Lead UX/UI Designer (SFIA 5)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UX/UI Designer (SFIA 5)

Company: Zaizi

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: UX/UI Design, GTM Operations Support

Date Posted: 2026-06-26

Experience Level: 5-10 Years (SFIA 5 Equivalent)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the planning, execution, and coordination of comprehensive user-centred design initiatives within a delivery-focused, agile environment.

• Translate complex user needs and business requirements into intuitive, usable, and accessible digital designs, ensuring seamless integration with development efforts.

• Drive the creation of high-fidelity prototypes and detailed user-centred design artefacts to uncover user motivations, behaviours, and service interactions.

• Mentor and guide junior User Experience Designers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and upholding high design standards across the team.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Product Managers, Solution Architects, Developers, Testers, and other Designers to effectively shape product development and ensure design outputs are clearly communicated.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is classified as a Lead UX/UI Designer (SFIA 5), indicating a senior individual contributor or team lead position requiring significant autonomy and expertise. The focus on government clients and SC Clearance suggests a need for robust security protocols and an understanding of public sector digital transformation. The role's emphasis on translating ambiguous user needs and acting as a subject matter expert points to a strategic and influential position within the design function.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Plan, lead, and coordinate user-centred design efforts across end-to-end user journeys for government digital services.

• Elicit and define user needs and business requirements from ambiguous or complex sources, translating them into actionable design specifications.

• Create and iterate on prototypes, wireframes, user flows, and other design artefacts to inform decision-making and guide development teams.

• Design and conduct user research, workshops, and design sprints in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to gather insights and validate design concepts.

• Provide expert guidance and best practices on accessible design principles (e.g., WCAG) to ensure all digital products are inclusive and usable by everyone.

• Support and mentor other User Experience Designers, fostering their professional development and ensuring consistent quality and adherence to design standards.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, effectively communicating design rationale, progress, and impact.

• Collaborate closely with developers to ensure designs are implemented accurately and effectively, providing ongoing support and iterating based on production feedback.

• Contribute to defining user-centred design approaches and methodologies for projects, ensuring alignment with agile principles and best practices.

• Synthesize raw research outputs into strategic insights that inform product strategy and drive business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, hands-on design execution, and team mentorship. The emphasis on working with government clients implies a need for experience with public sector digital standards and potentially navigating complex procurement or approval processes. The requirement to elicit requirements from ambiguity and act as a go-to person points to a high level of problem-solving and domain expertise.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience and expertise in UX/UI design principles is essential. Relevant certifications in UX/UI, service design, or agile methodologies are advantageous.

Experience: Minimum of 5-10 years of progressive experience in UX/UI design, with a significant portion in a lead or senior capacity (equivalent to SFIA Level 5). Proven track record of working within agile, delivery-focused environments, ideally with public sector or government clients.

Required Skills:

• Expert knowledge and hands-on experience with user interface design tools, particularly Figma.

• Deep understanding and practical application of user-centred design (UCD) principles and methodologies.

• Proven experience in creating high-fidelity prototypes, interaction designs, and user flows.

• Strong capability in conducting user research, synthesizing findings, and translating them into strategic insights.

• Demonstrated ability to design and facilitate workshops and collaborative design sessions.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate user needs and design rationale to diverse stakeholders.

• Experience in eliciting requirements from ambiguous user needs and translating them into clear design specifications.

• Proficiency in agile and flexible working methodologies, adapting to evolving project requirements.

• Commitment to and practical experience with accessible design (e.g., WCAG) and inclusive design principles.

• Ability to build and maintain strong client and stakeholder relationships. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with service design techniques and mapping complex service ecosystems.

• Familiarity with government digital service standards and frameworks.

• Experience in mentoring and developing junior design team members.

• Understanding of front-end development principles to facilitate effective collaboration with developers.

• Experience working on projects requiring Security Clearance (SC Clearance).

📝 Enhancement Note: The SFIA 5 designation strongly implies a requirement for senior-level expertise, including strategic thinking, leadership, and the ability to influence beyond direct design execution. The emphasis on Figma suggests it's the primary tool, and candidates should be prepared to demonstrate advanced proficiency. The mention of SC Clearance is a critical requirement that necessitates specific background and residency criteria.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 3-5 complex projects, demonstrating end-to-end UX/UI design process.

• Projects should highlight problem definition, user research methodologies, ideation, prototyping, user testing, and final design outputs.

• Specific case studies detailing how user needs were translated into tangible design solutions and their impact.

• Evidence of working in agile environments and adapting designs based on iterative feedback.

