Senior Digital Service Designer in Manchester

Senior Digital Service Designer in Manchester

Manchester Full-Time 54000 - 66000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Arup

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the design of user-centred digital services for diverse clients.
  • Company: Join Arup, a collaborative company shaping a better world for over 80 years.
  • Benefits: Competitive pay, health benefits, flexible working, and opportunities for personal growth.
  • Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with a focus on collaboration and community.
  • Why this job: Make a meaningful impact through innovative design in a supportive environment.
  • Qualifications: Experience in human-centred design and leading service design activities.

The predicted salary is between 54000 - 66000 £ per year.

Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach has set us apart for over 80 years, guiding how we shape a better world.

We are seeking a Senior Service Designer to play a leading role in shaping and delivering high-quality, user-centred transformational digital services for our diverse public and private sector clients. You will work across the full digital delivery lifecycle, from understanding complex systems and uncovering user needs through to designing, testing and delivering services that create meaningful outcomes. Working as part of multidisciplinary teams, you will collaborate closely with user researchers, UX/UI designers, business analysts, software developers, data and AI specialists, and technical experts from across Arup. This is a client-facing role requiring confidence leading design activities, working with senior stakeholders, and contributing to bids and proposals.

At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective – in which we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas. You will have the opportunity to do socially useful work that has meaning – to Arup, to your career, to our members and to the clients and communities we serve.

Is this role right for you?

  • You have significant experience delivering human-centred design for digital services within complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
  • You can lead service design activities across discovery, alpha and beta phases, including design sprints, user research, co-design sessions and stakeholder engagement.
  • You are confident creating service design artefacts such as service blueprints, user journeys, personas, ecosystem maps and future-state designs.
  • You are a strategic systems thinker who can translate user needs, organisational objectives and strategic goals into clear service concepts and delivery backlogs.

What we offer you

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together. Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts. We also provide Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accident insurance and Income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefits to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.

Different People, Shared Values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference.

Our Application Process

Stay safe online - Arup will never ask for payment or your bank details as part of our recruitment process. Recruitment Agencies - We have a Preferred Supplier List of trusted partners to assist us when required and do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions from agencies not on the list.

Closing date: 17th September 2026. We may close the role earlier than the advertised date should we receive a large number of applications, so please ensure you apply early.

Senior Digital Service Designer in Manchester employer: Arup

Arup is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and inclusive work culture in Leeds that fosters collaboration and innovation. Employees benefit from competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and ample opportunities for professional growth, making it an ideal place for those looking to make a meaningful impact in security advisory services.

Arup

Contact Details:

Arup Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Digital Service Designer in Manchester

Show Off Your Portfolio

In the world of UX/UI design, your portfolio speaks volumes! Make sure it's packed with your best work and showcases your process, not just the final product. We want to see how you tackle design challenges, so consider adding case studies that reflect your thought process and user-centric approach.

Get Involved in Design Communities

Jump into local or online design meetups and workshops! Places like UXPA or local design events can be goldmines for networking and learning. Plus, mingling with fellow designers can introduce you to potential job openings that might not be listed elsewhere.

Tailor Your Applications

When you find a role that excites you, like the one at Arup for a Senior Digital Service Designer, make your application count! Highlight specific projects and skills that directly relate to the job description. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who fit into their specific team, so show them you’re the one!

Leverage Social Media

Don't underestimate the power of social media in finding a UX/UI design job! Follow design leaders on platforms like Twitter or Instagram, share your work, and engage in conversations. It’s a great way to get noticed by recruiters and even catch wind of openings at companies like Arup before they go live!

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Digital Service Designer in Manchester

Human-Centred Design
Service Design
User Research
Co-Design Sessions
Stakeholder Engagement
Service Design Artefacts
Service Blueprints

Some tips for your application 🫡

Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Senior Digital Service Designer at Arup, make sure to include examples that clearly highlight your design process. We want to see not just the final product but also the journey that led you there—wireframes, user personas, and iterations demonstrate your thought process and user-centric approach!

Tailor Your Portfolio:A tailor-made portfolio is crucial for a full-time design role! Curate your best projects that align with the kind of work Arup does. We suggest including 3-5 case studies that showcase a variety of skills such as wireframing, prototyping, and user testing to really make your application pop.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should not just be a summary of your CV. Use it to express why you’re excited about UX/UI Design and what draws you specifically to Arup. Mention any relevant experience, tools you’re proficient in (like Sketch or Figma), and how you can contribute to their projects.

Highlight Collaboration Skills:In the world of UX/UI Design, teamwork is crucial. Make sure to highlight any past experiences where you worked in cross-functional teams. Illustrate how you communicated design decisions and listened to feedback, as this will resonate well with the culture at Arup.

How to prepare for a job interview at Arup

Show Off Your Portfolio

When you're gunning for a full-time UX/UI design role, your portfolio is your best friend! Make sure you've got a solid selection of your work, showcasing not just the final designs, but the process behind them—think wireframes, user flows, and any user research you've conducted. During the interview with Arup, be prepared to discuss your design decisions and how they solve specific user problems.

Prepare for Design Challenges

Expect to face some practical design tasks during your interview. Arup might ask you to tackle a quick design challenge or critique an existing interface. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and try to articulate your thought process as you work through these scenarios. Showing how you approach a design problem is just as important as the final output!

Know the Tools of the Trade

Familiarise yourself with the tools commonly used in the industry—figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch should be second nature to you. Be ready to discuss your preferred tools during the interview and how they've shaped your design process at previous positions. This knowledge could give you an edge at Arup!

Show Passion for User Experience

In a full-time UX/UI design role, having a genuine passion for improving user interactions can set you apart. Be prepared to share instances when you went above and beyond to ensure a great user experience in your previous projects. This will demonstrate that you’re not just a designer, but a user advocate, which is exactly what Arup is looking for.