Lead UX Designer

BOOTS; Greater London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Boots Retirement Savings Plan (up to

Employee discounts

Enhanced parental leave

Employee Assistance (TELUS Health)

Job summary

Boots is seeking a hands-on UX Design Lead to independently own and deliver UX for a strategic transformation workstream. This senior, autonomous role requires leading through evidence, research, and storytelling, while guiding senior stakeholders and delivering across the full UCD lifecycle.

The successful candidate will shape UX strategy, produce journeys, wireframes, prototypes and artefacts, and ensure accessibility and alignment with Boots' design system and processes.

Qualifications

• Significant experience delivering UX across the full UCD lifecycle.
• Portfolio or case studies showing end-to-end ownership and outcomes.
• Confident in shaping the UX plan and working with ambiguity.
• Strong research, insight and validation capabilities.
• Excellent presentation, facilitation and storytelling skills.
• Experience designing accessible experiences aligned to WCAG 2.2.
• Familiarity with Figma, UserTesting, Jira; agile/lean UX methods.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing abilities.

Responsibilities

• Own and deliver a UX workstream end to end, from discovery through to implementation.
• Conduct user research to uncover needs, pain points and opportunities.
• Define problems clearly and build an evidence base for decision-making.
• Create journeys, wireframes, prototypes and UX artefacts to solve problems.
• Validate ideas through testing, feedback and iteration.
• Manage timelines, risks, dependencies and stakeholder expectations.
• Communicate insights and recommendations to technical and non-technical audiences, including senior leaders.
• Deliver high-quality UX outputs balancing user needs, business goals, tech feasibility and accessibility.

Skills

UX design

UCD lifecycle

Research & validation

Stakeholder management

Tools

Figma

UserTesting

Jira

Job description

Role: UX Design Lead

Contract: 12-month fixed-term contract with potential extension to 24 months subject to programme scope.

Shift Pattern: Full time

Location: UK

Join Boots and help shape the digital future of a brand that serves customers across retail and healthcare. We're looking for a hands-on UX Design Lead to independently own and deliver UX for a strategic transformation workstream. This is a senior, highly autonomous role for someone who remains close to the work: defining the UX approach, conducting research, creating and validating solutions, managing stakeholders, and driving delivery across the full User-Centred Design (UCD) lifecycle.

This role is not a Product Designer, Service Designer or UX Manager position. It is for a full-stack UX practitioner who can operate with minimal supervision, lead through evidence and storytelling, and influence senior stakeholders with confidence.

What you'll do

• Own and deliver a UX workstream end to end, from discovery through to implementation.
• Conduct user research to uncover needs, pain points and opportunities.
• Define problems clearly and build an evidence base for decision-making.
• Create journeys, wireframes, prototypes and other UX artefacts that solve customer and business problems.
• Validate ideas through testing, feedback and iteration.
• Manage timelines, risks, dependencies and stakeholder expectations.
• Communicate insights and recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical audiences, including senior leaders.
• Deliver high-quality UX outputs that balance user needs, business goals, technical feasibility and accessibility.
• Work within Boots' UCD process and design system, contributing to continuous improvement where appropriate.

What we're looking for

• Significant experience delivering UX work across the full UCD lifecycle.
• A portfolio or case studies showing end-to-end ownership, independent delivery and outcomes.
• Confidence working with ambiguity and shaping the UX plan yourself.
• Strong research, insight and validation skills.
• Excellent presentation, facilitation and storytelling ability.
• Experience designing accessible and inclusive experiences aligned to WCAG 2.2.
• Familiarity with Figma, UserTesting, Jira and agile / lean UX ways of working.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.

What success looks like

• User-centred solutions validated through research, testing and customer insight.
• UX deliverables completed to agreed scope, timelines and quality standards.
• Accessibility requirements met in line with WCAG 2.2.
• Positive stakeholder feedback and evidence of influencing product decisions.
• Successful ownership and delivery of a strategic UX workstream from discovery through implementation.

Where your brilliance can take you

At Boots, we believe in your potential. You will have opportunities for career development and growth, shaping the future of our digital products while being supported by a team that values your contributions.

Rewards designed for you

• Boots Retirement Savings Plan (up to 12% company contribution)
• Generous employee discounts for you and a family member
• Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption leave pay
• Access to free, 24/7 counselling and support through TELUS Health, our Employee Assistance Programme.

There's lots more in our benefits and discounts, MyBoosts - there to give you that little lift in your everyday. Find out more at http://boots.jobs/rewards. Exclusions may apply; eligible roles only.

A bit about us

At Boots, we' re proud to be an equal opportunity employer, creating a place where everyone feels welcome, supported, and free to be themselves. We believe that when our people feel valued and included, they thrive, so we' re committed to creating a brilliant Boots for our people so they can make a difference for our customers and colleagues every time.

What's next?

If you apply, our team will be in touch to let you know the outcome of your application or to arrange next steps. Where a role is advertised as full-time, we are open to discussing part-time and job share options. If you require additional support as part of the application and interview process, we are happy to provide reasonable adjustments to help you be at your best.

We hope to hear from you soon. Be brilliant with Boots.