UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer

Company: Travel Counsellors

Location: Manchester, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-05-21T23:00:00

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

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive innovative and customer-centric user interface design across web, mobile, and internal platforms to enhance customer engagement and interaction volumes.

• Lead the complete UX lifecycle, from initial project setup and user research through ideation, prototyping, and the delivery of high-fidelity designs.

• Collaborate with product owners, stakeholders, and developers to translate business requirements and customer insights into intuitive and user-friendly digital experiences.

• Utilize data analysis and UX research methodologies to inform and validate design decisions, ensuring alignment with brand guidelines and design systems.

• Actively contribute to the UX team's collective knowledge, promoting UX principles and best practices throughout the product development process.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a 6-month fixed-term contract, offering a focused opportunity to contribute to specific high-profile digital projects within Travel Counsellors. The emphasis on both B2B and B2C contexts suggests a need for adaptable design thinking to cater to diverse user groups, from independent travel agents to end consumers.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and develop intuitive user interfaces for a range of digital touchpoints, including the core travel systems, company websites, and mobile applications.

• Execute the full spectrum of UX design activities, encompassing project initiation, user research, concept generation, wireframing, prototyping, and the creation of high-fidelity mock-ups.

• Partner closely with the Product Design Manager, fellow UX designers, product owners, and key stakeholders to ensure all design outputs are consistent with brand identity, customer insights, and established design systems.

• Conduct comprehensive user research, employing qualitative and quantitative methods to gather insights that will directly inform and validate design decisions.

• Analyze user data, engagement metrics, and performance analytics to provide evidence-based justifications for design choices and to measure the impact of implemented solutions.

• Facilitate productive and engaging interactive sessions with product owners, stakeholders, and development teams to solicit feedback, generate ideas, and ensure alignment across departments.

• Create detailed mock-ups, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity designs using Figma, ensuring clarity and usability for all project deliverables.

• Foster a collaborative environment within the UX team by sharing project updates, design expertise, and advocating for user-centered design principles within Travel Counsellors' product development framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "lead by example" and "directing and implementing improvements" indicates a need for a candidate with a strong sense of ownership and the ability to influence design direction, not just execute tasks. The requirement to translate ideas into user-friendly interfaces that "redefine standards" suggests an expectation of innovation and forward-thinking design solutions.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• A minimum of 5-10 years of hands-on experience in UX design, with a proven track record of delivering successful digital products.

• Extensive experience working within either a creative agency environment or a corporate UX team, showcasing adaptability to different organizational structures and project demands.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in User Experience (UX) Design principles and methodologies, including user-centered design, information architecture, and interaction design.

• Advanced proficiency in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, mock-up creation, and high-fidelity design.

• Proven ability to conduct thorough User Research, utilizing methods such as user interviews, surveys, usability testing, and persona development.

• Strong skills in Prototyping, creating interactive models to simulate user flows and gather early feedback.

• Experience in Wireframing to map out the structure and layout of digital interfaces.

• Proficiency in User Interface (UI) Design, ensuring aesthetic appeal and functional consistency.

• Experience designing for both B2B (e.g., agent platforms) and B2C (e.g., customer-facing websites) contexts.

• Ability to analyze Data and Metrics to inform design decisions and measure success.

• Excellent Stakeholder Management skills, with the ability to communicate design rationale and collaborate effectively with diverse teams.

• Experience in Mobile App Design, understanding platform-specific design guidelines and user expectations.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with Design Systems and their implementation to ensure brand consistency and design efficiency.

• Experience with A/B testing and conversion rate optimization (CRO) to enhance user journeys.

• Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design practices.

• Experience in the travel industry or e-commerce sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for a "Certification as a UX Professional" is a strong indicator that the company values formal training and validated expertise in UX. The dual B2B/B2C experience requirement highlights the need for a UX Designer who can adapt their approach to very different user needs and business objectives.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end UX design projects, demonstrating your process from problem definition to final solution.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the user problem, your design approach, the tools used (especially Figma), and the measurable impact of your solutions.

• Examples of wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity designs created using Figma.

• Evidence of user research conducted, including methodologies used and how findings influenced design decisions.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase a structured approach to UX design, detailing how you initiate projects, conduct research, ideate, prototype, test, and iterate.

