Head of Design Operations

Lloyd's; Leeds; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading banking group in the UK seeks a Head of Design Operations to improve design quality and productivity. The role involves establishing a cohesive design delivery centre, leading multi-disciplinary teams, and driving customer-centric design initiatives. Candidates should have over 5 years of leadership experience in design operations, a strong understanding of digital services, and a commitment to inclusivity. The position offers significant opportunities for professional growth within a diverse working environment.

Benefits

Generous pension contribution of up to 15%

Annual performance-related bonus

Share schemes including free shares

30 days' holiday, plus bank holidays

Wellbeing initiatives and parental leave policies

Qualifications

• 5+ years of scaled design operations leadership experience.
• Proven ability to lead teams solving complex problems.
• Experience of managing and scaling effective design systems.
• Understanding of digital and financial services.

Responsibilities

• Establish and evolve a centre of design delivery.
• Drive leadership understanding in customer‑centric design.
• Build a world‑class design practice and environment.
• Ensure effective reuse of design assets.
• Keep the team at the forefront of design methodology.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to resolve design challenges.

Skills

Leadership

Design Delivery Expertise

Design Systems

Measurement

Credibility

Drive

Problem-solving

Influence

Digital & Tech

Job description

Overview

Design Operations is the central function within Experience Design that enables our Design Directors and platform‑embedded squads to work effectively. Its mission is to improve design quality, increase productivity, grow design capability, and maximise design's impact. As Head of Design Operations you will champion design thinking and a design‑led culture, blending creativity with programme disciplines such as strategy, standards, continuous improvement, business architecture, and technology.

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.

Qualifications

• 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: Uses approaches that enable design teams to evidence their impact.
• Credibility: Experience in complex markets and organisations.
• Drive: Resilience, self‑awareness, and a passion for exceeding expectations while inspiring the 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.
• 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.

Company Overview

At Lloyds Banking Group, we have a clear purpose – to help Britain prosper and build deep, enriching relationships with our customers. Through our brands we touch almost every household and community in the UK, underpinning the lives of millions of individuals and businesses and playing a key role in building a growing UK economy. Across the Group, our colleagues are focused on making a difference to customers, businesses and communities. With us you’ll have a key role to play in shaping the financial services of the future, while the scale and reach of our Group means you’ll have many opportunities to learn, grow and develop.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We keep your data safe. We only ask for confidential or sensitive information once you have been formally invited to an interview or have accepted a verbal offer, at which point we run background checks. We are committed to creating a values‑led culture and building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the customers and communities we serve. We celebrate diversity in all its forms and welcome applications from under‑represented groups. We are disability confident and will make reasonable adjustments to our recruitment processes if requested. We offer a wide‑ranging benefits package, which includes:

Benefits

• A generous pension contribution of up to 15%
• An annual performance‑related bonus
• Share schemes including free shares
• Benefits that 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