Senior UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer

Company: Barclays

Location: Canary Wharf, 1 Churchill Place, London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

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

Date Posted: 2026-06-22

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and define the strategic direction for User Experience (UX) within product development for Barclays' Markets - Post Trade division, ensuring a cohesive and high-quality end-to-end application experience.

• Drive the implementation of modern UX methodologies and processes, overseeing UX initiatives, managing product development risk, and fostering strong stakeholder relationships across the organization.

• Act as a subject matter expert, guiding technical direction, leading collaborative assignments, and contributing to the development of less experienced specialists within the UX domain.

• Champion the Barclays Values (Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, Stewardship) and Mindset (Empower, Challenge, Drive) to cultivate a thriving environment and deliver consistently excellent results in a complex financial services setting.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is titled "Senior UX Designer," the description and accountabilities heavily lean into operations management and strategic leadership within the UX function. This role requires not only design expertise but also a strong understanding of process implementation, risk management, and stakeholder engagement within a large financial institution. The "Product Development UX" focus implies a direct link to the operational efficiency and effectiveness of bringing new financial products and services to market.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic direction for product development UX, ensuring alignment with modern methodologies and organizational goals.

• Manage UX initiatives, including oversight of team performance, departmental objectives, and overall efficiency and effectiveness.

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring the quality of third-party UX services.

• Establish and enforce policies and procedures for product development UX, ensuring compliance and best practices.

• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate product development UX risks, collaborating closely with compliance functions.

• Monitor the financial performance of the UX department, focusing on revenue generation, profitability, and cost control measures.

• Conduct comprehensive market research to inform UX strategies, identify opportunities, and adapt to market trends and regulatory changes.

• Contribute to or set strategy, drive requirements, and make recommendations for change within the UX domain, managing resources and budgets effectively.

• Lead collaborative, multi-year assignments, guiding team members and identifying needs for specialized expertise.

• Advise senior leadership and functional teams on UX impact and alignment across the enterprise.

• Demonstrate leadership and accountability for risk management and control strengthening within UX operations.

• Create innovative solutions through sophisticated analytical thought, comparing and selecting complex alternatives to define and solve problems.

• Integrate outcomes from extensive research into problem-solving processes for product development.

• Build and maintain trusting relationships with internal and external stakeholders using influencing and negotiation skills to achieve business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a blend of strategic design leadership and operational oversight. The emphasis on "product development UX," "risk management," "financial performance monitoring," and "stakeholder relationship management" points to a role that is deeply integrated into the operational aspects of bringing financial products to market.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Specific educational requirements are not detailed, but a strong academic background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior UX role. A degree is likely foundational.

Experience: 5-10 years of progressive experience in UX Design, with a significant portion focused on product development within complex environments, ideally financial services. Experience in a leadership or senior individual contributor role is essential.

Required Skills:

• Deep expertise in visual design and product design principles.

• Proficiency in creating interactive Figma prototypes for user testing and stakeholder presentations.

• Strong command of interaction design principles and best practices.

• Proven ability in journey mapping and defining Information Architecture for complex systems.

• Extensive experience with user research methodologies to gather insights and inform design decisions.

• Demonstrated strategic thinking capabilities to align UX with business objectives.

• Proficiency in risk management and control frameworks relevant to financial services.

• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders.

• Experience conducting thorough market research and competitive analysis.

• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data.

• Demonstrable creativity and imaginative skills in developing innovative solutions.

• Proven collaborative approach, working effectively with cross-functional teams.

• Understanding of governance and compliance requirements within the financial sector.

• Experience with change and transformation initiatives. Preferred Skills:

• Experience within Markets - Post Trade divisions.

• Familiarity with greenfield program development and establishing central UX functions.

• Knowledge of stewardship principles and ethical design practices.

• Experience with specific Barclays Values and Mindset behaviors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Vice President Expectations" section within the original description provides significant insight into the expected seniority and scope of this role. For an individual contributor, it emphasizes being a subject matter expert guiding technical direction and leading complex assignments. For a people leader, it outlines team management, performance, and development responsibilities. This implies that candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience in either capacity, depending on the specific team structure.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end UX design for complex applications, with a focus on the Markets - Post Trade domain.

• Include case studies that detail the application of user research, journey mapping, and information architecture to solve intricate interaction problems.

• Showcase interactive Figma prototypes that illustrate user flows, interaction design, and visual design execution.

