Expressions of Interest - UI / UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Expressions of Interest - UI / UX Designer

Company: Boost

Location: Wellington, Wellington Region, New Zealand

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: UI/UX Design, Product Design, Software Development

Date Posted: 2026-08-24

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and develop user-centered digital experiences, from initial research to high-fidelity prototypes, ensuring seamless user journeys and intuitive interfaces.

• Collaborate within an Agile software development environment, actively participating in iterative design processes and contributing to a high-performing team.

• Champion accessibility and usability best practices, integrating them into all design outputs to create inclusive and effective digital solutions.

• Leverage AI design tools to enhance productivity, automate routine tasks, and explore innovative design workflows for improved efficiency.

• Build and maintain design systems and component libraries to ensure consistency, scalability, and maintainability across all digital products.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically focused on UI/UX Design within a software development company serving the public sector. The emphasis is on creating user-centered digital products with a strong consideration for accessibility, Agile methodologies, and the integration of emerging AI design tools. The "Expressions of Interest" nature suggests an ongoing need or a proactive approach to talent acquisition for this specialized role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end design process for bespoke digital experiences, encompassing user research, wireframing, information architecture, and the creation of high-fidelity UI designs and interactive prototypes.

• Conduct comprehensive user research, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to gather insights and inform design decisions that align with user needs and business objectives.

• Actively participate in Agile ceremonies and workflows, contributing to sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives, ensuring design deliverables are aligned with development timelines.

• Develop, manage, and advocate for the use of design systems and component libraries, ensuring consistency, reusability, and adherence to brand guidelines across all digital solutions.

• Foster strong collaborative relationships with developers, product owners, and stakeholders to ensure accurate implementation of designs and to translate conceptual ideas into functional, user-friendly software.

• Serve as a subject matter expert and advocate for accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG), ensuring all designs are inclusive and meet regulatory requirements for public sector applications.

• Explore and integrate AI-powered design tools and techniques to optimize workflows, enhance creative output, and identify opportunities for innovation in user experience design.

• Proactively identify and solve complex design challenges through resourceful problem-solving, self-direction, and a continuous learning mindset.

• Contribute to a positive and collaborative team dynamic by sharing knowledge, providing constructive feedback, and actively participating in design critiques and team discussions.

• Engage with clients to understand their needs, build trust, and ensure design solutions effectively address their challenges and achieve desired outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design execution, strategic thinking, and collaborative teamwork. The emphasis on "bespoke digital experiences" and "public sector organisations" suggests a need for nuanced design solutions tailored to specific user groups and regulatory environments. The expectation to "champion accessibility" and "understand how AI tools can enhance productivity" are key differentiators for this role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Visual Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Graphic Design, or a related field.

• Postgraduate degree in UX or a similar discipline is highly desirable. Experience:

• A minimum of 2-5 years of professional experience in designing user-centered digital products, with a proven track record of successfully delivering impactful UX/UI solutions.

• Demonstrated experience working within Agile software development methodologies and cross-functional teams. Required Skills:

• UX Design: Proficient in user research methodologies, persona development, user journey mapping, and information architecture.

• UI Design: Expertise in creating intuitive, visually appealing, and accessible user interfaces across various digital platforms.

• Design & Prototyping Tools: Advanced proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar.

• Wireframing & Prototyping: Ability to translate concepts into detailed wireframes and interactive prototypes to visualize user flows and test design hypotheses.

• User Research & Usability Testing: Experience in planning, conducting, and analyzing user research and usability testing sessions.

• Agile Methodologies: Solid understanding and practical experience working within Agile frameworks (Scrum, Kanban).

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions effectively and collaborate with diverse teams and stakeholders.

• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to identify and resolve complex design challenges.

Preferred Skills:

• Design Systems & Component Libraries: Experience in creating, maintaining, and implementing design systems.

• Accessibility Standards (WCAG): In-depth knowledge of accessibility guidelines and best practices for digital products.

• AI Design Tools: Familiarity with AI-powered design tools for tasks such as content generation, image editing, or workflow automation.

