UX/UI Designer - 12 Month FTC

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Designer - 12 Month FTC

Company: Next Plc

Location: Enderby, Leicestershire, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time, Temporary

Category: UX/UI Design, eCommerce

Date Posted: April 14, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 Years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is ideal for a skilled UX/UI Designer looking to contribute to a leading FTSE-100 retail company, focusing on enhancing the digital customer experience for eCommerce platforms.

• You will be instrumental in designing user-centric interfaces for the Home department, European platforms, and partner brands, ensuring a seamless and captivating customer journey.

• The position offers a unique opportunity to work within a dynamic Growth Squad, collaborating closely with trade and data experts to translate customer insights into actionable design solutions.

• This 12-month Fixed-Term Contract (FTC) requires a proactive individual with expertise in industry-standard design tools and a passion for user-centered design principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core of this role is UX/UI Design, the emphasis on "Growth Squad," "trade and data experts," and "customer insights" suggests a strong alignment with conversion rate optimization (CRO) and user experience (UX) strategies that directly impact business growth and revenue. The FTC nature implies a project-driven focus, likely on specific platform enhancements or new feature rollouts.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design intuitive and visually appealing user interfaces for eCommerce websites and applications, focusing on the Home department, European platforms, and partner brands.

• Develop comprehensive user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and user journeys.

• Conduct rigorous user research and usability testing to validate design decisions, ensuring user needs and pain points are addressed.

• Maintain and evolve the company's UI component libraries and design systems, ensuring consistency and adherence to brand guidelines.

• Analyze competitor digital experiences and market trends to identify opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement of the digital offering.

• Proactively review existing websites and applications from a customer perspective to identify friction points, suggest enhancements, and log bugs for seamless user journeys.

• Collaborate effectively with product teams, trade experts, data analysts, and other stakeholders to prioritize design initiatives and present findings and concepts clearly.

• Translate customer insights and data analysis into actionable design solutions that drive engagement and conversion.

• Ensure all designs adhere to responsive design principles and accessibility standards (WCAG).

• Manage multiple design projects concurrently in a fast-paced retail environment, maintaining a high level of detail and quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic and tactical design work. The emphasis on "Growth Squad," "trade and data experts," and "customer insights" indicates that this role is not just about aesthetics but also about driving measurable business outcomes through design. The mention of "partner brands" suggests a need for adaptability in design application across different brand identities while maintaining NEXT's core UX principles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating practical application of UX/UI principles is paramount. A degree or certification in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field would be advantageous.

Experience: A minimum of 2-5 years of experience in UX/UI design, with a demonstrable track record in creating user-centered digital experiences, preferably within an eCommerce or retail environment.

Required Skills:

• UX Design Expertise: Proven ability to identify user pain points and design elegant solutions through user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.

• UI Design Expertise: Strong visual design skills with a keen eye for detail, brand consistency, and aesthetic appeal.

• Figma Proficiency: High proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools, with a specific emphasis on Figma.

• Prototyping Skills: Ability to create rapid prototypes that effectively demonstrate micro-interactions and complex user journeys.

• User Research & Usability Testing: Experience in planning, conducting, and analyzing user research and usability testing to validate design concepts.

• Design Systems: Experience working with and contributing to design systems, ensuring consistency across digital products.

• Responsive Design: Solid understanding of responsive design principles and best practices for various devices and screen sizes.

• Accessibility Standards: Knowledge of and ability to implement Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

• Analytical Thinking: Curiosity and ability to interpret data and research findings to inform design decisions.

• Communication & Presentation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the confidence to present ideas and design rationales to stakeholders.

• Adaptability: Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in a retail or eCommerce setting.

• Familiarity with A/B testing methodologies and how design impacts conversion rates.

• Experience with other design and prototyping tools (e.g., Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite).

• Understanding of front-end development principles (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to facilitate collaboration with developers.

