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

Date Posted: 2026-04-27

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the strategic direction and execution of User Experience (UX) design within product development initiatives across Barclays' Markets - Post Trade division.

• Manage and lead product development UX processes, ensuring the implementation of up-to-date methodologies and best practices for enhanced efficiency and effectiveness.

• Oversee end-to-end user experience for a complex application portfolio, focusing on solving intricate interaction problems and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and senior management to align UX strategies with business objectives, compliance requirements, and risk management frameworks.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior UX Designer within Barclays' Markets - Post Trade division, focusing specifically on product development UX. The emphasis on strategic direction, risk management, and stakeholder engagement suggests a role that bridges design leadership with operational oversight, requiring a candidate who can influence strategy and manage complex projects within a regulated financial environment. The mention of a "greenfield program" and defining a "central User Experience function" indicates a significant opportunity for impact and shaping future design processes.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic direction for product development UX, incorporating contemporary methodologies and processes to optimize user journeys.

• Manage product development UX initiatives, including the oversight of design colleagues, department goals, and ensuring overall departmental efficiency and effectiveness.

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key product development UX stakeholders, both internal and external, ensuring high-quality service delivery.

• Design, develop, and implement comprehensive policies and procedures for product development UX to ensure consistency and quality.

• Proactively manage product development UX risk by identifying potential issues, developing mitigation strategies, and ensuring alignment with the bank’s compliance functions.

• Monitor the financial performance of the UX department, including revenue, profitability, and cost control, contributing to departmental budget management.

• Conduct thorough market research to identify emerging trends, competitive landscapes, and regulatory changes relevant to financial services UX.

• Lead collaborative, multi-year assignments, guiding team members through structured projects and identifying the need for specialized expertise.

• Train, guide, and coach less experienced specialists, sharing knowledge and expertise to foster team development.

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

• Manage and mitigate risks through robust assessment processes, supporting the overall control and governance agenda.

• Create innovative solutions by comparing and selecting complex alternatives, utilizing sophisticated analytical thought and interpretative thinking to define and solve problems.

• Integrate findings from extensive research into problem-solving processes, ensuring data-driven decision-making.

• Build and maintain trusting relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to achieve key business objectives, employing influencing and negotiating skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities outline a blend of individual contribution and potential leadership, typical for a Senior role. The emphasis on managing risk, financial performance, and stakeholder relationships, alongside core UX activities like journey mapping and visual design, highlights the need for a candidate with strong business acumen and operational understanding within a regulated financial services context. The expectation to "contribute or set strategy" and "guide technical direction" points towards a senior individual contributor or a team lead with significant strategic influence.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.

Experience:

• 5-10 years of progressive experience in User Experience (UX) design, with a strong focus on product development within complex, enterprise-level environments.

• Proven experience in managing and executing UX strategies for financial services or regulated industries is highly desirable.

Required Skills:

• Strategic UX Direction: Ability to define and drive the overall UX strategy for product development, aligning with business goals and market opportunities.

• Interaction Design: Expertise in designing intuitive and efficient user interactions for complex applications.

• Journey Mapping: Proficient in creating detailed user journey maps to identify pain points and opportunities for experience enhancement.

• Visual Design: Strong aesthetic sense and ability to create visually appealing and consistent user interfaces.

• Prototyping: Advanced proficiency in creating interactive prototypes using tools like Figma.

• Stakeholder Management: Excellent ability to build relationships, communicate effectively, and influence stakeholders at all levels.

• Risk Management: Understanding of risk assessment and mitigation strategies within a financial services context.

• Analytical Thinking: Capability to analyze complex problems, interpret data, and develop innovative solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• User Research: Experience conducting user research, usability testing, and synthesizing findings to inform design decisions.

• Agile/Scrum Methodologies: Familiarity with agile development processes and how UX integrates within them.

• Design Systems: Experience in developing or contributing to design systems for consistency and scalability.

• Change Management: Ability to navigate and drive change within a large organization.

