📍 Job Overview
Job Title: Senior UX/UI Designer
Company: PA Consulting
Location: London, United Kingdom
Job Type: Full-time
Category: UX/UI Design, Service Design
Date Posted: 2025-06-11T09:03:22.582
Experience Level: 5+ Years (Senior Level)
Remote Status: Hybrid (Minimum 2 days per week in office or client site)
🎨 Role Summary
- Leading complex design projects from initial strategy and user research through to final execution and implementation, ensuring a human-centered design approach.
- Producing high-quality design deliverables across the entire user experience and user interface spectrum, including wireframes, prototypes, user flows, and visual designs.
- Driving design innovation and ensuring the delivery of exceptional design outcomes that meet both user needs and business objectives.
- Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and other consultants, to integrate design seamlessly into the development lifecycle.
- Mentoring and guiding junior designers, fostering a collaborative and inclusive team environment focused on design excellence and continuous improvement.
🖼️ Primary Responsibilities
- Lead and manage complex design assignments from strategy definition to execution, structuring workstreams, defining deliverables, and managing project risks for medium-sized client engagements.
- Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with senior clients, effectively communicating design decisions and rationales to achieve desired outcomes.
- Produce exceptional design deliverables across the full design spectrum, including conducting user research, creating personas, developing journey maps, designing information architecture, crafting wireframes and interactive prototypes, and delivering high-fidelity UI designs and specifications.
- Drive design excellence and innovation, ensuring all design outputs are of the highest quality, meet project deadlines, and align with strategic goals and user needs.
- Contribute significantly to business development activities, including identifying new client opportunities, leading and contributing to proposals and pitches, and enhancing existing service offerings.
- Mentor and coach design colleagues, fostering a culture of learning, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the design team and the wider Digital & Data community.
- Work effectively within agile methodologies and collaborate cross-functionally with product, engineering, and other expert teams to bring innovative software solutions to life.
- Balance internal projects and initiatives with client deliverables, ensuring seamless integration of design and business objectives across all engagements.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior UX/UI Designer role in a consulting environment. Equivalent professional experience demonstrating a strong foundation in design principles and methodologies may also be considered.
Experience: A proven track record as a visionary and pragmatic Senior UX/UI Designer with significant experience (typically 5+ years) in creating and delivering successful services for both private and public sector clients. Experience in a client-facing role within an agency or consultancy, including leading proposals and owning assignment outcomes, is essential. A strong portfolio showcasing complex projects and detailed design processes is required.
Required Skills:
- Expert proficiency in UX research methodologies, including user interviews, usability testing, surveys, and synthesizing findings into actionable insights.
- Advanced skills in UI design, including visual design principles, typography, color theory, layout, and creating high-fidelity mockups and prototypes.
- Extensive experience in Service Design, including mapping customer journeys, service blueprints, and designing holistic service experiences.
- Proven ability to lead complex design projects from end-to-end, managing stakeholders, timelines, and deliverables effectively.
- Strong client relationship management skills, with the ability to build rapport, understand client needs, and present design solutions persuasively.
- Experience in leading and contributing to business development activities, such as proposal writing and client pitches.
- Collaborative and empathetic leadership style with experience in mentoring and developing design team members.
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, with a knack for analytical thinking and tackling complex challenges.
- Proficiency in industry-standard design tools (see Tools & Technology Stack section for specifics).
- Familiarity with agile development methodologies and working effectively in cross-functional teams.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working across various industries, including Consumer & Manufacturing, Public Sector, Defence & Security, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, and Transport.
- Familiarity with current trends in service design and emerging technologies like AI, automation, and digital transformation.
- Experience with the UK Government Service Standard is considered a significant bonus.
- Strong business acumen and the ability to identify new opportunities and contribute to expanding client accounts.
- Experience with design systems creation, maintenance, and governance.
🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
- Your portfolio should clearly showcase your end-to-end design process on complex projects, demonstrating your ability to move from initial research and strategy through to final UI execution and impact measurement.
- Include detailed case studies that articulate the problem you were solving, your role in the project, the methodologies you employed (UX research, service design mapping, etc.), key design decisions and their rationale, and the outcomes or impact of your work.
- Present a range of design deliverables, including wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs, demonstrating your proficiency with design tools and attention to detail.
- Showcase projects where you successfully navigated complex stakeholder environments and collaborated effectively with cross-functional teams (product, engineering, business).
Process Documentation:
- For each case study, clearly document your research and discovery process, including how you gathered user insights, defined the problem space, and established project goals.
- Detail your ideation and iteration methods, showcasing how you explored different design solutions, tested concepts, and refined your designs based on feedback and user testing.
- Explain your validation and testing approaches, including usability testing methodologies, A/B testing if applicable, and how you measured the success of your design solutions.
