Lead Product Designer

Location: Hook, UK (Hybrid)

Historically, the role of IT has been to provide a reliable ecosystem to run the business, drive efficiencies and reduce costs. These areas remain integral, however, driven by the quickening pace of innovation, IT must evolve, proactively partnering with the business to enable new digital business models that power new types of customer engagement and value opportunities. In response, an Elanco IT Discovery Team has been formed to rapidly apply Design Thinking methodology on high-value business opportunities where the path to success is uncertain and a traditional approach may fall short. 

We are looking for an experienced Product Designer to join our team. You will be responsible for helping define and drive the future of Elanco digital products and systems focusing on wide range of internal and external applications. You will reveal what our users need from our products by conducting research, engaging with cross-functional teams, ideation of solutions, concept development, and performing user tests. These responsibilities also include inspiring change, delivering oral and written presentations, evaluating qualitative and quantitative data, designing and testing prototypes, and helping partners better understand what would make a user’s experience more intuitive, accessible, and seamless. 

Responsibilities: 

• Partner with Engineers to turn design concepts into fully functioning applications. 

• Collaboration with Product Owner and Engineering Lead to drive the discovery and research efforts. 

• Conduct user research and gather insights through interviews, surveys, and usability studies. 

• Analyze user feedback and data to identify pain points and understand user needs. 
   

• Ability to mentor and guide the team
   

•  Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to drive collaboration among cross-functional teams, including product management, engineering, and product owners.
   

• Proficient in advocating for design principles and fostering a culture of design thinking within the organization.
   

• Experience establishing design processes and best practices.

• Creating Product Designers backlog and supporting other team members
   

• Fostering one design mindset within organisation
   

• Lead design teams, fostering a collaborative and creative work environment.
   

• Plan and conduct user, ethnographic, and competitor research. 

• Analyze data, qualitative feedback, and stakeholder input for insights in satisfying user needs and delivering an ideal user experience. 

• Plan and execute design thinking activities to help teams achieve product discovery goals. 

• Create personas, storyboards, journeys and other artifacts to help teams empathize with users. 

• Define information architecture, system structure, and user flows based on research and user insights. 

• Create sketches, wireframes, and prototype designs that may be candidates for development within Elanco systems. 

• Contribute to and maintain Elanco's design system, ensuring consistency and scalability across all digital products and platforms. 

• Perform interviews and usability studies with users. 

• Influence digital product and system design decisions to meet user experience expectations and achieve Elanco business outcomes.  

• Communicate design rationale and key decisions to stakeholders in a clear and persuasive manner. 

• Document design processes, guidelines, and decisions for the team. 

• Create and present oral, visual, and written communication on broad range of user experience topics for stakeholders. 

• Ensure designs are consistent with the company’s brand identity and guidelines. 

• Contribute to the building and maintaining of the design system and style guide. 

• Educate leaders, stakeholders, and colleagues on UX best practices.  

• Keep up-to-date with the latest design trends, tools, methodologies, and technologies. 

• Continuously seek to improve your own skills and knowledge of UX/UI best practices.  

• Identify design problems and devise elegant solutions that balance user needs and business objectives. 

Basic Qualifications & Key experiences:  

• Six or more years of UX/UI design experience. 

• Deep experience in applying Design Thinking methodology for digital systems and products. 

• Understanding of business metrics and the ability to translate company goals and objectives into digital experiences. 

• Strong portfolio demonstrating ability to deliver a polished product. 

• Ability to perform all user research-related tasks including research, planning, evaluating, communication, and iteration. 

• Understanding of interaction design principles. 

• Ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders and act as a strategic partner in product decisions. 

• A strong desire for creative problem-solving with a positive attitude. 

• Excellent time-management skills. 

• Proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch) 
   

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Advanced certification in Design Thinking methodology from an industry-recognized institution. 

• Experience as a UX design professional in the life sciences industry. 

• Experience in creating, maintaining, and evolving design systems. 

• Understanding of software engineering processes and the role of interaction design. 

Education Requirements: Bachelor’s or MS in a human behaviour related field (or equivalent and demonstrable work experience). 

Other Information: Occasional travel may be required.