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- Tasks: Lead user-centred design projects that enhance public services and user experiences.
- Company: Join a purpose-driven consultancy focused on impactful digital transformation in the public sector.
- Benefits: Enjoy remote/hybrid work options, competitive salary, and personal development support.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while growing your leadership skills in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in user-centred design and leading complex projects, especially in the public sector.
- Other info: Interview slots are available soon—apply now to be part of this transformative journey!
The predicted salary is between 76000 - 114000 £ per year.
Location: UK-based (Remote/Hybrid options available)
Salary: Circa £95,000 + Benefits
Contract: Full-time, Fixed-Term Contract (12 Months)
Make a meaningful impact through human-centred design. Are you an experienced design leader who is passionate about creating inclusive, impactful services that improve lives? Do you thrive in environments where complex challenges meet purposeful outcomes? If so, we’d love to hear from you.
We’re seeking a Principal – User Centred Design to join our client’s team focused on digital transformation in the public sector. This is a high-impact role where you will lead strategic design engagements, shape experience-led solutions, and influence how essential public services are delivered across the UK.
What you’ll be doing:
- Leading the user-centred design workstreams on strategically significant projects in the public sector.
- Translating product visions into actionable UX strategies that improve accessibility, usability, and overall user experience across digital platforms.
- Overseeing end-to-end design delivery, balancing just-in-time execution with long-term discovery and iteration.
- Coaching and mentoring multidisciplinary design teams to achieve excellence in outcomes and client satisfaction.
- Collaborating with delivery leads, user researchers, analysts, and product owners to drive better user and business results.
- Acting as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, helping shape client roadmaps and enabling continuous service improvement.
- Contributing to business development through pre-sales support, bids, and shaping service offerings.
- Playing a leadership role within the Strategy and Design Practice, helping to grow capability, quality, and thought leadership across the business.
What we’re looking for:
- Deep knowledge of user-centred design practices, tools, and methodologies.
- Demonstrable experience leading complex design and transformation projects, ideally with both public and private sector exposure.
- Strong leadership and coaching skills, with the ability to grow high-performing teams.
- Strategic thinking with hands-on capability—comfortable driving the detail while shaping the bigger picture.
- Proven ability to build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders.
- Experience working in Agile, multidisciplinary delivery teams.
- A strong understanding of public sector digital services and the challenges of designing for inclusivity, scale, and impact.
- Consulting within the Public Sector is essential.
Why join us?
You’ll be part of a purpose-driven consultancy that puts people first—both in our ways of working and in the work we do. You’ll work on meaningful projects that directly improve public services, while being supported in your personal development, leadership growth, and work-life balance. Our environment values openness, collaboration, and continuous learning. We believe in empowering our teams to deliver excellent outcomes, and we give them the trust and flexibility to make it happen.
Ready to help transform public services for the better? Interview slots are being booked across the next couple of weeks. Please apply using this advert, or contact Adam Townsend to find out more: 07478 213563
Contact Detail:
SR2 | Socially Responsible Recruitment | Certified B Corporation™ Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land UCD Principal Consultant
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in user-centred design, especially within the public sector. This will not only help you understand the challenges but also allow you to speak confidently about how your experience aligns with their needs during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the field of user-centred design and public sector consultancy. Attend relevant webinars or local meetups to connect with others who may have insights or even referrals for the role you're interested in.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of your leadership and coaching experiences. Think about how you've successfully guided teams through complex projects, as this will demonstrate your capability to lead multidisciplinary teams effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the company’s recent projects and initiatives in the public sector. Being able to reference these during your conversations will show your genuine interest in their work and how you can contribute to their mission.
We think you need these skills to ace UCD Principal Consultant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in user-centred design and any relevant projects you've led. Use specific examples that demonstrate your leadership skills and ability to drive complex design initiatives.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for human-centred design and how it aligns with the company's mission. Mention specific experiences that showcase your strategic thinking and ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.
Showcase Relevant Skills: Emphasise your knowledge of user-centred design practices and methodologies. Highlight your experience in Agile environments and your ability to build relationships with senior stakeholders, as these are crucial for the role.
Prepare for Interviews: If selected for an interview, be ready to discuss your approach to leading design projects and how you ensure inclusivity and accessibility in your work. Prepare examples that illustrate your coaching and mentoring abilities within design teams.
How to prepare for a job interview at SR2 | Socially Responsible Recruitment | Certified B Corporation™
✨Showcase Your User-Centred Design Knowledge
Make sure to highlight your deep understanding of user-centred design practices and methodologies. Be prepared to discuss specific tools you've used and how they have contributed to successful projects in the past.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Experience
Since this role involves leading multidisciplinary teams, share examples of how you've successfully coached and mentored others. Discuss any challenges you faced and how you overcame them to achieve high-performing outcomes.
✨Prepare for Strategic Discussions
Expect to engage in conversations about strategic thinking and how you balance detail with the bigger picture. Prepare to discuss how you've shaped client roadmaps and influenced service improvements in previous roles.
✨Understand Public Sector Challenges
Familiarise yourself with the unique challenges of designing digital services for the public sector. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with these challenges and how you can contribute to creating inclusive and impactful solutions.