• Demonstrate how you leverage data and analytics to inform design decisions and measure the success of your UX initiatives.

• Illustrate your understanding and application of design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency in design output.

• Provide examples of how you have translated complex business requirements and customer insights into simple, intuitive user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on Figma and the full UX process, candidates should ensure their portfolios highlight their ability to create interactive prototypes and high-fidelity designs that are ready for development. Demonstrating how research led to specific design choices is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Competitive salary (pro-rata for contract duration)

• Flexible hybrid working arrangement, offering a balance between office collaboration and remote flexibility.

• Opportunities for career development and continued learning within the UX field.

• 25 days of holiday per year (pro-rata), increasing to 28 days after 5 years of service.

• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity pay benefits.

• 1 day of paid charity work per year, supporting community engagement.

• Regular company events and incentives designed to foster team spirit and recognize achievements.

• 3x salary death in service benefit, providing financial security for dependents.

• Pension scheme contributions to support long-term financial planning.

• Private Medical Insurance or Healthcare Cash Plan, offering comprehensive health benefits.

Working Hours:

• The standard working hours are typically 40 hours per week. While a hybrid model is in place, flexibility is expected, and specific daily hours may vary based on project needs and team collaboration requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate for a contract role. Candidates should negotiate based on their specific experience and the value they bring. The benefits package is comprehensive and reflects Travel Counsellors' commitment to employee well-being and professional growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Travel & Tourism / Technology Services. Travel Counsellors operates within the dynamic travel industry, leveraging technology to empower independent travel agents and provide exceptional customer experiences. This blend of traditional service and digital innovation creates unique challenges and opportunities for UX professionals.

Company Size: Over 400 employees in Support Offices, with a network of over 2,200 independent travel agents worldwide. This suggests a well-established organization with a significant operational footprint, allowing for impactful UX work across various departments and user groups.

Founded: Over 30 years ago. This long history indicates stability, deep industry knowledge, and a proven business model, providing a solid foundation for digital transformation initiatives.

Team Structure:

• The UX Designer will be part of an expanding UX Design team, working under a Product Design Manager. This structure implies a dedicated design function with opportunities for mentorship and collaboration with peers.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a key aspect, with regular interaction expected with Product Owners, Developers, and other stakeholders across the organization, including customer-facing teams and potentially agent-facing teams.

Methodology:

• The company emphasizes a customer-centric approach, with UX research and data analysis playing a crucial role in informing design decisions and ensuring solutions meet user needs.

• A strong focus on brand guidelines and existing Design Systems will be paramount, ensuring consistency and scalability across all digital touchpoints.

• The team is expected to foster innovative thinking and encourage creative problem-solving through interactive sessions and open communication.

Company Website: https://careers.travelcounsellors.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Being named "Best Place to Work in Travel" and consistently ranking in "Sunday Times Best Places to Work" highlights a positive and supportive company culture. This is a significant factor for candidates seeking a collaborative and engaging work environment. The company's long-standing presence suggests a mature understanding of its market and customer base, which UX designers can leverage.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This UX Designer role is positioned at a Mid-Senior level, demanding significant autonomy and expertise. The successful candidate will be expected to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers (if applicable to the team structure), and influence product strategy through user-centered insights. The role requires a proactive approach to problem-solving and design leadership.

Reporting Structure: The UX Designer will report to the Product Design Manager. This direct reporting line ensures clear guidance, performance feedback, and alignment with the overall product and design strategy. Collaboration will extend across product teams and with various business stakeholders.

Operations Impact: The UX Designer's work will directly influence customer satisfaction, agent productivity, and ultimately, revenue generation by creating more intuitive and effective digital experiences. By increasing customer interactions and simplifying complex processes, the role contributes significantly to the company's growth and competitive positioning in the travel market. Their designs will shape how customers and agents interact with Travel Counsellors' digital ecosystem.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas of UX, such as user research methodologies, interaction design for complex systems, or mobile-first design strategies.

• Leadership: Potential to take on more complex projects, lead design sprints, or mentor less experienced designers as the UX team grows.

