Senior UX Designer, Consumer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer, Consumer

Company: Bertelsmann (Riverty)

Location: Heerenveen, Netherlands

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-01

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (2 days in office expectation)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive human-centricity in financial services through innovative UX design for consumer-facing products and touchpoints.

• Lead end-to-end product design processes, from ideation and research to prototyping and implementation, ensuring seamless user experiences.

• Collaborate with international, cross-disciplinary teams including UX designers, UI designers, service designers, and UX writers.

• Act as a strong advocate for the customer, promoting a human-centric mindset and a robust design culture across European operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within Riverty, a FinTech subsidiary of Bertelsmann, focusing on consumer financial services. The emphasis on "human centricity" and "keeping people and businesses in flow" indicates a strong focus on empathy-driven design and user well-being, particularly in financial management and debt repayment. The hybrid, regionally-distributed model suggests a need for strong asynchronous communication skills and adaptability.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct in-depth user research to identify needs, pain points, and opportunities for optimizing consumer financial services.

• Translate research insights into actionable design artifacts, including end-to-end user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes to test and refine functionality.

• Design and validate user experiences across various consumer channels and touchpoints, ensuring they are intuitive, user-friendly, and align with business objectives.

• Analyze user feedback and performance metrics to continuously iterate and improve the overall user experience of Riverty's consumer offerings.

• Contribute to and leverage the company's design system by creating high-fidelity designs and reusable UI components.

• Foster strong collaborative relationships with cross-functional partners in Product, Engineering, and other departments to ensure design alignment with business initiatives and technical feasibility.

• Champion the voice of the customer within the organization, advocating for user-centered solutions and promoting a strong design culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design leadership and hands-on execution. The role requires not only the creation of design artifacts but also the ability to gather information, motivate design decisions, and validate effectiveness through data and user feedback. The emphasis on collaboration and advocacy suggests a need for strong interpersonal and communication skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Graphic Design, Psychology, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior UX Designer role.

Experience: 5-10 years of professional experience in UX design, with a proven track record in leading end-to-end product design processes.

Required Skills:

• Proficient in conducting comprehensive user research, identifying user needs, and translating them into intuitive and impactful design solutions.

• Demonstrated experience in leading end-to-end product design processes, from concept ideation through to final implementation, while ensuring alignment with business goals and technical constraints.

• Skilled in creating wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs using Figma.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and stakeholders, to drive product innovation and deliver exceptional user experiences in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong understanding of interaction design principles, information architecture, and usability best practices, with a focus on creating seamless user flows and intuitive interfaces.

• Proficient in conducting usability testing, gathering feedback, and iterating on designs to continuously improve the user experience.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and advocate for user-centered solutions.

• Strategic, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex user requirements into design approaches and estimations. Preferred Skills:

• Experience mentoring junior designers and contributing to the growth and development of the design team.

• Experience partnering with multiple designers and stakeholders to achieve goals across complex product ecosystems.

• Experience with financial services or fintech products.

• Familiarity with product frameworks and development technologies.

• Experience with B2B, B2C, and/or B2B2C products.

• Familiarity with accessibility standards and guidelines (e.g., WCAG) and their application in design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "nice to have" section provides clear indicators of where candidates can differentiate themselves, particularly experience in FinTech and mentoring. The explicit mention of Figma as the primary design tool is crucial for applicants. The encouragement to apply even if not all boxes are checked suggests a focus on potential and cultural fit alongside technical skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design case studies demonstrating your ability to solve complex user problems within defined business constraints.

• Include examples of user research methodologies applied, highlighting how insights informed your design decisions.

• Present wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes that illustrate your design process and problem-solving approach.

• Demonstrate high-fidelity designs and UI components, ideally showing contributions to or use of a design system.

• Clearly articulate the impact of your designs, using metrics where possible to show improvements in user satisfaction, engagement, or business outcomes. Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your process for conducting user research, including methods for participant recruitment, data collection, and analysis.

• Detail your approach to wireframing and prototyping, including the tools used and how you validate designs with users.

