Senior Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Graphic Designer Company: UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) Location: Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom Job Type: Full Time, Open Ended Contract Category: Marketing & Communications Operations / Creative Operations Date Posted: 2025-07-18 Experience Level: 5+ Years Remote Status: Hybrid Working

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in shaping the visual communication strategy for UKRI, a leading government body funding research and innovation.
• The Senior Graphic Designer will translate complex ideas into clear, audience-focused creative assets across multiple integrated channels.
• Key responsibilities include ensuring brand consistency, prioritizing accessibility, and managing projects from concept to completion within deadlines and budgets.
• The position demands a blend of creative expertise, strategic thinking, and strong collaborative skills to effectively communicate UKRI's mission and goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is for a Senior Graphic Designer, the emphasis on "simplifying complex ideas," "audience-focused design," and "multi-channel communication approaches" positions it within a broader operations context, specifically relating to how creative output supports organizational communication strategies and GTM efforts. The focus on accessibility and brand consistency also aligns with operational best practices for impactful brand representation.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Simplify complex ideas and research concepts into compelling visual narratives for diverse audiences including government, the public, and the research community.
• Develop and execute creative design solutions across integrated channels, ensuring alignment with UKRI’s strategic objectives and brand guidelines.
• Manage the end-to-end design process for projects, ensuring timely delivery, adherence to budgets, and achievement of communication objectives.
• Champion and maintain brand consistency across all visual outputs, while fostering creative innovation and exploring new design approaches.
• Integrate accessibility best practices into all design work, ensuring content is usable and understandable by the widest possible audience.
• Proactively identify opportunities for continuous improvement in design processes, tools, and methodologies, staying abreast of industry trends and best practices.
• Collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders across various teams and councils to understand communication needs and deliver impactful design solutions.
• Provide constructive feedback and guidance on design-related matters to internal teams and external partners.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities highlight a strategic operational function of translating complex information into accessible visual formats. The emphasis on managing projects, ensuring brand consistency, and integrating accessibility underscores the process-driven nature of this creative role within a larger organizational framework.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is typically expected, though extensive professional experience and a strong portfolio can often substitute for formal education in creative roles.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in graphic design or a closely related creative field, with a proven track record of delivering high-quality design work.

Required Skills:

• Extensive experience (5+ years) in graphic design with a strong, demonstrable portfolio showcasing impactful creative work.
• Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud suite (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and other relevant design software.
• Proven ability to simplify complex information and translate it into clear, audience-focused visual designs.
• Strong understanding of multi-channel communication approaches and how content development fits within these strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across diverse teams, councils, and communities, fostering positive working relationships.
• Excellent writing skills with the ability to adapt to and work across a range of subject areas.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain design decisions to both creative and non-creative stakeholders.
• Excellent attention to detail, with a keen eye for layout, typography, and visual hierarchy.
• Proven time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines effectively.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in a government, research, or public sector organization.
• Familiarity with digital design principles, UI/UX considerations, and web accessibility standards (WCAG).
• Experience in developing and maintaining brand guidelines.
• Ability to influence, persuade, and negotiate effectively with stakeholders.
• Demonstrable emotional intelligence and tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty.
• Resilience and strong multi-tasking capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of technical design skills and soft skills crucial for operational effectiveness in a large organization. The explicit mention of a portfolio and Adobe Creative Cloud proficiency are standard, but the emphasis on simplifying complexity, multi-channel communication, and collaborative abilities points to the operational impact of the role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a diverse range of design projects that demonstrate your ability to simplify complex ideas into visually engaging and accessible formats.
• Include examples of work across multiple integrated channels (e.g., print, digital, social media, presentations).
• Highlight projects where you have successfully maintained brand consistency while introducing creative innovation.
• Feature examples that clearly illustrate your understanding and application of accessibility principles in design.
• Demonstrate your ability to explain the strategic thinking and design decisions behind each project, especially for non-creative stakeholders.

Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly a "process documentation" role, candidates will be expected to articulate their design process, including:
  • Workflow design for managing projects from brief to final delivery.
  • Methods for incorporating feedback and adapting designs based on stakeholder input.
  • Strategies for ensuring brand compliance and accessibility standards are met throughout the design lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are critical for this role, serving as the primary evidence of a candidate's operational design capabilities. The expectation to articulate workflow and feedback integration underscores the need for process-oriented thinking within the creative output.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £36,650 Per Annum

Benefits:

• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme – a significant long-term financial benefit.
• Generous annual leave: 30 days' annual leave plus 10.5 public and privilege days (pro-rata for full-time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities, enhancing work-life balance and personal savings.
• Employee assistance programme providing confidential help and advice for personal and professional matters.
• Flexible working options, supporting work-life balance and individual needs.
• Access to a wide range of additional benefits and wellbeing initiatives.

Working Hours: Full Time, likely around 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered as part of the benefits. The hybrid working model also contributes to flexible working arrangements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specified salary is competitive for a Senior Graphic Designer in the UK, especially within a public sector organization like UKRI. The comprehensive benefits package, particularly the defined benefit pension and generous leave, are strong draws for public sector roles and contribute to overall employee value, impacting retention and job satisfaction.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) operates within the government and public sector, specifically focused on funding and coordinating research and innovation across the UK. This context implies a mission-driven, collaborative, and often complex stakeholder environment. Company Size: UKRI is a large organization, formed from seven research councils, a KTN and Innovate UK. This scale suggests opportunities for diverse projects and cross-departmental collaboration, but also requires strong organizational skills and adaptability. Founded: UKRI was established in April 2018, bringing together the UK's nine main government funders of research and innovation. This relatively recent formation means it's a dynamic organization focused on integration and strategic alignment.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Graphic Designer will likely be part of a central communications or marketing team, working alongside other designers, content specialists, digital marketers, and communications managers.
• Reporting structure is likely to be to a Head of Design, Communications Manager, or similar role, with potential to mentor junior designers.
• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, working with various departments, research councils, and external partners to understand their communication needs and deliver bespoke design solutions.

Methodology:

• UKRI's operational methodology likely emphasizes evidence-based decision-making, strategic planning, and strong governance.
• In design, this translates to a focus on audience analysis, clear communication objectives, measurable impact, and adherence to brand and accessibility standards.
• Creative work is expected to support UKRI's strategic goals, ensuring that visual communication is not just aesthetically pleasing but also effective in conveying information and achieving desired outcomes.

Company Website: https://www.ukri.org/

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding UKRI's mission and structure is key. The organization's focus on research and innovation means the Senior Graphic Designer will need to translate potentially technical or abstract concepts into accessible visual formats, requiring strong interpretative and creative problem-solving skills. The hybrid nature and public sector context suggest a professional yet potentially formal work environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level position, indicating a significant level of autonomy, responsibility, and expected expertise in graphic design and visual communication strategy. It’s a role that contributes to higher-level organizational communication objectives. Reporting Structure: The Senior Graphic Designer will likely report to a Communications Manager or Head of Design, overseeing design projects and potentially mentoring junior team members. They will collaborate closely with various internal departments and stakeholders to deliver on communication briefs. Operations Impact: The role directly impacts UKRI's ability to effectively communicate its mission, research findings, and strategic initiatives to a wide range of audiences. Strong visual communication is crucial for public engagement, stakeholder relations, and building credibility for the organization.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas such as digital design, data visualization, accessibility design, or brand management.
• Leadership Development: Potential to move into a Lead Designer or Art Director role, managing a team and setting creative direction.
• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain experience working with different research councils and departments within UKRI, broadening understanding of the broader research landscape.
• Professional Development: Access to training, workshops, and industry events to stay current with design trends and technologies, supported by UKRI's commitment to continuous learning.