- Articulate your design decisions with clear rationale, demonstrating your understanding of user needs, business requirements, and technical constraints.
💵 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: While not specified in the job description, based on industry data for a Senior UX/UI Designer in London, UK, with 5+ years of experience at a consulting firm of PA Consulting's size and reputation, the expected salary range is typically between £60,000 and £90,000 per year. This estimate is based on market research of similar roles in the London area, considering the required experience level, the consulting nature of the role, and the company's profile. Actual compensation may vary based on individual experience, skills, and performance.
Benefits:
- Comprehensive health and lifestyle perks, including private healthcare coverage for the employee and their family.
- Generous annual leave entitlement of 25 days, with an additional half-day on Christmas Eve, and the option to purchase up to 5 extra days.
- Participation in a generous company pension scheme to support long-term financial planning.
- Opportunities to engage in community and charity-based initiatives supported by PA Consulting.
- Eligibility for an annual performance-based bonus, rewarding individual and company success.
- Opportunity to participate in PA share ownership schemes, aligning employee interests with company performance.
- Access to tax-efficient benefits such as Cycle to Work and Give As You Earn schemes.
Working Hours: Full-time position with hybrid working arrangements. Employees are expected to be in the office or on client site a minimum of 2 days per week. The actual time spent on-site may vary depending on project requirements, potentially including up to 5 days per week on a client site.
🎯Team & Company Context
🏢 Company & Design Culture
Industry: Business Consulting and Services. PA Consulting operates across diverse sectors including Consumer and Manufacturing, Defence and Security, Energy and Utilities, Financial Services, Government and Public Services, Health and Life Sciences, and Transport. This provides designers with opportunities to work on a wide variety of challenging projects with significant real-world impact.
Company Size: Over 4,000 employees globally, with over 5,000 according to LinkedIn data. This size suggests a well-established organization with structured teams, resources for professional development, and opportunities for collaboration across different disciplines and regions. For design professionals, this means potential for working on large-scale, complex projects and being part of a sizable design community within the firm.
Founded: While the founding date is not explicitly provided in the job description, PA Consulting has a long history in the consulting space, indicating a stable and experienced organization with established methodologies and client relationships. The company's slogan, "Bringing Ingenuity to Life," suggests a culture that values innovative thinking and practical application of ideas.
Team Structure:
- The role is within the Digital & Data community, working alongside product, engineering, and other experts. This indicates a cross-functional team structure where designers collaborate closely with other disciplines.
- Senior designers are expected to lead and manage medium-sized assignments and build high-performing, motivated teams. This suggests a project-based team structure where individuals may rotate across different client engagements.
- There is a focus on knowledge-sharing and peer-level support within the tech community, implying a collaborative environment where designers can learn from and mentor colleagues.
Methodology:
- The company emphasizes combining strategic thinking, customer-centric service design, and agile engineering practices. This indicates a strong focus on user-centered design methodologies integrated within agile development cycles.
- Work practices include live in-person whiteboarding sessions for problem-solving and asynchronous communication using tools like Teams. This highlights a blend of collaborative face-to-face interaction and flexible digital communication.
- A culture of learning and growth is promoted, with budget allocated for technical and non-technical training and certifications, supporting continuous improvement in design methodologies and skills.
Company Website: https://www.paconsulting.com
📈 Career & Growth Analysis
Design Career Level: This is a Senior-level design role. Senior designers at PA Consulting are expected to lead complex projects, mentor junior team members, contribute to business development, and influence design strategy. They operate with significant autonomy and are responsible for the successful delivery of design outcomes on client engagements.
Reporting Structure: While a specific reporting structure is not detailed, senior roles in a consulting firm typically report to a Principal Designer, Design Manager, or a Partner within the relevant practice area. The emphasis on building and leading teams on assignments suggests a matrix reporting structure where individuals report to both a practice lead and project leads.
Design Impact: Design is positioned as a core component of accelerating innovation and bringing ideas to life through software solutions. Senior designers have a significant impact on shaping client strategies, influencing decisions, and ensuring that technology solutions are customer-centric and effective. Their work directly contributes to achieving enduring results for clients across various sectors.
Growth Opportunities:
- Opportunity to progress along a technical career track within the Digital & Data community, focusing on deepening design expertise and leadership in design practice, without necessarily moving into a Partner role.
- Significant opportunities for skill development through a culture of learning and growth, with dedicated budget for technical and non-technical training, courses, and certifications relevant to design and consulting.
- Potential for advancement into leadership roles within the design practice, such as Design Principal or Lead Designer, focusing on practice development, large-scale project leadership, and mentoring.
- Exposure to a broad variety of projects and clients across seven diverse sectors, allowing designers to build expertise in different industries and design challenges.
