Senior UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer

Company: Hiscox

Location: Lisbon, Portugal / York, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full time

Category: User Experience & Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-04

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

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Owns and drives experience outcomes for defined product or journey domains, encompassing customer, broker, and employee interactions.

• Leads end-to-end UX design processes, from problem framing and discovery through to solution delivery and iteration.

• Collaborates closely with Product, Engineering, Architecture, and Data teams to ensure cohesive and effective user experiences.

• Champions inclusive and accessible design principles to mitigate experience risks and ensure compliance with standards.

• Contributes to the evolution and adoption of shared UX standards and design systems for scalable quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role focuses on UX Design within a broader "Technology Transformation" initiative, indicating a need for designers who can contribute to strategic, scalable, and efficient digital solutions in a regulated industry. The emphasis on "owning experience outcomes" suggests a high degree of autonomy and responsibility for specific product domains.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead comprehensive UX design initiatives across complex customer, broker, and employee journeys, ensuring accurate problem-solving and coherent experience delivery.

• Define and champion the strategic experience direction within assigned product domains, aligning with north-star journeys and established experience principles.

• Translate user insights, technical constraints, and business priorities into clear, actionable, and commercially effective design solutions.

• Facilitate and lead cross-functional workshops, design reviews, and stakeholder alignment sessions to foster collaboration and consensus.

• Actively contribute to the development and enhancement of the company's design system, promoting consistency, reusability, and high-quality design outputs across the organization.

• Champion and implement inclusive and accessible design practices throughout the design lifecycle, ensuring compliance with relevant accessibility standards and reducing experience-related risks.

• Define, measure, and iterate on key experience metrics (e.g., task success rates, error reduction, user satisfaction proxies) to drive continuous improvement.

• Partner effectively with Product Managers, Engineers, Architects, and Data Analysts to co-create, validate, and deliver robust user-centered solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design leadership and hands-on execution. The emphasis on "complex journeys," "north-star journeys," and "design system evolution" indicates a need for a senior-level designer capable of thinking at a systemic level and influencing product strategy.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Psychology, Computer Science, or a related field is highly advantageous. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: Proven track record of leading end-to-end UX design for complex products, services, or digital platforms, demonstrating a strong ability to manage ambiguity and drive outcomes.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in leading UX design across intricate products, services, or platforms.

• Proficient in interaction design, information architecture, and user flow mapping.

• Strong skills in creating interactive prototypes using industry-standard tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).

• Experience contributing to, maintaining, and advocating for design systems.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and influencing skills, capable of engaging effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• A robust portfolio showcasing clear UX impact, problem-solving methodologies, and demonstrable design outcomes.

• Ability to champion and implement inclusive and accessible design practices, ensuring compliance with standards like WCAG.

• Experience in leading discovery phases, including user research and problem framing. Preferred Skills:

• Experience working within regulated environments, such as insurance or financial services.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and cross-functional team collaboration within an agile framework.

• Experience in data analysis and using data to inform design decisions and measure experience impact.

• Facilitation skills for design workshops, brainstorming sessions, and stakeholder alignment meetings.

• Understanding of front-end development principles to ensure feasible and optimized design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize practical experience and a strong portfolio over specific academic credentials. The preference for experience in regulated industries points to the need for an understanding of compliance, risk, and user trust within those contexts.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio that clearly articulates your design process, from initial problem definition and user research through to final design solutions and their measurable impact.

• Case studies demonstrating end-to-end ownership of complex UX challenges, highlighting your strategic thinking, problem-solving approach, and design rationale.

• Evidence of how you have translated user insights and business objectives into tangible, user-centered design outcomes.

• Examples of your contributions to or work with design systems, showcasing an understanding of consistency, scalability, and component-based design.

• Demonstrations of your interaction design, information architecture, and prototyping skills through detailed project examples. Process Documentation:

• Ability to document and articulate design processes, including user research methodologies, journey mapping, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing.

• Clear explanations of how you approach problem framing and discovery for new features or products.

• Documentation of your approach to ensuring accessibility and inclusivity in your designs.