📝 Enhancement Note: This Senior role offers a clear path for career progression within a large, established public sector organization. The emphasis on impactful communication and strategic alignment means that success in this role can lead to greater responsibility and leadership opportunities within the operations and marketing functions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid Working model based at Polaris House, Swindon. This suggests a modern office environment designed to support collaborative work, with facilities for in-person meetings and team activities. Office Location(s): Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom. Swindon is a well-connected town with good transport links, making it accessible for commuting.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model allows for a blend of home and office-based work, promoting flexibility and work-life balance.
• The office environment is expected to be professional and collaborative, facilitating interaction with colleagues from various departments.
• Access to necessary design tools, software, and potentially high-performance workstations will be provided to support the creative demands of the role.
• Opportunities for informal and formal collaboration with other designers, communication specialists, and project stakeholders.

Work Schedule: Full-time employment, with the flexibility offered by the hybrid working arrangements allowing for some adaptation of working hours around core business needs and individual schedules.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid working arrangement is a key feature, offering flexibility valued by many professionals. The office location in Swindon suggests a typical UK business environment, with expectations of professional conduct and engagement within a large, structured organization.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Screening: Initial review of CV and cover letter, with particular attention paid to how the STAR method has been used to evidence the person specification criteria.
• Portfolio Review (Likely Stage 1 or 2): Candidates will be asked to bring a portfolio of their work to the interview. This is a critical component to assess design skills, strategic thinking, and understanding of audience and accessibility.
• Interview(s): Typically includes discussions around experience, skills, motivation, and cultural fit. Expect questions related to the STAR criteria, design process, handling feedback, and collaboration. You may also be asked to explain specific pieces from your portfolio.
• Potential Design Task/Challenge: While not explicitly stated, some organizations may include a short, practical design task during the interview process to assess on-the-spot problem-solving and creative application.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 5-7 of your strongest projects that best represent the requirements of this Senior Graphic Designer role, focusing on those that showcase simplification of complex ideas, multi-channel execution, and accessibility.
• Explain Your Process: For each project, be prepared to walk through the brief, your strategic approach, design decisions, the tools used, challenges faced, and the results achieved. Use the STAR method to structure your explanations.
• Highlight Impact: Quantify results where possible (e.g., increased engagement, improved clarity, successful campaign delivery).
• Showcase Brand and Accessibility: Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates your understanding of brand guidelines and your commitment to accessibility in design.
• Prepare for Stakeholder Communication: Be ready to articulate your design rationale clearly and confidently to both creative and non-creative interviewers.

Challenge Preparation:

• Review UKRI's Mission: Familiarize yourself with UKRI's work, its research councils, and its strategic objectives. This will help you tailor your responses and understand the context of their communication needs.
• Practice STAR Method: Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for each "essential" and "desirable" criterion listed in the person specification.
• Anticipate Design Questions: Think about common design challenges, how you handle constructive criticism, your approach to staying current with design trends, and how you ensure projects meet diverse audience needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit instruction to bring a portfolio is a significant clue about the interview process. Candidates must prepare thoroughly to present their work effectively, linking it back to the job requirements and demonstrating their operational design capabilities. The STAR method guidance is crucial for the application and interview stages.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Essential proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is explicitly required.
• Presentation Software: Likely proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint or similar for creating presentations and explaining design concepts to stakeholders.
• Collaboration Tools: Standard office suites (e.g., Microsoft 365) for document sharing, communication (Teams, Outlook), and project management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary analytics role, understanding how design impacts engagement metrics (e.g., website traffic, social media engagement, open rates for emails) would be beneficial. Data visualization skills could be a plus.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the core design function, but awareness of how design assets are deployed through marketing automation platforms or CRM systems could be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Adobe Creative Cloud is paramount. Other tools are standard for a professional office environment. While not explicitly stated, familiarity with digital asset management (DAM) systems could be a bonus in a large organization.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence in Delivery: A commitment to producing high-quality, effective design solutions that meet objectives and deadlines.
• Collaboration and Teamwork: Working effectively with colleagues across UKRI to achieve shared goals.
• Innovation and Creativity: Encouraging new ideas and approaches to visual communication.
• Accessibility and Inclusivity: Ensuring all design work is accessible and caters to diverse audiences.
• Integrity and Professionalism: Upholding high standards of conduct and communication.
• Continuous Improvement: A proactive approach to learning and refining skills and processes.