• Visual Design Degree/Postgraduate: Formal education in a design-related field further strengthens qualifications.

• Public Sector Experience: Prior experience designing solutions for government or public sector organizations is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience level is defined as mid-level, indicating a need for practical application of skills rather than entry-level knowledge. The emphasis on Figma is prominent, suggesting it's the primary tool of choice. Proficiency in AI design tools is a forward-looking requirement, indicating the company's interest in modernizing its design processes.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 2-3 distinct projects that demonstrate your end-to-end UX/UI design process.

• Each project should clearly articulate the problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the design process followed (including research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and UI design), and the final solution.

• Evidence of user research methodologies employed and how user insights directly influenced design decisions.

• Demonstrations of high-fidelity UI designs and interactive prototypes, ideally showcasing responsiveness and user flow.

• Examples of how you have applied accessibility principles in your designs. Process Documentation:

• Include case studies that detail your iterative design approach, highlighting challenges encountered, solutions developed, and lessons learned.

• Showcase your ability to work effectively within an Agile framework, perhaps by including examples of how you’ve collaborated with developers and product owners.

• If applicable, include examples of contributions to design systems, component libraries, or style guides.

• Demonstrate your understanding of how AI tools can be integrated into the design process, with specific examples of their application in your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role, serving as the primary evidence of a candidate's design capabilities and process. The emphasis is on demonstrating a user-centered approach, iterative design, and the ability to translate research into tangible design solutions. The inclusion of AI tool usage in the portfolio is a key differentiator.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Indicative salary range: NZD $60,000 – $110,000 per year.

• The final offer will be determined based on the candidate's unique skills, experience, and the value they bring to the team, discussed during the hiring process. Benefits:

• Continuous Learning and Growth: Opportunities for professional development, skill enhancement, and staying current with design trends and technologies.

• Work/Life Balance: A commitment to fostering a healthy work-life balance, respecting personal time and promoting well-being.

• Democratic Workplace: Participation in a WorldBlu-certified democratic workplace where employees have a strong voice in shaping the company and its direction.

• Collaborative Culture: Being part of a supportive team environment that encourages idea sharing, experimentation, and mutual growth.

• Purpose-Driven Work: Contributing to creating positive impacts for public sector organizations and the people they serve.

• Team Celebrations: A culture that recognizes and celebrates team successes together.

Working Hours:

• This is a full-time role, typically requiring approximately 40 hours per week.

• While the role is on-site, the company culture emphasizes genuine work/life balance, suggesting flexibility where appropriate within the on-site framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided and is competitive for a mid-level UI/UX Designer in New Zealand. The benefits strongly emphasize culture, professional development, and a unique democratic workplace model, which are significant selling points for candidates seeking a purpose-driven and empowering work environment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software Development, Technology Consulting, Public Sector Solutions.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, the description implies a close-knit, high-performing team, suggesting a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) rather than a large corporation. The mention of a "small, dedicated and high-performing Agile software team" supports this.

Founded: 24 years ago, indicating a mature company with a stable history and established reputation in the New Zealand market.

Team Structure:

• The UI/UX Designer will be part of a "small, dedicated and high-performing Agile software team."

• This team works closely with Product Owners and developers, suggesting a cross-functional, integrated structure.

• The company operates on a "no top-down management" principle, fostering leadership at all levels, indicating a flat hierarchy and empowered teams. Methodology:

• Agile Development: The core methodology for software development, emphasizing iterative progress, frequent testing, and continuous learning.

• User-Centered Design: A fundamental approach to all design activities, ensuring that user needs and experiences are at the forefront of product development.

• Data-Driven Decisions: While not explicitly detailed for design, the company's mission to create "positive impacts" and focus on "best experience" implies a reliance on data and feedback to inform strategies.

• Democratic Workplace Practices: Encouraging employee participation in decision-making, process improvement, and shaping the company's direction.

Company Website: https://jobs.workable.com/company/jDDQH7BRz3d83iyccowPmL/jobs-at-boost (Note: This is a job board URL, the actual company website would be boost.org or similar, as per the domain_derived field).

