Team Lead, UX/UI Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Team Lead, UX/UI Design

Company: The Citco Group Limited

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Job Type: Full time

Category: User Experience (UX) / User Interface (UI) Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-05-20T04:23:36

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead a dedicated UX/UI design team focused on driving strategic digital transformation initiatives within a global financial services organization.

• Oversee the end-to-end design process, from initial discovery and ideation through to prototyping, user testing, iteration, and successful product launch.

• Provide regional line management and mentorship to design resources, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environment.

• Collaborate closely with business stakeholders, product managers, and engineering groups to translate complex business requirements into intuitive and user-centric digital experiences.

• Contribute to the growth and evolution of Citco’s global Experience Design group, embedding design thinking as a core driver of business outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a newly formed (2024) Experience Design group at Citco, indicating a strategic investment in design as a core business function. The emphasis on "enterprise-level impact" and "strategic digital transformation" suggests this role will be instrumental in shaping the company's digital future. The hybrid work arrangement and focus on collaboration with global teams highlight the need for strong communication and adaptability.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of UX/UI designers, providing guidance on design best practices, project execution, and professional development.

• Manage the full product design lifecycle for key digital transformation programs, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery of design artifacts.

• Conduct user research (interviews, surveys, usability testing) to gather insights and inform design decisions, ensuring a deep understanding of user needs and pain points.

• Develop wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs that effectively communicate design concepts and solutions.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product management, engineering, and business stakeholders, to ensure design alignment with business objectives and technical feasibility.

• Champion user-centered design principles and advocate for the user throughout the product development process.

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of design systems, ensuring consistency and scalability across Citco’s digital products.

• Participate in the strategic planning and roadmap development for the Experience Design group, identifying opportunities for design innovation and process improvement.

• Oversee regional line management responsibilities, including performance reviews, resource allocation, and team building for designers in the Toronto office.

• Stay abreast of emerging design trends, technologies, and best practices to continuously enhance the team's capabilities and Citco's digital offerings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility for "regional line management" indicates a direct leadership role, requiring not just design expertise but also people management skills. The focus on "strategic digital transformation" and "embedding design as a core driver of business outcomes" suggests this role will have significant influence and require strong business acumen, not just design execution skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

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

Experience:

• 5-10 years of progressive experience in UX/UI design, with a proven track record of leading design initiatives.

• Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in a leadership or team management role, with demonstrated ability to mentor and guide design teams.

Required Skills:

• UX Research: Proficiency in various user research methodologies (e.g., user interviews, usability testing, persona development, journey mapping).

• UX Design: Expertise in creating user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and information architecture.

• UI Design: Strong visual design skills, including layout, typography, color theory, and branding, with a keen eye for detail.

• Prototyping Tools: Advanced proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma (primary consideration), Invision, or Sketch.

• User-Centered Design: Deep understanding and practical application of user-centered design principles and methodologies.

• Systems Thinking: Ability to understand and design for complex systems and interconnected user journeys.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with product managers, engineers, business analysts, and other stakeholders.

• Line Management: Experience in managing, mentoring, and developing a team of designers.

• Product Development Lifecycle: Familiarity with agile development methodologies and the end-to-end product development process.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with design systems development and implementation.

• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator).

• Familiarity with front-end development concepts (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to facilitate better collaboration with engineering teams.

• Experience in designing for enterprise-level applications or complex B2B platforms.

• Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG).

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Figma" as a primary tool, alongside "Invision" and "Sketch," indicates a strong preference for candidates proficient in these platforms. The requirement for a portfolio is critical, suggesting it will be a key evaluation criterion, especially for demonstrating "proficiency in UX fundamentals and design tools."

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a range of UX/UI design projects, with a focus on digital transformation initiatives and complex problem-solving.

• Detailed case studies demonstrating the application of UX research methodologies, user-centered design principles, and problem-solving approaches.

• Examples of wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs that illustrate design thinking and execution.

• Evidence of collaboration with cross-functional teams and how design solutions addressed specific business objectives and user needs.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of how you have documented design processes, including user research findings, design rationale, and iteration history.

