Interaction Designer
Government Digital Services -
Who we are
At the Government Digital Service (GDS), our mission is to build a simple, joined-up and personalised experience of government for everyone. Using our unique position at the centre of government, we develop services that work for the user, however complex the underlying systems may be. We believe that ensuring things work for end users is the only way to realise the efficiencies that come with digital transformation.
Our focus is on delivering five missions in the following areas:
GOV.UK as the single and trusted online destination for government information and services
Joined-up services that solve whole problems and span multiple departments
A simple digital identity solution that works for everyone
Common tools and expert services
Joined-up data across departments
You can read more about these missions and our vision for the transformation of government in our 2021-2024 strategy
What you'll do
As a designer at GDS you’ll work in multidisciplinary teams, alongside researchers and developers, to deliver world-class, user centred public services that meet the Government Design Principles.
You’ll help identify and fix some of the toughest problems in public infrastructure and you will be focussing on design of services at scale. You’ll help the government transform the way it delivers services, so that they’re more efficient, simpler, faster and easier to use.
You'll be part of a fantastic design community in government, where we share ideas and challenges with 1000s of designers across the public sector. This is a chance to work on services that matter, at a huge scale, with people who value design.
Find out more about the work in this blog post or the Design in Government blog.
As an Interaction Designer you’ll:
- work effectively in a multidisciplinary, agile environment, adapting quickly to changes in requirements, priorities or user needs
- use research and analytics to understand users needs, identify service failures and test different designs
- design collaboratively and in the open, engaging your whole team with the design process and adapting it if necessary
- champion accessibility and inclusion, consider the impact of new technologies and ensure that designs meet legal requirements
- collaborate with designers in other teams and departments, reviewing each others work and developing shared patterns
Who you are
We’re interested in people who:
- Designs clear, usable, accessible digital interfaces that work across a range of devices and browsers
- experienced in making effective decisions with user research data
- experienced of working with senior stakeholders and ability to negotiate important design decisions
- experienced in engaging with people in a variety of ways (eg, workshops or co-design activities)
- has an understanding of the importance of inclusive, equitable, accessible and sustainable public services
Additional Information
The selection process as a standard for all of our roles consists of:
- An application screening process - please include a link to your portfolio in your cover letter or cv to show some examples of your design work
- An interview
- A task
GDS is based in Bristol, London and Manchester, and this role is part of our focussed growth in Manchester during 2021/22. You will be part of a growing community in Manchester, working with colleagues across all three sites. GDS supports flexible working, including a balance between office and home-based working. Normally this will mean 2 days a week in the office, or more if that works better for you and the role.
A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.
Candidates that do not pass the interview, however have demonstrated an acceptable standard will be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.