📝 Enhancement Note: Boost positions itself as a purpose-led, values-driven organization with a unique democratic workplace culture. This is a significant differentiator and will appeal to candidates seeking an empowering and collaborative environment. The company's long history suggests stability and expertise in delivering solutions for the public sector.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level UI/UX Designer. This role requires a solid foundation of practical experience (2-5 years) and the ability to work autonomously while also contributing effectively within a team. The individual is expected to handle design tasks from research to final UI, and to champion best practices.

Reporting Structure: The UI/UX Designer will work closely with Product Owners and the development team within a small, dedicated Agile software team. Given the "no top-down management" and "democratic workplace" culture, direct reporting lines may be less hierarchical, with a focus on team collaboration and shared leadership. The designer is expected to contribute to growing the design team's capabilities, suggesting potential for mentorship or leadership development over time.

Operations Impact: The UI/UX Designer's impact is central to the success of Boost's digital solutions. By creating user-centered, accessible, and effective digital experiences, they directly influence the positive impact the company has on public sector organizations and their users. Their work contributes to client satisfaction, user adoption, efficiency gains for clients, and ultimately, the company's reputation for delivering high-quality, impactful software. The integration of AI tools also positions them to drive innovation and efficiency within the company's design processes.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of UX/UI design, such as user research, interaction design, accessibility, or design systems.

• AI Design Integration: Become a go-to expert within the team for leveraging AI tools to enhance design workflows and outcomes.

• Team Leadership: As the design team grows, opportunities may arise to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives, or contribute to defining design strategy.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Gain broader experience in Agile software development, product ownership, and client relationship management through close collaboration.

• Democratic Workplace Contribution: Take on roles in shaping company processes, choosing projects, or contributing to strategic decisions, leveraging the democratic structure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path is less about traditional hierarchical promotion and more about expanding expertise, influencing processes, and contributing to the unique democratic culture. The opportunity to shape the design function and the company's direction is a significant draw for ambitious professionals.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Boost's Wellington office, and remote applicants are not being considered. This indicates a preference for an on-site, collaborative work environment.

Office Location(s): Wellington, Wellington Region, New Zealand. This central location in New Zealand's capital city offers access to a vibrant professional community.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The company culture emphasizes teamwork, idea sharing, and mutual support. The workspace is likely designed to facilitate this, with opportunities for spontaneous interaction and dedicated collaboration spaces.

• Operations Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma) and potentially AI design tools. The company is likely to provide the necessary hardware and software to support design activities.

• Operations Team Interaction: Close proximity and regular interaction with Agile software teams, product owners, and potentially clients, fostering a dynamic and communicative work setting.

• Democratic Workplace: The physical workspace might reflect the company's democratic values, potentially with flexible arrangements or spaces that encourage open discussion and shared decision-making.

Work Schedule: Full-time role, approximately 40 hours per week. While on-site, the company culture promotes "genuine work/life balance," suggesting a focus on efficient work rather than just hours clocked, and potentially some flexibility within the standard work week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on an on-site role in Wellington, combined with a culture that values collaboration and work-life balance, suggests a supportive and engaging physical work environment. Candidates should expect to be actively involved in team activities and discussions.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application: Submit CV, portfolio examples, and a cover letter.

• Test-drive Boost Event: This is a key component, described as a "hands-on experience where you’ll collaborate on problem-solving activities with our team." This allows candidates to experience the team culture and work style firsthand. It's a practical assessment of skills and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review: Expect a deep dive into your submitted portfolio. Be prepared to discuss your design process, rationale behind decisions, challenges faced, and how you leveraged user research and other methodologies.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities to meet team members and assess cultural alignment.

• Final Evaluation: Discussions likely focused on your fit with Boost's values (courageous, responsible, service over status), your ability to self-direct, and your potential to contribute to the company's mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Structure your portfolio projects as compelling stories, clearly outlining the problem, your process, your contributions, and the impact of your design solutions.

