Senior UX Designer
📍 Job Overview
Job Title: Senior UX Designer
Company: Barclays
Location: Edinburgh, South Gyle Crescent – TESCO TSA, United Kingdom
Job Type: FULL_TIME
Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Digital Product Design
Date Posted: 2026-06-23
Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (Implied 5-10 years)
Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Role Summary
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Lead the end-to-end design of user-centric digital banking products and experiences, focusing on driving optimal commercial and customer outcomes.
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Collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams, including product managers, developers, and business analysts, to translate complex business requirements into intuitive and accessible user interfaces.
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Champion user-centered design principles and inclusive design practices throughout the organization, ensuring adherence to accessibility standards and best practices.
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Develop interactive prototypes, wireframes, and conduct user research and usability testing to validate design concepts and iterate based on feedback and data.
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Monitor and analyze the impact of design changes post-launch using relevant Customer Experience (CX) metrics to ensure continuous improvement and demonstrable business value.
📝 Enhancement Note: While the role title is "Senior UX Designer," the inclusion of "Assistant Vice President Expectations" suggests a level of influence, strategic contribution, and potential leadership that aligns with a more experienced or senior individual contributor role, possibly bridging into management. The emphasis on influencing decision-making, policy development, and operational effectiveness indicates a need for strategic thinking beyond pure design execution.
📈 Primary Responsibilities
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Conceptualize, design, and implement user-centric digital banking products and experiences, ensuring alignment with customer needs, industry best practices, and overarching business objectives.
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Monitor and measure the impact of design solutions post-launch through key CX metrics, providing actionable insights for continuous improvement.
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Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams (Product Managers, Developers, Business Analysts) to translate business requirements into compelling and user-friendly digital experiences.
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Develop and present interactive prototypes, wireframes, and design mockups to visualize concepts, gather feedback, and iterate on designs based on user and stakeholder input.
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Conduct comprehensive user research, including usability testing and data analysis, to identify user behaviors, preferences, and pain points, translating these insights into impactful design decisions.
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Evaluate the technical feasibility, legal compliance, and potential risks associated with new product development and launch, securing necessary governance oversight and providing design assurance.
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Champion and advocate for user-centered design principles and inclusive design practices across the organization, fostering a design-aware culture.
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Stay abreast of emerging trends, technologies, and design tools within the fintech and banking industry, proactively identifying opportunities for innovation in product design.
📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a full lifecycle ownership of design, from initial conceptualization and research through to implementation, testing, and post-launch analysis. The "Assistant Vice President Expectations" section implies a responsibility for influencing strategy, leading complex assignments, and potentially mentoring junior designers, which adds a layer of strategic and leadership expectation to the core UX responsibilities.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education: Not explicitly stated, but a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, or a related field is typically expected for senior UX roles. A Master's degree or relevant certifications may be advantageous.
Experience:
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Proven experience in UX (User Experience) design and customer research, with a strong portfolio demonstrating the ability to uncover deep insights and translate them into impactful design solutions.
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Demonstrable experience delivering accessible and inclusive designs that drive measurable customer and business impact, aligning with accessibility standards and best practices.
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Extensive experience collaborating in cross-functional teams, effectively influencing and aligning stakeholders across design, engineering, and product management.
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Comprehensive experience working with end-to-end customer journeys, connecting interactions across various channels and services to create a cohesive user experience.
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Depth of experience in testing and iterating designs rapidly with real customers, creating measurable experiments, and championing evidence-based decision-making. Required Skills:
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UX Design: Expertise in user-centered design methodologies, information architecture, interaction design, and visual design principles.
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Customer Research: Proficiency in various qualitative and quantitative research methods (e.g., interviews, surveys, contextual inquiry, persona development).
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Inclusive Design & Accessibility: Deep understanding and practical application of WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and other accessibility standards.
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Prototyping & Wireframing: Skilled in creating low-fidelity wireframes and high-fidelity interactive prototypes.
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Usability Testing: Experience planning, conducting, and analyzing usability tests to identify design flaws and gather user feedback.
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Agile Methodology: Familiarity and experience working within Agile/Scrum development environments.
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Stakeholder Management: Ability to effectively communicate design rationale, influence decision-making, and build consensus with diverse stakeholders.
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Data Analysis: Aptitude for analyzing CX metrics, user feedback, and performance data to inform design decisions.