🌐 Work Environment
Studio Type: PA Consulting has multiple office locations globally, including a primary location in London. The London office at Bressenden Place is described as a base for hybrid working, suggesting a professional office environment equipped for collaboration and client meetings. While not explicitly called a "design studio," it serves as the central hub for team interaction and client work.
Office Location(s): The primary location for this role is 10 Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DH, UK. PA Consulting also has other offices across the UK and internationally, which may be relevant for collaboration or potential future assignments.
Design Workspace Context:
- The hybrid working model, with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office or client site, facilitates face-to-face collaboration, including live in-person whiteboarding sessions for problem-solving.
- The workspace is designed to support teamwork and cross-functional collaboration, enabling designers to work closely with product managers, engineers, and other experts.
- The environment is described as supportive and collaborative, fostering knowledge-sharing and peer-level support within the tech community, which includes the design team.
Work Schedule: Full-time position with a hybrid working schedule. The expectation is to be in the office or on client site at least two days per week. The specific days and the amount of time spent on client site (potentially up to 5 days per week) will vary depending on project requirements and assignment details, requiring flexibility.
📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process
Design Interview Process:
- Round 1: Competency Interview (45 mins): This initial interview will likely focus on assessing your core design skills, experience, and behavioral competencies. Be prepared to discuss past projects, how you've handled challenges, and your approach to teamwork and problem-solving. Tailor your responses to highlight your experience in leading projects and client interactions.
- Round 2: Case Study Task (60 mins): You will be given a design task or a case study scenario to analyze and present your approach. This round evaluates your design thinking process, problem-solving skills, and ability to articulate your rationale under time constraints. Practice structuring your thought process and presenting a concise, well-reasoned solution.
- Final Round: Meeting with a PA Leader (60 mins): This final interview will likely involve a senior leader or Partner. This round assesses your strategic thinking, business acumen, cultural fit with PA Consulting, and your potential to contribute to the firm's growth and client relationships. Be prepared to discuss your vision for design, how you can add value to PA, and your long-term career aspirations.
Portfolio Review Tips:
- Structure your portfolio to clearly present 3-5 of your strongest case studies that demonstrate your experience with complex, end-to-end design projects, particularly those involving service design and working with diverse clients (public and private sector).
- For each case study, use a clear narrative structure (e.g., Problem, Role, Process, Solution, Impact) and focus on articulating your design decisions and the rationale behind them.
- Highlight your proficiency in various design tools and your ability to produce a range of deliverables, from early-stage sketches and wireframes to polished UI designs and interactive prototypes.
- Specifically showcase your experience in user research, service blueprinting, and demonstrating the impact of your design work on users and business outcomes.
- Prepare to walk through your case studies during the interview process, focusing on your process, collaboration with teams and stakeholders, and how you addressed challenges.
Challenge Preparation:
- For the case study task, practice structuring your thinking process under pressure. Focus on understanding the core problem, defining the scope, outlining your design approach (including research, ideation, and validation), and presenting a clear, justified solution within the allotted time.
- Be prepared to articulate your design decisions and rationale clearly and concisely. Think about how you would explain your approach to both design and non-design stakeholders.
- Consider how you would handle potential constraints or trade-offs inherent in the case study scenario. Demonstrate your pragmatic approach to design challenges.
ATS Keywords: Senior UX/UI Designer, Service Design, UX Research, UI Design, Agile, Consulting, Client Management, Project Leadership, Business Development, Strategic Thinking, Innovation, Team Leadership, Mentoring, Problem Solving, Analytical Thinking, Collaboration, User-Centered Design, Design Thinking, Wireframing, Prototyping, Usability Testing, User Interviews, Journey Mapping, Service Blueprinting, Digital Transformation, Emerging Technologies, UK Government Service Standard, Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, Miro, Mural, Jira, Confluence.
🛠 Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Design Tools:
- Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD: Proficiency in at least one of the leading UI/UX design tools is essential for creating wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs. Experience with component libraries and design systems within these tools is highly valuable for maintaining consistency across projects.
- InVision or similar prototyping tools: Experience with creating interactive prototypes to demonstrate user flows and gather feedback is expected.
- Miro or Mural: Familiarity with collaborative whiteboarding tools is likely used for remote or hybrid brainstorming, workshops, and affinity mapping during the research and ideation phases.
Collaboration & Handoff:
- Jira and Confluence: Experience working with project management and documentation tools commonly used in agile development environments for tracking tasks, managing backlogs, and documenting design specifications.
- Teams: Proficiency in using Microsoft Teams for asynchronous communication and collaboration with cross-functional teams and clients is mentioned as a key tool.
Research & Testing:
- While specific tools are not mentioned, experience with tools and methodologies for conducting user research (e.g., survey platforms, remote testing tools) and analyzing findings is implied by the requirement for strong UX research skills.