• Skill Development: Access to training, workshops, and industry conferences to stay abreast of the latest UX trends, tools (beyond Figma), and best practices.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining broader business acumen by working closely with product management, marketing, and engineering teams, understanding how UX integrates into the wider business strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "contractor" status implies this role might be a strategic hire for a specific project or to cover a period of leave. While direct long-term career progression within Travel Counsellors might be limited for a contractor, the experience gained on high-profile projects and the opportunity to expand one's portfolio can significantly enhance future career prospects.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Manchester, UK, with a hybrid working arrangement. This suggests a modern office environment designed to facilitate collaboration and individual focused work, complemented by remote work flexibility.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is 1 Old Park Ln, Manchester, M41 7HA. This location likely offers good transport links and amenities, contributing to a convenient and accessible work environment for those commuting to the office.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment is expected to be collaborative, encouraging interaction with colleagues in the UX team, product management, and development teams.

• Access to necessary design tools and technology, particularly Figma and other relevant software, will be provided to support efficient workflow.

• The hybrid model allows for a flexible workspace, enabling individuals to choose the environment best suited for specific tasks, whether it's deep work at home or collaborative sessions in the office.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is typical, with the hybrid model allowing for some flexibility in daily scheduling. This flexibility is beneficial for UX professionals who may need to conduct user interviews at specific times or manage personal appointments around core working hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the work arrangement is a key benefit, catering to modern work preferences. Candidates should inquire about the specific expectations for office days per week and the types of activities prioritized for in-office collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with the Talent Acquisition team to assess basic qualifications, contract duration understanding, and cultural fit.

• Technical Interview/Portfolio Review: A more in-depth session with the Product Design Manager and potentially other UX designers. This will involve a detailed walkthrough of your portfolio, focusing on your UX process, problem-solving approach, Figma proficiency, and how you’ve handled B2B/B2C challenges. Be prepared to discuss specific case studies in detail.

• Stakeholder/Team Interview: An interview with product owners and potentially developers to assess collaboration skills, communication style, and understanding of cross-functional dynamics. This stage will gauge how well you integrate into a team and communicate design rationale.

• Final Interview (if applicable): Potentially a final discussion with a senior leader to confirm fit and alignment with company objectives.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure is Key: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project type or by showcasing your end-to-end process. Use clear headings and concise descriptions.

• Tell a Story: For each project, articulate the problem, your role, your process (research, ideation, design, testing), the solutions you implemented (showcasing Figma work), and the outcomes or impact. Quantify results whenever possible.

• Highlight Figma Expertise: Clearly demonstrate your proficiency with Figma, showcasing wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity designs. Explain your design system utilization if applicable.

• Focus on Process: Emphasize how you arrived at your solutions. Detail your user research methods and how insights directly influenced your design decisions.

• Tailor to the Role: Ensure your portfolio highlights relevant experience, particularly B2B and B2C design, and demonstrate an understanding of designing for web, tablet, and mobile.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready for scenario-based questions about how you would approach specific UX challenges within the travel industry or for a platform like Travel Counsellors.

• Prepare to discuss your experience with data analysis and how you use metrics to validate design decisions.

• Practice articulating your design rationale clearly and concisely, as you will need to explain complex ideas to non-designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "Certification as a UX Professional" suggests that interviewers may probe on the theoretical underpinnings of your design choices. Be prepared to discuss established UX principles and frameworks.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is the core design tool for mock-ups, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs. Mastery of Figma, including its collaboration features, component libraries, and prototyping capabilities, is essential.

• User Research Tools: While not explicitly mentioned, expect to use tools for surveys (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Google Forms), user interviews (e.g., Zoom, Teams), and usability testing (e.g., Maze, UserTesting.com).

• Collaboration Tools: Tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, and Confluence will likely be used for team communication, project management, and documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Google Analytics or similar platforms to analyze user behavior on websites and apps.

• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools that can help visualize data and present insights effectively, such as Tableau, Power BI, or even advanced Figma plugins.

• Performance Metrics: Understanding of key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to digital products, such as conversion rates, engagement rates, task completion times, and user satisfaction scores.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a UX tool, understanding how UX designs integrate with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms can be beneficial for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma as a required skill means candidates should be ready to demonstrate advanced proficiency. Understanding how UX designs translate into actual implemented features within an agile development workflow is also highly valued.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Centricity: A primary focus on understanding and meeting the needs of both end customers and the independent travel agents who use Travel Counsellors' platforms.