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End-to-end Customer Journeys: Ability to map and design comprehensive customer journeys across multiple touchpoints.
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Figma Proficiency: Demonstrated expertise in using Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.
Preferred Skills:
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Deep understanding of customer research methods.
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Familiarity with analytics platforms for defining success metrics and measuring design impact.
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Ability to champion design principles and processes within an Agile framework.
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Experience in the fintech and banking industry.
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Service Design principles and application.
📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements highlight a blend of core UX skills with a strong emphasis on research, inclusivity, and cross-functional collaboration. The "Assistant Vice President Expectations" suggest that candidates should also possess strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and potentially leadership potential, even if not directly managing a team. The inclusion of "risk and controls, change and transformation, business acumen, strategic thinking and digital and technology" as assessed critical skills indicates a need for a well-rounded understanding of business operations beyond pure design.
📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
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Design Process Documentation: Showcase a clear, end-to-end design process, from problem definition and user research to ideation, prototyping, testing, and final implementation.
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Case Studies with Impact: Present detailed case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design solutions, and, most importantly, the measurable outcomes and impact on customer experience and business objectives (e.g., increased conversion rates, reduced support queries, improved task completion times).
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Inclusive Design Examples: Include specific examples demonstrating how accessibility and inclusive design principles were integrated into your work, with clear explanations of the considerations and solutions.
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Cross-functional Collaboration: Provide evidence of how you have effectively collaborated with product managers, developers, and other stakeholders, illustrating communication strategies and conflict resolution.
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Tool Proficiency: Clearly indicate the tools used, with a particular emphasis on Figma, but also showcasing familiarity with prototyping, research, and analytics tools.
Process Documentation:
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Workflow Design & Optimization: Demonstrate experience in mapping existing user flows, identifying pain points, and designing optimized workflows for digital products.
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System Implementation Standards: Showcase understanding of how designs integrate with underlying systems and technical constraints, and how to ensure a smooth implementation process.
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Measurement and Performance Analysis: Detail how you have defined success metrics for design initiatives and utilized data to measure performance and drive iterations.
📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX role, especially within a financial institution, a portfolio that clearly outlines the design process, demonstrates measurable impact, and highlights collaboration and adherence to standards like accessibility is crucial. The "Assistant Vice President Expectations" imply that the portfolio should also hint at strategic thinking and problem-solving beyond individual contributions.
💵 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range:
Based on industry benchmarks for Senior UX Designers in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, with an implied Assistant Vice President level of responsibility within a major financial institution like Barclays, the estimated annual salary range would be between £60,000 and £90,000. This estimate considers the experience level, location (Edinburgh's cost of living and tech market), and the seniority implied by "Assistant Vice President Expectations."
Benefits:
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Comprehensive Health Insurance: Including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
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Pension Scheme: Generous company contribution to a retirement savings plan.
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Life Assurance: Financial protection for dependents.
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Discretionary Bonus: Performance-based annual bonus.
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Generous Annual Leave: Typically 25-30 days plus public holidays.
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Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): Confidential support for personal and professional well-being.
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Professional Development Budget: Funding for training, conferences, and certifications.
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Flexible Working Options: While this role is on-site, other benefits may include some flexibility around start/end times.
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Employee Discounts: On Barclays products and services.
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Cycle to Work Scheme: Encouraging sustainable commuting.
Working Hours:
Standard full-time hours are typically 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday. While the role is on-site, there may be some flexibility in start and end times, subject to team and business needs.
📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on combining general UK Senior UX Designer market data with specific considerations for Edinburgh and the implied seniority of the "Assistant Vice President Expectations." Benefits are typical for a large, established financial institution.
🎯 Team & Company Context
🏢 Company Culture
Industry: Financial Services (Banking & Fintech)
Company Size: Large Enterprise (Barclays is a global financial services group with tens of thousands of employees worldwide). This means established processes, extensive resources, and often a structured career path.
Founded: Barclays was founded in 1736, indicating a long history and deep-rooted presence in the financial industry. Tesco Bank, which this role is associated with, was established later but operates under the Barclays umbrella.
Team Structure:
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Operations Team Aspect 1: The UX Design team is likely part of a larger Digital/Product Development function, comprising UX Designers, Service Designers, UX Researchers, and potentially UI Designers. The team size may range from 10-30 individuals, depending on the specific product domain.