• Business Acumen: Strong understanding of financial markets, post-trade processes, and their impact on UX.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "Senior" title and the context of a large financial institution like Barclays, the requirements implicitly demand a high level of strategic thinking, end-to-end ownership, and the ability to operate autonomously or lead smaller initiatives. The explicit mention of "greenfield program" and "defining a central User Experience function" suggests that candidates with experience in establishing or significantly evolving UX practices within an organization will be highly valued.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing end-to-end UX design projects, with a focus on complex interaction problems and strategic design thinking.

• Case studies demonstrating the application of journey mapping, visual design, and interaction design principles.

• Examples of Figma prototypes that illustrate user flows, interactions, and visual design concepts effectively.

• Evidence of successful collaboration with development teams and product managers to bring designs to fruition.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrations of your process for conducting user research, synthesizing findings, and translating them into actionable design solutions.

• Examples of how you have developed or contributed to the implementation of UX policies, procedures, or design best practices.

• Documentation of your approach to risk assessment within the design process and strategies for mitigation.

• Evidence of workflow optimization and efficiency improvements driven by UX initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Designer role, especially in a financial institution, a portfolio is not just about showcasing final visuals but demonstrating a robust design process, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage complex projects with tangible outcomes. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their decision-making process, the challenges faced, and the impact of their work, particularly in areas like risk mitigation and stakeholder alignment.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Generous pension scheme with employer contributions.

• Annual bonus opportunities based on individual and company performance.

• Share incentive plans (e.g., Barclays ShareSave).

• Generous annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays.

• Opportunities for professional development, training, and certifications.

• Employee assistance programs and well-being resources.

• Potential for flexible working arrangements, though this role is primarily on-site.

Working Hours:

• Standard working hours are typically 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

• While the role is on-site, there may be an expectation of flexibility to meet project deadlines and stakeholder availability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on general market data for Senior UX Designers in London within the financial services sector. Specific compensation will be determined by Barclays based on the candidate's qualifications, interview performance, and internal pay scales. Benefits are typical for a large, established financial institution.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Banking & Financial Services. Barclays is a global financial services provider engaged in retail banking, credit cards, corporate and investment banking, and wealth management.

Company Size: Large enterprise (over 10,000 employees). This implies a structured environment with established processes, but also opportunities to influence and drive change, particularly within new initiatives like the greenfield program.

Founded: 1690. With a history spanning centuries, Barclays has a deep-rooted culture of service, integrity, and stewardship.

Team Structure:

• The Senior UX Designer will be part of the Markets - Post Trade division, likely within a dedicated UX function or a product development team.

• The role involves collaboration with product managers, developers, user researchers, business analysts, and senior management across various departments.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on data-driven decision-making, utilizing market research, user feedback, and performance metrics to guide UX strategy.

• Application of structured design thinking methodologies, including user research, journey mapping, interaction design, and visual design.

• A proactive approach to risk management and compliance, ensuring all designs adhere to regulatory standards and internal policies.

• Focus on continuous improvement and innovation, particularly within the context of the new greenfield program.

Company Website: https://home.barclays/

📝 Enhancement Note: Barclays' extensive history and global presence suggest a culture that values stability, integrity, and excellence. The "Barclays Values" (Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, Stewardship) and "Barclays Mindset" (Empower, Challenge, Drive) are key cultural pillars that candidates should understand and align with. The "greenfield program" indicates a dynamic, forward-looking aspect of the company culture currently being established.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor / Potential Team Lead. This role is positioned at a senior level within the UX discipline, requiring a high degree of autonomy, strategic input, and the ability to mentor others. It offers the opportunity to shape the UX function within a significant new program.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Designer will likely report to a Head of UX, Product Management Lead, or a senior figure within the Markets - Post Trade division. Direct reports are possible if the role evolves into a leadership position.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts the efficiency, usability, and adoption of critical post-trade applications within Barclays' Markets division. By improving user experience, the role contributes to reduced operational errors, increased productivity, enhanced client satisfaction, and ultimately, improved financial performance and risk mitigation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to lead a UX function or team within the greenfield program, shaping its direction and processes.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in financial services UX, post-trade processes, or emerging UX technologies.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Potential to move into product management, program management, or other strategic roles within Barclays.