• Experience working within Agile/Scrum methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma, design systems, and WCAG suggests that NEXT is looking for a designer who can contribute to a mature and scalable design practice. The "2-5 years" experience level indicates a need for someone who can work independently and contribute meaningfully without extensive supervision, but also someone who is still developing their career.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Problem/Solution Focus: Your portfolio must clearly articulate the design challenges you faced, your process for tackling them, and the final solutions implemented.

• UX Process Demonstration: Showcase a range of UX deliverables, including user flows, wireframes, sitemaps, and interactive prototypes that illustrate your problem-solving approach.

• UI Design Excellence: Include examples of visually compelling and brand-aligned UI designs, demonstrating your ability to create aesthetically pleasing and functional interfaces.

• Tool Proficiency Showcase: Highlight your expertise in Figma, including examples of complex prototypes, design system components, and user research artifacts.

• Impact & Results: Where possible, quantify the impact of your designs. This could include metrics related to user engagement, conversion rates, task completion times, or reduction in customer support queries.

Process Documentation:

• User-Centered Design Workflow: Detail how you integrate user research and testing into your design process, from initial concept to final iteration.

• Design System Integration: Explain how you utilize and contribute to design systems, ensuring consistency and efficiency in your design output.

• Collaboration & Handoff: Illustrate your process for collaborating with cross-functional teams (product managers, developers, data analysts) and your methods for design handoff.

• Iteration & Optimization: Provide examples of how you have iterated on designs based on user feedback, data analysis, or A/B testing results.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX/UI role, especially in eCommerce, a portfolio is critical. The emphasis on "problem/solution," "impact & results," and "user-centered design workflow" indicates that NEXT is looking for a designer who can not only create beautiful interfaces but also drive tangible business outcomes through thoughtful and data-informed design. The mention of Figma and design systems is a direct requirement.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the mid-level experience (2-5 years), location (Leicestershire, UK), and the nature of a 12-month FTC in a large retail company, a competitive salary range for a UX/UI Designer would typically fall between £35,000 and £50,000 per annum. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in the UK retail sector and considering the specific responsibilities outlined.

Benefits:

• Staff Discount: 25% off most NEXT products, plus 10% off partner brands (e.g., MADE, Gap) and up to 15% off Branded Beauty.

• Performance Bonus: Eligibility for a company performance-based bonus.

• Share Scheme: Participation in the Sharesave scheme.

• On-site Nursery: Access to an OFSTED outstanding-rated on-site nursery.

• Sale Access: Early VIP access to sale stock.

• Staff Shops: Access to discounts at company Staff Shops.

• Subsidized Restaurant: On-site restaurants offering food at reduced prices.

• Health & Wellbeing: Access to a digital GP and other free health and wellbeing services.

• Parking: Free on-site parking facilities.

• Financial Wellbeing: Tools and support to save, track, and enhance financial wellbeing.

• Apprenticeships: Opportunities for on-the-job growth and qualification attainment.

• Direct to Work: Discounted online and in-store purchases with next-day collection at your place of work or local store.

• Support Networks: Access to network groups for empowerment and mutual support.

• Wellhub Membership: Discounted flexible monthly gym memberships, including app access and PT sessions.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are 36 per week. While the role is based in Enderby, Leicestershire, the #LI-Hybrid tag suggests a flexible arrangement, likely involving a mix of on-site and remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is a crucial addition for candidates. The comprehensive list of benefits, particularly the substantial staff discounts and on-site nursery, are significant perks for employees at NEXT. The 36-hour work week is also a standard detail to include. The hybrid nature needs to be clearly communicated.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Retail (Fashion, Home, Beauty, and Partner Brands). NEXT is a prominent FTSE-100 company and the UK's second-largest fashion retailer, with a significant online presence in over 70 countries.

Company Size: NEXT employs over 35,000 people across the UK and Ireland, operating more than 500 stores in addition to its extensive online operations. This large scale indicates a robust organizational structure and significant resources.

Founded: NEXT was founded in 1982, evolving into a major multi-channel retailer. Its long history suggests a stable and established business with a deep understanding of the retail market.

Team Structure:

• eCommerce UX Team: You will be part of a dedicated eCommerce UX team, implying a collaborative environment focused on digital customer experience.

