Job summary
As an interaction designer, you will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to develop the best way for users to interact with our digital services, in terms of both overall flow and at the level of individual design elements.
You will have an inclusive, user-centered approach and enjoy adapting and learning at pace. You will work independently, have the ability to identify user issues and important needs, and will mentor junior designers
What do we offer?
- 27 days leave (increasing with length of service) plus 8 bank holidays
- Flexible working (we are happy to discuss options such as compressed hours)
- Flexi time
- Hybrid working model (we are currently working largely remotely)
- Career development
- Active wellbeing and inclusion networks
- Excellent pension
- NHS Car lease scheme
- Access to a wide range of benefits and high street discounts!
Main duties of the job
1. Work in an agile way, and have an awareness of agile tools and how to use them.2. Listen to the needs of technical and business stakeholders, and interpret them in a way that is clear for both technical and non-technical audiences.3. Work collaboratively within a group, actively networking with others and varying feedback for the appropriate time to ensure the discussion sticks - both internally and across other government agencies.4. Responsive to changes in technology that may impact designs, adapting your approach accordingly.5. Evidence- and context-based design - absorb large amounts of conflicting information and use it to produce simple designs to meet user needs6. Identify constraints, such as policy or legislation and communicate about these and work within them.7. Understand the sustainability and consequences of your design decisions and make design decisions characterized by managed levels of risk and complexity.8. Create HTML, CSS and JavaScript prototypes, whilst using appropriate Government and other design systems.9. Approach prototyping as a team activity, actively soliciting prototypes and testing with others for feedback.10. Work within a strategic context and communicate how activities meet strategic goals. You contribute to the development of strategy and policies, and act as an advocate for user-centred design.11. Collaborate with user researchers and represent users internally.
About us
At the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) we deliver a range of essential national services to NHS organisations and contractors, patients and the public.
You may already be using some of our services. Do you have a prescription pre-payment certificate? Perhaps you found this vacancy through NHS Jobs? We're behind these, and much more.
Being one of the UK's Best Big Companies to work for, our values are to be Collaborative, Adventurous, Reliable and Energetic. We CARE about what we do and support each other in achieving our objectives.
Our people are the heart of our organisation. We strive to ensure they feel trusted, valued and empowered. We're passionate about nurturing and developing people. When you join us, we want you to grow, and we offer many opportunities for you to do that.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. With wellbeing and inclusion central to our ethos, our BAME, Disability and Neurodiversity, LGBTQ+, Armed Forces and Women's networks help our colleagues to be their authentic selves at work.
At the NHSBSA we value and respect the diversity of our colleagues and are committed to being a flexible employer. We are proud to offer flexible working opportunities. Whether you're interested in hybrid working, working from home, flexible hours or job sharing, apply today and we can discuss available options with you at the interview stage.
We are the NHS delivering for the NHS.
Job description
Job responsibilities
In this role, you are accountable for:
- Working in an Agile way - you work in an agile way, and have an awareness of agile tools and how to use them. You advise colleagues on how and why agile methods are used and provide a clear, open and transparent framework in which teams can deliver. You adapt and reflect and are resilient to challenges. You see outside of the design process.
- Communicating with others - you listen to the needs of technical and business stakeholders, and interpret them in a way that is clear for both technical and non-technical audiences. You build positive relationships within the team and with stakeholders and influence expectations. You are flexible and communicate proactively and reactively. You facilitate difficult discussions within a multidisciplinary team, with diverse senior stakeholders and potentially difficult dynamics where the audience may not be familiar with user-centred design
- Community collaboration - you work collaboratively within a group, actively networking with others and varying feedback for the appropriate time to ensure the discussion sticks - both internally and across other government agencies. You use your initiative to identify problems or issues in the team dynamic and rectify them. You proactively pull out issues about design and research through agile health checks to provoke the best responses.
- Digital perspective - you are responsive to changes in technology that may impact designs, adapting your approach accordingly. You make decisions to meet user needs in the government context. You understand the importance of assisted digital and design and make decisions to meet users needs.
- Evidence- and context-based design - you absorb large amounts of conflicting information and use it to produce simple designs to meet user needs
- Experience of working within constraints - you identify constraints, such as policy or legislation and communicate about these and work within them. You challenge the validity of constraints at the right time and with the right stakeholders. You ensure design standards are being met.
- Leadership and guidance - you contribute to best-practice guidelines around user-centred design and agile ways of working. You understand the sustainability and consequences of your design decisions and make design decisions characterised by managed levels of risk and complexity. You resolve technical design disputes between wider peers and indirect stakeholders, taking into account all views and opinions. You understand the importance of team dynamics and collaboration for good user-centred design, and can receive and deliver feedback appropriately.
- Prototyping in code - you create HTML, CSS and JavaScript prototypes, whilst using appropriate Government and other design systems. You code for different screen sizes. You version and host prototypes.