• Continuous Learning: Access to internal training, external conferences, and certifications to stay abreast of UX best practices and industry trends.

• Influence and Impact: Play a pivotal role in defining the user experience standards for a significant new initiative within a major global bank.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" designation, combined with the "greenfield program" context, signifies a high-impact role with substantial growth potential. Candidates should highlight their ability to not only design but also to influence strategy, build processes, and potentially lead teams, aligning with Barclays' "Develop others" and "Align across the enterprise" LEAD behaviors.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Corporate office environment within a major financial hub. The role is based at 1 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, a prominent location for financial institutions, suggesting a professional and collaborative atmosphere.

Office Location(s): Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom. This location offers excellent transport links and is surrounded by numerous amenities.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be professional and modern, designed to foster collaboration among design, product, and development teams.

• Access to necessary design tools, technology, and potentially dedicated user research facilities.

• Opportunities for informal and formal collaboration through team meetings, workshops, and design reviews.

Work Schedule:

• The role is primarily on-site, emphasizing the importance of in-person collaboration and integration with the team and broader business functions.

• Standard working hours apply, with an expectation of flexibility to meet project demands and engage with global stakeholders across different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement highlights Barclays' emphasis on in-person collaboration, essential for complex projects and team cohesion in a regulated industry. Candidates should be prepared for a professional corporate setting and understand the importance of physical presence for team dynamics and strategic alignment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and salary expectations.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion focused on experience, leadership potential, understanding of UX principles, and alignment with the role's strategic responsibilities.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A critical stage where candidates present their work, focusing on case studies that demonstrate problem-solving, strategic thinking, process, and impact. This will likely involve presenting Figma prototypes and discussing journey maps.

• Technical/Skills Assessment: This may involve a design challenge or a more in-depth discussion on specific UX skills, tools (Figma), and methodologies.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential colleagues, cross-functional partners (e.g., Product Managers, Developers), and senior leaders to assess collaboration style and broader fit.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior executive to discuss strategic vision and overall alignment with Barclays' goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the business problem, your role, the solutions you designed, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., improved efficiency, reduced errors, enhanced user satisfaction). Quantify results whenever possible.

• Showcase Process: Detail your design process, including user research, journey mapping, wireframing, prototyping (Figma), and iteration. Explain why you made certain decisions.

• Strategic Alignment: Demonstrate how your UX solutions align with business objectives, risk management, and stakeholder needs.

• Visual Storytelling: Use clear visuals, concise explanations, and compelling narratives to guide interviewers through your projects. Ensure Figma prototypes are functional and well-presented.

• Tailor to Barclays: Research Barclays' values, recent initiatives (like the greenfield program), and the financial services context to tailor your presentation.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a design challenge that may involve a realistic problem statement related to financial services UX.

• Focus on your approach: how you would gather requirements, conduct research (even if simulated), structure your solution, and present your findings.

• Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, demonstrating strategic thinking and problem-solving skills under timed conditions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Senior role at a bank like Barclays will be rigorous. A strong portfolio that clearly demonstrates strategic impact, process, and collaboration is paramount. Candidates should prepare to discuss not just design execution but also their ability to manage complex projects, influence stakeholders, and contribute to business outcomes.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for prototyping, wireframing, and visual design. Proficiency will be heavily assessed.

• User Research Platforms: Tools like UserTesting.com, Lookback, or internal platforms for conducting and analyzing user feedback.

• Design & Collaboration Tools: Miro, Mural, or similar for collaborative whiteboarding, ideation, and journey mapping.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Tools: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics (or internal equivalents) for understanding user behavior on digital platforms.

• Business Intelligence Tools: Tableau, Power BI, or internal dashboards for tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) related to user adoption, task completion, and business impact.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not directly a UX tool, understanding how CRM data (e.g., Salesforce) can inform user segmentation and personalization is beneficial.

• Project Management Tools: Jira, Confluence, Asana, or similar for managing design tasks, sprints, and team collaboration.

