## Opportunity Spotlight: Innovation Product and Design at Barclays (Glasgow) This role at Barclays offers a compelling opportunity for experienced professionals looking to shape the future of digital products and propositions within a leading financial institution. Based in Glasgow, this position is ideal for individuals who are passionate about innovation, possess a user-centric design ethos, and thrive in a dynamic environment. ### Key Advantages for Aspiring Candidates: This role presents a significant platform for career growth and impact. Here's what makes it stand out: * Driving Market-Leading Innovation: You'll be at the forefront of developing unique, new-to-market digital products and propositions. This means actively bringing in fresh ideas from the external market and challenging the status quo to create differentiated offerings. * Leveraging Emerging Technologies: The role encourages the strategic application of cutting-edge technologies, including AI, to drive product innovation. This is a fantastic opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and apply your technical literacy to real-world challenges. * User-Centered Design at its Core: A deep commitment to user research, insight generation, and validation ensures that every product developed is built with the customer experience at the forefront. This focus on user-centricity is crucial for creating truly impactful solutions. * Iterative Prototyping and Implementation: You'll have the chance to translate visionary ideas into tangible realities through a process of iterative design, prototyping, and testing. Close collaboration with researchers and developers will be key to refining solutions. * Significant Influence and Stakeholder Engagement: This position offers the opportunity to collaborate with and influence senior executives, business leaders, and external stakeholders. Developing compelling storytelling and negotiation skills will be essential for driving outcomes. * Career Progression and Leadership Potential: The role outline suggests a path for individuals to lead teams, contribute to policy development, and take ownership of operational effectiveness. For those aspiring to leadership, this is a clear avenue for development, focusing on the Barclays LEAD behaviours (Listen and be authentic, Energise and inspire, Align across the enterprise, Develop others). For individual contributors, there is ample opportunity to lead collaborative assignments and guide team members. ### Key Considerations for Your Career Path: To ensure this opportunity aligns with your career aspirations, consider the following: * Innovation Expertise is Paramount: While experience in product development is valuable, a proven track record in designing and launching *groundbreaking* digital products and propositions, with a creative and disruptive mindset, is essential. * Depth in User-Centred Design: A robust understanding of user research methodologies, insight generation, and validation techniques is non-negotiable. You should be comfortable with translating user needs into actionable design strategies. * Adaptability in a Rapidly Changing Landscape: The financial and technology sectors are constantly evolving. A flexible mindset and a commitment to continuous learning are crucial for navigating market shifts, fintech disruption, and technological advancements. * Strategic Technology Application: While technology literacy is important, the ability to *strategically apply* digital platforms and emerging technologies to drive product innovation will be a key differentiator. * Risk and Controls Acumen: Barclays operates within a highly regulated environment. Understanding and contributing to risk mitigation and control strengthening, as well as developing new policies and procedures, will be part of your responsibilities. * Business Acumen and Strategic Thinking: Beyond the technical aspects, a strong grasp of business strategy, change management, and the ability to think strategically will be vital for success in this role. * Valuation Expertise is a Distinct Component: A significant portion of the role involves the accurate and timely valuation of financial instruments, development of valuation methodologies, and analysis of market conditions. Candidates with a strong understanding of financial markets and risk management principles will find this area particularly rewarding and will be expected to provide critical insights for financial reporting, risk management, and business decisions. This role at Barclays offers a dynamic and rewarding career path for individuals who are passionate about innovation, user-centric design, and making a significant impact within the financial services industry. By understanding these advantages and considerations, you can better assess how this opportunity aligns with your professional goals and how you can contribute to Barclays' ongoing success.