• Provide evidence of designing for product development initiatives, highlighting how UX contributed to the success and efficiency of product launches or enhancements. Process Documentation:

• Illustrate experience in defining and implementing UX processes, including workflow design and optimization phases for product development cycles.

• Document instances of process automation or efficiency improvements within UX workflows.

• Showcase the measurement and analysis of UX process performance, linking it to business outcomes and user satisfaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on "product development UX" and "greenfield program," a candidate's portfolio should ideally highlight their ability to establish new processes, define standards, and drive adoption from the ground up. This would be particularly valuable for demonstrating their fit within the newly forming central UX function.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the Senior UX Designer title, 5-10 years of experience, and the location (Canary Wharf, London), the estimated salary range for this role is approximately £75,000 - £100,000 per annum. This estimate is derived from industry benchmarks for senior UX professionals in the London financial sector, considering the responsibilities related to strategic direction and risk management.

Benefits:

• Competitive pension scheme with employer contributions.

• Comprehensive private medical insurance, including dental and optical cover.

• Generous annual leave allowance, with options to buy or sell additional days.

• Performance-based bonus opportunities.

• Employee assistance program offering confidential counseling and support.

• Access to extensive training and development programs, including specialist UX courses and leadership development.

• Discounts on Barclays financial products and services.

• Opportunities for career progression within a global financial institution.

Working Hours: Standard working hours are typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility often available. The role is on-site, requiring presence in the Canary Wharf office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate. Actual compensation will depend on the candidate's specific experience, qualifications, and performance during the interview process. Benefits packages in large financial institutions like Barclays are typically robust and designed to attract and retain top talent.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services, specifically Banking and Investment Management within the Markets sector. Barclays is a global leader with a long history, focused on providing a wide range of banking and financial services to individuals, businesses, and institutions worldwide.

Company Size: Barclays is a large, multinational corporation, employing tens of thousands of people globally. This scale means opportunities for broad impact, complex problem-solving, and exposure to diverse business units, but also requires navigating larger organizational structures and processes.

Founded: Barclays was founded in 1736, giving it a rich heritage and deep-rooted experience in the financial industry. This history suggests a culture that values stability, integrity, and long-term vision, while also adapting to modern technological advancements and market dynamics.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Markets - Post Trade division, indicating a specialized focus on the operational and transactional aspects of financial markets.

• The Senior UX Designer will be part of a newly forming central User Experience function, suggesting an opportunity to shape its structure, processes, and culture from the outset.

• Collaboration is expected with product development teams, business stakeholders, compliance, and potentially other UX specialists. Methodology:

• Data-driven insights are crucial, leveraging user research and analytics to inform design decisions.

• Agile and iterative development methodologies are likely employed, with a focus on continuous improvement and rapid prototyping.

• Emphasis on risk management and control frameworks, aligning UX practices with regulatory requirements and internal policies.

Company Website: https://home.barclays/

📝 Enhancement Note: The "greenfield program" and "define a central User Experience function" points are critical. This means the candidate isn't just joining an existing team but will play a foundational role in building the UX capability within Barclays' Markets division. This offers significant influence but also requires a proactive, self-starting approach.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a Senior Individual Contributor or a potential People Leader track within UX Operations. It involves strategic oversight, risk management, and stakeholder influence, moving beyond purely design execution to shaping the operational framework of UX.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Designer will report into leadership responsible for the central UX function or the Markets - Post Trade product development area. They will likely collaborate closely with Product Managers, Business Analysts, Developers, and senior business stakeholders.

Operations Impact: The UX operations function directly impacts the efficiency, usability, and adoption of financial products and services. By improving user journeys and streamlining processes, this role contributes to reduced operational errors, enhanced client satisfaction, increased transaction volumes, and ultimately, revenue growth and profitability for Barclays.

Growth Opportunities:

• UX Leadership: Opportunity to grow into a UX Lead or Manager role as the central UX function expands, taking on more direct people management and strategic planning responsibilities.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of financial services UX, such as trading platforms, regulatory reporting interfaces, or client onboarding experiences.

• Cross-Functional Movement: Transition into Product Management, Program Management, or Business Analysis roles within the Markets division, leveraging a deep understanding of user needs and product lifecycle operations.