• Examples of how you measure and iterate on design solutions based on user feedback and performance data.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It should not just showcase polished UI but the strategic thinking, problem-solving methodology, and measurable impact of the candidate's design work. This role requires demonstrating leadership in design processes and advocating for user-centered methodologies.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: While not explicitly stated, for a Senior UX Designer role in Lisbon, Portugal, with 5-10 years of experience, typical salary ranges can be between €45,000 to €70,000 annually. In York, United Kingdom, this range could be between £50,000 to £75,000 annually. These figures are estimates based on industry benchmarks and regional cost of living.

Benefits:

• Bonus scheme

• Contributory pension plan

• 25 days of annual leave

• Additional 2 Hiscox days off

• 4-week paid sabbatical for every 5 years of service

• Private medical insurance for the family

• Hybrid working model offering flexibility between home and office.

Working Hours: The role is advertised as Full Time, with a standard expectation of 40 hours per week. The hybrid working model allows for team-defined flexibility in managing work-life balance, blending structured office time with remote flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary ranges provided are estimates for the specified locations and experience level, based on common industry data for Senior UX Designers. The benefits package is comprehensive, with a notable offering of a paid sabbatical and additional company days, reflecting a commitment to employee well-being and long-term service.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Insurance and Financial Services. Hiscox operates in a highly regulated sector, emphasizing the importance of trust, security, and compliance in all its operations and digital offerings.

Company Size: Hiscox is a significant global insurer, employing over 3,000 people worldwide (as of recent public data). This size suggests a structured environment with established processes, but also ample opportunities for impact and career growth within specialized teams.

Founded: Hiscox was founded in 1901, bringing over a century of experience and a deep heritage to the insurance market. This long history implies a stable, established company with a strong reputation, now focused on modernizing for the future.

Team Structure:

• The role sits within the Hiscox Technology function, which is a key driver of competitive advantage.

• The Technology Transformation Office leads significant strategic initiatives, with this role contributing to that broader agenda.

• UX Designers will likely be part of a dedicated UX/Design team or embedded within cross-functional product teams, reporting to a UX Lead or Head of Design.

• Close collaboration is expected with Product Management, Engineering, Architecture, and Data teams. Methodology:

• The company is undergoing a significant transformation ("Hiscox 2030 strategy") focused on modernization, scalability, efficiency, and customer-centricity.

• Key technology initiatives include digital trading, augmented underwriting, unified data ecosystems, and automation.

• The Technology function aims to build sustainable, resilient, and inclusive solutions.

• Agile methodologies are likely employed given the focus on transformation and cross-functional delivery.

Company Website: https://www.hiscox.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Hiscox is positioning itself for the future through a significant digital transformation. The company culture likely balances its long-standing heritage with a forward-looking approach to technology and customer experience. Operating in insurance means a strong emphasis on risk management, compliance, and data security, which will influence design decisions.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior UX Designer role, indicating a position of expertise and leadership within the design function. It requires not just strong design skills but also the ability to influence product strategy, mentor junior designers, and drive best practices. The role is expected to "own experience outcomes" within a specific domain, implying significant autonomy and responsibility.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Designer will likely report into a UX Lead, Head of Design, or a Product Design Manager. They will work closely with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and Architects within their product domain. The role is part of the broader Hiscox Technology function, contributing to the company's strategic transformation.

Operations Impact: As a Senior UX Designer, the individual's impact is crucial for driving the success of Hiscox's digital transformation. By ensuring user-centered, efficient, and accessible experiences for customers, brokers, and employees, they directly contribute to:

• Improved customer acquisition and retention.

• Enhanced operational efficiency through intuitive interfaces.

• Increased adoption of new digital platforms and services.

• Reduced risk and improved compliance through user-friendly design.

• Delivering on the "Hiscox 2030 strategy" objectives for scalability and customer-centricity. Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of UX, such as service design, user research, accessibility, or design systems.

• Leadership: Progress to Lead UX Designer, UX Manager, or Head of Design roles, managing teams and shaping design strategy.

• Cross-functional Influence: Gain broader exposure to product strategy, technology architecture, and business operations through close collaboration.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor and guide junior UX designers, fostering team development.