• Growth Squad: This role is within a "Growth Squad," suggesting a cross-functional team (likely including UX/UI designers, trade experts, data analysts, and possibly product managers) focused on driving specific business objectives, such as increasing conversion rates, improving customer retention, or expanding market reach.

• Reporting: The specific reporting structure isn't detailed, but it's typical for such roles to report to a Head of UX, Lead UX Designer, or Head of eCommerce.

Methodology:

• User-Centric Design: The company emphasizes bridging the gap between design and functionality, with a core principle of designing for "real people" and using "customer insights."

• Data-Informed Decisions: Collaboration with "data experts" and encouragement to "dig into data and research findings" indicates a data-driven approach to design validation and strategy.

• Agile/Iterative Development: The fast-paced retail environment and focus on continuous improvement suggest an agile methodology where designs are iterated upon based on feedback and performance metrics.

• Brand Consistency: Maintaining alignment with brand guidelines while working with partner brands requires a structured approach to design application.

Company Website: https://www.nextplc.co.uk/

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding NEXT's scale as a FTSE-100 company is crucial. The "Growth Squad" concept is particularly relevant for operations-minded professionals, as it implies a focus on measurable outcomes and cross-functional collaboration to achieve business goals. The blend of in-house design with partner brands also presents an interesting challenge and opportunity.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Mid-Level (2-5 years of experience) within the UX/UI design discipline. It requires independent contribution and the ability to manage projects, but also offers opportunities for learning and development under experienced professionals within the eCommerce UX team.

Reporting Structure: You will likely report into a Lead UX Designer or Head of eCommerce UX. You will work closely with a "Growth Squad," which includes trade and data experts, fostering cross-functional collaboration and exposing you to different perspectives on business growth.

Operations Impact: While not a traditional "revenue operations" role, this UX/UI Designer role has a direct and significant impact on revenue. By improving the user experience, optimizing conversion funnels, and ensuring intuitive navigation, the designs created will directly influence sales performance, customer acquisition, and retention for NEXT's eCommerce platforms and partner brands.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of UX/UI, such as user research, interaction design, or accessibility, within a large retail context.

• Cross-Functional Learning: Gain exposure to eCommerce strategy, trade marketing, and data analysis through collaboration within the Growth Squad.

• Design System Contribution: Opportunity to contribute to and influence the evolution of NEXT's design systems.

• Project Leadership: Take ownership of design projects from concept to completion, enhancing project management and stakeholder communication skills.

• Potential for Extension/Permanent Role: While a 12-month FTC, strong performance could lead to opportunities for contract extension or a permanent position within NEXT.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section bridges the gap between a design role and "operations" thinking by focusing on the impact of design on business metrics and identifying growth pathways. The FTC nature is acknowledged, but potential for longer-term engagement is highlighted.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a hybrid role, indicating a blend of on-site work at NEXT Head Office in Leicestershire and remote work. The focus is on collaboration and access to on-site resources when needed.

Office Location(s): The primary location is NEXT Head Office, Desford Road, Enderby, Leicestershire, LE19 4AT. This site offers amenities such as free on-site parking, a subsidized restaurant, and potentially collaborative workspace areas.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The Head Office provides a central point for in-person collaboration, team meetings, workshops, and interaction with other departments and stakeholders.

• Design Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools like Figma, and likely a well-equipped IT infrastructure conducive to digital design work.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities to engage directly with the eCommerce UX team, Growth Squad members, and other colleagues, fostering a dynamic and interactive work environment.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with standard working hours of 36 per week. The hybrid nature suggests flexibility in how these hours are structured, allowing for a balance between on-site and remote work, which can be beneficial for focused design tasks and personal commitments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature is a key aspect of the work environment. Detailing the on-site location and its amenities, along with the flexibility implied by the hybrid model, provides a clearer picture for potential applicants.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely review your CV and portfolio to assess your qualifications and experience against the role requirements.

• Portfolio Review & Discussion: Expect a dedicated session to walk through your portfolio. Be prepared to discuss specific projects, your design process, the challenges you faced, the solutions you implemented, and the impact of your work. Focus on your Figma proficiency and how you've used design systems.

