Senior Product Designer (we have office locations in Cambridge, Leeds and London)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Genomics England

Location: London, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: 27 November 2025

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end design and delivery of innovative genomics products, with a specific focus on the Newborns service.

• Establish and champion first-class design standards, contributing to a robust component library and style guide.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, researchers, and clinical staff, to translate user needs and business objectives into exceptional product experiences.

• Champion accessibility and regulatory compliance throughout the design process, ensuring products are usable by all and meet stringent healthcare standards.

• Contribute to shaping the product vision and roadmap through a deep understanding of user research and data-driven insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the provided data indicates a Product Designer role, the emphasis on "bringing cutting-edge new genomics products to life," leading "Newborns products from end-to-end," and working with "clinical staff" and "Research Ethics Committee" strongly suggests a role deeply embedded within a healthcare technology context. This requires a nuanced understanding of user needs in a sensitive domain, alongside strong design execution. The "Senior" title implies a leadership and mentorship component within the design function.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design process for the Newborns genomics service, from initial discovery and user research through to launch and ongoing iteration.

• Translate qualitative and quantitative user research findings into actionable design wireframes, prototypes, and user flows.

• Collaborate with product managers to define product vision, roadmap, and feature prioritization based on user needs and business goals.

• Work within cross-functional product squads, actively participating in design critiques, brainstorming sessions, and co-creation activities.

• Ensure all designs adhere to WCAG 2.2 accessibility guidelines and best practices, working closely with content designers to achieve inclusive experiences.

• Understand and integrate legal and regulatory requirements, including those overseen by Research Ethics Committees (RECs), into the design of healthcare products.

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of a shared component library and design system, fostering consistency and efficiency across products.

• Facilitate decision-making processes by bringing together diverse perspectives from stakeholders, users, and the product team.

• Proactively seek and incorporate feedback from peers and stakeholders to continuously improve design quality and product outcomes.

• Document design decisions and processes to support knowledge sharing and team alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic product input and hands-on design execution. The emphasis on "end-to-end" design, "product vision," and "product roadmap" suggests a Senior Designer who not only creates interfaces but also influences product direction. The specific mention of "Newborns products" and "clinical staff" points to a specialized area within healthcare genomics, requiring a sensitivity to user context and regulatory frameworks.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating mastery of product design principles and methodologies is paramount. A degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, or a related field is often beneficial.

Experience: Substantial experience as a Senior Product Designer is required, with a proven track record of live product delivery. Experience working within cross-functional product squads and managing the design process end-to-end (discovery to launch) is essential.

Required Skills:

• Substantial experience as a Senior Product Designer with examples of successful live product delivery.

• Proven ability to work end-to-end on product design, from discovery and user research to launch and post-launch iteration.

• Demonstrable knowledge of product design processes and methodologies (e.g., Design Thinking, Lean UX).

• Expertise in evaluating and interpreting user research findings to inform wireframing and prototyping.

• Advanced proficiency with leading design and prototyping tools, specifically Figma and Miro.

• Strong understanding of WCAG 2.2 accessibility guidelines and practical application in design.

• Proactive and effective collaboration skills with diverse roles (designers, engineers, product managers, researchers).

• Excellent organizational skills, including task prioritization and deadline management.

• Ability to embrace and integrate feedback for continuous improvement.

• Experience working as part of a cross-functional product squad.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience using NHS design systems and applying regulatory best practices.

• Familiarity with healthcare-specific product design challenges and user needs.

• Experience with content design principles and collaboration.

• Knowledge of research ethics committee (REC) processes and compliance.

• Experience in establishing and documenting design standards and component libraries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "substantial experience" and "live delivery" underscores the seniority of this role. The specified tools (Figma, Miro) are industry standards. The preference for NHS design systems and regulatory experience is highly relevant given the company's mission and industry, indicating a need for candidates who can quickly adapt to established healthcare design frameworks and compliance requirements.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design projects, emphasizing impact and user-centric solutions.

• Case studies that detail the problem, your role, the design process, key decisions, and the measurable outcomes of your work.

• Demonstrations of wireframing, prototyping, and user flow creation using tools like Figma.

• Examples of how you've applied user research insights to inform design decisions.

• Evidence of collaboration with cross-functional teams and stakeholder management.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase your ability to document design processes, including discovery findings, research synthesis, and design iterations.

