Lead UI/UX Designer

Role Summary

We are seeking a Lead UI/UX Designer to lead the design of user-centred, accessible, and consistent digital interfaces for a high-impact, multi-stakeholder platform. The role demands a deep understanding of usability, accessibility (WCAG 2.2 AA), and visual clarity—paired with experience translating user research and service journeys into intuitive digital experiences. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with user researchers, service designers, product managers, developers, and accessibility specialists throughout the Agile delivery lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

1. User Interface Design and Prototyping

• Translate validated user needs, personas, and service blueprints into wireframes, interactive prototypes, and polished interface designs.
• Apply NHS.UK or GOV.UK design system components consistently across user journeys.
• Maintain clear documentation of design components and interactions for use by development teams.

2. UX Strategy and Iteration

• Define and maintain an experience strategy aligned with service goals, accessibility requirements, and multi-role user interactions (e.g. internal users, external suppliers, administrators).
• Collaborate with the Product Lead and Delivery Manager to ensure design priorities align with user stories and sprint planning.
• Work with the User Researcher to plan, observe, and synthesise usability testing outcomes, and iterate designs accordingly.

3. Accessibility and Inclusive Design

• Ensure all designs meet or exceed WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility standards from the outset.
• Design inclusive interfaces usable by individuals with varying abilities, using screen readers, keyboard navigation, or assistive technologies.
• Collaborate with the Accessibility Specialist to audit and improve interface accessibility throughout the delivery lifecycle.

4. Design Governance and Consistency

• Serve as the design authority across the product, maintaining visual consistency and adherence to public sector standards.
• Manage the design toolkit (Figma or equivalent), components, and design assets to ensure efficient, reusable interface design.
• Support knowledge sharing and onboarding of other designers (if applicable), and maintain version control of design artefacts.

5. Collaboration and Agile Working

• Work in an Agile team, contributing to ceremonies such as sprint planning, backlog refinement, and show-and-tells.
• Collaborate with front-end developers to ensure that interfaces are implemented as intended, and support them in interpreting design artefacts.
• Engage with multi-disciplinary teams to ensure that UI/UX design complements service design, data structure, and technical architecture.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Minimum 5 years of experience in UX and UI design roles, ideally in public sector, healthtech, or other regulated environments.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver designs aligned with GOV.UK or NHS.UK design systems, patterns, and accessibility standards.
• Proficiency with modern prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar.
• Experience designing responsive interfaces for desktop and mobile web.
• Track record of incorporating user research insights and usability testing into product designs.
• Strong understanding of visual hierarchy, interaction design, and form usability in complex systems.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Experience working on services with complex data structures, catalogues, or integration-heavy platforms.
• Familiarity with the challenges of designing for role-based access models, data flagging, or moderated submission/review workflows.
• Exposure to systems involving suppliers or external stakeholders who input or consume structured information.
• Ability to contribute to co-design workshops and visually articulate user journey options to diverse stakeholders.

Certifications and Standards (Desirable)

• GOV.UK or NHS Digital Service Manual Training or similar GDS/UCD workshops.
• Foundation certification in Agile, Scrum or Lean UX methodologies.
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) or awareness of designing for Azure-hosted applications (desirable but not essential).
• CPACC or equivalent accessibility-related qualification (preferred, not required).

Key Attributes

• Collaborative mindset with strong communication and visual storytelling skills.
• Attention to detail, with a passion for simplicity and clarity in digital design.
• Empathy for users, commitment to accessibility, and alignment with public service values.
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced, iterative, cross-functional teams.