• Process Emphasis: Don't just show the final UI; detail your research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and testing phases. Explain why you made certain decisions.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics or qualitative feedback to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved user satisfaction, increased task completion rates, reduced errors).

• Accessibility Showcase: Highlight specific instances where you’ve considered and implemented accessibility best practices.

• AI Tool Integration: If you've used AI tools, be ready to explain how they were integrated into your workflow and the benefits they provided.

• Company Alignment: Briefly touch upon how your values and design philosophy align with Boost's stated values.

Challenge Preparation:

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Be prepared for practical design challenges during the "Test-drive Boost" event. These might involve analyzing a problem, sketching initial concepts, or discussing potential solutions.

• Agile Context: Think about how you would approach design within an Agile sprint. How do you balance speed with thoroughness? How do you collaborate with developers under time constraints?

• Value Demonstration: Be ready to articulate how your skills and approach align with Boost's core values (courageous, responsible, service over status).

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Test-drive Boost" event is a unique and critical part of the hiring process, serving as both an assessment and an experience for the candidate. Candidates should prepare to actively engage, showcase their problem-solving skills in real-time, and demonstrate a strong cultural fit.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a required expertise for design and prototyping. This will be the core tool for UI design, wireframing, and prototyping.

• User Research Tools: While not specified, expect to use tools for surveys (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform), user interviews (e.g., Zoom, Teams), and usability testing platforms (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback).

• Prototyping Tools: Figma's prototyping capabilities are key, but familiarity with other tools like InVision or Adobe XD might be beneficial.

• AI Design Tools: Mentioned as a plus, indicating an interest in AI-powered tools for tasks such as image generation (e.g., Midjourney, DALL-E), content assistance (e.g., ChatGPT for copy), or design optimization.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Website Analytics: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics or similar platforms to understand user behavior on digital products.

• User Feedback Platforms: Tools for collecting and analyzing user feedback.

• Data Visualization Tools: While not a primary focus for this role, an understanding of how design impacts metrics tracked by these tools is useful.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot): Understanding how design choices impact user journeys within CRM systems, particularly for public sector applications, could be beneficial.

• Project Management Tools (e.g., Jira, Asana): Essential for collaboration within Agile teams, tracking tasks, and managing design sprints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirement is proficiency in Figma. Familiarity with AI design tools is a significant advantage, reflecting the company's forward-thinking approach. Understanding how design integrates with broader development and product management tools like Jira is also crucial for an Agile environment.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values: Boost explicitly states its core organizational values:

• Courageous: Willingness to take calculated risks, challenge the status quo, and innovate. For a designer, this means proposing bold ideas, advocating for user needs even when difficult, and embracing new technologies like AI.

• Responsible: Taking ownership of work, delivering on commitments, and acting with integrity. This translates to meticulous design work, thorough research, and accountability for the impact of designs.

• Cares about Service over Status: Prioritizing the needs of clients and users above personal recognition or hierarchy. This means focusing on delivering value, building strong client relationships, and ensuring designs serve a genuine purpose.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The designer will work deeply with Product Owners and Developers, requiring open communication, shared understanding of goals, and a collaborative approach to problem-solving.

• Iterative and Agile: Collaboration is inherently tied to the Agile process, involving frequent feedback loops, quick iterations, and a shared responsibility for product development.

• Knowledge Sharing: The culture encourages continuous learning and sharing. Expect regular opportunities for design critiques, workshops, and informal knowledge exchange to elevate the team's collective expertise.

• Democratic Input: Collaboration extends to decision-making processes, where team members are encouraged to contribute ideas and influence the direction of projects and the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: Boost's values are central to its identity. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how they embody these principles in their work and interactions. The emphasis on "Service over Status" and a "Democratic Workplace" are key cultural indicators.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Public Sector Constraints: Designing for public sector organizations often involves navigating complex requirements, regulatory frameworks, and diverse user demographics, which can be challenging.

• Integrating AI Tools Effectively: While AI offers potential, effectively integrating new tools and workflows requires experimentation, learning, and adapting existing processes.

