Senior UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer

Company: VML

Location: Faro, Portugal

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Customer Experience (CX)

Date Posted: April 27, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end User Experience (UX) design process for complex e-commerce and digital solutions.

• Drive customer-centric design strategies by conducting thorough user research, analysis, and usability testing.

• Develop and present detailed design artifacts, including journey maps, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including UI designers, Service Designers, developers, and client stakeholders, to deliver impactful user experiences.

• Provide UX leadership and strategic guidance to clients and internal teams, ensuring alignment with business objectives and customer needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within VML's Enterprise Solutions division, focusing on delivering outstanding digital experiences for major clients across various routes to market (marketplaces, online retailers, D2C, B2B). The Senior UX Designer will be instrumental in shaping these solutions, requiring a strong understanding of e-commerce and complex customer journeys.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and facilitate product definition and UX requirements workshops with clients and internal teams.

• Scope, manage, and execute a diverse range of qualitative and quantitative user research initiatives.

• Analyze research data to extract meaningful insights, identify user pain points, and uncover behavioral patterns.

• Apply Design Thinking methodologies to conceptualize and develop innovative user experiences, products, and services.

• Create comprehensive design artifacts such as personas, journey maps, storyboards, process flows, information architecture diagrams, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.

• Articulate and advocate for product strategies and design approaches, building consensus among stakeholders.

• Foster strong working relationships with stakeholders, fellow designers, program managers, and developers to enhance design quality and user experience.

• Partner with Account Leads, Head of CX, and Head of UX to understand business drivers and provide expert UX leadership.

• Present design rationale and ideas clearly and compellingly to both working groups and C-suite executives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "leading and crafting UX project deliverables" and "providing UX leadership to clients and internal teams" indicates a significant level of autonomy and strategic input expected from this Senior UX Designer role. The requirement to present to C-suite also highlights the need for strong communication and influencing skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Psychology, or a related field is typically expected for Senior UX roles. Equivalent practical experience will be considered.

Experience: Significant proven experience in UX design, ideally within an agency setting, with a focus on e-commerce or complex digital journeys.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in the full UX design process, from discovery to delivery.

• Proven experience in conducting and analyzing both qualitative and quantitative user research.

• Proficient in creating essential UX design artifacts: personas, journey maps, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.

• Strong understanding of information architecture, interaction design, and experience design principles.

• Experience with Design Thinking methodologies and problem-solving techniques.

• Ability to understand and balance technical constraints, user goals, and business requirements.

• Excellent client communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Service Design principles and practices.

• Familiarity with optimization techniques and consulting within a CX framework.

• Experience working with enterprise-level clients and complex digital ecosystems.

• Proficiency in specific UX/UI design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, Axure, InVision).

• Understanding of front-end development constraints and capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "significant proven experience, ideally at an agency" and a "compelling portfolio that demonstrates high quality, best in class UX design" strongly suggests that candidates will be evaluated rigorously on their practical experience and the depth of their portfolio. The emphasis on e-commerce and complex journeys indicates a need for specialized experience in these areas.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 significant UX projects, with a strong emphasis on e-commerce or complex digital journeys.

• Clearly articulate your role and contributions within each project, especially for team-based work.

• Demonstrate the complete UX process: problem definition, research, ideation, design, prototyping, and testing.

• Highlight how user insights and business requirements informed your design decisions.

• Include examples of key design artifacts such as personas, journey maps, wireframes, and high-fidelity prototypes.

Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to running discovery phases and requirements workshops.

• Describe your methodologies for conducting qualitative and quantitative research and synthesizing findings.

• Explain your process for translating research insights into actionable design solutions using Design Thinking.

• Detail your experience in creating and presenting various design artifacts to diverse audiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's seniority and the company's focus on enterprise solutions and client work, the portfolio is paramount. It must not only showcase design skills but also the ability to manage the UX process, collaborate effectively, and demonstrate tangible business impact. The portfolio should serve as evidence of the candidate's ability to handle complex projects independently.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior UX Designer in Faro, Portugal with 5-10 years of experience, the estimated annual salary range is typically between €45,000 and €65,000. This estimate is based on regional salary benchmarks for experienced design professionals in Western Europe, considering the cost of living in Faro, and VML's position as a global agency.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive training opportunities to foster skill development.

