Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer
Company: Civica
Location: London, England, United Kingdom
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX)
Date Posted: 2025-10-27
Experience Level: 5+ Years
Remote Status: Hybrid (with potential for remote work, based on location type)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the visual design and delivery of intuitive, accessible, and user-friendly digital products, ensuring alignment with business objectives and user needs.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and researchers, to drive the entire product lifecycle from concept to launch.
• Develop high-fidelity prototypes and conduct design reviews to iterate on designs based on feedback, user research, and data-driven insights.
• Champion and contribute to the 'Firefly' design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and adherence to established design principles across all platforms.
• Advocate for inclusive design practices and ensure all product interfaces meet stringent accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG).

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is categorized under Product Design/UX, emphasizing a hybrid model with a primary focus on on-site collaboration in London, though the location_type of TELECOMMUTE suggests potential for remote work within the UK. The core function revolves around visual design execution and contributing to a design system, indicating a blend of creative craft and strategic system thinking.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Craft visually compelling, pixel-perfect user interfaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional, ensuring they meet accessibility standards and align with strategic business goals.
• Translate complex user requirements and business objectives into intuitive and delightful user experiences across web, mobile, and other digital platforms.
• Collaborate effectively with product managers to define product strategy, user flows, and feature sets, ensuring design initiatives are well-integrated with business outcomes.
• Work in tandem with UX researchers to validate design hypotheses, gather user feedback, and iterate on designs to optimize user satisfaction and product effectiveness.
• Partner closely with engineering teams to ensure the accurate and efficient implementation of designs, providing detailed specifications and design assets.
• Actively contribute to and evolve the 'Firefly' design system by creating new components, updating existing ones, and ensuring documentation is comprehensive and accessible.
• Champion accessibility best practices (e.g., WCAG 2.1 AA) throughout the design process, ensuring all deliverables are inclusive and meet regulatory requirements.
• Mentor junior designers, providing constructive feedback, sharing expertise, and fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement within the design team.
• Present design concepts, prototypes, and final solutions to stakeholders, clearly articulating design rationale, user benefits, and alignment with business objectives.
• Ensure designs reflect and enhance Civica's brand identity, contributing to a cohesive and recognizable user experience across its product portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on execution (pixel-perfect UI, high-fidelity prototypes) and system contribution ('Firefly' design system), alongside collaborative and leadership aspects (mentoring, stakeholder communication). This suggests a role that requires both hands-on design craft and strategic thinking within a larger product development framework.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field is often preferred for senior design roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be strongly considered.
Experience: A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in visual design, UI design, or product design roles, with a demonstrated track record of delivering high-quality digital products across various platforms.

Required Skills:

• Exceptional visual design skills, evidenced by a strong portfolio showcasing expertise in UI design, typography, color theory, and layout principles.
• Proven ability to translate complex ideas into intuitive, visually appealing, and highly usable interfaces for web and mobile applications.
• Proficiency in creating high-fidelity interactive prototypes using industry-standard tools.
• Extensive experience using and contributing to design systems to ensure consistency, scalability, and efficiency.
• Deep understanding of accessibility principles and best practices (e.g., WCAG standards) and their application in design.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to clearly articulate design decisions and collaborate effectively with diverse teams.
• Experience working within Agile or other iterative product development methodologies.
• Ability to adapt designs to evolving brand guidelines and maintain brand consistency.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in mentoring junior designers and fostering a positive team culture.
• Familiarity with UX research methodologies and the ability to integrate research findings into design iterations.
• Knowledge of front-end development principles (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to better inform design decisions and collaboration with engineers.
• Experience working within the public sector or government technology domains.
• Familiarity with user journey mapping and service design principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a senior-level individual contributor with strong visual design craft and system thinking. The "5+ years" indicates a need for seasoned professionals who can operate independently and mentor others, suggesting a strong emphasis on portfolio quality and practical experience over formal educational qualifications.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio demonstrating a minimum of 5 years of professional product design experience, showcasing a range of high-quality digital product interfaces.
• Clear case studies detailing the design process, problem definition, ideation, prototyping, user testing, and final execution for at least 3-5 significant projects.
• Evidence of strong visual design skills, including typography, color theory, layout, and iconography, applied consistently across projects.
• Examples of contributions to or utilization of design systems, illustrating an understanding of component-based design, scalability, and consistency.
• Demonstrations of accessibility considerations integrated into the design process and final deliverables.
• Projects that highlight collaboration with cross-functional teams (product managers, engineers, researchers) and how design decisions were influenced by their input.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase a systematic approach to design, including user research, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing, and iteration cycles.
• Projects that clearly articulate how user feedback and data insights were leveraged to refine and improve designs.
• Examples of how design challenges were overcome, demonstrating problem-solving skills and strategic thinking.
• Evidence of understanding and applying established design principles and best practices within a structured workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for this role. Candidates should be prepared to walk through their process, demonstrating not just the final output but the strategic thinking, user-centricity, and collaborative approach that led to it. Emphasis on design systems and accessibility within portfolio projects will be a significant advantage.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in London with 5+ years of experience, a competitive salary range of £60,000 - £85,000 per annum is estimated. This range accounts for the seniority of the role, the cost of living in London, and the specialized skills required.