• Maintaining Design Consistency in a Democratic Environment: Ensuring a cohesive design system and consistent user experience across projects when decision-making is distributed requires strong communication and advocacy.

• Driving Innovation in a Mature Company: Balancing the company's 24-year history and established practices with the introduction of new design approaches and technologies like AI.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized UX/UI Training: Opportunities to attend workshops, conferences, or online courses to deepen expertise in specific design disciplines.

• AI Design Exploration: Dedicated time and resources to experiment with and learn new AI design tools and their applications.

• Mentorship: Potential to be mentored by senior team members or to mentor others, contributing to personal and team growth.

• Project Variety: Exposure to a range of projects within the public sector, offering diverse design challenges and learning experiences.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to take on leadership roles within projects or contribute to company-wide decision-making processes in the democratic workplace.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed as opportunities for growth. Candidates who are adaptable, enjoy problem-solving, and are eager to learn will find this role rewarding. The company actively supports continuous learning, which is crucial in the rapidly evolving fields of UX/UI design and AI.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex user problem you solved. Walk us through your process, the tools you used, and the impact of your solution." (Focus on problem framing, research, iterative design, and quantifiable results.)

• "How would you approach designing a new digital service for [specific public sector function, e.g., citizen reporting, service application] for the first time?" (Assess your understanding of user research, information architecture, and accessibility in a public sector context.)

• "How do you ensure accessibility is a core consideration throughout the design process, not just an add-on?" (Demonstrate knowledge of WCAG and practical implementation strategies.)

• "Describe a time you had to advocate for a design decision that was met with resistance. How did you handle it?" (Assess your communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.)

• "How do you see AI tools evolving the role of a UI/UX designer? Give an example of how you might use an AI tool in your daily workflow." (Gauge your understanding of emerging technologies and your willingness to adapt.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to Boost's mission of creating positive impacts for public sector organizations?" (Show genuine interest in the company's purpose.)

• "How do you embody Boost's values of being courageous, responsible, and caring about service over status in your work?" (Prepare specific examples.)

• "What are your thoughts on a democratic workplace structure like Boost's? How do you see yourself contributing to it?" (Demonstrate an understanding of collaborative decision-making and your ability to contribute constructively.)

• "How do you approach work-life balance, and what does 'genuine' work-life balance mean to you?" (Align with the company's cultural emphasis.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Concise Storytelling: For each project, aim for a 3-5 minute overview that hits the key points: problem, your role, process, solution, and impact.

• Focus on Process: Be ready to explain why you chose specific research methods, design patterns, or tools. Show your thinking.

• Highlight Iteration: Demonstrate how you responded to feedback, conducted testing, and refined your designs.

• Accessibility & AI Integration: Be prepared to specifically point out where accessibility was a consideration and where AI tools were used and what value they added.

• Visual Clarity: Ensure your presentation slides or digital portfolio are clean, well-organized, and visually appealing, reflecting your UI design skills.

• Engage with Questions: Be ready to answer in-depth questions about your decisions and methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only design skills but also cultural fit and alignment with Boost's unique values and democratic structure. Candidates should prepare specific examples and demonstrate a thoughtful approach to collaboration and problem-solving.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your CV, a selection of your previous work examples demonstrating your design skills and process (or your portfolio), and a cover letter explaining your interest in joining the Boost team.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that best showcase your user-centered design process, your experience with Figma, and any instances where you've considered accessibility or utilized AI design tools. Prioritize projects that demonstrate problem-solving and iterative design.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience, key skills (UX/UI Design, Figma, Agile, User Research), and any relevant educational background. Use keywords from the job description to align with ATS scanning.

• Cover Letter Focus: Use your cover letter to express your enthusiasm for Boost's mission and values. Connect your personal approach to work with their emphasis on courage, responsibility, service over status, and the democratic workplace.

• "Test-drive Boost" Preparation: Research Boost's work and culture thoroughly. Prepare to actively participate in problem-solving activities and articulate your design thinking process clearly and concisely during the event. Be ready to ask insightful questions about the role and the team.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.