• Industry Exposure: Contribute to high-impact transformation projects within a well-established, global financial services organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title, coupled with "owning experience outcomes," suggests this role is a significant step in a UX professional's career. The growth opportunities are geared towards increasing strategic influence, leadership, and specialization within the design field.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hiscox utilizes a hybrid working model. This means the work environment will be a blend of remote work and in-office collaboration. The office is designed to support collaboration, innovation, and team cohesion, while remote work offers flexibility.

Office Location(s): The role is advertised for both Lisbon, Portugal, and York, United Kingdom. This suggests that Hiscox has significant operations in both locations, offering geographical choice. Candidates should confirm the specific team's base location and hybrid expectations.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative: The office environment is intended for team meetings, workshops, and fostering a sense of community. Expect opportunities for face-to-face interaction with colleagues.

• Technology-Enabled: As part of the Technology function, designers will have access to modern design tools and technologies necessary for their work.

• Cross-functional Interaction: The hybrid model and project-based work encourage regular interaction with colleagues from Product, Engineering, Data, and other business units, fostering a dynamic and interconnected workspace.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time (approx. 40 hours/week). The hybrid model allows for flexibility, with the specific balance of office and remote days determined at the team level. This provides a degree of autonomy in managing one's workday and personal life, while ensuring sufficient in-person collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment. It implies a need for strong self-management skills and effective communication, both in-person and remotely. The company's investment in transformation suggests a modern, evolving workplace culture.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: The interview process for a Senior UX Designer at Hiscox, especially within a transformation context, is likely to be multi-stage and thorough:

1. Initial Screening: A brief call with an HR representative or recruiter to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and salary expectations.

2. Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager (likely a UX Lead or Head of Design) to delve deeper into your experience, design philosophy, and approach to problem-solving.

3. Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: This is a critical stage. You will likely present your portfolio, discussing specific case studies in detail. A practical design challenge or exercise may be given, either pre-interview or as part of a live session, to assess your skills in a real-world scenario.

4. Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders you'd collaborate with, such as Product Managers, Engineering Leads, or Business Analysts, to evaluate your collaboration and communication skills.

5. Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader within the Technology or Product organization to discuss strategic alignment and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the solutions you designed, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify your achievements whenever possible (e.g., "increased task completion by X%", "reduced errors by Y%", "improved user satisfaction scores").

• Process Clarity: Detail your research methods, decision-making rationale, and how you navigated constraints (technical, business, time).

• Visual Polish: Ensure your portfolio is well-designed, easy to navigate, and visually appealing, reflecting your UX skills.

• Tailor to the Role: Highlight projects that align with Hiscox's industry (insurance/financial services), transformation goals, and the specific responsibilities of the Senior UX Designer role.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If a design challenge is provided, take time to fully understand the problem statement, target users, and business goals.

• Demonstrate Process: Even for a short challenge, show your thinking process—how you'd approach discovery, ideation, and solutioning.

• Consider Constraints: Think about technical feasibility, accessibility, and business viability in your proposed solutions.

• Presentation Skills: Be prepared to present your approach and solutions clearly and concisely, articulating your rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio review and a potential design challenge indicates that Hiscox values practical application of UX skills and a demonstrable understanding of design processes and outcomes. Preparation should focus on articulating your impact and problem-solving abilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision (or similar industry-standard tools for wireframing, UI design, and interactive prototyping).

• Design Systems: Experience working with and contributing to design systems, ensuring consistency and scalability. This may involve tools like Zeroheight, Storybook, or internal documentation platforms.

• User Research & Testing: Tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, SurveyMonkey).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms to understand user behavior and measure design impact (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude).

• Experience in interpreting data to inform design decisions and present findings. Collaboration & Project Management:

• Tools for team collaboration and project tracking (e.g., Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello).

• Communication platforms (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams).

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools are not listed, the role implies proficiency in common UX design software. The ability to work with and contribute to design systems is a key requirement, underscoring the need for scalable design solutions. Familiarity with analytics tools is crucial for demonstrating the impact of UX work.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A core value driving the need for excellent user experiences across all touchpoints. Designs should prioritize customer needs and ease of use.

• Innovation & Transformation: Embracing change and driving forward through technology and process modernization is central to the "Hiscox 2030 strategy." Designers are expected to contribute innovative solutions.

• Collaboration: Working effectively across diverse teams (Product, Engineering, Data, Business) is essential for delivering integrated solutions.