• Internal Barclays Systems: Familiarity with proprietary financial software and platforms will be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is explicitly mentioned and is critical. Beyond this, an understanding of the broader ecosystem of design, research, collaboration, and analytics tools used in enterprise environments, particularly within finance, is expected for a Senior role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence: A commitment to delivering high-quality, user-centered designs that meet rigorous standards.

• Integrity: Upholding ethical design practices and ensuring compliance with all regulations and policies.

• Service: Focusing on client and internal user needs, striving to provide exceptional experiences.

• Stewardship: Responsible management of resources, projects, and the impact of design decisions on the organization and its users.

• Respect: Valuing diverse perspectives and fostering an inclusive environment for collaboration and feedback.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Proactive engagement with product managers, engineers, business analysts, risk, and compliance teams to ensure holistic product development.

• Data-Informed Design: A culture that encourages the use of data and research to validate design decisions and drive continuous improvement.

• Constructive Feedback: Openness to receiving and providing constructive feedback during design critiques and reviews to elevate the quality of work.

• Agile and Iterative: Working within agile frameworks to deliver value incrementally and adapt to changing requirements, with a focus on iterative design refinement.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should demonstrate an understanding of how Barclays' core values translate into daily work for a UX professional, emphasizing precision, reliability, and a client-centric approach within a regulated framework.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Large Organization: Understanding and influencing within a complex corporate structure with established hierarchies and processes.

• Balancing User Needs with Business & Regulatory Constraints: Finding innovative solutions that satisfy user desires while adhering to strict financial regulations and business objectives.

• Driving Change in a Greenfield Program: Establishing new UX processes and advocating for user-centered design principles in a nascent function.

• Managing Multiple Stakeholder Interests: Aligning diverse needs and expectations from various business units, IT, and compliance.

• Keeping Pace with Technological Advancements: Integrating new UX tools and methodologies within a traditional financial institution.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Financial Services UX Specialization: Gaining deep expertise in the unique challenges and opportunities of UX design within banking and capital markets.

• Leadership and Mentorship: Opportunities to develop leadership skills, mentor junior designers, and potentially build and lead a UX team.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Access to leading UX and financial technology events and training programs.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Exposure to various facets of the financial industry, including risk management, compliance, and business strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the complexity of working in a large, regulated financial institution. Success will require adaptability, strong communication, and a strategic mindset to drive user-centricity. The growth opportunities offer a clear path for career advancement and skill enhancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach defining the UX strategy for a new product development initiative in a regulated financial environment like Barclays Markets?" (Focus on research, alignment, and iterative strategy development).

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting stakeholder requirements or business constraints with user needs. How did you resolve it?" (Highlight negotiation, compromise, and data-driven decision-making).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do Barclays' values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship inform your approach to UX design?" (Connect values to specific design actions and decision-making).

• "How do you stay current with UX trends and integrate them into your work, especially within a large, established organization?" (Demonstrate continuous learning and adaptability).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with an executive summary of the project, followed by the problem statement, your role, your process (research, ideation, design, testing), key design decisions, and finally, the outcomes/impact.

• Visuals: Use high-fidelity mockups, interactive Figma prototypes, and clear journey maps. Annotate key design decisions and user flows.

• Narrative: Tell a compelling story about each project, emphasizing your critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to drive meaningful results.

• Quantify: Whenever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, reduced task completion times, improved user satisfaction scores).

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, an understanding of the financial services context, and the ability to articulate complex design processes and outcomes clearly. Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma in detail and how you approach problem-solving in a regulated environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

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

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects that showcase your expertise in journey mapping, visual design, interaction design, and Figma prototyping, ideally within complex enterprise environments or financial services.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in strategic direction, risk management, stakeholder engagement, and driving end-to-end UX for product development. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving approach, and project outcomes. Prepare to present specific case studies from your portfolio that align with the role's responsibilities, especially concerning the greenfield program and financial sector context.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Barclays' values, recent news, and the Markets - Post Trade division to demonstrate your understanding of their business and culture, and how your UX expertise can contribute to their strategic 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.

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