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: UX/Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-05-13

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the strategic direction and implementation of user experience (UX) within product development for the Markets - Post Trade division.

• Manage complex interaction problems, leveraging user research, journey mapping, and visual design to enhance end-to-end application experiences.

• Oversee product development UX initiatives, ensuring alignment with departmental goals, efficiency, and effectiveness.

• Act as a subject matter expert, guiding technical direction and contributing to collaborative, multi-year assignments within a greenfield program.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Senior UX Designer," the description and accountabilities suggest a role with significant strategic oversight and potential team management, aligning closely with senior operations and product leadership. The emphasis on "product development UX," "managing product development risk," and "monitoring financial performance" points to a highly integrated role within the business operations of the Markets division.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic direction for product development UX, incorporating up-to-date methodologies and processes.

• Manage product development UX initiatives, including oversight of colleagues' performance, departmental goals, and overall efficiency.

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with product development UX stakeholders, ensuring high-quality external third-party services.

• Establish and enforce policies and procedures for product development UX across the organization.

• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate product development UX risks, ensuring alignment with the bank's compliance functions.

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

• Conduct comprehensive market research to identify trends, competitive landscapes, and regulatory changes, uncovering new market opportunities.

• Lead collaborative, multi-year assignments, guiding team members and identifying the need for diverse specializations to achieve project objectives.

• Train, guide, and coach less experienced specialists, providing insights that influence long-term profits, organizational risks, and strategic decisions.

• Advise key stakeholders, including functional leadership and senior management, on functional and cross-functional areas of impact and strategic alignment for UX.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities extensively cover strategic planning, risk management, financial oversight, and stakeholder engagement, which are critical in operations roles. The mention of "oversight of colleagues and their performance" and "planning for the department’s future needs and operations" strongly indicates potential people leadership responsibilities, even if not explicitly stated as a direct management role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Design, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior UX Designer role at this level, especially within a financial institution.

Experience: 5-10 years of progressive experience in User Experience (UX) design, with a focus on product development and complex interaction problem-solving. Proven experience in a senior or lead capacity, demonstrating strategic thinking and the ability to influence product direction.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in journey mapping, visual design, and interaction design.

• Proficiency in creating Figma prototypes.

• Strong user research methodologies and application.

• Strategic thinking and ability to define long-term UX vision.

• Proven experience in risk management and control frameworks within a financial services context.

• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence across diverse teams.

• Profound market research capabilities to identify opportunities and understand industry trends.

• Deep understanding of product development lifecycles and best practices.

• Advanced analytical thinking and problem-solving skills to define complex issues and develop innovative solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Demonstrable creativity and imaginative skills in design solutions.

• Highly collaborative approach, fostering teamwork and cross-functional alignment.

• Experience in a greenfield program environment, defining new functions and processes.

• Understanding of post-trade financial markets and their associated UX challenges.

• Familiarity with change and transformation initiatives within large organizations.

• Digital and technology acumen, with an understanding of how UX integrates with broader tech strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Vice President Expectations" section provides significant detail on expected capabilities, especially for individual contributors. For a Senior UX Designer, this translates to being a subject matter expert who can guide technical direction, lead complex assignments, and coach junior team members, all while understanding and influencing strategic business decisions and risk.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing end-to-end UX design experience, including journey mapping, interaction design, and visual design.

• Case studies demonstrating the ability to solve complex interaction problems with innovative and effective solutions.

• Examples of Figma prototypes and their impact on user testing and product iteration.

• Documentation of user research findings and how they informed design decisions.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of developed and implemented policies and procedures for product development UX.

• Documentation of risk assessment and mitigation strategies related to UX initiatives.

• Case studies detailing how market research informed product strategy and UX design.

• Demonstrations of how continuous improvement and efficiency have been integrated into UX workflows.

• Evidence of cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management through documented processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "policies and procedures," "risk management," and "financial performance monitoring" in the accountabilities suggests that a candidate's portfolio should not only showcase design skills but also their ability to operate within a structured, regulated environment and contribute to operational efficiency and risk mitigation.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior UX Designer with 5-10 years of experience in London, United Kingdom, within the financial services sector at a major institution like Barclays, the estimated salary range is typically between £70,000 and £100,000 per annum. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific skills, experience, and the nuances of the role's responsibilities, particularly if it involves significant strategic influence or people management.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health and wellness programs, including medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Generous paid time off, including vacation days, public holidays, and sick leave.