• Technical/Skills Assessment: This might involve a design task or a more in-depth discussion about UX/UI principles, responsive design, accessibility, and your experience with user research methodologies.

• Behavioral & Cultural Fit Interview: Questions will focus on your adaptability, communication skills, customer-centric mindset, and ability to collaborate within a team and with stakeholders. Be ready to provide examples of how you handle pace, manage multiple projects, and communicate your rationale.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader or hiring manager to discuss the role in more detail and assess overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects. Prioritize those that showcase your UX/UI process, Figma skills, and impact on business goals (e.g., conversion improvements).

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, your process (research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, testing, iteration), the solution, and the results. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Figma & Design Systems: Explicitly demonstrate your proficiency in Figma and how you've utilized or contributed to design systems. Showcase interactive prototypes.

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

• Address Accessibility: Include a project that clearly demonstrates your understanding and application of WCAG standards.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handle feedback, how you collaborate with developers and stakeholders, and your approach to user research.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Task: You may be given a small design challenge to complete within a set timeframe. This could involve wireframing a specific user flow or redesigning a small component. Focus on demonstrating your core UX/UI process and tool proficiency.

• Case Study Presentation: Be prepared to present one of your portfolio projects in detail, as if pitching it to stakeholders. Practice articulating your "why" and the business value of your design decisions.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Think about how you would approach common UX challenges in an eCommerce context, such as improving checkout flow, optimizing product discovery, or enhancing mobile usability.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice tailored to a UX/UI role, emphasizing the portfolio's importance and specific elements to highlight, such as Figma and impact metrics. The interview preparation guidance is designed to help candidates anticipate and prepare for the specific types of assessments they might face.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is explicitly stated as a required tool for high proficiency. Expect to use it extensively for wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Design Systems: Experience with and ability to work within and contribute to established design systems is crucial for maintaining brand consistency and efficiency.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Tools: While not explicitly named, the role requires an "Analytical thinking" and collaboration with "data experts." Familiarity with tools used for analyzing user behavior, such as Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or specialized UX analytics platforms, would be beneficial.

• User Research Platforms: Experience with tools for conducting user research and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback) is implied.

CRM & Automation:

• Not Directly Applicable: This role is primarily focused on the front-end user experience and design. Direct experience with CRM or automation tools is not a primary requirement, though understanding how design impacts customer journeys within these systems is valuable.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma is a key takeaway. The implication of needing to work with data and analytics tools, even if not directly using them, highlights the data-informed nature of the role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A core value is designing "for real people" and having a "customer-first mindset." This translates to empathy, a deep understanding of user needs, and a commitment to creating effortless experiences.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The emphasis on "digging into data and research findings" and collaborating with "data experts" points to a value placed on evidence-based design rather than assumptions.

• Quality & Attention to Detail: Regularly reviewing sites "from a customer’s perspective" and identifying "friction points and bugs" underscores a commitment to delivering high-quality, seamless digital products.

• Collaboration & Communication: The need to "collaborate and communicate" with product teams and stakeholders, and to "explain the 'why'" behind designs, highlights the importance of teamwork and clear articulation.

• Adaptability & Pace: Working in a "fast-moving retail environment" suggests a culture that values speed, efficiency, and the ability to adapt to changing priorities.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Teamwork: A strong emphasis on working within a "Growth Squad" alongside trade and data experts, requiring open communication and shared objectives.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Proactive engagement with various stakeholders to present findings, gather feedback, and ensure alignment on design direction.

• Iterative Feedback Loop: A culture that embraces feedback from user research, testing, and peers to refine designs and continuously improve the user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section translates the stated requirements and responsibilities into cultural values and collaboration styles, helping candidates understand the day-to-day working environment and team dynamics.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Identity with Partner Brands: Designing for NEXT's established brand while also creating cohesive experiences for partner brands like Laura Ashley, Made, and Gap requires careful navigation of different brand guidelines and user expectations.