Benefits:

• Time Off & Work-Life Balance:
  • Generous 25 Days Annual Leave, plus bank holidays, with an option to purchase up to 10 additional days.
  • "Days of Difference" program offering up to 3 extra paid days off for volunteering activities.
• Financial Well-being & Security:
  • Pension Contributions: 5% employer match to support long-term financial planning.
  • Income Protection: Up to 75% salary cover in the event of long-term illness.
  • Life Assurance: A tax-free lump sum equivalent to 4x your annual salary.
  • Critical Illness Cover: A £25,000 lump sum, with the option to extend coverage to dependents.
• Health & Perks:
  • Private Medical Insurance: Provides fast access to private healthcare services.
  • Health Cash Plan: Allows claiming back costs for physiotherapy, therapies, and other health services.
  • Dental Insurance: Coverage for routine and emergency dental care.
  • Affinity Groups: Opportunities to join employee-led communities based on shared interests.
  • Bounty Bonus: A referral program rewarding employees for successfully referring new hires.

Working Hours: While not explicitly stated, a standard full-time role in the UK typically involves 37.5 to 40 hours per week. The hybrid nature of the role suggests flexibility in how these hours are managed, with expectations for core collaboration during office days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided benefits package is comprehensive and aligns with what is expected for a senior-level position in the UK tech sector, focusing on work-life balance, financial security, and health. The salary estimate is based on current market data for similar roles in London and the specified experience level.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focused on providing software and digital solutions for the public sector and government organizations. Civica's mission is to help its clients improve outcomes for citizens and public sector organizations through technology.
Company Size: Civica is a significant player in its market, employing over 5,000 people globally. This mid-to-large enterprise size means opportunities for structured career growth, access to extensive resources, and the potential to work on large-scale, impactful projects.
Founded: Founded in 1985, Civica has a long history and established presence in the software and services industry, indicating stability and deep domain expertise.

Team Structure:

• The User Experience (UX) team is likely composed of various design specialists, including Product Designers, UX Designers, UX Researchers, and potentially UI Developers.
• Senior Product Designers are expected to work closely with Product Managers and Engineering teams, forming cross-functional "squads" or "pods" focused on specific product areas or features.
• Reporting lines would likely lead up to a Head of UX, Design Director, or a Product Lead, with a focus on collaborative decision-making and peer feedback.

Methodology:

• Civica emphasizes a user-centric approach, integrating research and feedback into the design process to ensure products meet the needs of citizens and public sector organizations.
• The company likely utilizes Agile methodologies for product development, requiring designers to be adaptable and iterative in their approach.
• A strong focus on design systems ('Firefly') suggests a commitment to efficiency, consistency, and scalability in design and development.

Company Website: https://www.civica.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Civica's focus on the public sector means the design work has a direct impact on citizens and governmental efficiency, offering a sense of purpose. The company's size and history suggest a stable environment with established processes, while the emphasis on design systems and cross-functional teams indicates a modern, collaborative approach to product development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer. This typically signifies an individual contributor role with significant autonomy and responsibility. Senior designers are expected to not only execute high-quality design work but also to influence design strategy, mentor junior team members, and contribute to the overall improvement of design processes and standards within the organization. They are often seen as subject matter experts in specific areas of design.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Lead, Head of UX, or a Product Manager. They will collaborate extensively with Product Managers, Engineers, and UX Researchers, forming part of cross-functional product teams. The role encourages peer-to-peer learning and feedback within the design team itself.