• Process Improvement: Lead initiatives to mature the UX design process across Barclays, influencing wider organizational adoption of best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of "Vice President Expectations" strongly suggests a role with significant autonomy and influence, capable of shaping strategy and leading complex initiatives. This provides a clear pathway for career advancement within Barclays' operational and strategic leadership tracks.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Canary Wharf, a major financial district in London, known for its modern office buildings and professional atmosphere. Barclays typically maintains state-of-the-art office facilities designed for collaboration and productivity.

Office Location(s): 1 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HP, United Kingdom. This location offers excellent transport links and is situated within a hub of financial activity.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be collaborative, encouraging interaction and knowledge sharing among design, product, and development teams.

• Access to modern design tools and technology, including Figma and other relevant software, will be provided to facilitate efficient workflow.

• Opportunities for direct engagement with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams to present designs, gather feedback, and align on strategic direction.

Work Schedule: The role requires consistent on-site presence during standard business hours, typically Monday to Friday, approximately 40 hours per week. While flexibility may be available for specific circumstances, the nature of on-site collaboration and potential for managing complex projects necessitates regular office attendance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on an "on-site" work arrangement in a major financial hub like Canary Wharf suggests a need for strong in-person collaboration and integration with teams that are likely co-located. This environment is conducive to rapid iteration and problem-solving typical in complex financial operations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will likely review applications and conduct a brief screening call to assess basic qualifications and alignment with the role's core requirements.

• Portfolio Review: Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio, discussing key projects. Focus on projects demonstrating strategic thinking, problem-solving for complex interaction challenges, and experience with product development UX. Be prepared to articulate your design process, the challenges faced, and the impact of your solutions.

• Technical/Design Interview: This may involve a design challenge or a deep dive into specific UX skills (interaction design, information architecture, visual design). Expect questions related to Figma, user research, and journey mapping.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion around leadership potential, strategic vision, risk management experience, and how you would approach building/shaping the UX function.

• Stakeholder/Team Interviews: Meetings with potential peers, cross-functional collaborators (e.g., Product Managers, Developers), and senior leaders to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and overall strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 projects that best demonstrate your capabilities in product development UX, strategic thinking, and complex problem-solving within a financial context.

• Structure Case Studies: For each project, clearly articulate:

  • The Problem: What was the business or user challenge?
  • Your Role: What were your specific responsibilities?
  • The Process: Detail your UX methodologies (research, mapping, ideation, prototyping, testing).
  • The Solution: Showcase your design work (visuals, prototypes).
  • The Impact: Quantify results where possible (e.g., improved conversion, reduced errors, increased user satisfaction scores, efficiency gains).

• Highlight Figma Skills: Be ready to walk through interactive Figma prototypes, explaining design decisions and interaction patterns.

• Emphasize Operations Context: Discuss how your UX work contributed to operational efficiency, risk reduction, or product development success within a financial services environment.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Thinking: Be prepared for a design challenge that might involve a hypothetical problem within Barclays' Markets - Post Trade space. Focus on your process and how you would approach it.

• Strategic Framing: Practice articulating your design decisions in terms of business objectives, risk mitigation, and stakeholder alignment.

• Communication: Hone your ability to clearly and concisely present complex ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's strategic and operational scope, interviewers will likely probe deeply into how you manage ambiguity, influence stakeholders, and drive change within a large, regulated organization. Your portfolio should reflect this strategic and operational impact, not just aesthetic design.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for visual design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency in creating interactive prototypes, design systems, and component libraries is expected.

• User Research Tools: Experience with tools for surveys, interviews, usability testing, and analytics platforms (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, Hotjar, Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics).

• Information Architecture Tools: Proficiency with tools for creating sitemaps, user flows, and wireframes (e.g., Miro, Lucidchart, Axure RP).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with data analysis tools and techniques to interpret user behavior data, identify trends, and measure the impact of UX designs.

• Ability to work with reporting dashboards to track key UX metrics and communicate performance to stakeholders. CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how UX integrates with CRM and other operational systems (e.g., Salesforce, custom trading platforms) is beneficial for holistic product design.

• Awareness of automation within design workflows or user journeys to improve efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and the need for interactive prototypes indicates a hands-on requirement. Beyond core design tools, an understanding of how UX data integrates with broader business analytics and operational systems will be a significant advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Respect: Valuing diverse perspectives and fostering an inclusive environment for all team members and stakeholders.

• Integrity: Upholding ethical standards in design and data handling, ensuring transparency and honesty in all operations.

• Service: Prioritizing client needs and business objectives to deliver exceptional user experiences that drive value.