• Provide examples of how you have contributed to or maintained design systems, style guides, or component libraries.

• Illustrate your approach to iterative design and how you incorporate feedback for continuous improvement.

• Demonstrations of facilitating co-creation and decision-making through workshops or collaborative sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, especially in a regulated field like healthcare, a portfolio is crucial. It should go beyond just visual design to demonstrate strategic thinking, problem-solving, and process. The emphasis on "end-to-end," "user research interpretation," and "accessibility" means candidates should select portfolio pieces that clearly articulate these capabilities. Documenting contributions to design systems and processes is also a key indicator of senior-level experience.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £63,300 per annum.

Benefits:

• Generous Leave: 30 days' holiday plus bank holidays, with additional leave for long service. Option to apply for up to 30 days of remote working abroad annually (approval required).

• Family-Friendly: Blended working arrangements, flexible working options, and enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave benefits.

• Pension & Financial: Defined contribution pension scheme with Genomics England matching contributions up to 10% (with options to contribute more). Life Assurance (3x salary) and a Give As You Earn scheme.

• Learning & Development: Individual learning budgets, support for training and certifications, and reimbursement for one annual professional subscription (approval required).

• Recognition & Rewards: Employee recognition program and a referral scheme.

• Health & Wellbeing: Subsidised gym membership, a free Headspace account, and access to an Employee Assistance Programme, eye tests, and flu jabs.

Working Hours: Typically 40 hours per week. The company operates a blended working model, with an expectation of a minimum of 2 office days per month, varying by role and agreed with the team leader.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary is clearly stated at £63,300 per annum. The benefits package is comprehensive, with highlights including generous holiday, family-friendly policies, robust pension, and significant learning and development support. The blended working model with a minimum of 2 office days per month is a key detail for hybrid work expectations.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Genomics and Healthcare Technology. Genomics England operates at the intersection of healthcare, advanced research, and technology, aiming to improve patient outcomes through genomic diagnostics and research.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, Genomics England is likely a medium to large organization given its partnership with the NHS and its mission-driven approach.

Founded: Genomics England was established in 2012 to deliver the 100,000 Genomes Project. Its ongoing mission involves scaling and evolving its capabilities in genomic healthcare and research.

Team Structure:

• The role is part of a cross-functional product squad, which typically includes Product Managers, Software Engineers, UX Researchers, Clinical Specialists, and other designers.

• The Senior Product Designer will likely report into a Design Lead or Head of Product, and work closely with a Product Manager.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Product Development: The company emphasizes using both qualitative and quantitative insights from user research and data analysis to inform product roadmaps and design decisions.

• User-Centric Design: A strong focus on understanding user needs, particularly those of patients and healthcare professionals, to ensure product relevance and impact.

• Agile & Iterative Processes: Working within squads and collaborating closely with engineering suggests an agile development environment focused on iterative design and delivery.

• Compliance & Ethics: A significant emphasis on adhering to legal, regulatory, and ethical standards, including reviews by Research Ethics Committees.

Company Website: https://www.genomicsengland.co.uk/

📝 Enhancement Note: Genomics England's mission is central to its culture. The company is a key player in advancing genomic medicine in the UK, working closely with the NHS. This means a culture that values impact, collaboration, and rigorous adherence to standards. The "blended working model" also indicates a modern approach to workplace flexibility.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Senior Product Designer level, indicating significant autonomy, responsibility, and the expectation to lead design initiatives independently. It's a role where the individual is expected to mentor junior designers and influence design strategy.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will report to a Design Lead or Head of Product and work closely with Product Managers within a dedicated product squad. They will also collaborate with other designers across the organization.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer's work will directly impact the development and adoption of critical genomic healthcare products, particularly the Newborns service. This has profound implications for patient care, diagnostic capabilities, and the advancement of genomic research, contributing directly to Genomics England's mission of improving health outcomes.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead design projects, and potentially move into a Design Lead or management role.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in healthcare genomics product design, user research within sensitive domains, and complex regulatory environments.

• Skill Enhancement: Access to individual learning budgets for training, certifications, and professional development relevant to product design, UX, and the genomics/healthcare sector.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain in-depth experience working with diverse teams, including clinical experts, researchers, and engineers, broadening understanding of the healthcare ecosystem.