👥 Team Culture & Values
Design Values:
- Ingenuity: The core value of PA Consulting, "Bringing Ingenuity to Life," suggests a design culture that values innovative thinking, creative problem-solving, and the practical application of ideas to create tangible impact for clients. Designers are expected to be both visionary and pragmatic.
- Customer-Centricity: The emphasis on customer-centric service design indicates a strong focus on understanding user needs, behaviors, and motivations, and designing solutions that genuinely meet those needs and improve their experiences.
- Collaboration: The description highlights working in cross-functional teams and within a supportive tech community, suggesting a collaborative design culture where sharing knowledge, providing peer support, and working effectively with others are highly valued.
- Excellence and Innovation: The expectation to produce exceptional design deliverables and drive innovation points to a culture that strives for high-quality outcomes and encourages exploring new approaches and technologies in design.
Collaboration Style:
- Cross-functional collaboration is key, working closely with product, engineering, and other experts throughout the project lifecycle.
- Live, in-person whiteboarding sessions are used for collaborative problem-solving, indicating a preference for interactive, face-to-face ideation and discussion when possible.
- Asynchronous communication via tools like Teams is also utilized, suggesting a blend of real-time and flexible communication methods.
- There is a focus on knowledge-sharing and peer-level support within the tech community, fostering a collaborative environment for learning and growth among designers and other technical colleagues.
⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Design Challenges:
- Navigating the complexities of working with diverse clients across multiple sectors, each with unique business challenges, user needs, and technical constraints. Requires adaptability and the ability to quickly understand new domains.
- Leading and managing design on medium-sized client assignments, which involves balancing strategic thinking with practical execution, managing stakeholder expectations, and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality design outcomes.
- Contributing to business development and leading proposals, which requires strong communication, strategic thinking, and the ability to articulate the value of design in a compelling way to potential clients.
- Staying abreast of current trends in service design and emerging technologies (AI, automation, etc.) and effectively applying them to client solutions in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- Dedicated budget for technical and non-technical training, courses, and certifications, offering significant opportunities to deepen expertise in specific design areas, learn new tools, or develop consulting skills.
- Exposure to a wide range of projects and clients provides continuous learning by tackling diverse design challenges and working in different industry contexts.
- Mentoring and coaching opportunities, both as a mentor to junior colleagues and potentially receiving mentorship from senior leaders, supporting professional growth and leadership development.
- Opportunity to contribute to the development of the design practice within PA Consulting, shaping methodologies, sharing knowledge, and building the firm's reputation in design.
💡 Interview Preparation
Design Process Questions:
- Be prepared to walk through your end-to-end design process on a complex project, highlighting your approach to user research, synthesis, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration. Use specific examples from your portfolio case studies.
- Discuss how you collaborate with cross-functional teams (product, engineering, etc.) and manage stakeholders throughout the design process. Provide examples of how you've navigated disagreements or challenges in collaboration.
- Explain your approach to tackling ambiguous or ill-defined problems. Describe how you would define the problem space, set design goals, and measure success in a consulting context.
Company Culture Questions:
- Research PA Consulting's values and recent projects. Be prepared to discuss why you are interested in working for PA specifically and how your values and working style align with their culture of ingenuity, collaboration, and client focus.
- Ask questions about the structure of the design team, how design integrates with other practices, and the opportunities for knowledge sharing and professional development within the firm.
- Discuss your experience working in fast-paced, client-facing environments and how you adapt your approach to different client cultures and project demands.
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- Select 2-3 key case studies from your portfolio that best demonstrate your senior-level experience, particularly those involving complex service design, strategic thinking, and working with diverse clients (especially in sectors relevant to PA Consulting if possible).
- Structure your presentation to clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process (emphasizing research, iteration, and collaboration), your key design decisions and rationale, and the impact or outcomes of your work.
- Be prepared to discuss the challenges you faced on each project and how you overcame them. Highlight your leadership and problem-solving skills.
- Practice presenting your case studies concisely and engagingly, focusing on storytelling and making your process and impact clear to both design and non-design interviewers.
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this design position:
- Submit your application through this link on the SmartRecruiters platform.
- Carefully customize your design portfolio to highlight case studies that demonstrate your experience leading complex projects, working with diverse clients (especially in relevant sectors), and showcasing your end-to-end design process, including service design methodologies and business impact.
- Optimize your resume for design roles by incorporating relevant ATS keywords from the list provided, ensuring your experience, skills, and qualifications are clearly articulated and align with the requirements of a Senior UX/UI Designer in a consulting environment.
- Prepare thoroughly for the interview process by practicing discussing your design process and case studies, anticipating questions about your leadership style, client management experience, and strategic thinking. Prepare questions to ask the interviewers about the team, culture, and specific project opportunities.
- Conduct in-depth research on PA Consulting, their recent projects, and their design practice. Understand their values and how design fits into their overall consulting approach to demonstrate your genuine interest and cultural fit.