• Demonstration of experience in creating and utilizing design systems, including style guides, component libraries, and pattern documentation.

• Evidence of contribution to or leadership in defining design workflows and best practices within a team or organization.

• Documentation that illustrates the iterative design process, including user feedback incorporation and usability testing results.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio is critical for UX/UI roles. This section outlines expectations for demonstrating not just design output, but also the strategic thinking, research methodology, and collaborative process behind it. The inclusion of "measurable outcomes" suggests a need to quantify design impact, aligning with the operations focus of this role.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: CAD $120,000 - $160,000 per year

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health and Dental Insurance plans.

• Training and Education Support: Opportunities for professional development, including courses, workshops, and certifications relevant to UX/UI design and leadership.

• Flexible Working Arrangements: Hybrid work model allowing for a balance between in-office collaboration and remote work flexibility.

• Retirement Savings Plan (e.g., RRSP matching program).

• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick Leave, Holidays).

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental and emotional well-being support.

Working Hours:

• Standard 40-hour work week.

• Expected flexibility to accommodate project deadlines, global team collaboration, and key stakeholder meetings, which may occasionally fall outside standard business hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate derived from industry data for similar roles in Toronto. The listed benefits are typical for a company of Citco's size and industry, with specific emphasis on "Training" and "Education Support" as highlighted in the AI data, which are crucial for career growth in a rapidly evolving field like UX/UI design.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services & Fund Administration

Company Size: Large (1000+ employees globally)

Founded: Citco has a long history, with its origins tracing back to 1948, indicating a stable and established organization with deep industry expertise.

Team Structure:

• The Experience Design group is a newly established, globally distributed team (launched in 2024) focused on delivering enterprise-level design impact.

• This role involves leading a local team in Toronto and collaborating with global design resources and leadership.

• The team operates as a center of excellence, partnering with various business lines, product development, and engineering groups across the organization.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on using user research, analytics, and feedback to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Agile & Iterative Development: Likely to follow agile methodologies, with a focus on rapid prototyping, testing, and iteration in collaboration with development teams.

• User-Centricity: A core principle of embedding design as a driver of business outcomes, ensuring solutions meet user needs and enhance customer experience.

• Strategic Collaboration: Close partnership with business stakeholders and engineering to ensure design alignment and successful product launches.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The recent establishment of the Experience Design group suggests a forward-thinking approach by Citco, recognizing the strategic importance of design. This implies a culture that is likely open to innovation and empowering new initiatives, while still being grounded in the stability and expertise of a large, established financial institution.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a mid-to-senior level leadership position within the UX/UI design discipline. It bridges hands-on design execution with people management and strategic program contribution. The emphasis on leading a team and contributing to "strategic digital transformation" positions it as a key role for career advancement into senior design leadership or management tracks.

Reporting Structure: The Team Lead will report directly to the Design Director, indicating a clear line of management and strategic oversight. They will also work closely with business stakeholders and engineering teams, requiring strong communication and collaboration skills across different organizational functions.

Operations Impact: The core function of this role is to ensure that digital products and transformations are user-centered, intuitive, and drive positive business outcomes. This involves directly influencing customer experience, operational efficiency through better digital tools, and supporting revenue generation by improving product usability and adoption. The success of the digital transformation program will be a key measure of impact.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into a Senior Design Manager, Director of Experience Design, or Head of UX/UI roles within Citco as the design function matures.

• Strategic Program Leadership: Opportunity to lead larger, more complex digital transformation initiatives, gaining exposure to senior leadership and strategic decision-making.

• Specialization Development: Deepen expertise in specific areas of UX/UI, such as user research leadership, design systems architecture, or product strategy.

• Cross-functional Expertise: Develop a broader understanding of financial services operations, product management, and technology development through close collaboration.

• Mentorship & Coaching: Hone leadership and coaching skills by developing a team of designers, contributing to their career growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role's position within a new design group highlights an opportunity for individuals to shape processes and culture. Growth potential is significant, particularly for those who can demonstrate leadership in driving impactful design solutions within a complex enterprise environment.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Toronto, with a hybrid work arrangement. This suggests a modern office environment designed to support both focused individual work and collaborative team activities.