• Examples of collaboration with development teams and successful implementation of designs.

• Demonstrations of accessibility considerations and their integration into the design process. Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of documented user research findings, including synthesis and strategic insights.

• Include examples of detailed user personas, journey maps, and service blueprints.

• Provide samples of wireframes, interactive prototypes, and final UI designs with annotations for developers.

• Demonstrate experience with documenting design decisions and rationale for stakeholder approval.

• Present evidence of process optimization or improvements made to design workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Lead UX/UI Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It should not only showcase visual design skills but also the strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and process management expected at a senior level. Emphasis should be placed on projects that demonstrate impact, collaboration, and adherence to user-centred and accessible design principles.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the seniority of a Lead UX/UI Designer (SFIA 5 equivalent), the experience required (5-10 years), and the London location, a competitive salary range is estimated to be between £60,000 - £85,000 per annum. This estimate accounts for the specialized skills in user-centred design, Figma expertise, and the responsibility of leading design efforts, particularly within the government sector.

Benefits:

• Competitive Pay: Annual salary reviews to ensure alignment with performance and market value.

• Loyalty Pension: Employer contribution starting at 5%, increasing by 0.5% annually after the third anniversary, up to a maximum of 8%.

• Protection: Comprehensive Group Life Assurance for peace of mind.

• Time Off: 25 days of annual leave plus Bank Holidays, with the option to buy or sell additional days.

• Volunteering: 2 paid volunteering days per year.

• Professional Development: Fully funded professional certifications (AWS, GCP, Agile, etc.) with 5 days paid study leave.

• Learning Fund: An additional £500 annual "Personal Choice" fund for continuous learning.

• Support: Access to 1-2-1 professional coaching and team training.

• Health: Premium Vitality Private Medical Insurance, including rewards like an Apple Watch and gym discounts.

• Flexibility: Genuine hybrid working model with a WFH equipment allowance.

• Wellness: Cycle to Work scheme and a commitment to sustainable, healthy working practices.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week, with genuine hybrid working flexibility. Specific daily hours can be discussed to accommodate personal needs while ensuring team collaboration and project delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided benefits package is extensive and aligns with a senior-level role, emphasizing professional growth, health and wellbeing, and work-life balance. The salary range is an estimate based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in London, considering the SFIA 5 level and specialized requirements like SC Clearance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology Consulting, with a strong focus on Digital Transformation within the UK Central Government sector. Zaizi specializes in building digital services that are user-friendly, efficient, and secure.

Company Size: Zaizi is a growing technology consultancy, likely falling into the small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) category (e.g., 50-250 employees), fostering a more personal and collaborative work environment. This size often means individuals have a greater impact and can influence processes.

Founded: While the exact founding date isn't provided, Zaizi has established itself as a key player in the UK government's digital transformation landscape, suggesting a history of successful project delivery and client relationships.

Team Structure:

• The UX/UI Design team is likely structured to support multiple project teams, with designers embedded within multidisciplinary agile squads.

• A Lead UX/UI Designer would typically report to a Head of Design, Head of Digital, or a senior project manager, and directly mentor other UX/UI Designers.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a cornerstone, with designers working daily alongside Product Managers, developers, testers, solution architects, and client stakeholders. Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: Emphasis on using user research, analytics, and stakeholder feedback to drive design decisions and strategic insights.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: Application of agile and user-centred design methodologies to plan and optimize design processes for efficiency and effectiveness.

• Automation & Efficiency: While not directly an operations automation role, the design team contributes to efficiency by creating usable and streamlined digital services.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Zaizi's focus on UK government clients implies a culture that values security, reliability, and user impact. The company's emphasis on autonomy and rapid prototyping suggests a dynamic and empowering environment. The size of the company likely means more direct interaction with senior leadership and a flatter organizational structure.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Senior or Lead individual contributor level (SFIA Level 5). It requires not only deep technical expertise in UX/UI design but also the ability to guide others, influence project direction, and manage client relationships. This level often involves taking ownership of significant design challenges and contributing to the strategic direction of design within projects and the company.

Reporting Structure: The Lead UX/UI Designer will likely report to a senior digital leader within Zaizi (e.g., Head of Talent, Head of Design, or a Director). They will also be responsible for mentoring and guiding other UX/UI Designers, creating a hierarchical or matrixed reporting relationship within the design function.

Operations Impact: While not a traditional "Revenue Operations" role, this UX/UI position has a significant impact on the success of Zaizi's digital services, particularly for government clients. Effective UX/UI design directly influences user adoption, satisfaction, efficiency of service delivery, and ultimately, the perceived value and effectiveness of the digital solutions Zaizi builds. This impact translates to client retention and new business opportunities.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like accessible design for public services, complex service design for government systems, or advanced prototyping techniques.

