Senior UX Designer

PLOS; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 58,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking nonprofit on a mission to revolutionize research publishing. As a Senior UX Designer, you will lead the design process, ensuring user-centered solutions that enhance digital services. This role offers the opportunity to collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams, applying your expertise in UX to create meaningful change in the world of open science. Embrace a fully remote work environment where your contributions will drive impactful projects, and enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that supports your well-being and professional growth. If you're passionate about design and eager to make a difference, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Income protection

Pension with up to 10% employer match

25 days holidays

Market competitive Maternity and Paternity leave

Birthday and three winter holidays days off

2 days paid time off for volunteering

Stipend for home office setup

Qualifications

• Proven ability as a Senior UX Designer with experience in agile environments.
• Strong skills in user interface design and user research.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of projects from discovery to delivery, focusing on user needs.
• Collaborate with engineers and product managers to refine design solutions.

Skills

UX Design

User Interface Design

User Research

Agile Development

Data Visualization

Graphic Design

Service Design

Education

Degree in Design or HCI

Job description

*This position is fully remote/home based. Applications will be accepted from candidates based in the UK.

*Please submit your portfolio with your application.

Role Summary

PLOS is a nonprofit organization on a mission to drive open science forward with measurable, meaningful change in research publishing, policy, and practice. We believe in a better future where science is open to all, for all.

We're seeking a Senior UX Designer who thrives on problem-solving and refining experiences through research, data, and testing, a product-focused thinker with a passion for understanding the "why" behind design decisions and their impact on customers and business. A highly self-motivated individual, who will make confident decisions and take ownership of projects from concept to implementation.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership in the areas you are working on from discovery to delivery, with a focus on putting the user first.
• Use prototyping to test and visualize hypotheses as a crucial part of experimenting and learning with the team and stakeholders.
• Work closely with Product Managers to define problems, scope, and hypotheses.
• Partner with engineers to ensure your designs are feasible and implemented with precision.
• Establish and maintain visual consistency across all touch points.
• Collaborate with engineers, drawing inspiration from their expertise to experiment and solve problems.
• Collaborate with the Head of UX & Design to establish the in-house design function.

Knowledge and Skills

• Proven ability as a Senior UX Designer.
• Evidence of working in an agile development environment alongside Product Managers, subject-matter experts, researchers, content designers, and developers to design and build new digital services.
• Proven industry experience in applying design knowledge—graphic design, interaction design, and service design—to real-world applications.
• Able to demonstrate experience and skills in:
  • designing user interfaces.
  • designing and fulfilling user needs.
  • designing and building a new digital service.
• Capable of demonstrating knowledge of graphic design, including web typography, progressive disclosure, hierarchy, color use, and the role of imagery and iconography.
• Experience in effectively collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams, ensuring design decisions are grounded in evidence-based user research and a thorough understanding of user journeys.
• Experience in simplifying complex data and information into clear and understandable forms for users.
• Evidence of working to WCAG 2.1/2.2 standards.
• Can demonstrate end-to-end "design ownership" across different phases of a relevant production process.
• Skilled in designing systems for use across multiple services and adept at identifying the simplest solution from a range of alternatives.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate standards into team projects.
• Show the importance of constraints, clearly communicating them to both design and non-design team members, and developing solutions that respect these limitations.
• Experience of acting independently and taking action when dealing with uncertain situations or optimizing opportunities.
• Experience in contributing to design systems, including patterns, components, and elements.
• Experience of using data visualizations to communicate quantitative information quickly.
• Experience of iterating design patterns.
• Proven ability to think strategically and take steps toward achieving strategic goals.

Qualifications

• Degree in design, human-computer interaction (HCI), or related field (or equivalent industry training/experience).

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• This remote position requires the ability to work at a computer workstation for extended periods and maintain clear visual acuity when viewing computer screens.

The base salary range we’ve established for these positions is (UK) £58,000 - £80,000. PLOS also offers a comprehensive benefits package summarized below.

Benefits

UK:

• Private medical insurance.
• Life assurance.
• Income protection.
• Pension with up to 10% employer match.
• 25 days holidays, market competitive Maternity and Paternity leave.
• Birthday and three winter holidays days off.
• 2 days paid time off for volunteering per year.
• Fully remote work environment with stipend on joining for home office.