The Opportunity
At Vanguard, we’re passionate about giving UK investors the best chance of investor success. We do this by creating intuitive digital experiences that inform, compel, and delight our clients. In this role, you’ll be working in and leading a specific value stream within our customer’s end‑to‑end lifecycle. You’ll collaborate with a multi‑disciplinary team (Product Manager, Content Designer, Data Analysts, UX Researchers, scrum teams). Your job will involve understanding what our clients need and want, solving problems, and designing compelling client experiences.
As a Design Lead you’ll lead a multi‑disciplinary pod with all the individuals and skills needed to execute design. You’ll need a great blend of Content Design and Product Design skills to be effective in this role.
Leveraging AI to drive Design efficiency in our workflow is a must – but we are not looking specifically for an AI Designer.
The role of a Design Lead is player‑coach. This hands‑on role requires you to work as a contributor and guide your Design pod while managing workflow. Some lightweight project management will support the Pod.
While you won’t line‑manage designers (all Designers report to the Head of Design), you will operate as a key person in the Design leadership team, helping shape ways of working, strategic thinking, and the future direction of the team.
Core Responsibilities
Your Design skills
* Familiarity with gov.uk content guidelines, content best practice, and expertise in writing for accessibility.
* Comfort with Design Systems (Storybook & Figma) and ability to build prototypes and designs from these building blocks.
* Execution of the end‑to‑end design process from initial framing through exploration, insights, hypotheses, text, and design delivery.
* Experience with Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) for content management, Adobe Analytics, and Google Analytics.
* Ability to translate complex financial/investments concepts into simple, plain English language.
* Lead research activities with research plans, discussion guides, prototype building, and insight synthesis.
* Autonomous production of design work and lead sign‑off with Product, business stakeholders, legal and compliance.
* Energetic storytelling, engaging an audience in workshops, facilitating design critiques and co‑creation workshops.
* Natural partner of Tech, Compliance, Marketing, and all key stakeholders.
* Proactive engagement with immediate stakeholder group (PM, Marketing, Designers, Developers) and other SMEs (legal, compliance, business strategy, customer services).
* Understanding of UX, the Double Diamond, and the Agile delivery mindset.
* Highly proficient in Figma – the primary workspace for all design work.
* Work from hypothesis and problem statements.
Your Leadership skills
* Champion diverse disciplines and skillsets, uniting Designers around client problems and achieving optimal solutions.
* Demonstrate servant leadership, empowering and elevating the team and Design practice to help Vanguard & our clients achieve their goals.
* Provide clear, valuable feedback while coaching Designers in your pod.
* Welcome feedback, listen, and tune into stakeholder and senior leader audiences.
* Know when to lean in and when to step back to empower others.
* Work with vague briefs, applying a disciplined approach to defining design requirements.
* Balance multiple initiatives with a balanced project management approach.
* Partner with other Designers and Leads to align and maintain consistency in ways of working.
* Think strategically about our products to ensure Design delivers a coherent, consistent, easy and simple experience for clients.
Experience
* Proven experience in the design space (writing for journeys, apps, public websites, dashboards, etc.).
* Experience in finance, asset management, or other regulated industries – essential.
* Experience as a Senior Designer or Design Lead – preferred.
* Mentoring and/or coaching others – a must.
* Strong work ethic and demonstrated willingness to contribute to the unit and Vanguard.
Special Factors
Vanguard is not offering sponsorship for this position.
This is a hybrid position requiring office work Tuesday‑Thursday.
Why Vanguard?
Vanguard is a different kind of investment company. Founded in 1975 in the United States around the idea that an investment company should manage funds solely in the interests of its clients, Vanguard’s low‑cost, uncomplicated investment solutions have helped millions worldwide achieve their goals.
Inclusion Statement
Vanguard’s continued commitment to diversity and inclusion is rooted in culture. Every decision serves clients, crew (internally employees are referred to as crew), and communities guided by a single statement: “Do the right thing.” Building diverse, inclusive, and highly effective teams allows us to better serve our core purpose – taking a stand for all investors, treating them fairly, and giving them the best chance for investment success.
How We Work
Vanguard implements a hybrid working model for the majority of crew members, capturing flexibility while enabling in‑person learning, collaboration, and connection. This culture is a critical enabler for long‑term client outcomes and an enriched employee experience.
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