UX Product Designer

The Vanguard Group; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading investment company in Manchester is looking for a Project Contractor as a UX Product Designer to enhance the investment experience for UK clients. This role involves designing intuitive web and mobile applications in collaboration with a diverse team. Ideal candidates will have at least 5 years of experience in product design, particularly within finance or asset management, focusing on user-centered principles to drive exceptional client outcomes.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience as a Product Designer delivering user journeys.
• Experience in finance or asset management is strongly recommended.

Responsibilities

• Design web and mobile app experiences.
• Conduct user research and usability testing.
• Lead the design sign-off process with stakeholders.

Skills

User-centered design

Proficiency in Figma

Strong communication skills

Tools

Figma

Sketch

Adobe XD

Job description

Project Contractor

UX Product Designer

At Vanguard we are passionate about giving UK investors the best chance of investment success. We do this by creating intuitive digital experiences that inform, compel and delight our customers.

This role will be working in a specific value stream within our customers end‑to‑end lifecycle and collaborating with a multi‑disciplinary team (Product Manager, Content Designer, Data Analyst, UX Researcher, Scrum team). Your job will involve understanding what our customers need/want and, in collaboration with other designers, solving problems and designing sensible experiences.

This role is focused on our client journeys across web and mobile app channels so we are looking for a Designer to create exceptional experiences that drive positive outcomes for clients. You will work across a range of initiatives to improve the client experience, develop new functionality and deliver business objectives.

Key responsibilities

• Proven experience designing web and mobile app experiences.
• Strong understanding of user‑centred design principles and interaction design.
• Proficiency in design tools (e.g. Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).
• Experience with design systems (Storybook & Figma) and component libraries, readily able to build prototypes & designs from these building blocks.
• Knowledge of responsive design and native mobile patterns (iOS & Android).
• Ability to conduct and apply user research and usability testing.
• Familiarity with WCAG accessibility standards and inclusive design.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to translate complex financial/investment concepts into simple plain English language.
• Able to produce different types of content (microcopy, conversational, product marketing, help / instructional) and adapt your content to the medium.
• Autonomously drive the production of design work and lead the sign‑off process with Product, business stakeholders, legal and compliance.
• Run the Design conversation from conceptualisation to leading meetings and workshops, connecting with the relevant SMEs sourcing customer insight.
• Think strategically about your work and its impact beyond your immediate value stream.
• Curious, relentlessly ask questions and obsessed with understanding how our products / operational processes work and how they drive positive client outcomes.
• Comfortable working across multiple projects at the same time, including content‑switching.
• Adaptable designer, flex your ways of working depending on the nature of projects and the team you work with (mixture of proactive and reactive work).
• Work autonomously, knowing what to do without being given specific tasks.
• Proactive, take ownership of the work and constantly look to help and add value.
• Build trust and work in symbiosis with other designers in the team through constant and proactive communication.

Skills and experience

• Minimum 5 years experience as a Product Designer delivering a range of user journeys and product features.
• Experience in finance, asset management or other regulated industries strongly recommended.

Why Vanguard

Vanguard is a different kind of investment company. It was founded in the United States in 1975 on a simple but revolutionary idea: that an investment company should manage its funds solely in the interests of its clients.

This philosophy has helped millions of people around the world to achieve their goals with low‑cost, uncomplicated investments.

It is what we stand for: value to investors.

Inclusion Statement

Vanguard’s continued commitment to diversity and inclusion is firmly rooted in our culture. Every decision we make to best serve our clients crew (internally, employees are referred to as crew) and communities is guided by one simple statement: Do the right thing.

We believe that a critical aspect of doing the right thing requires building diverse, inclusive and highly effective teams of individuals who are as unique as the clients they serve. We empower our crew to contribute their distinct strengths to achieving Vanguard’s core purpose through our values.

When all crew members feel valued and included our ability to collaborate and innovate is amplified and we are united in delivering on Vanguard’s core purpose: to take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly and to give them the best chance for investment success.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in‑person learning, collaboration and connection. We believe our mission‑driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long‑term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.

Employment Type: Full‑Time

Experience: years

Vacancy: 1