• Medical insurance coverage.

• Dental insurance coverage.

• Meal cards for daily expenses.

• Regular social events to promote team cohesion and networking.

• Family-friendly policies to support work-life balance.

• Discounts with hundreds of retailers, offering significant savings.

Working Hours: Standard working hours are typically around 40 hours per week. The role adopts a hybrid work arrangement, with an expectation of being in the office for an average of four days per week, allowing for flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on publicly available data for UX Designer roles in Portugal and Western Europe, adjusted for the senior level and the specified experience range. Benefits are directly listed from the job description and are typical for agency environments. The hybrid model with 4 days in the office is a key detail for work arrangement.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Marketing & Advertising, Digital Transformation, Customer Experience (CX), Enterprise Solutions. VML operates at the intersection of creative services, technology, and consulting, driving growth for global brands.

Company Size: VML is a large global agency, part of WPP, with over 26,000 employees across 55+ markets. The Enterprise Solutions division alone comprises over 4,200 experts. This scale offers extensive opportunities for collaboration and exposure to diverse projects.

Founded: VML was formed through the merger of WPP agencies VML and Wunderman in 2024. Its legacy companies have a long history of innovation in digital marketing and advertising.

Team Structure:

• The CX team includes Leads in UX, UI, and Service Design, as well as Optimization and Consulting specialists.

• The Senior UX Designer will report into the Lead UX.

• Collaboration is expected with Account Leads, Head of CX, Head of UX, fellow designers, program managers, and developers.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making, using both qualitative and quantitative research to inform design.

• Application of Design Thinking principles for problem-solving and innovation.

• Agile development and design processes, working closely with development teams.

• Client-centric approach, focusing on understanding business drivers and delivering measurable growth.

• Emphasis on collaboration and cross-functional teamwork to achieve integrated solutions.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: VML's size and global presence mean the Senior UX Designer will be part of a vast network with extensive resources and a broad client base. The "Enterprise Solutions" focus highlights a specialized area within VML dedicated to complex digital transformations for major organizations, implying a need for strategic thinking and robust problem-solving capabilities.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior UX Designer role, indicating a mid-to-senior level position. It requires a high degree of autonomy, the ability to lead projects, mentor junior designers (implicitly), and influence client strategy. The role demands a proven track record of delivering complex UX solutions and a deep understanding of the full design lifecycle.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Designer reports directly to the Lead UX. This structure suggests a clear hierarchy within the UX discipline, allowing for guidance from a more experienced leader while providing ample opportunity for independent work and project ownership.

Operations Impact: The Senior UX Designer will have a direct impact on the success of VML's enterprise solutions by ensuring that digital products and services are user-friendly, effective, and aligned with client business objectives. This includes driving customer acquisition, engagement, conversion, and loyalty for VML's prestigious client portfolio. The role contributes to generating significant annual revenue for clients through optimized digital experiences.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific areas of UX, such as service design, accessibility, or user research methodologies, through training and project work.

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Lead UX role, manage teams, and take on more strategic client engagements.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining experience with UI design, optimization, consulting, and various technology platforms (Adobe, SAP, Salesforce, Shopify, etc.) through collaboration.

• Client Relationship Management: Developing stronger client-facing skills and building long-term relationships with key accounts.

• Industry Recognition: Contributing to award-winning work and building a reputation within the CX and digital experience industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title, coupled with the responsibilities of leading workshops, providing UX leadership to clients, and presenting to C-suite, signifies a role with significant growth potential beyond individual contribution. Candidates should look for opportunities to expand their strategic influence and potentially move into team leadership or principal roles within VML's extensive network.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: VML operates on a hybrid model, suggesting a blend of in-office collaboration and remote work. The office environment is designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and connection.