• Excellence: Consistently striving for high-quality outcomes in design, process, and strategic thinking, with a focus on continuous improvement.

• Stewardship: Acting responsibly with company resources and data, contributing to the long-term success and stability of Barclays.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: A highly collaborative style is essential, working closely with product managers, engineers, business analysts, risk, and compliance teams to ensure holistic product development.

• Process-Oriented Feedback: Encouraging open feedback loops for design and process improvements, fostering a culture of iterative refinement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Proactively sharing insights, best practices, and learnings within the newly forming UX function and across the wider organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Barclays Values and Mindset ("Empower, Challenge, Drive") suggests a culture that encourages proactive problem-solving, innovation, and a commitment to continuous improvement within a structured, high-stakes environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Establishing a Central UX Function: As part of a "greenfield program," a primary challenge will be defining the scope, processes, and best practices for UX within Barclays Markets - Post Trade, requiring significant initiative and influence.

• Navigating a Regulated Environment: Balancing user needs with stringent financial regulations, compliance requirements, and risk management protocols.

• Large Organization Dynamics: Influencing stakeholders and driving UX adoption across a large, complex financial institution with established processes and diverse priorities.

• Translating Complex Financial Concepts: Articulating intricate financial market concepts into intuitive and user-friendly digital experiences.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic UX Leadership: Developing skills in strategic planning, operational management of UX functions, and influencing senior leadership.

• Financial Services Domain Expertise: Deepening understanding of Markets - Post Trade operations, financial instruments, and regulatory landscapes.

• Agile Transformation: Gaining experience in evolving UX practices within agile and transformation initiatives at a major bank.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and benefit from mentorship from senior leaders within Barclays.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "greenfield" aspect is a significant challenge but also a major growth opportunity. Candidates who thrive in ambiguity and enjoy building something from the ground up will find this role particularly rewarding.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe how you would approach defining the strategic direction for UX in a new product development function at Barclays Markets - Post Trade, considering our regulatory environment." (Focus on process, stakeholder engagement, and risk.)

• "Walk us through a complex product development UX project where you had to manage significant risks or navigate a highly regulated environment. What were your key decisions and outcomes?" (Highlight analytical thought, problem-solving, and impact.)

• "How do you ensure that UX initiatives align with business objectives and contribute to operational efficiency and profitability in a financial services context?" (Emphasize ROI, metrics, and business acumen.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you embody Barclays' Values (Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, Stewardship) and Mindset (Empower, Challenge, Drive) in your daily work as a Senior UX Designer?" (Prepare specific examples.)

• "Given our focus on establishing a central UX function, how would you foster collaboration and build trust with various departments like Product, Engineering, and Compliance?" (Discuss communication and relationship-building strategies.)

• "How do you measure the success and impact of your UX work within a large financial organization?" (Focus on metrics, KPIs, and operational impact.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame your portfolio projects as compelling narratives, clearly outlining the problem, your role, your process, your solution, and the measurable impact.

• Demonstrate Figma Fluency: Be ready to share your screen and walk through interactive Figma prototypes, explaining design rationale and interaction patterns.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to support the success of your UX initiatives, tying them to business outcomes like efficiency, risk reduction, or revenue.

• Strategic Alignment: Clearly articulate how your UX strategies and designs support broader business goals and operational objectives at Barclays.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared for questions that assess your ability to think strategically, manage risk, and influence stakeholders in a complex financial environment. Your portfolio should be rich with examples that demonstrate these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position at Barclays:

• Submit your application through the Barclays careers portal (https://barclays.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/External_Career_Site_Barclays/job/Canary-Wharf-1-Churchill-Place/Senior-UX-Designer_JR-0000095089).

• Curate your portfolio: Select and refine 3-5 projects that strongly showcase your experience in product development UX, strategic thinking, and complex problem-solving within a financial services context. Ensure each case study highlights your process, role, solution, and measurable impact.

• Optimize your resume: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords and responsibilities mentioned in the job description, particularly focusing on strategic UX leadership, product development, risk management, stakeholder engagement, and proficiency with tools like Figma. Quantify your achievements wherever possible.

• Prepare for interview questions: Practice articulating your experience with specific examples that align with Barclays' values and the role's requirements, focusing on strategy, problem-solving, and operational impact.

• Research Barclays: Familiarize yourself with Barclays' current initiatives, its position in the financial markets, and its stated values and culture to demonstrate genuine interest and alignment.

⚠️ 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.