At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design of user-centred services for the criminal justice system.
- Company: Crown Prosecution Service, committed to inclusive and accessible design.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with a focus on collaboration and mentorship.
- Why this job: Shape the future of design in a meaningful role that impacts society.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading design and understanding of government standards.
The predicted salary is between 48300 - 59600 £ per year.
Full-time (Permanent) £58,330 - £67,450 (National) / £62,820 - £73,520 + £3,150 RRA (London)
Published on 9 January 2026
Deadline 25 January 2026
Location: This post can be based in any location within England and Wales where a CPS office is located. Whilst it’s an expectation of the role to travel to CPS locations as per business needs, CPS is a disability confident employer and all reasonable adjustments will be considered in line with the Equality Act of 2010.
About the job
Job summary: At the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), we design user-centred services that make the criminal justice system easier to use, quicker to deliver, and fairer for all. As the Lead Interaction Designer, you’ll be at the heart of this mission. You’ll help to shape the design vision for user-centred, inclusive, and accessible services, working closely with senior leaders and agile teams. Your decisions will be guided by user needs, data, and evidence, ensuring our services are not only effective but sustainable and scalable.
You’ll lead the design of complex services, making sure they meet government standards and design principles. You’ll mentor and inspire other designers, champion collaboration across teams, and grow our interaction design capability within CPS. Beyond CPS, you’ll work with designers across the Criminal Justice System to create joined-up, end-to-end services that deliver real impact for users. This is a leadership role where you’ll report to the Head of User-Centred Design and Analysis and help shape the future of our profession.
The Crown Prosecution Service is based in England and Wales. If you’re applying for this role and live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you must let us know when accepting this offer as you need permission to work from your home address if hybrid working is part of your role. There’s no guarantee that we will grant this approval. You must be aged 16 before starting in this role. The start date is expected to be 8-12 weeks after the application deadline.
As part of this role, you are expected to undertake direct line management responsibilities.
As a lead interaction designer, you will:
- Embed a practice of hypothesis-driven, iterative, evidence-based design and agile ways of working in a team.
- Lead on prototyping complex ideas at any fidelity.
- Gain support for design decisions and design strategy from senior leaders.
- Measurably improve the practice of inclusive, accessible and environmentally sustainable design across the organisation.
- Help teams understand how user-centred design helps them meet their goals, and align their work to the goals and vision of the organisation.
- Use risks, opportunities and constraints in technology, systems and policy to shape design.
- Identify and create new design patterns and components.
- Create an inclusive, productive environment for designers to work in.
- Help to build the interaction design capability within CPS, by growing and mentoring our interaction design profession, and developing the skillset within our user centred design community.
Person specification: To be eligible to apply, you need:
- Significant hands-on experience leading design in complex organisations, ensuring effective and user-centred service delivery.
- An understanding of the Government Design Principles, Service Standard and agile ways of working.
- Experience of embedding hypothesis-driven, iterative, evidence-based design.
- Excellent prototyping skills to bring complex ideas to life at any fidelity.
- Strong stakeholder influencing and collaboration skills, to support user centred-design decisions.
- Experience in measurably improving the practice of inclusive, accessible and environmentally sustainable design.
- The ability to help teams understand how user-centred design helps them meet their goals, and align their work to the goals and vision of the organisation.
- Experience in using risks, opportunities and constraints in technology, systems and policy to shape design.
- Expertise in identifying and creating new design patterns and components.
- Experience of creating an inclusive, productive environment for designers to work in.
Behaviours: We will assess you against these behaviours during the selection process.
Lead Interaction Designer - Crown Prosecution Service - G7 employer: Manchester Digital
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is an exceptional employer that prioritises user-centred design in the criminal justice system, offering a collaborative and inclusive work culture. With a commitment to employee growth, you will have the opportunity to mentor fellow designers and shape the future of interaction design while enjoying flexible working arrangements across various locations in England and Wales. Join us to make a meaningful impact and contribute to a fairer justice system for all.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Interaction Designer - Crown Prosecution Service - G7
✨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 Manchester Digital for a Lead Interaction Designer - Crown Prosecution Service - G7, 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!
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We think you need these skills to ace Lead Interaction Designer - Crown Prosecution Service - G7
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Lead Interaction Designer - Crown Prosecution Service - G7 at Manchester Digital, 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 Manchester Digital 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 Manchester Digital. 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 Manchester Digital.
How to prepare for a job interview at Manchester Digital
✨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 Manchester Digital, 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. Manchester Digital 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 Manchester Digital!
✨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 Manchester Digital is looking for.