Office Location(s): The primary specified location is Faro, Portugal. VML has a global network with over 55 markets and principal offices in major cities worldwide.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office is set up to encourage interaction, teamwork, and idea-sharing among designers, strategists, and developers.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design and prototyping tools, likely including software from Adobe, Figma, Sketch, and project management platforms. The Enterprise Solutions division also works with major technology partners like Adobe, SAP, Salesforce, and Shopify, indicating potential exposure to these ecosystems.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities to work closely with a diverse team of UX, UI, and Service Designers, as well as project managers and developers, fostering a dynamic and engaging work atmosphere.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with an average of four days per week expected in the office. This hybrid arrangement allows for focused work at home and collaborative sessions or team building in the office. Flexibility is mentioned, with discussions about accommodations possible during the interview process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with 4 days in the office is a key aspect of the work environment. Candidates should consider how they best thrive in a collaborative, in-person setting for a significant portion of the week, while also valuing the flexibility of remote work. The global nature of VML suggests opportunities to collaborate with international teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess qualifications and experience alignment.

• Portfolio Presentation: Likely an opportunity to present and walk through 1-2 key projects from your portfolio, detailing your process, decisions, and outcomes. Be prepared to discuss challenges and solutions.

• Skills-Based Interviews: Discussions focusing on UX methodologies, Design Thinking, user research techniques, and your ability to handle complex e-commerce scenarios.

• Stakeholder/Client Simulation: Potential scenario-based questions or a case study exercise to assess your problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and client communication abilities.

• Cultural Fit Interview: Conversations to gauge alignment with VML's core values (Heart, Brains, Courage) and team dynamics.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your expertise in e-commerce, complex journeys, and end-to-end UX processes. Prioritize quality over quantity.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process you followed, key decisions made (and why), and the impact or results achieved. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Process: Demonstrate your thought process, research methods, and how you translated insights into design solutions. Show your work in progress, not just the final polished screens.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, reduced bounce rates, improved task completion times).

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handle feedback, and how you collaborate with teams and stakeholders.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand VML's Work: Research VML's client portfolio and recent campaigns to understand their brand, style, and focus areas, particularly within Enterprise Solutions.

• Practice Articulation: Be ready to clearly and concisely explain complex UX concepts, your design rationale, and project outcomes.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Mentally prepare for hypothetical design challenges related to e-commerce, user journeys, or client requirements. Think about how you would approach them using Design Thinking and user-centered methods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily rely on the candidate's portfolio. It's crucial to prepare a compelling narrative for each project, emphasizing problem-solving, process, and measurable impact. Understanding VML's client base and company values will be key to demonstrating cultural fit and strategic alignment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Axure RP, and InVision is essential for creating wireframes, interactive prototypes, and design mockups.

• User Research: Experience with tools for surveys (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform), user testing platforms (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback), and analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Hotjar) is expected.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Familiarity with tools like Jira, Confluence, Asana, Trello, and Miro for team collaboration, documentation, and project tracking.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Strong understanding of Google Analytics and similar platforms to analyze user behavior, track conversions, and measure the effectiveness of UX designs.

• Heatmaps & Session Recording: Experience with tools like Hotjar or Crazy Egg to visualize user interactions and identify usability issues.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a UX tool, an understanding of how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms integrate with user journeys and customer experiences can be beneficial for designing holistic solutions.

• Familiarity with major e-commerce platforms and their underlying technologies (e.g., Adobe Commerce, Shopify, BigCommerce) is highly advantageous for understanding technical constraints and opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job description doesn't explicitly list required tools, standard industry practices for a Senior UX Designer in an agency context suggest a need for proficiency in leading design and prototyping software. Experience with analytics and e-commerce platforms is also critical given the role's focus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values: VML emphasizes three core values:

• Heart: Fostering empathy, trust, and genuine connections. This translates to user-centric design, understanding user emotions, and building trusting relationships with clients and colleagues.

