Head of Design Operations

Lloyds Banking Group; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 104,992 - 146,650; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous pension contribution of up to 15%

Annual performance-related bonus

Share schemes including free shares

Discounted shopping benefits

30 days’ holiday plus bank holidays

Wellbeing initiatives and parental leave policies

Job summary

A leading financial services firm is seeking a Head of Design Operations to enhance design quality and efficiency across teams. This hybrid role focuses on implementing customer-centric design and improving existing processes. The ideal candidate will bring over 5 years of leadership experience in design operations, be adept at solving complex problems, and foster collaborative environments. Enjoy competitive benefits including up to 15% pension contribution, annual bonuses, and a focus on wellbeing.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of scaled design operations leadership experience.
• Experience managing multiple deliveries simultaneously.
• Agile environment leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Establish and evolve a centre of design delivery.
• Drive leadership understanding in customer‑centric design.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to resolve design challenges.

Skills

Leadership

Design Delivery Expertise

Design Systems

Measurement

Credibility

Drive

Problem-solving

Influence

Digital & Tech

Job description

Join to apply for the Head of Design Operations role at Lloyds Banking Group.

Job Title

Head of Design Operations

Location

Edinburgh / Leeds / Halifax / Manchester / Bristol / London

Salary

London £124,653 – £146,650 / Non‑London £104,992 – £123,520

Hours

Full‑Time

Working Pattern

Hybrid: at least two days per week or 40% of time in the office.

About this opportunity

The services we design are integral to our customers’ lives, and this role focuses on their entire experience—at every stage, across all touchpoints.

Design Operations is the central function within Experience Design that enables our Design Directors and platform‑embedded squads to work effectively. Its mission: improve design quality, increase productivity, grow design capability, and maximise design’s impact.

As Head of Design Operations, you’ll champion design thinking and a design‑led culture, blending creativity with programme disciplines such as strategy, standards, continuous improvement, business architecture, and technology. This is a leadership role that requires deep design expertise and the ability to influence investment in customer‑centric design.

What you’ll do

• Establish and evolve a centre of design delivery, creating cohesive ways of working across design disciplines and embedding them into delivery.
• Drive leadership understanding and organisational capability in customer‑centric design.
• Build a world‑class design practice and environment within the Group, growing a great culture and attracting and retaining market‑leading talent.
• Ensure effective reuse of design assets that are fit for purpose, consistent, and aligned with design standards across all divisions.
• Keep the team at the forefront of design methodology, principles, and technology—deploying advanced tools and methods to deliver cutting‑edge capabilities.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders and directors to resolve design and delivery challenges quickly, protecting design quality while enabling rapid delivery.
• Develop strong relationships across Group businesses, strategy, risk, and Brands Marketing & Experience to influence future design direction.

Key skills and experience

• Leadership: Proven ability to lead teams solving complex problems and translate strategic intent into scaled solutions.
• Design Delivery Expertise: Track record of establishing and driving effective Design Management practices.
• Design Systems: Experience of managing and scaling effective design systems.
• Measurement: Employ approaches that ensure design teams can evidence their impact.
• Credibility: Experience in complex markets and organisations.
• Drive: Resilience, self‑awareness, and passion for exceeding expectations while inspiring your team.
• Problem‑solving: Strategic and innovative mindset with the ability to influence across design disciplines.
• Influence: Strong presence in executive forums and ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Digital & Tech: Understanding of digital and financial services, with a vision for where the industry is heading.

We’re looking for someone who

• Has 5+ years of scaled design operations leadership experience.
• Can navigate large organisations’ platforms, channels, and codebases to shape sustainable strategies.
• Advocates for accessibility and inclusivity in design and code.
• Has a continuous improvement mindset.
• Can manage multiple deliveries simultaneously.
• Has experience building and leading multi‑disciplinary teams in an agile environment.
• Inspires confidence, creates the right conditions for collaboration, and builds strong networks across the organisation.

About Working For Us

We focus on ensuring we’re inclusive every day, building an organisation that reflects modern society and celebrates diversity in all its forms. We welcome applications from under‑represented groups.

We’re disability confident. If you’d like reasonable adjustments to be made to our recruitment processes, just let us know.

Benefits

• A generous pension contribution of up to 15%.
• An annual performance‑related bonus.
• Share schemes including free shares.
• Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping.
• 30 days’ holiday, with bank holidays on top.
• A range of wellbeing initiatives and generous parental leave policies.

Ready to start growing with purpose? Apply today and let’s create something extraordinary together!