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Operations Team Aspect 2: This Senior UX Designer will likely report to a Lead UX Designer, Head of UX, or a Product Design Manager. They will work closely with Product Managers, Scrum Masters, Developers, Business Analysts, and potentially Data Analysts within specific Agile squads.
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Operations Team Aspect 3: Collaboration is key. Expect regular interaction with cross-functional teams in an Agile environment, requiring strong communication and partnership to deliver cohesive digital experiences. There will also be collaboration with legal, compliance, and risk teams due to the nature of financial services.
Methodology:
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Operations Process 1 (Data Analysis): Designs will be informed by user research, usability testing, CX metrics, and potentially broader customer data analytics to ensure evidence-based decision-making.
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Operations Process 2 (Workflow Planning): Focus on mapping and optimizing end-to-end customer journeys, ensuring seamless transitions between digital touchpoints and services.
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Operations Process 3 (Automation & Efficiency): While not explicitly an automation role, a Senior UX Designer would look for opportunities to streamline user tasks and improve efficiency through intuitive design, and may leverage design tools for greater efficiency.
Company Website: https://home.barclays/
📝 Enhancement Note: The context of Barclays and Tesco Bank implies a highly regulated environment where design must balance user needs with stringent compliance, security, and risk management requirements. The scale of Barclays means opportunities for broad impact and exposure to complex financial products.
📈 Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a "Senior UX Designer" with implied "Assistant Vice President Expectations." This indicates a mid-to-senior level individual contributor role. It requires significant autonomy, the ability to lead design initiatives, influence strategy, and mentor others. It's a step beyond junior or mid-level designer, focusing on ownership, complex problem-solving, and strategic input.
Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Designer will likely report to a Design Lead, Manager, or Head of UX within a specific product area or the broader Digital Transformation/Product Development division. They will collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within Agile teams.
Operations Impact: The role's primary impact is on enhancing customer experience for digital banking products, directly influencing customer acquisition, retention, satisfaction, and ultimately, commercial outcomes for Barclays. By creating intuitive, accessible, and efficient user journeys, this role contributes to operational efficiency, reduced customer support costs, and increased product adoption.
Growth Opportunities:
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Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specialized areas like service design, UX research, accessibility, or design leadership.
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Leadership Development: Potential to transition into a Lead UX Designer, UX Manager, or Head of UX role, managing a team and setting design strategy.
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Cross-functional Exposure: Opportunities to work on diverse financial products and collaborate with various business units, broadening understanding of the financial services landscape.
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Mentorship: As a senior member, there's an opportunity to mentor and guide junior designers, developing leadership and coaching skills.
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Industry Recognition: Contributing to award-winning designs or pushing innovative solutions within the fintech space.
📝 Enhancement Note: The "Assistant Vice President Expectations" strongly suggest a path for growth beyond senior individual contributor, potentially into team leadership or strategic design roles. The emphasis on influencing policy and operational effectiveness points to a career trajectory that values strategic contribution as much as design craft.
🌐 Work Environment
Office Type: The role is based in Edinburgh, South Gyle Crescent, within a Tesco TSA (Tesco Bank operational site, now part of Barclays). This suggests a professional office environment, likely with modern amenities, focused on collaboration and productivity.
Office Location(s): Edinburgh, South Gyle Crescent – TESCO TSA. This location is a dedicated office space, implying a requirement for on-site presence.
Workspace Context:
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Collaborative Environment: Expect an office designed to foster collaboration, with open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and potentially dedicated design studios.
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Operations Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma), collaboration tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence), and potentially specialized UX research and testing platforms.
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Team Interaction: Daily interaction with Agile team members (Product Managers, Developers, BAs) and regular engagement with other designers within the broader UX team.
Work Schedule: The role is full-time, likely with standard office hours (e.g., 9 am - 5 pm). While the primary location is on-site, there may be some flexibility in daily start/end times, subject to team needs and manager approval. The emphasis is on being present and engaged within the office environment.
📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Edinburgh indicates a preference for in-person collaboration and team cohesion, which is common in large, established organizations, especially in regulated industries where security and direct communication are paramount.
📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process:
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Application Screening: Initial review of CV and portfolio for relevant experience, skills, and alignment with the role requirements.
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Hiring Manager/Recruiter Call: A brief introductory call to discuss your background, motivation, and high-level fit for the role, covering salary expectations and logistics.