Office Location(s): The position is located at 20 Toronto Street, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5C 2B8, in the heart of Toronto's financial district, offering accessibility via public transit and proximity to various amenities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office likely features meeting rooms, ideation spaces, and common areas conducive to team brainstorming sessions and stakeholder presentations.

• Technology & Tools: Access to necessary design software, hardware, and collaborative platforms will be provided to support efficient workflow and remote connectivity.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for in-person interaction with local design team members, as well as virtual collaboration with global colleagues and stakeholders.

• Professional Atmosphere: As part of a global financial services firm, the environment will be professional, with expectations for high standards of conduct and performance.

Work Schedule:

• A standard 40-hour work week is expected.

• The hybrid model offers flexibility, allowing team members to balance in-office days with remote work. Specific in-office days may be determined by team needs and project requirements, fostering collaboration and team cohesion.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model implies a need for self-discipline and effective communication to maintain team synergy and project momentum, especially when collaborating with global teams. The Toronto location is a prime business hub, suggesting a dynamic and professional work environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter will review applications and portfolios for basic qualifications and alignment with role requirements.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the Design Director to assess experience, leadership potential, and fit with the team's strategic goals. Emphasis on understanding your approach to team management and design strategy.

• Design Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where you will present your portfolio, walking through key case studies. Expect to discuss your design process, problem-solving approach, user research methods, and the impact of your work.

• Cross-functional Interview: Meeting with key stakeholders from business and engineering teams to evaluate collaboration skills, understanding of business needs, and ability to translate requirements into design solutions.

• Team Interview/Workshop (Potential): May involve a collaborative exercise or discussion with other members of the design team to assess team dynamics and problem-solving in a group setting.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior executive or department head to confirm overall fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your leadership, strategic thinking, and end-to-end design process, particularly those relevant to digital transformation or complex enterprise solutions.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing), the challenges encountered, your solutions, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Leadership: Emphasize instances where you led a team, mentored junior designers, or influenced design strategy and direction.

• Showcase Process: Don't just show final screens; include wireframes, user flows, research insights, and iteration examples to illustrate your thinking.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced support tickets, increased user satisfaction scores).

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design philosophy, how you handle design trade-offs, conflict resolution within teams, and your approach to staying current with design trends.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Thinking Exercise: Be prepared for a hypothetical design challenge or case study that requires you to outline your approach to solving a user problem or improving an existing digital experience.

• Scenario-Based Questions: Expect questions about managing team conflicts, prioritizing competing project demands, and stakeholder management.

• Strategy Articulation: Practice articulating your vision for UX/UI design within a financial services context and how design can drive business value.

📝 Enhancement Note: The detailed breakdown of the interview process and portfolio review tips is designed to equip candidates with a clear understanding of what to expect and how to best present themselves, especially regarding showcasing leadership and strategic impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expected to be the primary tool for wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and collaboration. Proficiency is key, including experience with component libraries, auto-layout, and collaborative features.

• Invision/Sketch: Familiarity with these tools may be beneficial, especially if they are part of existing workflows or legacy projects.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop and Illustrator for asset creation, image editing, and graphic design tasks.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel, or similar for tracking user behavior, conversion funnels, and feature adoption.

• Heatmapping & Session Recording Tools: Tools like Hotjar or FullStory to understand user interactions on a deeper level.

• Reporting Dashboards: Proficiency in creating and interpreting data visualizations using tools like Tableau, Power BI, or similar to communicate design impact to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary focus for UX/UI, understanding how design interfaces with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms can be advantageous for context.

• Project Management Tools: Familiarity with Agile project management tools like Jira, Confluence, Asana, or Trello for workflow management and team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section emphasizes the critical role of Figma, indicating it's likely the core design tool. The inclusion of analytics and project management tools highlights the data-driven and agile nature of the team's operations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A commitment to understanding and advocating for the user's needs in all design decisions.

