through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are identified based on the inherent complexities of senior UX roles in established organizations, particularly in regulated industries like financial services. Growth opportunities are derived from the role's senior nature and the company's stated commitment to training.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex member journey you designed, focusing on how you used data and research to inform your decisions and the outcomes achieved." (Preparation: Prepare a detailed case study highlighting your process, data sources, design iterations, and measurable impact.)

• "How do you balance the needs of different stakeholders (e.g., business, technology, members) when designing a new feature or product?" (Preparation: Use examples of negotiation, compromise, and persuasive communication. Emphasize how you advocate for the user while considering business goals.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Skipton Building Society and our commitment to member experience?" (Preparation: Research Skipton's mutual status, values, recent initiatives, and articulate how your design philosophy aligns with their member-centric approach.)

• "How do you champion user-centered design and design thinking within a team or organization?" (Preparation: Provide examples of workshops you've facilitated, training you've provided, or how you've influenced others to adopt these principles.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select Diverse Projects: Choose 2-3 projects that best showcase your senior-level capabilities, covering different types of challenges and your end-to-end process.

• Focus on Impact & Rationale: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your specific role and contributions, your design process, the rationale behind key decisions, and the measurable outcomes or lessons learned.

• Visual Storytelling: Use clear visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes, user flows) to support your narrative. Ensure your presentation is polished and easy to follow.

• Be Prepared for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design choices, challenges encountered, and how you collaborated with others.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions are crafted to probe the core competencies of a Senior UX Design Specialist, focusing on strategic thinking, data utilization, stakeholder management, and cultural fit within a member-centric organization.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Design Specialist position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link (https://skipton.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/Careers-Skipton/job/Skipton-England/Senior-UX-Design-Specialist_JR3890-1).

• Tailor your CV: Highlight your extensive UX design experience, focusing on achievements and responsibilities that align with the requirements such as interaction design, visual design, responsive/mobile-first design, usability testing, and stakeholder management. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest UX projects that demonstrate your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, use of modern design tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD), and impact. Ensure your portfolio clearly showcases your understanding and application of accessibility standards (WCAG).

• Prepare for the Interview: Research Skipton Building Society, its values, and its position in the financial services market. Be ready to discuss your portfolio in detail, articulate your design process, and explain how you would contribute to their member-centric approach. Practice answering strategy and behavioral questions.

• Understand the Team: Familiarize yourself with the Journey Experience team's structure and objectives as described in the job posting. Consider how your skills and experience can best contribute to their goals.

⚠️ 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.