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Design Challenge/Portfolio Presentation: This is a critical stage. You will likely be asked to present a selection of your best work from your portfolio, focusing on 2-3 key case studies. Be prepared to walk through your process, design rationale, user research findings, iterations, and the measurable impact of your solutions. A practical design exercise or problem-solving task may also be included.
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Team Interviews: Interviews with potential team members, including other UX designers, product managers, and developers. These will assess your collaboration skills, technical aptitude, understanding of Agile, and cultural fit.
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Senior Stakeholder Interview: An interview with a senior leader (potentially the hiring manager's manager or a director) to assess strategic thinking, leadership potential, and alignment with Barclays' values and "Assistant Vice President Expectations."
Portfolio Review Tips:
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Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your end-to-end process, problem-solving skills, and impact, particularly those relevant to digital banking or complex user journeys.
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Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your specific role and contributions, the user research conducted, design decisions and rationale, iterations based on feedback, and quantifiable outcomes.
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Highlight Impact: Emphasize the "so what?" of your designs. Use metrics (e.g., increased conversion, reduced task time, improved satisfaction scores) to demonstrate business and customer value.
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Showcase Process: Detail your design process, including how you incorporated user research, testing, and cross-functional feedback. Visual aids like wireframes, prototypes, and user flows are essential.
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Address Inclusivity: Explicitly discuss how you considered accessibility and inclusive design in your projects.
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Be Concise & Clear: Present your work professionally and be prepared to articulate your thoughts clearly and concisely.
Challenge Preparation:
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Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with common UX challenges in digital banking, focusing on security, trust, ease of use, and regulatory compliance.
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Process-Oriented Thinking: Be ready to discuss how you would approach a given UX problem, outlining your proposed steps, research methods, and design considerations.
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Metric-Driven Approach: Prepare to discuss how you would define success metrics for a new feature or product and how you would measure its impact.
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Collaboration Scenarios: Think about how you would handle disagreements with stakeholders or technical constraints.
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Barclays Values: Understand Barclays' core values (Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, Stewardship) and the Barclays Mindset (Empower, Challenge, Drive) and be ready to connect your experience to them.
📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not just design skills but also strategic thinking, collaboration, and the ability to operate effectively within a large, regulated financial institution. The portfolio presentation is paramount and should clearly articulate impact and process.
🛠 Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
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Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a primary tool for design, prototyping, and collaboration. Expect proficiency in its full suite of features.
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Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other tools like InVision, Axure, or Adobe XD might be beneficial.
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Wireframing Tools: Tools such as Balsamiq, Sketch, or Adobe XD may be used alongside or for initial concepts.
Analytics & Reporting:
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Web Analytics: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or internal Barclays analytics platforms to track user behavior and measure design impact.
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CX Metrics Platforms: Experience with tools or methodologies for tracking NPS, CSAT, CES, and other customer experience metrics.
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Data Visualization Tools: Proficiency with tools like Tableau, Power BI, or even advanced Excel/Google Sheets for analyzing and presenting data insights.
CRM & Automation:
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CRM Systems: While not a direct CRM user role, understanding how UX design impacts CRM data and customer journeys is beneficial (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics).
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Project Management & Collaboration: Tools like Jira, Confluence, Asana, or Trello are essential for working within Agile teams and documenting processes.
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User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting remote usability testing, surveys, and interviews (e.g., UserTesting.com, SurveyMonkey, Lookback).
📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma is clear. Proficiency in analytics and collaboration tools is crucial for demonstrating data-driven design and effective teamwork within an Agile structure. Understanding how UX impacts broader business systems like CRMs is a plus.
👥 Team Culture & Values
Operations Values:
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Respect: Valuing diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and contributions from all colleagues and customers.
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Integrity: Upholding ethical standards, transparency, and honesty in all dealings, especially critical in financial services.
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Service: A commitment to delivering excellent service to both internal stakeholders and external customers, focusing on their needs.
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Excellence: Striving for high quality, continuous improvement, and innovation in design and delivery.
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Stewardship: A sense of responsibility for the long-term health and reputation of the company, its customers, and the wider community.
Collaboration Style:
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Cross-functional Integration: Expect a highly collaborative environment where designers work closely with Product Managers, Developers, Business Analysts, and other functions. Open communication and shared ownership are key.
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Process Review & Feedback: A culture that encourages constructive feedback on designs and processes, with regular design critiques and sprint reviews.