- Prototyping - you approach prototyping as a team activity, actively soliciting prototypes and testing with others for feedback. You establish design patterns and iterate them. You use a variety of methods of prototyping and choose the most appropriate one, such as coded prototypes or low-fidelity wireframes, based on its strengths and suitability. You show the value of prototyping to the team by delivering presentations.
- Strategic thinking - you work within a strategic context and communicate how activities meet strategic goals. You contribute to the development of strategy and policies, and act as an advocate for user-centred design.
- User focus - you collaborate with user researchers and represent users internally. You understand the difference between user needs and the desires of the user. You champion user research to focus on all users. You prioritise and define approaches to understand the user story, guiding others in doing so. You offer suggestions on tools and methods to be used.
In addition to the above accountabilities, as post holder you are expected to:
Undertake additional duties and responsibilities in line with the overall purpose of your role.
Demonstrate NHSBSA values and Core Capabilities in all aspects of your work.
Promote and foster your own and colleagues safety and well-being.
Contribute to a culture that values diversity and inclusion.
Comply with NHSBSA policies, procedures and protocols as they apply to your role.
Working relationships
Responsible to: Digital Team Manager, Professional Lead for User Centred Design and Digital Delivery Manager
Key relationships and connections:
Other DesignersSolution DesignersTestersDevelopersChange TeamInternal and external clients and customersInternal and external StakeholdersDelivery ManagersProfessional Lead for User Centred Design
Job description
Job responsibilities
In this role, you are accountable for:
- Working in an Agile way - you work in an agile way, and have an awareness of agile tools and how to use them. You advise colleagues on how and why agile methods are used and provide a clear, open and transparent framework in which teams can deliver. You adapt and reflect and are resilient to challenges. You see outside of the design process.
- Communicating with others - you listen to the needs of technical and business stakeholders, and interpret them in a way that is clear for both technical and non-technical audiences. You build positive relationships within the team and with stakeholders and influence expectations. You are flexible and communicate proactively and reactively. You facilitate difficult discussions within a multidisciplinary team, with diverse senior stakeholders and potentially difficult dynamics where the audience may not be familiar with user-centred design
- Community collaboration - you work collaboratively within a group, actively networking with others and varying feedback for the appropriate time to ensure the discussion sticks - both internally and across other government agencies. You use your initiative to identify problems or issues in the team dynamic and rectify them. You proactively pull out issues about design and research through agile health checks to provoke the best responses.
- Digital perspective - you are responsive to changes in technology that may impact designs, adapting your approach accordingly. You make decisions to meet user needs in the government context. You understand the importance of assisted digital and design and make decisions to meet users needs.
- Evidence- and context-based design - you absorb large amounts of conflicting information and use it to produce simple designs to meet user needs
- Experience of working within constraints - you identify constraints, such as policy or legislation and communicate about these and work within them. You challenge the validity of constraints at the right time and with the right stakeholders. You ensure design standards are being met.
- Leadership and guidance - you contribute to best-practice guidelines around user-centred design and agile ways of working. You understand the sustainability and consequences of your design decisions and make design decisions characterised by managed levels of risk and complexity. You resolve technical design disputes between wider peers and indirect stakeholders, taking into account all views and opinions. You understand the importance of team dynamics and collaboration for good user-centred design, and can receive and deliver feedback appropriately.
- Prototyping in code - you create HTML, CSS and JavaScript prototypes, whilst using appropriate Government and other design systems. You code for different screen sizes. You version and host prototypes.
- Prototyping - you approach prototyping as a team activity, actively soliciting prototypes and testing with others for feedback. You establish design patterns and iterate them. You use a variety of methods of prototyping and choose the most appropriate one, such as coded prototypes or low-fidelity wireframes, based on its strengths and suitability. You show the value of prototyping to the team by delivering presentations.
- Strategic thinking - you work within a strategic context and communicate how activities meet strategic goals. You contribute to the development of strategy and policies, and act as an advocate for user-centred design.
- User focus - you collaborate with user researchers and represent users internally. You understand the difference between user needs and the desires of the user. You champion user research to focus on all users. You prioritise and define approaches to understand the user story, guiding others in doing so. You offer suggestions on tools and methods to be used.
In addition to the above accountabilities, as post holder you are expected to:
Undertake additional duties and responsibilities in line with the overall purpose of your role.
Demonstrate NHSBSA values and Core Capabilities in all aspects of your work.
Promote and foster your own and colleagues safety and well-being.
Contribute to a culture that values diversity and inclusion.
Comply with NHSBSA policies, procedures and protocols as they apply to your role.
Working relationships
Responsible to: Digital Team Manager, Professional Lead for User Centred Design and Digital Delivery Manager
Key relationships and connections:
Other DesignersSolution DesignersTestersDevelopersChange TeamInternal and external clients and customersInternal and external StakeholdersDelivery ManagersProfessional Lead for User Centred Design
Person Specification
Personal Qualities, Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills to listen and respond to the needs of a range of audiences and interpret them clearly for both audiences
- Both proactive and reactive in communication. Able to engage in various feedback types, choosing the right style at the appropriate time and ensuring the discussion and decision stick.