Collaboration Style:

• Expected to be highly collaborative, working closely with communications teams, research departments, and potentially external agencies.
• Openness to feedback and constructive dialogue is essential for refining creative output and ensuring alignment with project goals.
• A team-oriented approach, sharing knowledge and supporting colleagues, is likely valued.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at UKRI likely reflects public sector values – a focus on public service, collaboration, and evidence-based practice. In the creative operations context, this means design work is purposeful, strategic, and aligned with the organization's broader mission.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Simplifying Complexity: The primary challenge will be translating intricate research and innovation concepts into easily understandable and engaging visual content.
• Balancing Brand Consistency with Creative Innovation: Maintaining strict brand guidelines while also pushing creative boundaries to create fresh and impactful designs.
• Managing Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Effectively communicating and managing expectations with various internal departments, each with potentially different requirements and priorities.
• Prioritizing Accessibility: Ensuring all design outputs meet rigorous accessibility standards requires a diligent and informed approach throughout the design process.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Software Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific Adobe Creative Cloud applications or explore new design technologies.
• Data Visualization and Infographics: Developing skills in presenting complex data visually, a growing need in research communication.
• Digital Design and UX/UI: Enhancing capabilities in designing for digital platforms and understanding user experience principles.
• Project Management for Creatives: Developing skills in managing creative projects efficiently, including scope, timelines, and budgets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to creative roles in complex organizations. The growth opportunities are designed to enhance the designer's technical and strategic skill set, preparing them for more senior or specialized roles within operations or creative leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• On Design Process: "Describe your typical workflow from receiving a design brief to delivering the final asset. How do you ensure quality and manage revisions?" (Focus on process mapping and stakeholder management).
• On Collaboration: "How do you handle feedback from stakeholders who may not have a design background? Can you provide an example of a time you successfully influenced a non-creative stakeholder with your design rationale?" (Emphasize communication and negotiation skills).
• On Problem-Solving: "Describe a project where you had to simplify a very complex idea visually. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Prepare a case study that highlights conceptual thinking and execution).
• On Brand and Accessibility: "How important is brand consistency and accessibility in your design work? How do you ensure these are maintained across all projects?" (Focus on adherence to standards and detailed execution).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for UKRI specifically?" (Research UKRI's mission, values, and recent work).
• "How do you stay updated on the latest design trends and best practices?" (Showcase a commitment to continuous learning).
• "How would you contribute to a collaborative team environment here at UKRI?" (Reflect on your teamwork and communication style).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your portfolio presentation logically, perhaps by project type or by demonstrating a progression of skills.
• Tell a Story: For each project, articulate the "Situation," "Task," "Action," and "Result" (STAR method) clearly and concisely. Focus on the problem you solved and the impact of your design.
• Highlight Strategic Thinking: Explain why you made certain design choices, linking them back to the brief, audience, and objectives.
• Engage Your Audience: Be enthusiastic, make eye contact, and be prepared for follow-up questions about your work. Practice your presentation beforehand to ensure smooth delivery.
• Demonstrate Technical Skills: Be ready to discuss the software and techniques you used, and why they were appropriate for the project.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skill but also the operational competencies required: process management, clear communication, strategic thinking, and collaboration. The portfolio presentation is a direct assessment of these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the UKRI careers portal.
• Tailor Your Cover Letter: Use the STAR method to specifically address the "Person Specification" criteria. Highlight your 5+ years of experience, proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud, and examples of simplifying complex ideas and working collaboratively.
• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a digital or physical portfolio showcasing 5-7 relevant projects. Be ready to discuss your process, strategic thinking, and the impact of your work, paying close attention to brand consistency and accessibility.
• Review UKRI's Website: Familiarize yourself with UKRI's mission, its various research councils, and recent campaigns to understand the context of their communication needs.
• Practice Interview Responses: Rehearse answers using the STAR method for key criteria and prepare to articulate your design philosophy and how you handle feedback and collaboration.

⚠️ 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.

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