Operations Impact: As a Senior Product Designer at Civica, the impact is directly tied to the user experience of products used by public sector organizations and citizens. This includes improving the efficiency of government services, enhancing citizen engagement, and ensuring the usability and accessibility of critical digital tools. The successful candidate will directly influence product direction, user satisfaction, and the overall effectiveness of Civica's software solutions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership & Mentorship: Opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives for specific product areas, and potentially transition into a Design Lead or Managerial role.
• Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like accessibility, design systems, or specific product domains within the public sector.
• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain broader experience by working on diverse projects across different product lines within Civica.
• Skill Development: Continuous learning through workshops, conferences, and internal training programs focused on emerging design trends and technologies.
• Strategic Input: Influence product strategy and roadmap decisions through design expertise and user advocacy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Senior Product Designer role at Civica offers a clear path for growth, emphasizing both individual contribution and team leadership. The impact is significant, given the public sector focus, and the company's commitment to continuous learning provides a solid foundation for career advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Civica operates a hybrid work model. This means employees are expected to work from the office for a portion of their week, facilitating in-person collaboration, team building, and access to office resources, while also offering flexibility for remote work.
Office Location(s): The primary office location is London, England, United Kingdom. This central location offers excellent connectivity and access to a vibrant professional ecosystem.

Workspace Context:

• The London office is likely equipped with modern collaborative spaces, meeting rooms, and individual workstations designed to support both focused work and team interaction.
• Access to standard office technology, including high-speed internet, presentation tools, and potentially specialized hardware for design work, can be expected.
• The environment fosters collaboration between design, product, and engineering teams, encouraging knowledge sharing and iterative problem-solving.

