Senior Product Designer (Design Systems) in Bristol

We’re Civica, and we create software that helps deliver critical services for citizens all around the world. From local government, to education, health, and care, over 5,000 public bodies across the globe use our software to provide essential services to over 100 million citizens. Our aspiration is to be a GovTech champion everywhere we work, supporting the needs of citizens and those who serve them every day.

Join Civica's User Experience team and play a key role in shaping the future of GovTech products that make a real difference. As a Product Designer specialising in Design Systems, you will drive the evolution of Firefly, Civica's multi-platform design system. Firefly powers product teams across the organisation, enabling them to create accessible, consistent, and engaging user experiences. You will define, deliver, and maintain high-quality design components, design tokens, and platform-specific libraries that ensure product scalability and efficiency.

In this role, you’ll collaborate closely with designers, developers, and stakeholders, balancing user needs, business goals, and technical feasibility while championing design system best practices, governance, and accessibility standards. If you’re passionate about scalable design, systems thinking, and creating exceptional experiences through collaboration and continuous improvement, we’d love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

• Design System Development: Create and maintain reusable, accessible design components in Figma, ensuring consistency with coded libraries and design tokens.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with designers, developers, and product managers to drive Firefly adoption and continuous improvement.
• Education & Advocacy: Provide training, run workshops, and share best practices to support product teams using Firefly.
• Process & Leadership: Guide design processes in an agile environment, prioritising tasks and mentoring other designers.
• Quality & Standards: Ensure all design system components meet high standards of quality, usability, and accessibility.
• Tools & Documentation: Define, maintain, and improve tools, processes, and documentation that support Firefly's scalability and adoption.
• Culture & Growth: Promote a collaborative, positive and feedback-driven culture focused on delivering exceptional user experiences.

Requirements

• Design System Expertise: Proven experience leading design system initiatives with a strong portfolio showcasing scalable design solutions using reusable components.
• Design Craft & Process: Advanced skills in UX and product design within complex environments, with expertise in structuring, planning, and owning the entire design process.
• Prototyping & Tools: Expert proficiency in design and prototyping tools, especially Figma, with experience building and managing design libraries.
• Strategic Thinking: Strong problem-solving and systems-thinking abilities, with a focus on creating scalable design solutions that align with business goals.
• Design System Advocacy: Ability to clearly communicate the value of design systems and their impact on business outcomes across large, complex organisations.
• Responsive & Accessible Design: In-depth knowledge of best practices for responsive design and accessibility standards, including WCAG, for web, and mobile platforms.
• Collaboration & Influence: Skilled at working cross-functionally, building relationships, and driving design system adoption through clear communication and shared ownership.

There is no such thing as the perfect candidate, so if you think you have what it takes but don’t necessarily meet every single point on the list above, please still get in touch. We’d love to have a chat and see if you could be a great fit.

Benefits

• Time Off & Work-Life Balance: 25 Days Annual Leave + bank holidays - plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days! Days of Difference - Up to 3 extra days off for volunteering.
• Financial Well-being & Security: Pension Contributions - 5% employer match to support your future. Income Protection - Up to 75% salary cover for long-term illness. Life Assurance - 4x salary tax-free lump sum. Critical Illness Cover - £25,000 lump sum (extendable to dependents).
• Health & Perks: Private Medical Insurance - Fast access to private healthcare. Health Cash Plan - Claim back physio, therapies & more. Dental Insurance - Cover for routine & emergency care. Affinity Groups - Join employee-led communities. Bounty Bonus - Refer a friend & get rewarded.

At Civica, we are committed to building an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We believe that a variety of perspectives drives innovation and excellence, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristic. Our recruitment process is designed to ensure fairness and transparency, so every candidate has an equal chance to contribute to our mission. If you need any adjustments or accommodations to participate in our recruitment process, please let us know. We are here to support you.