• Explain your collaboration process with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders, highlighting how you ensure alignment and manage feedback.

• Describe how you leverage and contribute to design systems and ensure consistency across a product ecosystem.

• Be ready to articulate your strategy for advocating for user needs and promoting a human-centric design culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is essential for this role, especially given the senior level. It should not just display final designs but clearly articulate the "why" behind each design decision, demonstrating a strategic and analytical approach rooted in user research and business goals. The ability to discuss process and methodology is as important as the visual output.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior UX Designer in Heerenveen, Netherlands, with 5-10 years of experience, the estimated annual salary range is between €60,000 and €85,000. This estimate considers regional market rates, cost of living in the Netherlands, and the seniority of the role within a large international corporation like Bertelsmann.

Benefits:

• Flexible working conditions, including hybrid work arrangements.

• Opportunities for international collaboration across 11 countries.

• Access to 30 hybrid workspaces designed for idea exchange and learning.

• Membership in a diverse international community of over 4,000 employees from nearly 80 nationalities.

• Part of the established Bertelsmann group, offering stability and corporate resources.

• Potential for professional development and growth within a fast-paced FinTech industry.

Working Hours: Full-time position, with an expectation of 2 days per week in the office. The exact daily working hours are not specified but typically align with standard business hours in the Netherlands, with potential for flexibility given the hybrid setup.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on research from platforms like Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, and local Dutch job boards for UX Designer roles with 5-10 years of experience in cities comparable to Heerenveen. Benefits are inferred from the company description, emphasizing flexibility, international exposure, and corporate backing.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Technology (FinTech), Payments, and Financial Services. Riverty operates within a dynamic sector that is rapidly evolving due to technological advancements and changing consumer expectations.

Company Size: Riverty is part of the Bertelsmann group, employing over 4,000 people across 11 countries. Bertelsmann itself is a global media, services, and education company with a significant presence worldwide.

Founded: Bertelsmann was founded in 1835, providing a long history and established corporate structure. Riverty's specific founding or rebranding history is less prominent but it operates as a modern FinTech entity.

Team Structure:

• The Senior UX Designer reports to the Design Lead, Consumer.

• They will be part of an international team of UX designers, UI designers, service designers, and UX writers.

• This role involves close collaboration with cross-disciplinary consumer teams and peers across Europe.

• The design team operates in a regionally-distributed-hybrid setup, fostering collaboration across different locations. Methodology:

• Emphasis on human-centric design, combining empathy, advanced technology, and data-driven insights.

• Focus on understanding user needs and motivations to create sustainable financial services.

• Agile and collaborative approach, working within product teams and with cross-functional partners.

• Data-driven decision-making, using user feedback and performance metrics for continuous improvement.

Company Website: https://www.riverty.com/ (Note: The provided URL was for job search, this is the main company site)

📝 Enhancement Note: Riverty's position within Bertelsmann suggests a blend of startup agility within FinTech and the stability and resources of a large, established conglomerate. The company culture appears to value diversity, international collaboration, and a forward-thinking approach to financial services, grounded in user needs.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior UX Designer role, indicating a mid-to-senior level position. It requires significant autonomy, the ability to lead design initiatives, and a capacity to mentor junior team members. The scope includes influencing product strategy and advocating for user-centered design principles across the organization.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Designer reports to the Design Lead, Consumer. This implies a clear management structure within the design function, with opportunities for guidance and career development discussions.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the user experience of Riverty's consumer financial services, which are critical for customer acquisition, retention, and overall brand perception. By creating intuitive and empathetic financial tools, the designer contributes to the company's mission of keeping people and businesses in flow and building financial confidence.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunity to deepen expertise in FinTech UX, accessibility standards, and advanced prototyping techniques. Mentoring junior designers provides leadership development.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Collaboration with Product and Tech teams across Europe offers broad exposure to different business areas and development methodologies.

• Leadership Potential: Successful performance can lead to opportunities for Design Lead roles, specialized UX roles (e.g., Research Lead, Interaction Design Lead), or management positions within the design or product organization.

• Industry Expertise: Gaining specialized knowledge in financial services UX, which is a high-demand area.