• Strategic Influence: Contribute to shaping product vision and strategy, influencing the direction of genomics products in the UK.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a "Senior" role, this position offers significant opportunities for leadership and specialized growth within the burgeoning field of genomics and healthcare tech. The company's commitment to learning and development, coupled with the critical nature of the work, provides a strong foundation for career advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Genomics England operates a blended working model, indicating a hybrid office environment. While specific office layouts aren't detailed, the emphasis on collaboration suggests modern office spaces designed for teamwork, meetings, and focused work.

Office Location(s): The role is based in London, with Genomics England also having office locations in Cambridge and Leeds. This offers potential flexibility for team members who may be located closer to other sites or for occasional travel to other offices.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Expect modern office environments equipped for team meetings, workshops, and brainstorming sessions, facilitating the "co-creation" mentioned in the job description.

• Technology & Tools: Access to industry-standard design and collaboration tools (Figma, Miro) will be available, likely supported by robust IT infrastructure.

• Team Interaction: The blended model means opportunities for in-person interaction will be balanced with remote collaboration, requiring strong communication skills and a proactive approach to team engagement. The expectation of a minimum of 2 office days per month ensures regular team touchpoints.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is implied, with flexibility offered through the blended working model. This allows for a balance between office-based collaboration and remote work, accommodating individual work styles and personal needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The blended working model is a key aspect of the work environment, requiring employees to be comfortable with a hybrid setup and to actively engage both in-office and remotely. The London office location places the role within a major tech and innovation hub.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of CV and portfolio to assess suitability for the Senior Product Designer role.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: Discussion focused on experience, design philosophy, and understanding of product design processes. This stage will likely delve into your portfolio.

• Design Exercise/Challenge: A practical task, potentially involving a design problem related to genomics or healthcare, to assess problem-solving skills, design approach, and tool proficiency. This might be a take-home task or an in-situ exercise.

• Cross-functional Team Interview: Meeting with potential collaborators (e.g., Product Manager, Engineer, Researcher) to assess collaboration style and fit within the squad.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership to discuss strategic fit, leadership potential, and alignment with company values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight End-to-End Ownership: Clearly demonstrate your involvement from problem definition through to launch and iteration for at least one key project.

• Showcase Problem-Solving: For each case study, articulate the user problem or business challenge and explain how your design decisions addressed it.

• Detail Your Process: Use wireframes, user flows, and research synthesis to illustrate your design methodology. Explain why you made certain choices.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics or outcomes that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved usability, increased engagement, successful compliance).

• Emphasize Collaboration: Include examples of how you worked with engineers, PMs, and researchers, and how you handled feedback.

• Accessibility Focus: Dedicate space to showcase how you've incorporated accessibility principles.

• Tool Proficiency: Briefly mention the tools used, especially Figma and Miro, in your project descriptions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with genomics, its applications in healthcare (especially diagnostics and research), and the specific challenges of designing for this sector. Research Genomics England's mission and products.

• NHS Design System: If possible, review the NHS Design System and other relevant healthcare design frameworks.

• Accessibility Standards: Be prepared to discuss WCAG 2.2 and its practical application.

• User Research Interpretation: Practice synthesizing hypothetical user research and translating it into design solutions.

• Communication: Prepare to articulate your thought process clearly and concisely, both verbally and visually.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "end-to-end delivery," "user research interpretation," and "accessibility" suggests the interview process will heavily scrutinize these areas. A well-structured portfolio that tells a compelling story of a design project from inception to outcome, including the "why" behind decisions, will be critical. The design challenge will likely test practical application of these skills in a relevant context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Advanced proficiency required for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaborative design sessions.

• Miro: Essential for collaborative whiteboarding, brainstorming, user journey mapping, and workshop facilitation.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

Other Potentially Relevant Tools (for context):

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting and analyzing user interviews or surveys.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, understanding other prototyping tools can be advantageous.

• Design System Management Tools: Experience with tools or processes for managing design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma and Miro are explicitly called out as required tools, indicating their central role in the design workflow at Genomics England. A Senior Designer should demonstrate mastery and efficient usage of these platforms.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to the company's mission of improving healthcare through genomics.

• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork, open communication, and cross-functional partnership to achieve shared goals.

• Impact & Excellence: Striving for high-quality outcomes and making a tangible difference in patient lives and scientific advancement.

• Inclusivity & Diversity: Actively promoting an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed and respected.