• Excellence & Quality: A drive to deliver high-quality, polished, and impactful design solutions that meet enterprise standards.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: A proactive approach to working with cross-functional teams, fostering open communication and shared ownership.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: An eagerness to explore new ideas, technologies, and methodologies to enhance design practices and business outcomes.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing research and analytics to validate design choices and measure success.

• Efficiency & Scalability: Designing solutions that are not only effective but also maintainable, scalable, and efficient for the organization.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The team actively partners with Product Management, Engineering, Business Analysts, and other stakeholders, ensuring design is integrated early and throughout the development lifecycle.

• Transparent Communication: Open sharing of design progress, rationale, and user feedback within the team and with stakeholders.

• Feedback-Rich Environment: Encouraging constructive feedback on designs and processes to foster continuous learning and improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively sharing insights, best practices, and learnings across the global design team and with relevant departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a blend of user advocacy, professional excellence, and collaborative integration, crucial for a design team embedded within a large financial institution aiming for digital transformation.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Establishing Design Maturity: As a newly formed group, there will be opportunities and challenges in defining and scaling design processes, tools, and best practices across the organization.

• Navigating Enterprise Complexity: Working within a large, established financial services firm requires understanding complex business rules, legacy systems, and diverse stakeholder needs.

• Balancing Innovation with Stability: Integrating cutting-edge design solutions while ensuring they are robust, secure, and compliant with financial industry regulations.

• Global Team Coordination: Effectively leading and collaborating with a globally distributed team, managing time zone differences and diverse working styles.

• Demonstrating ROI: Clearly articulating and measuring the business impact of design initiatives to secure ongoing investment and support.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Design Leadership: Opportunities to influence the company's digital strategy and contribute to high-level business decisions.

• Industry Exposure: Gaining deep insights into the financial services and fund administration industry.

• Advanced Design Methodologies: Training and application of advanced UX research, service design, and strategic design frameworks.

• Leadership Development: Formal training and practical experience in people management, team building, and cross-functional leadership.

• Mentorship: Access to senior leadership within Citco for guidance and career development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "challenges" section focuses on the unique context of a new design team within a large, regulated industry, providing a realistic view of potential hurdles and opportunities for growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach defining and implementing a design system for a large enterprise like Citco?"

• "Describe your process for leading a design team through a complex digital transformation program, from discovery to launch."

• "How do you balance user needs with business objectives and technical constraints in your design solutions?"

• "What strategies would you employ to foster a strong collaborative relationship between the design team and engineering/product management?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Citco and the opportunity to build out its Experience Design function?"

• "How do you see design contributing to Citco's overall business strategy and competitive advantage?"

• "Describe your ideal team culture and how you would foster it within a global, hybrid design team."

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, use a clear problem-solution-outcome framework. Start with the business or user problem, detail your role and process, present your solutions with visual aids, and conclude with the impact or lessons learned.

• Emphasize Leadership: Highlight instances where you guided a team, made critical design decisions, or influenced project direction.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, prototypes, user flows, final UI) effectively. Explain your design choices and rationale.

• Quantify Results: If possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., user satisfaction scores, efficiency gains, adoption rates).

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design decisions, research findings, and trade-offs made during the process.

📝 Enhancement Note: These interview questions are tailored to assess strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and understanding of design's role in business outcomes, reflecting the seniority and strategic nature of the Team Lead position.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Team Lead, UX/UI Design position:

• Submit your application through the provided Oracle Cloud portal link.

• Customize Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your leadership experience, UX/UI design expertise, experience with digital transformation, and proficiency in relevant tools (especially Figma). Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that demonstrate your leadership, strategic thinking, and end-to-end design process, particularly those relevant to complex enterprise solutions or digital transformation. Ensure case studies clearly articulate problems, solutions, your process, and outcomes.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio with a clear narrative, focusing on your design rationale, leadership contributions, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your approach to team management and stakeholder collaboration.

• Research Citco: Understand Citco's business, its position in the financial services industry, and the strategic importance of its new Experience Design group. This will help you tailor your responses 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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