📝 Enhancement Note: The senior designation suggests that candidates are expected to bring substantial experience and leadership capabilities, not just execution skills. The growth opportunities are geared towards deepening specialized UX expertise within a complex industry and potentially moving into leadership roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company utilizes a hybrid workspace model, with 30 designated "hybrid workspaces" designed for idea exchange and learning. This suggests modern, collaborative office environments, not traditional cubicle farms.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Heerenveen, Netherlands, with flexibility to also be considered for Amsterdam or Berlin. The hybrid model requires presence in the office twice a week, with occasional travel for team huddles or cross-functional workshops.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on "exchanging ideas" and "learning from others" points to a highly collaborative workspace.

• Tools and Technology: While not explicitly detailed, a Senior UX Designer role typically implies access to industry-standard design software (Figma is confirmed), collaboration tools, and potentially user research platforms.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model necessitates effective communication and engagement, both in-person and remotely, with opportunities for physical interaction during office days and for specific team events.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with a hybrid arrangement requiring 2 days per week in the office. This provides a structured yet flexible work schedule, balancing in-person collaboration with remote work efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key feature. Candidates should be comfortable with a structured approach to hybrid work, understanding the expectation of office presence and the need for proactive communication and engagement across distributed teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of application and portfolio for essential qualifications and relevant experience.

• Hiring Manager/Design Lead Interview: Discussion about your background, experience, design philosophy, and approach to user research and problem-solving.

• Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: A critical stage where you will present your portfolio, showcasing 2-3 key case studies. You may also be given a design challenge to solve, testing your problem-solving skills, ideation, and process.

• Cross-functional Team Interview: Meeting with peers from Product and Engineering to assess collaboration style, communication, and ability to work within a multidisciplinary team.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a more senior leader to discuss strategic thinking, cultural fit, and overall suitability for the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Effectively: Select 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant case studies that demonstrate your end-to-end design process, from research to implementation and impact.

• Tell a Story: Structure each case study with a clear narrative: the problem, your role, the process (research, ideation, design, testing), the solution, and the outcome/impact.

• Highlight Impact: Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction scores, reduced support tickets). If quantitative data isn't available, focus on qualitative insights and strategic rationale.

• Showcase Figma Skills: Be prepared to walk through your Figma files, demonstrating your proficiency in creating wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs, as well as your understanding of design systems.

• Emphasize Collaboration: Illustrate how you worked with stakeholders and cross-functional teams, highlighting your communication and advocacy skills.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a design challenge, take time to understand the business goals and user context provided.

• Outline Your Approach: Before diving into design, outline your proposed process: what research would you do, what assumptions would you make, and what key design decisions would you prioritize.

• Focus on Process: For challenges, the interviewer is often more interested in how you approach a problem than the perfect final solution. Show your strategic thinking and iterative process.

• Communicate Clearly: Articulate your thought process, assumptions, and design decisions clearly and concisely.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely to be rigorous, with a strong emphasis on portfolio demonstration and practical problem-solving. Candidates should prepare to articulate their design philosophy, process, and impact with concrete examples.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Confirmed as the primary tool for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design. Proficiency is essential.

• User Research Tools: Likely to include platforms for surveys, interviews, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, Hotjar, Google Analytics, SurveyMonkey).

• Collaboration Tools: Standard enterprise tools such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Confluence for communication, project management, and documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar for tracking user behavior and measuring performance metrics.

• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools like Tableau, Power BI, or even advanced Figma features for presenting data and insights.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how UX design impacts CRM and marketing automation workflows can be beneficial, especially for B2B/B2B2C contexts. Familiarity with how design decisions affect customer journeys managed by CRM systems is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a non-negotiable requirement. Experience with user research platforms and data analytics tools will significantly strengthen an application, as the role emphasizes data-driven design improvements.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Human-Centricity: A core value, emphasizing empathy and designing for genuine user needs and well-being.

• Data-Driven Decisions: Utilizing research, feedback, and performance metrics to inform and validate design choices.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Working closely with cross-functional teams, sharing insights, and fostering an open feedback culture.

