User Interaction Designer - UK Hydrographic Office - HEO

Manchester Digital; Taunton; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental agency in Taunton is seeking an Interaction Designer to develop user-centered digital solutions. The role includes collaborating with researchers and stakeholders, translating user needs into effective designs, and facilitating workshops. The ideal candidate should have strong communication skills and proficiency in design tools like Figma. This hybrid position offers flexibility while requiring regular office presence.

Qualifications

• Experience of designing user-centred solutions aligned with business goals.
• Confidence in facilitating design workshops and collaborating in teams.
• Proficiency in UX artefacts and evaluation techniques.

Responsibilities

• Translate user and business needs into impactful designs.
• Create and validate storyboards and user journeys.
• Work closely with multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

User-centred design solutions

Strong communication skills

Design thinking methods

Prototyping and wireframing

Understanding of HTML and CSS

Tools

Figma

Job description

Overview

Interaction Designer role at the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) in the UX team. Focus on understanding user needs and translating them into clear, effective design solutions across products and services. Work closely with researchers, product teams and stakeholders to shape digital services for expert user groups across the maritime sector.

This is a hybrid role with regular working at the Taunton site. While there is flexibility to work from home, the successful candidate should be willing and able to regularly spend time in the Taunton office with the rest of the team.

Responsibilities

• Translate user and business needs into impactful designs and experiences.
• Think big picture, focusing on solving whole problems, not just screen-level details.
• Create and validate storyboards, user journeys, service maps and process flows to tell compelling user stories and clearly communicate design ideas.
• Use insights and evidence from research to explain design decisions.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including user researchers, product managers, delivery leads, developers and GIS specialists.
• Facilitate regular design workshops and collaborative sessions to solve problems together.
• Champion user needs and inclusive design across the organisation.
• Design and build interactive prototypes.
• Plan and conduct usability testing with users.
• Iterate designs based on feedback and evidence from research.
• Contribute to and help maintain the UKHO Design System.
• Ensure consistent, user-centred design patterns are used across Admiralty products and services.
• Work closely with developers to ensure designs are clearly communicated and implemented as intended.
• Keep up to date with trends and best practice in interaction design and the wider digital landscape.

Person specification

• Experience of designing user-centred solutions that meet real user needs and align with business goals.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to tell compelling user stories and clearly share user needs with a range of stakeholders.
• Confidence in contributing to, and facilitating design workshops, and working collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams.
• A practical understanding of design thinking methods such as the Double Diamond, and experience applying them in real projects.
• Proficiency in prototyping and wireframing tools (e.g. Figma) to explore, test and communicate design ideas.
• Experience creating and using UX artefacts (e.g. user journeys, process flows) and evaluation techniques (e.g. heuristic reviews) to support evidence-based design.
• Awareness of design systems and pattern libraries, and how to apply them to create consistent, inclusive designs.
• Basic knowledge of HTML and CSS, to support collaboration with developers.

Behaviours

We\'ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process.