• Competitive pension scheme and retirement savings plans.

• Opportunities for professional development, training, and certifications relevant to UX and financial technology.

• Employee assistance programs for mental health and well-being support.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses and long-term incentive plans.

• Access to employee discount programs and wellbeing initiatives.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are typically 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, Barclays may offer some flexibility in working hours, provided departmental goals and stakeholder needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on industry benchmarks for senior UX roles in London's financial sector, considering the reputation and scale of Barclays. Benefits are inferred from standard offerings at large, established financial institutions.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Banking and Investment) - Barclays is a global financial services provider engaged in retail banking and investment, credit cards, and corporate and investment banking. This industry context means a strong emphasis on regulation, compliance, risk management, and data security. Operations within this sector are highly structured and process-driven.

Company Size: Barclays is a large, multinational corporation with a significant global workforce. This scale implies a complex organizational structure, established processes, and opportunities for diverse career paths. For operations professionals, this means working within well-defined frameworks, collaborating with numerous departments, and potentially impacting a vast customer base.

Founded: Barclays was founded in 1690, making it one of the oldest financial institutions in the world. This long history suggests a deep-rooted culture, a commitment to stability, and a legacy of innovation within the financial sector.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Markets division, specifically focusing on Post Trade operations.

• The UX team is part of a "central User Experience function" being established as part of a "greenfield program," indicating a dynamic and evolving team structure.

• As a Senior UX Designer, you will likely work closely with product managers, business analysts, developers, and other stakeholders across the Markets division.

Methodology:

• The team is adopting "up-to-date methodologies and processes" for product development UX.

• Emphasis on "user research, journey mapping, and end-to-end and visual design" for solving complex interaction problems.

• Strategic direction setting and continuous improvement are key operational tenets.

• Risk management and compliance are integral to all operations within Barclays.

Company Website: https://home.barclays/

📝 Enhancement Note: The financial services industry dictates a culture that prioritizes security, compliance, and robust processes. The "greenfield program" for UX suggests an opportunity to shape new operational standards and team dynamics within this established framework.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as "Senior" and also aligns with "Vice President Expectations," indicating a mid-to-senior level position. It demands strategic input, independent decision-making, and the potential to influence departmental direction and operations. It's beyond a purely execution-focused role, requiring a blend of technical UX expertise and business acumen.

Reporting Structure: As a Senior UX Designer, you would likely report to a Head of UX, Director of Product, or a senior leader within the Markets division's technology or operations function. If managing a team, you would be responsible for their performance and development, reporting upwards on departmental progress and challenges.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX Designer has a direct impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of the Markets - Post Trade division through enhancing user experience. By solving complex interaction problems and setting strategic UX direction, this role contributes to:

• Reduced operational errors and rework due to intuitive interfaces.

• Improved productivity for internal users of the applications.

• Enhanced client satisfaction and retention through seamless digital interactions.

• Mitigation of operational risks related to user error or system misuse.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Potential to transition into a People Leader role, managing a team of UX designers and contributing to broader departmental strategy and operational planning.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of financial UX, such as post-trade processes, regulatory compliance interfaces, or advanced data visualization for traders and operations teams.

• Strategic Influence: Grow into roles with greater strategic responsibility, influencing product roadmaps, business strategy, and the overall digital transformation initiatives within Barclays.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Leverage UX and operational understanding to move into Product Management, Business Analysis, or other strategic roles within the financial services domain.

• Industry Exposure: Gain in-depth knowledge of the financial markets and post-trade operations, a highly specialized and valuable area within the finance industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Vice President Expectations" and leadership behaviours (LEAD: Listen, Energise, Align, Develop) suggests a clear pathway for growth into management or senior individual contributor roles with significant strategic impact.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Canary Wharf, London, a major financial district. This implies a professional, corporate office environment typical of large financial institutions. It's likely a modern, well-equipped office designed for collaboration and productivity.