• Innovation & Agility: Embracing new technologies and adapting to the fast-paced FinTech environment to create sustainable financial services.

• Continuous Improvement: A commitment to iterating on designs and processes to enhance user experience and business outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Design is integrated into product teams, working closely with Product Managers and Engineers from inception to launch.

• Active Advocacy: Designers are expected to be voices for the customer, proactively sharing insights and championing user needs.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, design patterns, and learnings across the distributed international team.

• Feedback Exchange: A culture of constructive feedback, both given and received, to drive design quality and team development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to value a user-first approach, supported by data and collaborative teamwork. The emphasis on "keeping people and businesses in flow" suggests a focus on creating solutions that reduce friction and promote financial well-being.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: A common challenge in UX design, requiring strategic negotiation and creative problem-solving to find solutions that satisfy both user requirements and business objectives.

• Designing for Complex Financial Services: Navigating the intricacies of financial products, regulations, and user trust to create intuitive and secure experiences.

• Managing Cross-Cultural Design: Working with a globally distributed team and designing for diverse user bases across different European markets requires sensitivity to cultural nuances.

• Adapting to FinTech Evolution: Staying current with rapid technological advancements and evolving user expectations in the dynamic FinTech landscape.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized FinTech UX: Deepen expertise in the unique challenges and opportunities of designing for financial services.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to mentor junior designers, enhancing leadership and communication skills.

• Design System Contribution: Contribute to and evolve the company's design system, gaining experience in scalable design practices.

• Cross-functional Skill Development: Exposure to product management, engineering methodologies, and business strategy within a large corporation.

• Industry Trends: Access to learning resources, potential for attending conferences, and staying ahead of UX and FinTech trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a senior role in a complex, fast-paced industry. The growth opportunities are robust, focusing on specialized skill development, leadership, and strategic impact within a reputable organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for approaching a new product design challenge, from initial brief to final handoff." (Focus on research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and collaboration.)

• "How do you balance user needs with business requirements and technical constraints when designing a feature?" (Highlight your negotiation, prioritization, and problem-solving skills.)

• "Tell me about a time you had to advocate for a user-centered solution that faced resistance from stakeholders. How did you handle it?" (Prepare a specific STAR method example showcasing your communication and persuasion skills.)

• "How do you incorporate accessibility standards (like WCAG) into your design process?" (Demonstrate practical application and understanding of inclusive design principles.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Riverty and our mission to create sustainable financial services?" (Research Riverty's specific offerings and values; connect them to your own motivations.)

• "How do you contribute to fostering a strong design culture within a team or organization?" (Share examples of your proactive involvement in design critiques, knowledge sharing, or mentoring.)

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid or distributed team environment. What strategies do you use to ensure effective collaboration?" (Emphasize communication, proactive engagement, and tool utilization.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem statement, your specific role and contributions, the user research and insights gathered, the design process and iterations, the final solution, and the measurable impact.

• Focus on "Why": Articulate the rationale behind your design decisions. Why this approach? Why this solution? What assumptions were you making?

• Demonstrate Figma Proficiency: Be ready to share your screen and navigate through your Figma files, highlighting specific design components, prototyping interactions, and your organizational structure within the tool.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data (e.g., conversion rates, engagement metrics, user satisfaction scores) to showcase the success of your designs. If quantitative data is unavailable, use qualitative feedback and strategic reasoning.

• Engage Your Audience: Be prepared for questions and discussions. This is not a monologue; it's a conversation to assess your thinking and fit.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong understanding of the design process, user advocacy, collaborative skills, and the ability to articulate design impact within the context of financial services.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

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

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords and responsibilities directly related to UX design, product design, Figma, user research, and FinTech, aligning with the job description. Quantify achievements with metrics where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that showcase your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Ensure it is easily accessible and visually appealing.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your case studies, design philosophy, and how you contribute to a human-centric design culture. Be ready to discuss your experience in a hybrid environment.

• Research Riverty & Bertelsmann: Understand their mission, values, and the FinTech landscape they operate in. This will inform your answers and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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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