• Continuous Improvement: A culture that embraces feedback, learning, and iterative refinement of both products and processes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to be integral members of product squads, working seamlessly with product managers, engineers, and researchers.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging the giving and receiving of feedback to foster growth and improve design quality.

• Co-creation: Facilitating collaborative sessions where diverse perspectives are brought together to solve problems collectively.

• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to a shared design community within the organization to build a common component library and elevate overall design standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated commitment to diversity, inclusion, and its four key behaviors (referenced in the "Culture" section of the original text) are central to its values. A candidate’s ability to demonstrate alignment with these values, particularly in collaborative and feedback-oriented scenarios, will be important.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Sensitive Data: Working with genomic data and healthcare information requires a high degree of responsibility, ethical consideration, and attention to privacy and security.

• Navigating Regulatory Landscapes: Ensuring designs comply with stringent healthcare regulations and ethical review processes (e.g., REC approvals) can be complex.

• Balancing User Needs with Technical Feasibility: Effectively translating complex scientific and medical requirements into user-friendly and technically viable products.

• Establishing Design Standards: As a senior member, a challenge will be to contribute significantly to and champion the organization's design system and standards.

• Hybrid Work Dynamics: Adapting to and optimizing collaboration within a blended working model to maintain team cohesion and productivity.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Domain Expertise: Gaining deep knowledge in genomics, personalized medicine, and healthcare technology product design.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Opportunities to guide and mentor junior designers and take on lead roles in design initiatives.

• Industry Engagement: Potential to attend relevant conferences, workshops, and training programs within the health tech and design fields.

• Contribution to Open Standards: Potentially contributing to broader design system initiatives or best practices within the healthcare sector.

• Career Progression: A clear path towards more senior design leadership roles or specialized product management positions within the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the unique nature of Genomics England's work – high stakes, regulated, and at the forefront of scientific advancement. Growth is framed around deepening expertise in this specialized area and evolving into leadership roles.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the end-to-end design of a complex product. What were the key challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on process, ownership, and problem-solving.)

• "How do you approach incorporating user research findings into your designs, especially when dealing with sensitive user data or complex medical contexts?" (Highlight your research synthesis and empathetic design skills.)

• "Walk us through a project in your portfolio where accessibility was a critical consideration. What specific steps did you take to ensure compliance and usability for all users?" (Demonstrate practical application of WCAG.)

• "How do you collaborate with engineers and product managers to ensure design feasibility and alignment with product goals?" (Focus on communication, negotiation, and iterative teamwork.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Genomics England's mission and its role in healthcare?" (Show genuine interest and alignment with the company's purpose.)

• "How do you approach giving and receiving feedback within a design team and cross-functional squad?" (Illustrate your openness to critique and collaborative spirit.)

• "Describe your experience working in a blended or hybrid work environment. How do you ensure effective collaboration and communication?" (Address adaptability to the company's working model.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, typically by project. For each project: problem, your role, process (discovery, ideation, iteration, testing), solution, and outcomes.

• Tell a Story: Frame each project as a narrative. What was the challenge? How did you solve it? What was the impact?

• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, user flows, and prototypes. Avoid overwhelming slides with text.

• Focus on "Why": Explain the rationale behind your design decisions. Why this approach? Why this feature?

• Highlight Collaboration: Mention who you worked with and how you integrated their input.

• Demonstrate Impact: Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., user satisfaction improvements, efficiency gains, successful compliance).

• Accessibility: Clearly articulate how accessibility was considered and implemented.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice presenting your key projects within the allotted timeframe.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation focuses on showcasing the core competencies of a Senior Product Designer in a specialized, regulated industry. Candidates should be ready to articulate their process, rationale, and impact with clear examples from their portfolio, demonstrating not just design skill but also strategic thinking and collaborative ability.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Smartrecruiters link.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest end-to-end product design projects that best showcase your experience with user research, Figma, Miro, accessibility, and complex problem-solving. Ensure each project clearly articulates the problem, your role, process, solution, and outcomes.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords from the job description, such as "Senior Product Designer," "end-to-end design," "user research," "Figma," "Miro," "accessibility," "cross-functional collaboration," and any experience with healthcare or regulated industries. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process and project case studies confidently. Be ready to explain the "why" behind your design decisions and how you've driven impact.

• Research Genomics England: Understand the company's mission, values, and recent work. Familiarize yourself with the NHS Design System if possible and be prepared to discuss how your skills align with their specific context.

⚠️ 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.