• Pace of Retail eCommerce: The fast-paced nature of retail, especially during peak seasons, presents a challenge in delivering high-quality designs under tight deadlines.

• Translating Data into Design: Effectively interpreting complex customer data and research findings into actionable and user-friendly design solutions can be challenging.

• Managing Multiple Stakeholder Needs: Balancing the diverse requirements and priorities of various stakeholders (e.g., trade, marketing, product, technology) within a large organization.

• Maintaining High Standards Across Platforms: Ensuring a consistent and high-quality user experience across different parts of the eCommerce site (Home, European platforms, partner sites) and devices.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into eCommerce UX: Gain in-depth experience with the specific UX challenges and opportunities within a large-scale online retail environment.

• Exposure to Growth Methodologies: Learn about conversion rate optimization (CRO) strategies, A/B testing, and data-driven growth tactics through collaboration with trade and data experts.

• Advanced Tool Proficiency: Further hone skills in Figma and potentially explore emerging design technologies and workflows.

• Cross-Disciplinary Knowledge: Develop a broader understanding of business operations, marketing, and product management within a major retail company.

• Networking: Build a professional network within NEXT, which could open doors for future opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section proactively addresses potential difficulties and frames them as opportunities for growth, a valuable perspective for candidates. It also highlights the unique learning opportunities presented by working within a large, multi-brand retail organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you identified a user pain point and designed a solution that had a positive impact on business metrics." (Prepare a STAR method answer focusing on your process, Figma use, and quantifiable results.)

• "How do you approach designing for multiple brands or different user segments within a single platform?" (Discuss your experience with brand guidelines, design systems, and user segmentation.)

• "Walk me through your process for conducting user research and translating those findings into design iterations." (Detail your research methods, how you synthesize findings, and how you've used insights to improve designs.)

• "How do you ensure your designs are accessible and compliant with WCAG standards?" (Explain your understanding of accessibility principles and how you incorporate them into your workflow.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in working for NEXT, and specifically in this UX/UI role?" (Research NEXT's recent performance, its brands, and its digital strategy. Connect your skills and aspirations to the role and company.)

• "How do you handle working at pace in a fast-moving retail environment?" (Provide examples of how you prioritize tasks, manage your time, and deliver under pressure.)

• "Describe a time you had to present a design concept to stakeholders who had differing opinions." (Focus on your communication, persuasion, and collaborative problem-solving skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Presentation: Start with a brief overview of your background, then dive into 2-3 key projects. For each project:
  1. Context: Briefly introduce the company/project and the core problem.
  2. Your Role & Process: Detail your specific contributions and walk through your UX/UI process (research, wireframes, prototypes, testing, iteration).

Emphasize your use of Figma and design systems.

1. Solution: Showcase the final designs and key features.
2. Impact: Present the results and learnings. Quantify where possible.

• Be Conversational: Make it a dialogue, not a monologue. Be prepared for questions at any point.

• Highlight Collaboration: Explain how you worked with developers, product managers, and other stakeholders.

• Showcase Figma Skills: Be ready to demonstrate specific interactive prototypes or design system components directly from Figma if requested.

• Address the "Why": Clearly articulate the strategic thinking behind your design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides concrete examples of interview questions and a structured approach to portfolio presentation, specifically tailored to the requirements of this UX/UI role at NEXT, emphasizing Figma and impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided Oracle Cloud link: https://ekeq.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_3001/job/75116

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating your UX/UI process, proficiency in Figma, experience with design systems, and your ability to drive user-centered improvements that impact business metrics. Focus on eCommerce or retail examples if available.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 2-5 years of experience in UX/UI design, lists your proficiency in Figma and other relevant tools, and highlights achievements related to user research, prototyping, and design system implementation. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, your problem-solving approach, and the impact of your work. Prepare to discuss specific examples related to user-centricity, adaptability, and collaboration, as outlined in the interview preparation section.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research NEXT Plc, its brands, its eCommerce presence, and its recent performance. Understand their commitment to customer experience and how this role fits into their broader growth strategy.

⚠️ 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.