Office Location(s): 1 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom. This location is a central hub for financial services in London, offering excellent transport links and proximity to other industry players.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The "greenfield program" and emphasis on "collaborative approach" suggest an environment that encourages teamwork, idea sharing, and cross-functional interaction.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools (like Figma) and potentially other specialized financial technology platforms. The company's IT infrastructure will support sophisticated design and analysis work.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities to work closely with a diverse group of professionals, including UX designers, product managers, developers, business analysts, and senior leadership within the Markets division.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time (40 hours/week) and on-site. While core business hours are expected, the emphasis on "continuous improvements" and "balancing short and long term goals" may allow for some degree of flexibility in daily scheduling, subject to team and business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in a prime financial district like Canary Wharf indicates a commitment to in-person collaboration, which is often crucial for complex operational and design work in regulated industries.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: A recruiter or HR representative will review your application and resume, assessing for foundational qualifications and alignment with the role's core requirements.

2. Hiring Manager/Team Interview: This stage will likely involve a discussion with the hiring manager and potentially a senior UX designer or product lead. They will delve into your experience, strategic thinking, and approach to UX challenges, particularly within a financial context.

3. Portfolio Presentation & Case Study: A critical part of the process will be presenting your portfolio. Prepare 2-3 in-depth case studies that highlight your most relevant projects. For this role, focus on projects involving:

• Solving complex interaction problems.
• Defining and implementing strategic UX direction.
• Working within regulated environments or demonstrating risk awareness.
• Driving efficiency and operational improvements through design.
• Your experience with journey mapping, visual design, and Figma.

1. Skills Assessment/Challenge: You may be given a design challenge or a scenario-based question to assess your problem-solving skills, analytical thinking, and ability to apply UX principles under pressure. This could involve analyzing a user flow, proposing improvements to an existing interface, or outlining a UX strategy for a new feature.

2. Cultural Fit & Values Interview: This final stage will assess your alignment with Barclays' values (Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, Stewardship) and mindset (Empower, Challenge, Drive). Expect questions about how you handle conflict, collaborate, and contribute to a positive team environment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Relevance: Select projects that best demonstrate your experience in interaction design, visual design, journey mapping, and Figma prototyping, especially those with a strategic or operational impact.

• Showcase Impact: Quantify your achievements whenever possible. Instead of just describing what you did, explain the results of your work (e.g., "Reduced user error by X%," "Increased task completion time by Y%," "Improved stakeholder satisfaction scores").

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing), the solutions you proposed, and the final outcome.

• Demonstrate Strategic Thinking: Highlight how your UX decisions aligned with broader business objectives, risk management, and operational efficiency goals.

• Prepare for Process Questions: Be ready to discuss your approach to implementing UX processes, managing stakeholders, and collaborating within a large organization.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Research Barclays' business, particularly the Markets and Post Trade divisions. Identify potential UX challenges they might face.

• Focus on Process: If given a challenge, outline your step-by-step approach, including how you'd gather requirements, conduct research, ideate solutions, and iterate based on feedback.

• Articulate Trade-offs: Be prepared to discuss the trade-offs between different design solutions, considering factors like user needs, business goals, technical feasibility, and risk.

• Practice Presentation: Rehearse your presentation of your portfolio and any challenge responses to ensure clarity, conciseness, and confidence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "risk and controls," "change and transformation," "business acumen," and "strategic thinking" as critical skills suggests that interviewers will be looking beyond pure design execution, seeking candidates who understand the broader business and operational context of their work within a financial institution.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for prototyping, design collaboration, and creating high-fidelity mockups.

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey).

• Journey Mapping & Diagramming Tools: Software for creating user journey maps, process flows, and wireframes (e.g., Miro, Lucidchart, Axure RP).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web/Product Analytics: Tools to track user behavior and measure UX impact (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Pendo).

• Business Intelligence (BI) Tools: For analyzing operational metrics and performance data (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) – understanding how UX impacts these metrics.

• Reporting Dashboards: Experience creating dashboards to communicate UX performance and insights to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a UX tool, understanding how UX integrates with CRM systems (like Salesforce) and business process automation tools can be beneficial for understanding end-to-end user journeys within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Figma prototypes" is key. Beyond that, a Senior UX Designer in a financial institution should be adept at tools that support robust user research, detailed journey mapping, and the analysis of user behavior and business metrics to demonstrate impact.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Respect: Valuing diverse perspectives and contributions from all team members and stakeholders, fostering an inclusive environment for collaboration and design.

• Integrity: Upholding ethical standards in design and data handling, ensuring transparency and trustworthiness in all UX solutions, particularly crucial in financial services.