- Able to cope in complex environments, prioritise effectively and identify and work within constraints.
- Able to apply best practices, deal with challenging situations and adopt a flexible approach to work and working hours.
- Knowledge of interaction design, with an ability to demonstrate knowledge of user-centred interaction design.
- Knowledge of and passion for user-centred design practices for both public-facing and internal services and applications.
- Knowledge of accessibility standards and guidelines and how to apply these standards to your work and others work.
- Proficient in HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, wireframing and data visualisation.
- Knowledge and appreciation of User Research.
Desirable
- Knowledge of standards such as NHS Service Standard, GDS Service Standard, ISO.
- Familiar with popular design frameworks such as NHS design system, GOV.UK design system, BBC's Global Experience Language (GEL). Experience with design patterns and their iteration.
- Proven ability to transfer and develop skills and knowledge into new areas at short notice.
Experience
Essential
- Proven experience working as a designer supporting a product team and working with users and stakeholders to develop design concepts.
- Experience in providing design advice, embedding good practice, and making important decisions based on research to improve products and services.
- Proven industry experience of applying design knowledge in interaction design and applying that to real-world applications.
- Experience in designing user interfaces. Able to demonstrate interaction design skills and fulfil user needs in your designs.
- Able to demonstrate your process in designing and building new digital services or improving existing ones.
- Experience in working effectively with cross-disciplinary teams and ensuring that making design decisions is based on design knowledge, user research and knowing the user journey.
- Experienced in creating prototypes and concepts to explore potential solutions and meet requirements.
- Experience in making complex things simple for users by distilling complex data and information into understandable and straightforward forms.
- Experienced in identify and implement solutions for assisted digital.
Desirable
- Experience in working in an agile/lean development process.
- Experience in designing for users with low digital skills and/or designing for users with physical and cognitive impairments.
- Experience in design using GDS standards.
- Experience developing new functionality and services within an online or business.
- Able to demonstrate strategic thinking and provide design consulting and leadership.
- Experience working with communities of practice - leading discussions and fostering a culture of learning.
Qualifications
Essential
- Professionally qualified to degree level or equivalent professional experience or willingness to work towards.
- Evidence of continuous professional development.
Desirable
- Working towards a recognised design qualification, for example in Service Design, Interaction Design, Design, Human-Centred Design, Ergonomics, etc. or Design Management or Management (e.g. MBA, Postgraduate certificate in Management).
Person Specification
Personal Qualities, Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills to listen and respond to the needs of a range of audiences and interpret them clearly for both audiences
- Both proactive and reactive in communication. Able to engage in various feedback types, choosing the right style at the appropriate time and ensuring the discussion and decision stick.
- Able to cope in complex environments, prioritise effectively and identify and work within constraints.
- Able to apply best practices, deal with challenging situations and adopt a flexible approach to work and working hours.
- Knowledge of interaction design, with an ability to demonstrate knowledge of user-centred interaction design.
- Knowledge of and passion for user-centred design practices for both public-facing and internal services and applications.
- Knowledge of accessibility standards and guidelines and how to apply these standards to your work and others work.
- Proficient in HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, wireframing and data visualisation.
- Knowledge and appreciation of User Research.
Desirable
- Knowledge of standards such as NHS Service Standard, GDS Service Standard, ISO.
- Familiar with popular design frameworks such as NHS design system, GOV.UK design system, BBC's Global Experience Language (GEL). Experience with design patterns and their iteration.
- Proven ability to transfer and develop skills and knowledge into new areas at short notice.
Experience
Essential
- Proven experience working as a designer supporting a product team and working with users and stakeholders to develop design concepts.
- Experience in providing design advice, embedding good practice, and making important decisions based on research to improve products and services.
- Proven industry experience of applying design knowledge in interaction design and applying that to real-world applications.
- Experience in designing user interfaces. Able to demonstrate interaction design skills and fulfil user needs in your designs.
- Able to demonstrate your process in designing and building new digital services or improving existing ones.
- Experience in working effectively with cross-disciplinary teams and ensuring that making design decisions is based on design knowledge, user research and knowing the user journey.
- Experienced in creating prototypes and concepts to explore potential solutions and meet requirements.
- Experience in making complex things simple for users by distilling complex data and information into understandable and straightforward forms.
- Experienced in identify and implement solutions for assisted digital.
Desirable
- Experience in working in an agile/lean development process.
- Experience in designing for users with low digital skills and/or designing for users with physical and cognitive impairments.
- Experience in design using GDS standards.
- Experience developing new functionality and services within an online or business.
- Able to demonstrate strategic thinking and provide design consulting and leadership.
- Experience working with communities of practice - leading discussions and fostering a culture of learning.
Qualifications
Essential
- Professionally qualified to degree level or equivalent professional experience or willingness to work towards.
- Evidence of continuous professional development.
Desirable
- Working towards a recognised design qualification, for example in Service Design, Interaction Design, Design, Human-Centred Design, Ergonomics, etc. or Design Management or Management (e.g. MBA, Postgraduate certificate in Management).
Additional information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
