Lead Product Designer

Oak National Academy is looking for a hands-on Lead Product Designer. Around 70% of the role is spent designing – from user journeys and flows to high-fidelity prototypes and production – and around 30% is spent leading, mentoring and shaping how the team works.

You'll sit in the product design team and work day to day in cross-functional squads with product managers, engineers and user researchers. You'll own design standards and the design system, set design direction across squads, and use research and data to show the value of good design. When extra capacity is needed, you'll brief and manage external design contractors. The team is fully remote and asynchronous, and you'll contribute to Oak's strategy, planning and culture.

What you'll be doing

• Developing and managing a high-performing team of product designers
• Continuously improving design quality across all product squads
• Owning design standards, principles and ways of working, with a focus on quality, accessibility and user experience
• Guiding feature design across squads, based on user and business needs
• Using data and user research to make Oak's products accessible and strong in UX and UI
• Maintaining expertise in design systems and methods, and being a recognised authority within Oak and the wider sector
• Contributing to strategy, planning and the organisation's culture
• Working in cross-functional, product-focused squads as required
• Deputising for the Head of Product (Schools & Teachers) and taking on other general duties as needed
• Leading the design and development of specific features, setting requirements with others
• Supporting the continuous improvement of product design, systems and methods
• Supporting the full design lifecycle, including user journeys, flows, prototypes, testing, high-fidelity work and delivery to production

What we're looking for

• 5+ years of responsibility for improving product and feature design in digital products or services
• Experience recruiting, developing and managing a high-performing product design team
• A track record of leading a design discipline and setting standards across multiple teams
• Success building and maintaining a highly accessible design system at scale
• Extensive knowledge of UX and UI best practice across mobile and desktop
• Experience with accessible design systems that serve a large user base
• Experience working in product teams to understand user needs and deliver new features
• Desirable: extensive experience with current product design tools, such as Figma and Figma Make, or other AI-powered design software
• A willingness to contribute across all areas of Oak's work
• Comfort moving quickly and working with a range of digital systems, including proprietary ones
• A habit of looking for ways to improve the team
• Strong remote collaboration, relationship-building and time management

What's on offer

• £81,998 salary
• 25 days' annual leave, plus one extra day per year of service (up to 28)
• Additional closure days over Christmas and New Year
• An 11% employer pension contribution, with no minimum employee contribution required
• A 36-hour week, with half-days on Fridays or every other Friday off
• Fully remote working, with home set-up support and coworking options
• Two in-person offsites a year
• A culture built on flexibility, autonomy and trust
• Flexible hours, life insurance, an employee assistance programme, enhanced maternity and paternity leave, additional parental leave and paid emergency leave
• Professional development, mentoring or coaching, payroll giving, team social events and an equipment allowance

Good to know

• You must live in the UK and have the legal right to work there – Oak cannot offer visa sponsorship
• Interviews are planned for 17 and 18 November 2026, and the role may close early

How to apply

Apply through the Applied platform: answer the admin and work-based questions (reviewed anonymously by a panel), then submit your CV. Questions about the job can be sent by replying to your application confirmation email.

Closing date: 8 November 2026