Senior UX/UI Designer

Zaizi is looking for a Senior UX/UI Designer (SFIA4/5) to work in a delivery-focused, agile environment within the complex landscape of UK public sector digital transformation. You'll play a key role in translating deep user insights and complex business requirements into clear, usable designs that development teams can effectively implement. Working across end-to-end user journeys, you'll define and guide the creation of prototypes and user-centred design (UCD) artefacts that uncover user motivations, behaviours and service interactions. You will be a champion for the GDS Service Standard, ensuring all outputs meet the rigorous requirements for accessibility and inclusivity. Knowledgeable in industry best practices, you'll support and mentor other designers, contributing to their professional growth while ensuring high-quality, evidence-based standards across the team's work.

Responsibilities

• A proven track record of delivery within government, with a deep understanding of the GDS Service Manual, GOV.UK style guide and the Service Standard assessment process.
• Experience with the GOV.UK Prototype Kit and Github useful but not required.
• Able to plan and participate in the synthesis of user research, transforming raw data and observations into actionable design patterns and strategic insights.
• Expertly turn complex insights from user research into intuitive, user-centred designs that solve genuine user problems.
• Expert knowledge and experience of Figma and digital whiteboarding tools to create high-fidelity prototypes that can be used to test and refine ideas, feeding directly into development.
• Strong communication skills, able to evangelise user needs to the team and wider stakeholders, acting as a bridge between technical constraints and user expectations.
• Lead the design and facilitation of workshops to elicit requirements from ambiguous user needs and align diverse stakeholder groups.
• Be the go-to person for expertise in inclusive design, providing guidance and best practices to ensure services work for everyone.
• Work closely with developers and testers to bring designs to life in production, ensuring the design intent is maintained through to go-live.
• Oversee the creation of design artefacts to inform decision-making, helping to define the UCD approaches and methodologies for large-scale projects.
• Take an active role in the UCD community by sharing knowledge through blog posts, leading or contributing to community of practice sessions and attending industry meet ups.

Core Skills & Competencies

• Experience with a range of user-centred design and service design techniques, with the ability to choose the right tool for the specific public sector challenge.
• A history of mentoring and training junior or mid-weight designers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development.
• Willingness to contribute to the wider UCD community, sharing knowledge through blog posts, community of practice meetups, or industry events.
• Strong communication skills, with an ability to explain design decisions and communicate them effectively to technical and non-technical audiences alike.
• Experience working flexibly and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary Agile team, ensuring design debt is managed and user needs are prioritised.
• Expert at theming and synthesising outputs from raw research to produce strategic insights that influence the product roadmap.
• Understanding of HTML, CSS and responsive principles.

Security

This role requires eligibility for UK Government Security Clearance. This currently means candidates must have the right to work in the UK without sponsorship and have lived in the UK continuously for the last 5+ years.

Benefits

• Competitive Pay: Salaries reviewed annually to ensure they reflect your performance and market value.
• Loyalty Pension: We invest in your future. Starting at a 5% employer contribution, we increase this by 0.5% every year after your third anniversary, up to a maximum of 8%.
• Comprehensive Group Life Assurance for peace of mind.
• Real Impact: Work on mission-critical projects that secure and improve the UK's digital infrastructure.
• A culture that empowers you to make decisions, prototype rapidly, and iterate towards success.
• 10 paid days for Reservist Military Service.
• 25 days annual leave + Bank Holidays, with the flexibility to Buy/Sell additional days to suit your lifestyle.
• 2 paid volunteering days per year.
• Fully funded professional certifications (AWS, GCP, Agile, etc.) supported by 5 days paid study leave.
• An additional £500 annual "Personal Choice" fund to learn whatever inspires you—work-related or not.
• Access to 1-2-1 professional coaching and team training to accelerate your career.
• Vitality Private Medical Insurance (includes Apple Watch, gym discounts, and rewards).
• Genuine hybrid working with a WFH equipment allowance to perfect your home setup.
• Cycle to Work scheme and a commitment to sustainable, healthy working practices.

If you need any accommodations to support your specific situation, please feel free to let us know. For candidates who are neurodiverse or have disabilities, we are happy to make any adjustments needed throughout the interview process—just ask!