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and cross-functional partnership to achieve common goals.

• Innovation: Encouraging creative thinking and the exploration of new ideas to improve user experiences and business outcomes.

• Data-Driven Decisions: Utilizing research and analytics to inform design choices and measure impact, ensuring strategies are evidence-based.

• Excellence: A commitment to high-quality design and delivering exceptional user experiences that drive customer loyalty and business success.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive Engagement: Encouraging designers to actively engage with stakeholders, product owners, and developers to gather insights and ensure alignment throughout the design process.

• Iterative Design: A culture that embraces feedback, iteration, and continuous improvement based on user testing and performance data.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting an environment where team members share expertise, best practices, and learnings to collectively elevate the design function within the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's recognition as a "Best Place to Work" suggests a culture that values its employees, fosters a positive atmosphere, and promotes work-life balance, which is crucial for creative roles like UX design.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing B2B and B2C Needs: Designing for two distinct user groups (agents and customers) with potentially conflicting requirements and user journeys.

• Legacy Systems Integration: Potentially integrating new UX designs with existing, possibly older, in-house platforms, requiring careful consideration of technical constraints.

• Data Interpretation: Effectively translating complex datasets and metrics into actionable design improvements.

• Rapid Iteration: Working within a fast-paced environment that demands quick turnaround times for design iterations while maintaining high quality.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Figma Techniques: Deepening expertise in Figma, exploring advanced features, and potentially contributing to or maintaining the company's design system.

• User Research Expansion: Gaining experience with a wider array of user research methodologies and tools.

• Industry Trends: Staying current with emerging UX trends, technologies, and best practices in the digital travel sector.

• Cross-Functional Understanding: Developing a deeper appreciation for product management, engineering workflows, and business strategy through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fixed-term nature of the contract presents a unique challenge and opportunity. Candidates must be adept at quickly understanding project requirements and delivering impactful results within a limited timeframe, while also viewing it as a chance to add significant, high-profile projects to their portfolio.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for both B2B and B2C users simultaneously. What were the key challenges and how did you address them?"

• "How do you approach translating complex business requirements into simple, user-friendly interfaces? Walk us through a specific example."

• "Imagine you're tasked with improving the booking conversion rate on our website. What would be your first steps, and what data would you look for?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding of Travel Counsellors, what do you see as the biggest UX opportunities or challenges for our business?"

• "How do you contribute to a positive team culture, especially in a hybrid work environment?"

• "How do you stay updated on the latest UX trends and incorporate them into your work?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Clarity: Begin with a brief overview of your portfolio and highlight the projects most relevant to this role (B2B/B2C, web/mobile, Figma usage).

• Deep Dive on 1-2 Projects: Choose 1-2 detailed case studies to walk through. Focus on the problem, your process, your specific contributions (especially Figma work), and the outcomes.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics and data to demonstrate the success of your designs. If exact numbers aren't available, discuss the intended impact and how success would be measured.

• Explain Your 'Why': Be ready to articulate the rationale behind your design decisions at every stage. This is more important than just showing pretty screens.

• Engage Your Audience: Ask questions, solicit feedback, and be open to discussion during the presentation. This demonstrates strong communication and collaboration skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to discuss your experience with the specific UX tools mentioned, particularly Figma. If you have experience with design systems, be ready to explain how you've contributed to or utilized them.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the application link provided on the Travel Counsellors careers page.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature projects that demonstrate your experience in B2B and B2C UX design, your expertise with Figma, and your ability to manage the full UX lifecycle. Include specific examples of wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity designs.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords from the job description, such as "UX Design," "Figma," "User Research," "Prototyping," "B2B/B2C," and "Mobile App Design." Quantify your achievements with specific metrics where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your UX process, design decisions, and the impact of your work. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions and be ready to discuss your experience with Figma in detail.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Travel Counsellors' mission, values, and recent digital initiatives. Understand their target audiences (customers and agents) and how UX can support their business goals.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.