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a formal management role (e.g., Design Manager), leading larger teams, defining design strategy for the company, or specializing in a particular client sector.

• Cross-functional Expertise: Gaining deeper insights into government digital procurement, agile delivery frameworks, and the technical architecture behind digital services.

• Professional Certifications: Fully funded certifications and study leave provide avenues for formal skill enhancement in areas like cloud platforms (AWS, GCP), agile methodologies, or specialized design frameworks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The SFIA 5 designation is key here, indicating a level of responsibility and expertise that goes beyond execution. Growth opportunities will likely involve increased strategic input, team leadership, and potentially specialization in areas critical to government digital services.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid working is the standard, combining remote work with office-based collaboration. Zaizi likely maintains a professional office space in London designed to facilitate teamwork, client meetings, and focused work.

Office Location(s): Primarily London, England, United Kingdom. This location offers good connectivity and access for employees. Specific office details would be available upon request or during the interview process.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model encourages in-office days for team meetings, workshops, and brainstorming sessions, fostering a strong sense of community and shared purpose.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma), collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Teams), and project management tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence) is expected.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with design peers, project teams, and senior leadership, both remotely and in the office, supporting knowledge sharing and mentorship.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time work schedule (approx. 40 hours/week) with genuine hybrid flexibility. This allows for a balance between personal commitments and project deadlines, with an emphasis on output and collaboration rather than strict hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role emphasizes flexibility while acknowledging the importance of in-person collaboration for a design-led team. The London location is a key factor for those seeking to work within the UK's digital government sector.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• 1st Stage: Initial Phone Screening: A brief call with the recruitment team to assess initial fit, understand career aspirations, and confirm basic requirements like right to work and residency for SC Clearance.

• 2nd Stage: Technical Interview: A focused discussion evaluating your UX/UI design expertise, problem-solving skills, and practical experience with tools like Figma. Be prepared to discuss your design process and approaches to common design challenges.

• Final Stage: Presentation & Panel Interview: A 10-15 minute presentation of your portfolio, followed by a panel interview with representatives from different departments. This stage assesses your leadership potential, strategic thinking, communication skills, and how you'd integrate into Zaizi's culture and client work.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant projects that best showcase your lead capabilities, user-centred process, and impact. Prioritize projects with clear problem statements, detailed methodologies, and measurable outcomes.

• Structure for Impact: For each project, clearly outline: the challenge, your role and responsibilities, the users, your process (research, ideation, design, testing), key decisions made, and the final outcomes/impact. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Leadership: Emphasize your contributions as a lead – mentoring, guiding teams, influencing strategy, managing stakeholders, and driving design quality.

• Focus on Process & Rationale: Be ready to deeply discuss your design decisions, the rationale behind them, and how you adapted to feedback or constraints. Demonstrate your understanding of accessible and user-centred design principles.

• Tailor to Zaizi: Research Zaizi's work, especially their government projects. Frame your presentation to show how your skills and experience align with their mission and client needs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate Design Challenges: Prepare to discuss how you would approach a hypothetical design problem for a government service, focusing on user needs, accessibility, and scalability.

• Articulate Strategy: Be ready to explain your design strategy, how you would collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, and how you would measure success.

• Stakeholder Management: Practice articulating complex design concepts clearly and concisely to non-designers, and discuss how you handle conflicting stakeholder opinions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is multi-stage and designed to thoroughly assess both technical skills and broader leadership capabilities. The portfolio presentation is a critical component, requiring candidates to articulate their value proposition and strategic approach effectively.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expert-level proficiency is explicitly required for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other prototyping tools (e.g., InVision, Adobe XD) might be beneficial for diverse project needs.

• User Research Platforms: Experience with tools for user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, SurveyMonkey).

• Collaboration Tools: Proficiency in platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, and Confluence for daily communication, task management, and documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Software: Familiarity with web analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to understand user behaviour and inform design iterations.

• Data Visualization Tools: Ability to interpret data visualizations and potentially create simple ones to communicate insights (e.g., basic Excel, Google Sheets, or BI tool exposure).

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM/automation role, understanding how design integrates with underlying systems is beneficial. Familiarity with how user data is managed in CRMs or how workflows are automated can inform design choices for seamless user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the cornerstone of the technical stack for this role. Proficiency here is non-negotiable. The broader ecosystem of collaboration and research tools is also important for a senior designer working in an agile, client-facing environment.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Real Impact: A strong drive to work on mission-critical projects that have a tangible positive effect on UK digital infrastructure and citizens' lives.