• Quality & Excellence: A commitment to high standards in design, accessibility, and user experience, ensuring reliable and trustworthy digital products.

• Inclusivity & Accessibility: A strong focus on designing for everyone, ensuring products are usable and accessible to all customers and employees, reducing risk and expanding reach.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Partnership: Proactive engagement with Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders to co-create solutions and ensure alignment.

• Data-Informed: Utilizing data and user research to guide design decisions and validate hypotheses.

• Iterative & Agile: Working in an agile manner, embracing feedback, and iterating on designs based on learnings.

• Transparent Communication: Openly sharing design rationale, challenges, and progress to build trust and facilitate effective teamwork.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's transformation strategy and focus on customer-centricity will shape the team's culture. Expect a dynamic environment that values innovation, collaboration, and a data-driven approach to design.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business/Technical Constraints: In a regulated industry, finding the optimal balance between ideal user experience, stringent compliance requirements, and technical feasibility can be complex.

• Driving Change in a Large Organization: Influencing stakeholders and embedding new UX best practices within a large, established company undergoing transformation requires strong communication and persuasion skills.

• Measuring UX Impact: Quantifying the direct impact of UX design on business metrics in a complex, multi-factor environment.

• Maintaining Consistency Across Domains: Ensuring a cohesive and consistent user experience across various product domains and customer journeys as the company scales.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX Techniques: Opportunities to develop expertise in areas like service design, user research, behavioral design, or advanced accessibility standards.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Potential to grow into leadership roles, mentor junior designers, and shape design strategy.

• Industry Exposure: Working on high-profile digital transformation initiatives within the insurance sector, gaining valuable domain expertise.

• Design System Contribution: Deepening skills in building and evolving scalable design systems.

• Cross-functional Skill Development: Gaining a broader understanding of product management, engineering processes, and business strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical of senior roles in large, transforming organizations, particularly in regulated industries. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering pathways for both specialized expertise and broader leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex user journey you've designed from end-to-end. What was the problem, your process, the solution, and the outcome?" (Focus on problem framing, research, solutioning, and impact measurement).

• "How do you balance user needs with business objectives and technical constraints, especially in a regulated environment like insurance?" (Prepare examples demonstrating your negotiation and compromise skills).

• "Tell me about a time you had to influence stakeholders who disagreed with your design direction. How did you approach it?" (Highlight your communication, persuasion, and data-backed argumentation skills).

• "How do you ensure your designs are inclusive and meet accessibility standards?" (Be ready to discuss specific standards like WCAG and your practical application). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Hiscox and our current transformation journey?" (Research the Hiscox 2030 strategy and technology initiatives).

• "How do you see UX contributing to our 'One Hiscox' mindset and customer-centric goals?" (Align your UX philosophy with company objectives).

• "Describe your ideal cross-functional collaboration with Product and Engineering." (Showcase your ability to integrate into agile teams). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each project, clearly outline: Problem Statement, Your Role, Target Users, Process (Research, Ideation, Design, Testing), Solution Details, and Measurable Outcomes/Impact.

• Be Ready to Discuss Your "Why": Articulate the rationale behind your design decisions and how they address the identified problems.

• Showcase Your Process: Don't just show final screens; explain how you arrived there, including any pivots or challenges you overcame.

• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs. If direct metrics aren't available, discuss proxies or qualitative feedback.

• Practice Your Narrative: Ensure you can present your work concisely, engagingly, and within the allotted time.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, a robust design process, strong collaboration skills, and a clear understanding of how UX drives business value, particularly within the context of Hiscox's transformation and industry.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and highlights projects that demonstrate your experience with complex journeys, end-to-end design, and impact in regulated industries or similar environments. Tailor your case study selection to align with the responsibilities outlined.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your senior-level experience, specific UX skills (interaction design, information architecture, prototyping, design systems), and achievements. Use keywords from the job description like "UX design," "complex journeys," "design systems," and "accessibility."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving approach, and the impact of your work. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions related to collaboration, influencing, and handling constraints. Rehearse your portfolio presentation.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Hiscox, its "Hiscox 2030 strategy," its transformation initiatives, and its position in the insurance market. Understand their customer segments (customer, broker, employee) and their values.

⚠️ 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.