Job Purpose Statement
The Senior Manager, Retail Digital User Design lead is Retail Digital Solutions design philosopher and strategist – Retail Banking Design Go-To-Person.
Your expertise in user interface design and user-centered principles will drive the creation of intuitive and visually appealing digital products. Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to shape every stage of the design process, from concept development to user testing, ensuring our products captivate and delight users at every interaction.
Key responsibility will blend psychology, design, and technology to optimize usability, collaborating with developers and stakeholders to turn research into functional, user-centric interfaces.
As the UI/UX lead, you will conduct user research, interviews and surveys, and use the information to create sitemaps, customer journey maps, wireframes, and prototypes.
You literally at the heart of every click, movement of funds and overall experience from every engagement on Retail Channels be it Borrow, Invest, Insure, Transact or payment decision.
This is a critical role in NCBA Retail Banking, it shapes what we build and why, with direct access to executive leadership to influence strategic direction. You will manage internal and external designers to translate philosophy into practice – teaching them to see design as strategic discipline, not visual craft.
NCBA Go Getters are forward‑thinking, data‑driven problem solvers with a proven track record in fast‑paced digital transformation environments, able to navigate ambiguity, influence stakeholders, and deliver under demanding timelines.
Job Specifications
- This role requires advanced experience in creating high-fidelity prototypes and preparing detailed design documentation for seamless collaboration with development teams. An expert-level command of leading design software, including Figma, Adobe XD, and the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc), is essential.
Academic:
- At least an undergraduate degree.
- Certification in HCD, Design thinking, working backwards or equivalent is added advantage
Essential:
- 7+ years in product/UX design roles, with at least 3 years operating at strategic level (not just execution)
- Demonstrated ability to define design vision and philosophy – not just execute briefs – with portfolio evidence of strategic thinking
- Experience designing fintech, payments, or digital financial services – understanding the constraints of regulated environments and complex user journeys
- Proven ability to challenge and influence senior stakeholders (C-suite, product/tech leads) on design decisions – with examples of winning hard arguments
- Strong design foundations: user research, interaction design, information architecture, visual design – can critique and coach across all areas
- Experience managing small design teams (2-10 people) – building capability, not just coordinating work
- Exceptional communication skills: can articulate complex design thinking clearly to non-designers, including executives and boards
Highly Desirable:
- International design experience, where design is embedded as strategic discipline, not afterthought
- Experience designing wallet, super-app, or platform products (not single-feature apps)
- Track record of building design function from scratch or transforming weak design culture
- Experience working in African markets – understanding context of connectivity, literacy, trust, regulation
- Background in service design, design systems, or design operations