Work Schedule: While standard full-time hours are implied, the hybrid model suggests a degree of flexibility in scheduling, particularly regarding remote work days. Core hours for team collaboration and meetings are likely expected, with individual work time adaptable to personal productivity needs and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment balances the benefits of in-person synergy with the flexibility of remote work. Candidates should expect a structured office presence in London, with clear expectations for collaborative activities during on-site days.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and portfolio. Be prepared to briefly articulate your key strengths and why you're a good fit.
• Portfolio Presentation & Technical Interview: You will likely present your portfolio to the hiring team, walking them through 2-3 key projects. Expect questions about your design process, decision-making, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.
• Skills Assessment/Design Challenge: A practical design exercise, either take-home or timed in-session, may be given to assess your approach to a specific design problem, your visual design skills, and your ability to work within constraints.
• Team/Culture Fit Interview: Discussions with potential team members (product managers, engineers, other designers) to assess collaboration style, communication, and cultural alignment with Civica's values.
• Final Interview: A conversation with senior leadership or the hiring manager to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and finalize any details.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase your visual design expertise, problem-solving skills, and impact. Prioritize projects that align with Civica's focus on public sector solutions if possible.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, iteration), your design decisions, and the measurable outcomes or impact.
• Highlight Design Systems & Accessibility: Explicitly demonstrate your experience with design systems (e.g., 'Firefly') and how you incorporated accessibility principles (WCAG) into your work.
• Visual Polish: Ensure your portfolio is visually polished, easy to navigate, and free of errors. Use high-quality mockups and clear, concise descriptions.
• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design rationale, how you handle feedback, your collaboration process, and how you approach complex design challenges.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Carefully read and understand the design challenge requirements. Ask clarifying questions if needed.
• Prioritize: Focus on demonstrating your core skills – problem-solving, visual design, and process. You may not have time to perfect every detail.
• Communicate Your Thinking: Clearly explain your assumptions, design choices, and trade-offs. This is as important as the final design.
• Consider Constraints: Be mindful of time, scope, and any specific constraints provided in the challenge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely to be thorough, with a strong emphasis on the candidate's portfolio and practical design skills. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their design process, demonstrate their visual craft, and show how they contribute to a collaborative and inclusive design culture.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expected to be the primary tool for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency in Figma and its collaborative features (e.g., FigJam) is essential.
• Prototyping Tools: While Figma offers robust prototyping capabilities, familiarity with other tools like InVision, Adobe XD, or similar may also be beneficial.
• Design System Tools: Experience with tools for managing and contributing to design systems, which could be integrated within Figma or separate platforms.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary design tool, understanding how to interpret data from analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to inform design decisions is valuable.
• Familiarity with tools used for user feedback collection and analysis.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly used by designers, but an understanding of how designs integrate with CRM systems (like Salesforce) or other business process automation tools used by clients is advantageous for context.
• Familiarity with project management tools such as Jira, Asana, or Trello for tracking design tasks and collaborating with development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a critical requirement. Candidates should be ready to demonstrate their skills with this tool and discuss how they leverage its features for design, prototyping, and collaboration. Understanding the broader tech stack and how design fits into client workflows is also a plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of citizens and public sector users, ensuring products are both effective and empathetic.
• Excellence & Quality: A drive for high-quality design, attention to detail, and pixel-perfect execution that elevates the user experience.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where ideas are shared openly, feedback is constructive, and teams work together towards common goals.
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Encouraging creativity, embracing new technologies and methodologies, and constantly seeking ways to enhance products and processes.
• Impact & Purpose: A shared passion for using technology to make a tangible difference in public services and improve outcomes for communities.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are embedded within product teams, working closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Researchers throughout the product lifecycle.
• Feedback-Driven: An open culture of constructive feedback, design critiques, and peer reviews to continuously refine designs and elevate the team's work.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, learnings, and insights through internal presentations, documentation, and informal discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Civica's culture appears to be mission-driven, with a strong emphasis on user impact and collaborative work. Designers are expected to be team players who value constructive feedback and are dedicated to delivering high-quality, user-centric solutions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business/Technical Constraints: Navigating the complexities of public sector requirements, budget limitations, and existing technical infrastructure while ensuring an optimal user experience.
• Evolving Design Systems: Continuously contributing to and maintaining a comprehensive design system ('Firefly') that scales across a diverse product portfolio.
• Advocating for Design Best Practices: Championing user-centered design principles and accessibility standards within a potentially diverse stakeholder group.
• Working with Legacy Systems: Potentially integrating modern design solutions with older or legacy systems common in public sector environments.
• Remote/Hybrid Collaboration: Effectively collaborating and maintaining strong team cohesion in a hybrid work setting, ensuring clear communication and alignment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design System Expertise: Opportunities to become a key contributor or lead for the 'Firefly' design system.
• Accessibility Specialization: Deepen expertise in accessibility standards and inclusive design, becoming a go-to resource for the company.
• Public Sector Domain Knowledge: Develop a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within the public sector technology landscape.
• Mentorship & Leadership: Develop leadership skills through mentoring junior designers and potentially leading design initiatives for larger projects.
• Industry Trends: Access to training, conferences, and resources to stay abreast of the latest trends in UX/UI design, product development, and relevant technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior roles in established tech companies, particularly those serving the public sector. The growth opportunities are well-defined, offering paths for specialization, leadership, and continuous professional development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance competing stakeholder demands with user needs. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on communication, negotiation, and user advocacy.)
• "Walk us through a complex UI you designed. What were the key challenges, and how did your design choices address them?" (Highlight your design process, problem-solving, and visual design rationale.)
• "How do you approach incorporating accessibility into your design workflow from the outset?" (Demonstrate knowledge of WCAG and your practical application of inclusive design principles.)
• "Describe your experience with design systems. How have you contributed to or utilized them to ensure consistency and efficiency?" (Emphasize your understanding of system thinking and contribution to 'Firefly'.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Civica's mission to serve the public sector?" (Show genuine interest in the company's purpose and impact.)
• "How do you approach feedback from peers, product managers, and engineers?" (Illustrate your collaborative and receptive attitude towards constructive criticism.)
• "How do you stay up-to-date with the latest design trends and technologies?" (Showcase your commitment to continuous learning.)
• "Describe your ideal team environment and how you contribute to a positive design culture." (Align your values with Civica's emphasis on collaboration and excellence.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Projects: For each selected project, clearly outline: The Problem, Your Role, The Users, The Solution (with key design elements), The Process (research, ideation, iteration), The Impact/Results (quantifiable if possible), and Key Learnings.
• Focus on Rationale: Be prepared to explain why you made specific design choices. Connect your decisions back to user needs, business goals, or design principles.
• Highlight Collaboration: Explicitly mention how you collaborated with product managers, engineers, and researchers, and how their input shaped your design.
• Showcase Design System & Accessibility: Dedicate specific points to how you used or contributed to design systems and integrated accessibility standards.
• Engage Your Audience: Make it a conversation rather than a lecture. Be enthusiastic and ready to answer questions thoughtfully.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skill but also strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and a collaborative, user-centric mindset. Be ready to back up your claims with specific examples from your portfolio.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Workable platform link provided.
• Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 5+ years of experience in visual/product design, specifically mentioning experience with UI design, prototyping, design systems, and accessibility. Quantify achievements where possible.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features 3-5 of your strongest projects, clearly demonstrating your visual design skills, process, and impact. Include specific examples of design system contributions and accessibility considerations.
• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on articulating your design rationale, problem-solving approach, and collaborative efforts for each project. Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma and other relevant tools.
• Research Civica: Understand Civica's mission, its role in the public sector, and its commitment to user experience. This will help you tailor your responses during interviews and demonstrate genuine interest.

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