• Autonomy & Empowerment: A culture that trusts individuals to make decisions, experiment with rapid prototyping, and iterate towards successful outcomes.

• Service & Community: A commitment to serving clients and contributing to the community, reflected in initiatives like paid volunteering days and support for reservist military service.

• User-Centred Approach: A fundamental belief in prioritizing user needs and behaviours in all design and development activities.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication, knowledge sharing, and a willingness to work together across teams and with clients.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are integrated into multidisciplinary agile teams, working hand-in-hand with developers, product managers, and other specialists.

• Iterative & Feedback-Driven: A culture that embraces feedback loops, continuous iteration, and learning from both successes and failures.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing best practices, lessons learned, and new techniques through team sessions, internal training, and potentially external events.

📝 Enhancement Note: Zaizi's values emphasize purpose, empowerment, and collaboration, which are crucial for a successful experience in a government-focused tech consultancy. The "Real Impact" value is particularly relevant for designers who want to see their work make a difference.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Government Bureaucracy: Working with UK Central Government can involve complex procurement processes, stringent security requirements (SC Clearance), and established ways of working that may differ from private sector environments.

• Ambiguity in Requirements: Eliciting clear needs from diverse government stakeholders and translating them into actionable design specifications requires strong communication and analytical skills.

• Balancing User Needs with Technical/Policy Constraints: Designing effective solutions that meet user needs while adhering to government policies, security protocols, and technical limitations.

• Maintaining Design Consistency: Ensuring a consistent and high-quality user experience across various government digital services, especially when working on multiple projects or in evolving landscapes.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Skill Development: Opportunities to gain deep expertise in government digital standards, accessibility for public services, and complex service design.

• Industry Exposure: Fully funded professional certifications (e.g., AWS, GCP, Agile) and 5 days of paid study leave offer structured learning pathways.

• Mentorship & Coaching: Access to 1-2-1 professional coaching and team training accelerates career growth and leadership potential.

• Broad Learning: The £500 "Personal Choice" fund allows for exploration of diverse learning interests, fostering well-rounded development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to working with government clients and imply a need for resilience, adaptability, and strong problem-solving skills. The growth opportunities are robust, supported by significant investment in employee development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to elicit design requirements from highly ambiguous user needs. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Prepare a specific case study demonstrating your requirement elicitation skills.)

• "How do you ensure your designs are accessible to all users, especially in a government context where inclusivity is paramount?" (Discuss your understanding of WCAG and practical application.)

• "Walk us through a complex UX/UI project from start to finish. What were the key challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Be ready to present your portfolio with a focus on process and impact.)

• "How do you balance user needs with technical constraints, budget limitations, or policy requirements in a project?" (Prepare examples of compromise and strategic decision-making.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why Zaizi? What interests you about working on government digital services?" (Research Zaizi's mission, values, and recent projects.)

• "How do you contribute to a positive and collaborative team environment, especially in a hybrid setting?" (Discuss your collaboration style and experience mentoring others.)

• "How do you measure the success of your design work? What KPIs do you focus on?" (Connect your design outcomes to business or user impact.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Structure your presentation around the narrative of your projects. Focus on the problem, your journey, and the resolution, emphasizing your role and decision-making.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals extensively. Show wireframes, prototypes, user flows, and final UI designs. Clearly explain the "why" behind your design choices.

• Highlight Leadership & Mentorship: Explicitly point out instances where you led initiatives, mentored junior designers, or influenced project direction.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the positive impact of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction).

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your process, tools, and decisions. Be ready to discuss alternatives you considered and why you chose your final approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes practical application, strategic thinking, and cultural fit. The portfolio presentation is a critical opportunity to showcase leadership and problem-solving skills. Understanding Zaizi's focus on government clients and their values will be key to successful preparation.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workable link.

• Customize your CV: Highlight your experience with Figma, user-centred design, service design, and any relevant government sector projects. Clearly articulate your leadership experience and mentoring capabilities.

• Prepare your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, showcases your best work with a focus on process and impact, and is easily accessible (e.g., via a link). Be ready to present 2-3 key projects.

• Research Zaizi: Familiarize yourself with Zaizi's mission, values, and their work in the UK government digital space. Understand their commitment to user-centred design and accessibility.

• Practice your Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio presentation, focusing on clarity, conciseness, and articulating your role and impact effectively for the final stage interview.

⚠️ 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.