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Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement to share best practices, insights from research, and learnings through internal presentations, workshops, or documentation. Expect to contribute to a culture of continuous learning and design craft.
📝 Enhancement Note: The Barclays values and mindset are deeply embedded, influencing decision-making and interactions. A Senior UX Designer is expected to embody these values, particularly Integrity and Excellence, and foster a collaborative, learning-oriented environment within their sphere of influence.
⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
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Balancing User Needs with Business/Regulatory Constraints: Navigating the complex landscape of financial services, where user experience must align with stringent security, compliance, and legal requirements.
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Large-Scale Enterprise Complexity: Working within a large organization with established processes, legacy systems, and diverse stakeholder needs can present integration and adoption challenges.
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Driving Design Adoption: Championing user-centered design principles and inclusive practices within a potentially technology- or business-driven culture requires strong advocacy and persuasive communication.
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Measuring Impact in a Regulated Environment: Quantifying the direct impact of design changes can be complex due to numerous influencing factors and the need for rigorous testing and validation.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
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Specialized UX Skills: Opportunities to develop expertise in areas like advanced UX research, service design, accessibility audits, or UX strategy.
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Fintech & Banking Domain Knowledge: Deepen understanding of financial products, customer behaviors, and industry trends within a major banking institution.
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Leadership & Mentorship: Develop leadership capabilities through mentoring junior designers, leading design initiatives, and potentially managing projects or small teams.
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Industry Conferences & Certifications: Access to funding for attending relevant UX and fintech conferences, or pursuing professional certifications in UX or accessibility.
📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a senior role in a large, regulated industry. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a clear path for career progression within both design and leadership tracks.
💡 Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
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"Describe a time you had to balance conflicting stakeholder requirements with user needs. How did you resolve it?" (Focus on communication, negotiation, and user advocacy).
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"How do you approach designing for accessibility and inclusivity in complex digital products?" (Highlight your process, standards used, and rationale).
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"Walk us through a complex customer journey you've designed. What were the key pain points and how did your design address them?" (Emphasize end-to-end thinking and problem-solving).
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"How do you measure the success of your designs, and what metrics are most important to you in a digital banking context?" (Demonstrate data-driven approach and understanding of business impact). Company & Culture Questions:
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"Why are you interested in working for Barclays, and specifically in this Senior UX Designer role?" (Connect your skills and career goals to the company's mission and the role's responsibilities).
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"How do you embody the Barclays values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship in your work?" (Provide specific examples).
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"Describe your experience working in an Agile environment. How do you collaborate with developers and product managers?" (Showcase teamwork and adaptability). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
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Structure is Key: For each case study, clearly outline: Problem Statement -> Your Role -> Research & Insights -> Design Process (Ideation, Wireframes, Prototypes) -> Iterations & Testing -> Final Solution ->
Measurable Outcomes & Impact.
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Quantify Everything: Where possible, use numbers and data to demonstrate the success of your designs.
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Focus on "Why": Be ready to explain the rationale behind your design decisions at every step.
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Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, research methodologies, and how you handled challenges.
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Showcase Figma Mastery: Be ready to demonstrate your proficiency if asked, or at least speak confidently about your workflows within Figma.
📝 Enhancement Note: Expect questions that probe your strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, understanding of the financial services context, and your alignment with Barclays' culture and values. The portfolio presentation is your primary tool for demonstrating your expertise and impact.
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:
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Submit your application through the provided Workday link. Ensure your CV is up-to-date and tailored to highlight relevant UX design, research, and collaboration experience.
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Portfolio Customization: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best represent your end-to-end design process, impact, and experience with complex digital products, ideally in finance or related sectors. Ensure your portfolio clearly articulates the problem, your role, your process, and the measurable outcomes.
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CV Optimization: Integrate keywords from the job description (e.g., UX Design, Customer Research, Inclusive Design, Figma, Agile, Stakeholder Management) and quantify your achievements with specific metrics wherever possible.
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Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and case studies concisely and impactfully. Prepare to discuss your understanding of user-centered design, accessibility, and how you collaborate within cross-functional teams. Research Barclays and its values.
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Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Barclays' digital offerings, its commitment to customer experience, and its stated values. Understand the context of working within a large, regulated financial institution.
⚠️ 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.
Application Requirements
Requires extensive experience in UX design, customer research, and delivering inclusive designs within an Agile environment. Must be proficient in Figma and capable of influencing stakeholders to implement evidence-based design decisions.