Interaction Designer

Hard Problems; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Alpha pension

Leave entitlement 25-30 days

Coaching & development

Job summary

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is the UK government's tax authority, focused on user-centred services. The Interaction Designer role sits within the Chief Technology and Design Office and is based across Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester or Worthing with hybrid work (60% in office, up to two days from home).

The role requires design experience, collaboration with developers, and active engagement in design communities to improve services for millions of users.

Qualifications

• Experience designing accessible, user-centred digital services.
• Ability to use interaction design techniques, including sketching, journeys, and prototyping.
• Experience prototyping at varying fidelity levels, including HTML/CSS work with teams.
• Familiarity with design systems and pattern libraries.
• Understanding of user research methods to inform design decisions.
• Experience managing stakeholder needs and facilitating discussions.
• Degree in a relevant subject or equivalent industry experience.

Responsibilities

• Create prototypes using government toolkit to test ideas with users.
• Map user journeys and visualize design problems for team understanding.
• Build relationships with stakeholders, influencing design quality.
• Facilitate design process via research, workshops, and pairing with developers.
• Collaborate to turn concepts into user-centred services.
• Participate in HMRC and government design communities online and offline.
• Review and provide feedback to other designers on their work.
• Seek opportunities for learning by gathering feedback.

Skills

User-centred design

Interaction design techniques

Prototyping (HTML/CSS)

Design systems familiarity

User research methods

Stakeholder management

Collaboration with developers

Sketching & journey mapping

Education

Relevant subject degree

Tools

GOV.UK design system

Job description

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is the UK government's tax authority, responsible for collecting taxes, administering benefits and enforcing customs regulations. Its User-centred Design practice sits within the Chief Technology and Design Office and works on services that affect millions of people across the country.

The role

The Interaction Designer works as part of HMRC's User-centred Design practice, shaping key initiatives that impact millions of people and ensuring services meet real user needs. The role is graded at Senior Executive Officer level and is a permanent, full-time position. It is based across one of four office locations: Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester or Worthing, with hybrid working in place (60% of working time in the office, with up to two days per week from home).

What you would do

• Create prototypes using the government prototyping toolkit to communicate and test ideas with users, iterating based on evidence
• Map user journeys and processes, and visualise design problems to support the team's understanding
• Build positive relationships with stakeholders and team members, influencing and collaborating with them to improve design quality
• Facilitate the design process by participating in research activities, pairing with developers, running workshops and communicating design decisions
• Work collaboratively with your team to turn concepts into user-centred services
• Participate in design communities within HMRC and across government, both online and offline
• Review and provide feedback to other interaction designers on their work
• Seek out opportunities for learning and improvement by gathering feedback from colleagues and the business

What they are looking for

• Experience designing accessible, user-centred digital services that meet user needs
• Ability to use a range of interaction design techniques, including sketching, concept development, journey mapping and prototyping
• Experience creating and testing prototypes at varying levels of fidelity, including working with HTML and CSS and collaborating on prototypes with teams and stakeholders
• Familiarity with design systems, pattern libraries and style guides (for example the GOV.UK design system)
• Understanding of user research methods and practices, and the ability to use evidence and insight to inform design decisions
• Experience managing stakeholder needs and expectations, including facilitating difficult discussions and influencing diverse groups
• A degree in a relevant subject or equivalent experience from industry

Working arrangements

The role is available in Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester or Worthing. HMRC operates a hybrid working policy: colleagues are expected to spend 60% of their working time in the office, with the option to work from home for up to two days per week (averaged over a calendar month). Flexible working patterns, job share and part-time arrangements are also available. Visa sponsorship for a Skilled Worker Visa is not available for this role.

Pay and benefits

The salary range is £45,544 - £49,523, with external applicants joining at the pay band minimum.

• HMRC contributes 28.97% of salary towards the Civil Service Defined Benefit (Alpha) pension scheme.
• Additional benefits include a generous leave allowance starting at 25 days and rising by one day per year of qualifying service up to 30 days, family-friendly policies, personal support, and coaching and development opportunities.