• Service: Prioritizing the needs of both internal users (operations teams, traders) and external clients, delivering seamless and efficient experiences that support business objectives.

• Excellence: Striving for the highest quality in design and execution, continuously seeking to improve processes and outcomes through rigorous research, testing, and iteration.

• Stewardship: Acting responsibly with company resources and data, ensuring that UX designs contribute to the long-term success and stability of Barclays.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: A strong emphasis on working closely with product managers, developers, business analysts, and compliance teams to ensure UX solutions are technically feasible, strategically aligned, and compliant with regulations.

• Process Review & Feedback: A culture of constructive feedback and iterative design, where designs are shared early and often for input, and processes are continuously refined based on team and stakeholder insights.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, user research findings, and design patterns across the UX team and broader organization to foster a learning culture and ensure consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Barclays Values (Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, Stewardship) and Mindset (Empower, Challenge, Drive) are explicitly mentioned. Candidates should demonstrate how their approach to UX design and operations aligns with these principles, focusing on how they drive efficiency, manage risk, and deliver value within these frameworks.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Large, Regulated Organization: Balancing user needs with stringent regulatory requirements, security protocols, and legacy systems common in financial institutions.

• Defining a New UX Function: Establishing and evolving the central UX function within a "greenfield program" requires defining processes, setting standards, and gaining buy-in across various departments.

• Influencing Stakeholders: Gaining consensus and driving adoption of UX best practices among diverse stakeholders with varying levels of UX understanding and competing priorities.

• Measuring Impact in Complex Systems: Quantifying the ROI of UX improvements in intricate, multi-stage financial processes (like post-trade) can be challenging.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Financial UX: Deep dive into the complexities of financial markets, post-trade operations, and regulatory technology, becoming a highly sought-after expert.

• Leadership Skills: Opportunities to develop people management, strategic planning, and operational leadership capabilities through formal training and on-the-job experience.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Access to participate in leading UX and FinTech conferences, and pursue relevant certifications to enhance professional development.

• Mentorship Programs: Benefit from mentorship from experienced leaders within Barclays, gaining insights into career progression and strategic decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior roles in large, established financial institutions, particularly those undertaking significant transformation initiatives like a greenfield UX program. Success requires strong problem-solving, communication, and adaptability.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting stakeholder requirements while designing a complex user experience. How did you prioritize and achieve alignment?" (Focus on stakeholder management, negotiation, and strategic decision-making.)

• "How would you approach establishing a new UX function from the ground up in a large financial institution? What would be your initial priorities and key considerations?" (Focus on process definition, strategic planning, and change management.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you see the Barclays values (Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, Stewardship) influencing your approach to UX design and collaboration?" (Connect your personal work style and values to the company's stated principles.)

• "Describe your experience working in a highly regulated environment. How do you ensure compliance and security are integrated into your design process?" (Demonstrate understanding of the financial services industry's constraints and requirements.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your specific role and responsibilities, the process you followed, the solutions you designed, and the measurable impact.

• Highlight Strategic Alignment: Emphasize how your UX decisions supported business objectives, improved operational efficiency, managed risk, or contributed to the overall strategic direction of the product or program.

• Showcase Figma Expertise: Be prepared to demonstrate specific Figma features or workflows you used and how they facilitated collaboration or prototyping.

• Discuss Trade-offs and Challenges: Be transparent about any challenges faced, the trade-offs you made, and what you learned from the experience. This demonstrates critical thinking and adaptability.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be assessing not just your design skills but also your strategic thinking, operational acumen, risk awareness, and ability to thrive within Barclays' specific culture and industry.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on the Barclays careers portal.

• Tailor your Resume: Customize your resume to highlight experience in journey mapping, visual design, interaction design, Figma prototyping, user research, and strategic thinking. Quantify achievements where possible, focusing on impact related to efficiency, risk reduction, or user satisfaction.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best showcase your ability to solve complex problems, your strategic approach to UX, and your experience within regulated or corporate environments. Ensure clear demonstration of your Figma skills and process.

• Prepare for Case Studies: Practice presenting your portfolio projects, articulating your design process, and discussing the business impact of your work. Be ready to answer questions about your strategic thinking and problem-solving methodology.

• Research Barclays: Understand Barclays' business, its values, and the specific challenges of the Markets - Post Trade division. This will enable you to tailor your responses and demonstrate your cultural fit and strategic 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.