Product Design Manager

B&Q

3mo ago

Job
Full-time
Senior & Expert Level
Design
Product
Southampton

AI generated summary

You must have deep UX design knowledge, team coaching experience, strategic leadership skills, manage diverse designers, simplify complexity, and expertise in digital services and Agile methodologies.
You will lead a design team, drive user-centric solutions, manage workflows, collaborate with stakeholders, champion design systems, and foster team culture to enhance product development.

Requirements

A deep knowledge & keen interest in design and UX principles across channels
Experience in coaching teams to deliver world class digital design
A self-starter who identifies opportunities and potential problems (happy to challenge established thinking and promote new ideas)
Experience representing design at a strategic / leadership level
Experience in managing designers with different specialisations and focus areas
Developing Product ways of working
Management of design/research specialists in a scaled ecommerce environment
Experience of managing teams designing and launching digital services (particularly hand-held devices including native apps & responsive web design)
Ability to simplify complexity
Comfortable with encouraging experimentation but clear when to use defined solutions
Strong knowledge of design process and project management including experience managing multiple projects simultaneously
Understand progressive ways of working to drive both commercial and design value
Training or certification in Agile methodology (preferable)
Experience in A/B testing and iteration as tools to transform digital experiences.
End-to-end experience as a product design lead in a digital product lifecycle

Responsibilities

Lead and develop the Design and Research team in B&Q Technology
Shared accountability with Product and Technology for driving speed to value
Establish design led, product ways of working with product teams to ensure we stay close to the user.
Drive the team to create effective, user-centric solutions and be part of a leadership team that fosters innovation and creativity within the team.
Guide the team to champion new user experience concepts and ideas, using methods & tools that illustrate the journey, components and touchpoints of the service.
Apply conceptual and strategic thinking, bringing together and balancing user needs with commercial value and technical realities.
Support teams to understand how their work relates to the overall proposition, ensuring the features and components they design are suitable, crafted to the highest quality and are consistent with other brand (product) experiences.
Establish the flow of work in and out of the design/research team backlog to ensure quality briefs, constant flow of work, good documentation, high standards and stakeholder management.
Work with the Head of Product, Product Manager, Product Owners and wider business stakeholders to understand requirements for the design/research team.
Work with a variety of data sources (stakeholders, qual, quant etc) to establish testable hypothesis on the user experience/new proposition concepts.
Communicate at all levels of the business with a variety of tools including prototypes to demonstrate the value of design to the user and business.
Support design team through the testing process; helping them identify when testing will be valuable, what format is suitable and translate findings into creative approaches where appropriate.
Oversee the design process and suitability of deliverables across your team, being responsible for the completeness, suitability/accessibility and overall standard of design output for your service.
Champion the Design System in B&Q to drive cohesive digital experiences and future speed to value
Set individual and team objectives, supporting and coaching the team to achieve them.
Foster and develop good team culture and work ethic, which contributes to a great working environment for the Kingfisher Designers; Motivate the design team and contribute to a positive morale.
Influence and promote effective feature team structure, planning and resourcing.

FAQs

What is the job title for this position?

The job title is Product Design Manager.

Where is the position located?

The position is located in Southampton at the Store Support Office.

What is the salary range for this role?

The salary for this role is up to £90,000, along with additional benefits.

What types of benefits are offered with this position?

The benefits include a pension, BUPA healthcare, ShareSave options, 6.6 weeks holiday, and wellness benefits.

What are the working hours for this position?

The role supports hybrid working, requiring 2 days per week in the office.

What is the main purpose of the Product Design Manager role?

The main purpose is to lead the development of digital experiences across web and apps, while establishing design ways of working within the team.

What experience is required for this position?

Required experience includes a deep knowledge of design and UX principles, coaching teams, managing design specialists, and familiarity with digital services.

Is experience in Agile methodology preferred?

Yes, training or certification in Agile methodology is preferred but not required.

Is there a focus on user experience in this role?

Yes, a key focus of the role is to create effective, user-centric solutions and champion new user experience concepts.

Are there opportunities for professional development within this position?

Yes, the role includes setting individual and team objectives and supporting the team's development.

How does the company support diversity and inclusion?

The company is committed to making B&Q more diverse and representative and provides access to networks that promote diversity and inclusion within the workplace.

B&Q

Retail & Consumer Goods

Industry

10,001+

Employees

Mission & Purpose

We are the UK’s leading home improvement and garden living retailer with over 300 stores throughout the UK and Ireland, offering great prices, with over 100,000 products available to order at diy.com for home delivery or click and collect. We launched the UK’s first home improvement marketplace in March 2022, adding additional choice for consumers. The marketplace offers a unique, integrated experience with in-store returns for many products and Click + Collect options being explored. Our team of more than 26,000 colleagues of all ages are respected nationwide for providing great home improvement help to customers. They’re the beating heart of B&Q and their iconic orange aprons are worn with pride. Every year, more than 20 million people improve their homes and make life better with B&Q, and every year the company achieves ever-higher standards for sustainable sourcing and supports our local communities, including funding B&Q Foundation grants and Shelter’s DIY Skills Advisors