• Brains: Championing curiosity, innovation, and collaborative intelligence. This encourages a proactive approach to problem-solving, continuous learning, and leveraging collective knowledge to create cutting-edge solutions.

• Courage: Inspiring individuals to speak up, experiment, and advocate for bold solutions. This promotes a culture of constructive feedback, embracing new ideas, and pushing creative boundaries to achieve better outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires close collaboration with UX, UI, Service Design, Optimization, Consulting, Account Leads, program managers, and developers.

• Process Review & Feedback: A culture that likely encourages iterative design and constructive feedback loops to refine solutions.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of insights, best practices, and learnings across teams and projects to elevate the collective expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The VML culture, defined by "Heart, Brains, and Courage," is integral to how work is approached. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate empathy in their design process (Heart), intellectual curiosity and problem-solving skills (Brains), and the confidence to propose innovative and challenging ideas (Courage). This will be assessed during interviews.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Effectively managing and reconciling the often competing needs and priorities of clients, end-users, and internal teams.

• Complex E-commerce Environments: Navigating the intricacies of large-scale e-commerce platforms and complex user journeys, ensuring a seamless experience across multiple touchpoints.

• Rapid Technological Evolution: Staying abreast of new design tools, methodologies, and emerging technologies in the digital and e-commerce space.

• Demonstrating ROI: Clearly articulating and proving the business value and return on investment of UX design initiatives to clients.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Training: Access to VML's extensive training programs and resources to enhance UX skills, explore new design disciplines, or gain expertise in specific industries.

• Industry Exposure: Opportunities to work with a diverse portfolio of world-leading brands and engage with cutting-edge technologies and platforms.

• Mentorship: Potential to be mentored by senior leaders within VML's global network and to mentor junior designers, fostering leadership capabilities.

• Certifications & Conferences: Support for attending industry conferences and pursuing relevant certifications to stay at the forefront of UX and CX.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant opportunities for professional growth, particularly in managing complex, high-stakes client projects. The challenges inherent in large-scale digital transformation and e-commerce provide fertile ground for skill development and strategic impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex e-commerce project you led. What were the key challenges, your approach to UX, and the measurable outcomes?" (Focus on your process, decision-making, and impact.)

• "How do you balance user needs with business objectives and technical constraints when designing a new feature or product?" (Demonstrate your strategic thinking and ability to find optimal solutions.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do VML's core values of Heart, Brains, and Courage resonate with your personal work philosophy and approach to design?" (Prepare specific examples of how you embody these values.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with cross-functional teams, including developers and account managers, to ensure successful project delivery?" (Emphasize your teamwork and communication skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each project, clearly present the Problem, Your Role, The Process, The Solution, and The Results/Impact.

• Visuals: Use high-quality visuals of wireframes, prototypes, and final designs. Annotate key screens to explain design decisions.

• Narrative: Tell a compelling story about the user's journey and how your design addressed their needs and business goals.

• Metrics: Quantify your success with data whenever possible. If metrics are unavailable, explain the qualitative impact and potential future metrics.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice your presentation to ensure it's engaging and to the point, leaving ample time for Q&A.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on articulating your UX process, demonstrating strategic thinking, and showcasing your ability to deliver results for complex e-commerce projects. Being able to connect your experience to VML's core values will be critical for cultural fit.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the VML careers portal at https://www.vml.com/careers/job/8444037002?gh_jid=8444037002.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest UX projects, focusing on e-commerce and complex journeys. Ensure each project clearly outlines the problem, your role, the process, your design decisions, and the measurable impact.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience in UX design, user research, e-commerce, Design Thinking, and client-facing roles. Use keywords from the job description and quantify your achievements where possible.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice presenting your portfolio projects, focusing on storytelling, design rationale, and the outcomes you achieved. Be ready to discuss your approach to collaboration and problem-solving.

• Research VML: Familiarize yourself with VML's client work, particularly in Enterprise Solutions, and understand their core values (Heart, Brains, Courage) to articulate your cultural fit.

⚠️ 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.