Job Description

Vacancy No

VN2568

Location City

Leeds

Location Country

United Kingdom

Job Title:

Head of Design

Reports to:

Product Director

Department:

Streaming Product & Growth

Location:

Leeds (this role requires travel between Leeds & London offices once per fortnight)

Level:

L1

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION

The Streaming department is responsible for the strategy, development, and operation of Channel 4's digital streaming platform, delivering high-quality, on-demand content across multiple devices and markets. The team drives innovation in user experience, content delivery, and platform technology, ensuring the streaming service remains competitive and aligned with evolving consumer expectations. Working cross-functionally with Technology, Marketing, Content & Editorial, Commercial and Insights teams, the department is at the forefront of digital transformation, enabling the business to reach new audiences and maximise engagement as part of the FAST Forward strategy.

JOB PURPOSE

The Head of Design will shape the future of Channel 4 Streaming by driving a digital-first design ambition. This role is responsible for creating world-class viewer experiences and building a strong, inclusive and innovative design culture. Working closely with Product, Technology, Marketing, Brand, Partnerships, Editorial and Commercial teams, the role will transform digital journeys across Channel 4 Streaming, ensuring seamless and engaging experiences for millions of viewers, with Channel 4's distinctive brand at the core.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Own end-to-end streaming viewer journeys using service blueprints, journey maps and reusable design patterns; working with Audience Growth & Optimisation and Product teams to improve viewer experiences and ensure design strategy delivers business outcomes. Partner with the Product Director and senior leaders across Brand, Content, Commercial, Technology, Partnerships and Editorial to embed a digital-first mindset and design-led thinking into key streaming goals and Channel 4's wider digital transformation. Co-own the broader end-to-end digital viewer experience across Channel 4 alongside 4Studio, Brand, Marketing and Growth, ensuring a seamless experience across owned and operated platforms, distribution platforms, social, CRM and other marketing channels, with business outcomes at the centre. Act as a creative leader and individual contributor, partnering with Brand to bring Channel 4's 'altogether different' brand to life through streaming viewer journeys and product design. Build and foster a culture that attracts, develops and retains top-tier design talent, creating a best-practice design operating model centred on collaboration, accountability, efficiency and outcome delivery. Embed behavioural insights, research and commercial outcomes into design decisions, ensuring viewer and business needs drive design, strategy and delivery. Work with Product to influence the roadmap and partner with third-party technology vendors, ensuring customer and business priorities are represented. Champion the streaming design system, ensuring strong alignment between UX, Brand and Technology guidelines. Advocate design best practices, streamline workflows and ensure accountability across all design outputs. Act as an innovation leader and thought partner to the Product Director, translating market and competitor insights into strategies that strengthen Channel 4's competitive position across all digital platforms.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

Product Director Product Team Streaming Business Director Technology (internal and third-party) Marketing and Brand Commercial Content and Editorial Growth and Audience Optimisation Channel 4+ Audience Insights

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

Proven track record leading multi-disciplinary teams to deliver award-winning digital products across web, mobile and TV. Experienced facilitator with the ability to influence, cut through complexity and deliver outcomes through collaboration. Strong experience shaping design strategy at executive level using compelling storytelling and data-driven insights. Recognised expertise in accessibility and inclusive design. Proven ability to grow design talent, driving performance, skills progression and succession planning. Advanced expertise in Figma, with the ability to scale design systems across complex platforms and the viewer lifecycle. Craft excellence across interface and interaction design, content and service orchestration.

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

Media industry experience.

KEY COMPETENCIES

Strategic partnership and thought leadership Brand translation and storytelling Facilitation and creative ideation Commercial awareness Data-informed decision making Collaboration and influencing skills

Basic salary per annum starting from

101,938.00

Application questions to complete

Please remember to complete the additional application questions by uploading a Word or PDF attachment. These questions really help us get to know you better and we won't be able to consider your application without them.

Please outline how you meet the 'Essential Experience & Skills' outlined in the (Max 500 words)

Benefits

There are a million reasons why it's great to work at Channel 4, here are just a few of the perks for you;




- Private medical insurance


- Free Virtual GP access for employees


- Free Female Health hormone test each year


- Free Tastecard membership


- Financial guidance 1-2-1's available each quarter


- Discounted Gym memberships


- Pension


- Life Assurance


- Income Protection


- Holiday Purchase

Hybrid working

From September 2023, C4 has operated a 60/40 working pattern, equating to three office days per week.


Having everyone in the office three days a week gives us more opportunity to build our high performing, inclusive culture; to collaborate and to learn and share with each other, as well as helping to coordinate a regular pattern of home and office working days. Employees then have the flexibility to decide where they spend the rest of the working week. All our offices are open five days a week.

Applications Close Date

02 Feb 2026

Equal Opportunities

Channel 4's purpose is to create change through entertainment; by representing unheard voices, challenging with purpose and delivering content which reflects the diversity of different communities across the UK.




We are only able to deliver on this remit by having a workforce rich in diversity of thought, background and lived experience. As an employer we encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on disability, age, gender reassignment, gender expression, criminal history, length of time spent unemployed, marriage or civil partnership status, national origin, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.




Disability Confident Scheme:


Channel 4 is a member of the Business Disability Forum (BDF) and has also maintained the highest level of the Department of Work and Pension's Disability Confident scheme - Level 3: Leader. Under the Disability Confident Scheme, we aim to offer an interview to all candidates who have a neurodiverse condition, impairment or long-term condition and who meet the essential criteria for an advertised job. If you wish your application to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, please select yes when completing the application questions. For more information, please visit the Disability Confident Campaign website.




For our roles and schemes that receive a high volume of applications it may not be possible to provide an interview to all applicants who meet the essential criteria and in this situation we can only select applications that best meet the skills needed for the role.




Care Leaver Friendly Employer:


Channel 4 is a Care Leaver Friendly Employer. By signing the Care Leaver Friendly Employer Charter and adopting its principles, we are supporting an immensely talented yet often under-served and under-represented community of young people/ adults. We commit to offering an interview (and constructive feedback) to applicants who identify as care experienced and meet the essential criteria for the role as outlined on the job description. Applicants should indicate if they wish to apply under our Care Leaver Scheme by selecting the option on the application form.




For our roles and schemes that receive a high volume of applications it may not be possible to provide an interview to all applicants who meet the essential criteria and in this situation we can only select applications that best meet the skills needed for the role.




Workplace Adjustments:


We are committed to providing disabled applicants a level playing field when applying for a job and support whilst employed to perform to the best of their ability and develop their careers. If you have a neurodiverse condition, impairment or long-term condition and require any adjustments, additional support or alternative arrangements during the recruitment and wish to discuss this confidentially, please let us know via the following e-mail recruitment@channel4.co.uk