Head of Product Design and Research

Mortgage Advice Bureau; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private Medical Insurance

Hybrid working

25 days annual leave

Birthday off

Pension match

Job summary

Mortgage Advice Bureau is seeking a product design leader to evolve our design capability and shape the future of product development across the business. You will inherit a strong foundation and define what great looks like, working with Product, Tech and stakeholders to create a scalable design function delivering exceptional customer experiences at pace.

You'll drive discovery, customer journeys and research, champion modern design practices, and explore how AI can add value while maintaining

Qualifications

• Leadership across Product Design, UX and User Research.
• Track record of transforming teams, operating models or design capabilities.
• Experience in fast-paced Digital, SaaS, Fintech, Marketplace or tech-led organisations.
• Hands-on expertise in UX, UI, customer research, discovery and service design.
• Experience creating and embedding design systems at scale.
• Collaborative leadership, credibility across Product and Engineering.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate current design and research capability and identify opportunities to improve structure and ways of working.
• Create and implement a clear vision for Product Design, UX, UI, Research and Service Design.
• Build a high-performing, collaborative and accountable team culture.
• Develop a modern operating model embedding Design and Research through the product lifecycle.
• Lead evolution of the design system to improve consistency, accessibility and speed.
• Raise quality of customer and colleague experiences across digital products and services.
• Establish a research strategy ensuring customer insight informs product decisions.
• Coach and develop designers and researchers and shape future structure of the function.
• Be a trusted partner to Product, Engineering, Marketing and senior leadership.

Skills

Leadership across design

Product design leadership

UX and user research

Change management

Job description

Hybrid - Flexible hybrid working between home and our Derby office

Up to £100,000 plus benefits

About the role

Our design and research capability has grown organically over time. We have talented people, ambitious products and a clear appetite for change -we're now ready for a leader who can bring everything together.

In thisnewly created role, you'lllead the evolution of our design capability and help shape the future of product development across MAB.

You'll inherit a team with strong foundations and the opportunity to define what great looks like. Working closely with Product, Tech and widerstakeholders, you'll evaluate our current operating model, establish best practice, strengthen the partnership between Product and Design and create a scalable design function capable of delivering exceptional customer experiences at pace.

This is a role for someone who enjoys rolling up their sleeves. While you'll provide strategic leadership and develop people, you'll also remain close to the work; facilitating discovery, shaping user journeys, reviewing design solutions, championing research and helping teams solve meaningful customer problems.

You'll be empowered to challenge existing approaches, introduce modern design practices, leverage AI where it adds value and establish a culture where design, research and product work together from concept through to delivery.

If you're excited by creating clarity from complexity, building high-performing teams, and embedding customer-centered thinking within a growing technology-led organisation, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Be Doing

• Evaluating our current design and research capability, identifying opportunities to improve structure, ways of working and effectiveness.
• Creating and implementing a clear vision for Product Design, UX, UI, Research and Service Design.
• Building a high-performing, collaborative and accountable team culture.
• Developing a modern operating model that embeds Design and Research throughout the product life-cycle.
• Leading the evolution of our design system to improve consistency, accessibility and delivery speed.
• Raising the quality of customer and colleague experiences across our digital products and services.
• Establishing a research strategy that ensures customer insight directly informs product decisions.
• Coaching and developing designers and researchers while helping shape the future structure of the function.
• Acting as a trusted partner to Product, Engineering, Marketing and senior leadership teams.
• Exploring how AI can enhance design and research practices while maintaining customer focus and quality.

About You

As a product design leader who combines strategic thinking with operational delivery, you'll bring:

• Leadership experience across Product Design, UX and User Research.
• A track record of transforming teams, operating models and/or design capabilities.
• Experience managing and developing teams within fast-paced Digital, SaaS, Fintech, Marketplace or Technology-led organisations.
• Strong hands‑on expertise across UX, UI, customer research, discovery and service design.
• Experience creating and embedding design systems at scale.
• A collaborative leadership style and the ability to build credibility across Product and Engineering teams.
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of how great customer experiences drive engagement, adoption and business performance.
• Confidence operating in ambiguity, influencing stakeholders and leading change initiatives.
• An interest in AI and emerging technologies and how they can improve design workflows and outcomes.

Recruitment Process

1st stage: Teams interview with our Product Director

2nd stage: Face to face interview at our Derby office with the Director and key stakeholders

What’s In It For You?

Private Medical Insurance (Vitality), 25 days annual leave (increasing to 28 with service)plus your birthday off, matched pension contribution (L&G), share save scheme (Equinity), retail discounts,free entertainment tickets, plus much more!

Flexible working hours with hybrid working for Head Office roles (as agreed with your line manager)

A wide range of Learning & Development offers, from 121 coaching to qualification support, helping you to grow and thrive in your career

A supportive, inclusive culture with forums you're welcome to join from day 1, using your voice to make MAB an even better place to work

Everyone is Welcome

At MAB, we value different experiences and perspectives which adds diversity and value to our culture.As an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels welcomed, included and heard for who they are. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join us.

We are committed to reducing barriers in every stage of our recruitment process so everyone feels they can bring their best self when applying for new opportunities at MAB. If you’d like to hear how we can support you by adjusting our process, from application to interview and onboarding, please contact

[e-mail].

Use of AI

We recognise that AI tools can be a helpful way to articulate your qualities, skillsand experience when applying for roles. It’s important to us, however, that we see the real

youthroughout the recruitment process. We hire real people, not polished personas! We simply ask that you consider carefully how and where you use AI during your application, so we can hear your own thoughts and meet your authentic self.

Please note we are unable to consider candidates requiring visa sponsorship at this moment in time. Wewon't be accepting speculative CVs from recruitment agencies, with a full PSL in place.