Lead Interaction Designer - DWP - G6

Government Digital and Data; East Midlands, West Midlands Combined Authority, London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading government department offers a challenging opportunity for a Lead Interaction Designer focused on user interactions. This role involves providing design leadership, collaborating across teams, and ensuring a user-centered approach to digital service design. As part of a dynamic community, you'll mentor senior designers and advocate for inclusive design practices that align with strategic goals.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in using research and data to design services meeting user needs.
• Proven success in designing solutions in complex environments.
• Expertise in prototyping and effective communication of design decisions.

Responsibilities

• Provide design leadership across all User Centred Design (UCD) disciplines.
• Collaborate with teams to set vision and prioritize work.
• Advocate for good user-centred design and embed UCD into strategic delivery.

Skills

Prototyping

User-Centered Design

Systems Thinking

Effective Communication

Leadership

Job description

Location

These roles may be located in Birmingham, Blackpool, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, or Sheffield. Further information on the Corporate hub locations is available.

About the job

Job summary

DWP Digital offers challenging and fulfilling careers for individuals interested in using their skills to make a difference in society. As part of the UK's largest government department, alongside 85,000 colleagues, we support 22 million people daily to find work and save for their future. We provide unique opportunities to apply next-generation digital technology on a large scale to impactful issues.

Interaction Designers work to understand user journeys, identify patterns, and use prototypes to design services, products, and tools that meet user needs. They collaborate with Designers, Front-end Developers, Researchers, and Software Engineers to create user-centric services.

We are seeking experienced Lead Interaction Designers to focus on user interactions with our products and services, aiming to create intuitive and efficient experiences.

Job description

As a Lead Interaction Designer, you will:

• Provide design leadership across all User Centred Design (UCD) disciplines, ensuring a consistent approach that meets user needs and aligns with best practices.
• Collaborate with Product, Delivery, Architecture, and Engineering leads to set vision and prioritize work to deliver value and meet objectives.
• Set standards, expectations, and guidance to define what 'good' looks like in interaction design.
• Introduce new processes, tools, and ways of working to enhance quality and consistency.
• Advocate for good user-centred design, building relationships with senior leaders to embed UCD into strategic delivery.
• Act as an escalation point for complex issues faced by senior interaction designers.
• Balance when to challenge assumptions and when to compromise, encouraging teams to do the same.
• Oversee multiple improvement initiatives within your community and across government.
• Lead community events, working groups, and practice initiatives.
• Manage, coach, and mentor senior interaction designers and other practitioners.
• Coordinate recruitment and induction processes for interaction design roles.
• Contribute to resource planning by assessing design needs across DWP.
• Represent user interests at a senior level and promote user-centric practices.
• Identify capability gaps and implement learning and development initiatives.
• Understand organizational priorities and work within constraints.

Person specification

When detailing your experience, highlight:

• Significant experience in using research, data, and evidence to design services that meet real user needs, aligning with strategic goals.
• Proven success in designing solutions in complex environments, applying systems thinking and constraints.
• Expertise in prototyping to explore ideas and reduce risk, guiding teams in appropriate approaches.
• Effective communication of design decisions to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Advocacy for inclusive and accessible design, ensuring compliance with WCAG 2.2 AA standards.
• Leadership in design and collaboration, supporting team growth and improving design practices at scale.

For more information, contact [e-mail].

Technical skills

Prototyping skills will be assessed during the selection process.