Interaction Designer - DBT - SEO

Manchester Digital; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 44,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A government department is seeking a Senior Interaction Designer to create engaging and accessible digital experiences. This role involves designing user interfaces, leading design activities, and collaborating with multispecialty teams to enhance government services. Ideal candidates should possess strong user-centred design skills and experience with digital prototyping. The role is vital for improving how businesses and citizens interact with government, ensuring services are user-friendly and efficient. Flexible working options and support for professional growth are offered.

Benefits

Flexible working

Professional development opportunities

Inclusive culture

Qualifications

• Proven experience designing systems for use across multiple services.
• Strong grounding in user-centred design principles.
• Proven ability to create high-quality design artefacts.

Responsibilities

• Design clear, usable, and accessible digital interfaces across multiple channels.
• Lead interaction design activities for complex services.
• Create prototypes and design patterns to test ideas.

Skills

User-centred design principles

Digital prototyping

Accessibility knowledge

Stakeholder management

Job description

£44,586 - £59,466 based on location and additional allowance

Full-time (Permanent)

Published on 16 December 2025. Deadline 12 January 2026

Location

Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, London, Salford

About the job

Job summary

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has a clear mission - to grow the economy. Our role is to help businesses invest, grow and export to create jobs and opportunities right across the country. We do this in three ways.

Firstly, we help to build a strong, competitive business environment, where consumers are protected and companies rewarded for treating their employees properly.

Secondly, we open international markets and ensure resilient supply chains. This can be through Free Trade Agreements, trade facilitation and multilateral agreements.

Finally, we work in partnership with businesses every day, providing advanced finance and deal‑making support to those looking to start up, invest, export and grow.

The Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) directorate develops and operates tools and services to support us in this mission. The team has been nominated four times in a row for ‘Best Public Sector Employer’ at the Women in Tech awards!

As a Senior Interaction Designer at DBT, you will be at the forefront of creating intuitive, accessible, and engaging digital experiences that meet user needs and align with government standards. Working in multidisciplinary teams alongside researchers, developers, content designers, and product managers, you’ll design services that are simple, clear, and effective. You’ll use evidence‑based design to solve complex problems, ensuring that services work seamlessly across channels and devices. Your work will directly impact how businesses and citizens interact with government services, making them easier and faster to use.

We are committed to supporting your professional growth. You’ll have access to the DDaT Capability Framework, mentoring, and a thriving design community across government. From advanced training in interaction design and prototyping to opportunities to lead on high‑profile projects, you’ll be encouraged to develop your skills and share best practice. You’ll also benefit from flexible working, inclusive culture, and collaboration with experts who value design excellence.

Main responsibilities

You will:

• Design clear, usable, and accessible digital interfaces across multiple channels (web, apps, conversational interfaces).
• Lead interaction design activities for complex services, ensuring designs meet user needs and government standards.
• Create prototypes and design patterns to test ideas, communicate concepts, and ensure consistency and scalability.
• Use research and analytics to understand user needs, identify service failures, and iterate designs.
• Work effectively in a multidisciplinary, agile environment, adapting quickly to changing priorities.
• Champion accessibility and inclusion, ensuring designs meet legal requirements and consider emerging technologies.
• Collaborate with designers across teams and departments, reviewing work and developing shared patterns.
• Engage stakeholders through workshops and co-design activities, promoting user-centred design principles. Within DBT this role is known as Senior Interaction Designer.

Person specification

It is essential that you have:

• Proven experience designing systems for use across multiple services, ensuring they meet varied user needs (Lead Criteria)
• Strong grounding in user-centred design principles, from concept to delivery, and ability to bring agile teams along.
• Proven ability to create high‑quality design artefacts such as wireframes, service maps, and personas.
• Skills in digital prototyping and are confident working with developers, understanding accessibility, security, and version control.
• The ability to manage stakeholder expectations, navigate complex discussions, and communicate design rationale clearly.
• Experience in guiding, mentoring, and supporting others, sharing best practice and contributing to strategic design initiatives.

It is desirable that you have:

• Experience of agile tools, how to use them and can adapt and reflect to see outside of the process

Technical skills

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: