Senior Product Designer - 1 Year FTC (we have office locations in Cambridge, Leeds and London)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer - 1 Year FTC

Company: Genomics England

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time, Temporary (Fixed-Term Contract)

Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX)

Date Posted: April 28, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (implied by "Senior" title and "substantial experience" requirement)

Remote Status: Hybrid (Blended working model with office presence required)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design and delivery of innovative, cutting-edge genomics products within a healthcare and research context.

• Drive the establishment of first-class design standards and contribute to a shared component library to elevate overall design quality.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional squads, including product managers, engineers, researchers, and clinical staff, to translate user insights and business objectives into intuitive and impactful digital experiences.

• Champion accessibility and ensure all designs adhere to WCAG 2.2 guidelines and relevant legal/regulatory requirements, including those evaluated by a Research Ethics Committee (REC).

• Play a pivotal role in shaping and realizing the product vision and roadmap, ensuring user value and business viability are at the forefront of product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is for a Senior Product Designer with a focus on end-to-end product ownership and establishing design standards, rather than a pure UX researcher or UI specialist. The "1 Year FTC" indicates a fixed-term contract, which is crucial for candidates to understand regarding job security and benefits. The emphasis on genomics and healthcare software systems suggests a need for domain understanding or a strong aptitude for learning complex, regulated environments.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• End-to-End Product Design Ownership: Take full ownership of the design process from discovery and research through to launch and post-launch iteration, ensuring a seamless user experience.

• User-Centric Design Development: Deeply understand user needs through qualitative research and quantitative insights, translating these into wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs for innovative genomics products.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Actively participate in cross-functional product squads, collaborating with product managers, engineers, researchers, and clinical staff to ensure design feasibility, viability, and alignment with product vision and roadmap.

• Design System Contribution: Contribute to the development and maintenance of a shared component library and design system, improving design consistency and efficiency across products.

• Accessibility and Compliance: Design and advocate for accessible experiences (WCAG 2.2) and ensure all product designs comply with legal, regulatory, and ethical standards, including those reviewed by a Research Ethics Committee (REC).

• Facilitate Co-creation and Decision-Making: Employ appropriate methods to bring together diverse perspectives from stakeholders, users, and the product squad to collaboratively solve complex problems.

• Product Vision and Roadmap Input: Work closely with Product Managers to translate insights into actionable product roadmaps that deliver significant user value.

• Design Standards Establishment: Help to define and document style guides and component library standards to ensure high-quality, consistent design output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who can operate independently, drive initiatives, and influence product direction, typical of a senior role. The specific mention of "NHS design systems" and "regulatory best practice" points to a requirement for experience or a strong willingness to learn within a regulated healthcare environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While specific educational requirements are not listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for senior design roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience:

• Substantial experience as a Senior Product Designer with a demonstrable track record of successfully delivering live products.

• Proven experience working effectively within cross-functional product squads.

Required Skills:

• Advanced Proficiency in Design & Prototyping Tools: Expertise in industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, InVision, or similar for wireframing, prototyping, and visual design.

• User Experience (UX) Design: Deep understanding of user-centered design principles, methodologies, and best practices.

• User Research Interpretation: Ability to evaluate and interpret findings from qualitative and quantitative user research to inform design decisions.

• Wireframing and Prototyping: Skilled in creating low-fidelity wireframes and interactive prototypes to test and iterate on design concepts.

• Accessibility Standards: Knowledge of WCAG 2.2 accessibility guidelines and practical application in design.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work proactively and collaboratively with diverse teams (designers, engineers, product managers, researchers, clinical staff).

• Organizational Skills: Strong ability to prioritize tasks, manage time effectively, and meet project deadlines.

• Feedback Integration: A proactive approach to seeking, giving, and incorporating feedback to continuously improve work.

• Product Design Methodologies: Demonstrable knowledge of various product design processes and methodologies.

Preferred Skills:

• NHS Design Systems: Experience using or familiarity with NHS design systems and frameworks.

• Regulatory Best Practice: Experience applying regulatory best practices in a healthcare or similar regulated industry.

• Component Library Management: Experience contributing to or managing design component libraries.

• Stakeholder Management: Experience engaging with and managing the expectations of various stakeholders.

• Domain Knowledge: Familiarity with genomics, healthcare technology, or life sciences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "substantial experience" and "advanced proficiency" requirements clearly position this as a senior-level role. The emphasis on both technical design skills and soft skills like collaboration and feedback integration is typical for senior positions requiring leadership and influence.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 comprehensive case studies demonstrating your ability to take a product from discovery through to successful launch and iteration.

• Problem/Solution Framing: Clearly articulate the user problem or business challenge, the design process followed, and the rationale behind key design decisions.

• Impact and Outcomes: Quantify the impact of your designs where possible, using metrics related to user engagement, task completion, conversion rates, or other relevant KPIs.

• Design Process Documentation: Illustrate your design process, including research synthesis, user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and final UI designs.

• Accessibility Integration: Highlight specific examples of how you incorporated accessibility principles into your designs.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design and Optimization: Demonstrate experience in mapping out and optimizing user workflows to enhance efficiency and usability.

• System Implementation & Iteration: Provide examples of how you've contributed to the implementation of digital systems and iterated on designs based on user feedback and performance data.

• Measurement and Performance Analysis: Show an understanding of how to measure the success of designs and use data to drive further improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, a portfolio is critical. It needs to showcase not just visual design skills but a strategic understanding of the entire product development lifecycle, problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to drive tangible outcomes. The emphasis on "live delivery" and "end-to-end" means case studies should be robust and reflective of real-world product challenges.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £63,300 per annum (for a 1 Year FTC)

Benefits:

• Generous Leave: 30 days of annual holiday plus bank holidays, with additional leave for long service.

• International Remote Work Option: Opportunity to apply for up to 30 days of remote working abroad annually (subject to approval).

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

• Pension & Financial Security: Defined contribution pension scheme with Genomics England matching up to 10% of employee contributions.

• Life Assurance: Coverage equivalent to 3 times your annual salary.

• Give As You Earn Scheme: Facilitates charitable giving through payroll deductions.

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

• Recognition & Rewards: Access to an employee recognition program and a referral scheme.

• Health & Wellbeing: Subsidised gym membership, a free Headspace account, and access to a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.

• Additional Perks: Eye tests and flu jabs.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with a blended working model that allows for flexibility. A minimum of 2 office days per month is expected, with specific patterns agreed upon with the team leader.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary is stated as a base figure for the fixed-term contract. The benefits package is comprehensive and attractive, particularly the leave, family-friendly policies, and learning and development support. The "blended working model" with a minimum of 2 office days per month is a key detail for candidates considering hybrid arrangements.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Life Sciences, Genomics, Healthcare Technology, Digital Health. Genomics England is at the forefront of enabling genomic medicine and research, with a mission to integrate genomics into everyday healthcare.

Company Size: The provided data does not specify company size, but given its role in national initiatives and its London/Cambridge/Leeds offices, it is likely a medium to large organization.

Founded: Genomics England was established to deliver the 100,000 Genomes Project. While the exact founding date isn't provided, its focus on national-scale genomic initiatives suggests a relatively modern organization with a significant public sector or quasi-governmental backing.

Team Structure:

• Cross-Functional Squads: The design team operates within cross-functional squads, which include product managers, engineers, researchers, and clinical staff, fostering a collaborative and integrated approach to product development.

• Design & Research Department: The Senior Product Designer will be part of a dedicated Design & Research department.

• Reporting: Reporting lines are not explicitly detailed but would likely be to a Head of Design, Design Lead, or Head of Product within the digital systems delivery arm of Genomics England.

Methodology:

• User-Centric Design: A strong emphasis on understanding user needs through qualitative research and translating insights into intuitive digital products.

• Agile/Iterative Development: Implied through the use of cross-functional squads, product roadmaps, and continuous iteration based on feedback.

• Data-Driven Insights: Utilization of both qualitative and quantitative data to inform product vision, roadmaps, and design decisions.

• Standards-Based Development: Adherence to established design systems (like NHS) and regulatory frameworks.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Genomics England's mission to integrate genomics into healthcare is a significant differentiator. This role is not just about designing software; it's about contributing to a transformative shift in healthcare. The culture is likely to be mission-driven, collaborative, and focused on rigorous, evidence-based approaches due to the nature of genomics and healthcare.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer. It implies a level of autonomy, leadership in design initiatives, and the ability to mentor or guide less experienced designers. The responsibility extends beyond individual contribution to establishing design standards and contributing to product strategy.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report into a Design Lead or Head of Design, and operate within a cross-functional product squad, reporting functionally to the squad lead for project-specific needs.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is significant, directly influencing the usability, accessibility, and effectiveness of digital products that support the NHS's national whole genome sequencing service and research initiatives. Successful designs can lead to immediate healthcare benefits and advancements in genomic medicine, aligning directly with Genomics England's mission to improve patient care and accelerate medical discoveries.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Design: Opportunity to take a leading role in shaping design practices, establishing standards, and potentially mentoring junior designers.

• Specialization in Genomics/Healthcare: Deepen expertise in a highly specialized and impactful field (genomics and digital health), which is a growing area of innovation.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning through individual learning budgets, training support, and professional subscriptions, allowing for skill enhancement in cutting-edge design methodologies and tools.

• Contribution to National Initiatives: Play a key role in projects that have a national scale and significant impact on healthcare and research outcomes.

• Fixed-Term Contract to Permanent Potential: While a 1-year FTC, successful performance and organizational needs could potentially lead to extension or conversion to a permanent role, though this is not guaranteed.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity to gain specialized experience in a rapidly evolving and critical field. The growth path is less about climbing a traditional corporate ladder and more about deepening expertise, taking on leadership in specific projects, and contributing to high-impact initiatives.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Genomics England operates a blended working model, meaning the office is a space for collaboration, team meetings, and focused work, rather than a traditional, fully on-site environment. The offices are located in London (Canary Wharf), Cambridge, and Leeds.

Office Location(s): London (Canary Wharf), Cambridge, and Leeds. The role is specified for London.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Expect an environment that facilitates interaction with product squads, designers, engineers, and other stakeholders.

• Technology & Tools: Access to standard design and collaboration tools will be provided, supporting efficient workflow within the blended model.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct collaboration with colleagues within the Design & Research department and across product squads.

Work Schedule: A blended working model is in place, with a minimum expectation of 2 days per month in the office. The exact schedule will be agreed upon with the team leader, offering flexibility within the framework of team needs and project requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "blended working model" is a key aspect of the work environment. Candidates should be comfortable with a hybrid setup and understand that while flexibility exists, regular office presence for collaboration is a requirement.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely an HR screening to assess basic qualifications, experience, and interest in the role and Genomics England's mission.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager to delve deeper into your experience, approach to product design, and understanding of the role's responsibilities.

• Portfolio Review & Practical Exercise: A dedicated session to present your portfolio, discuss case studies, and potentially complete a design exercise or problem-solving task relevant to genomics or healthcare. This is where your end-to-end process and impact will be scrutinized.

• Cross-Functional Team Interview: An opportunity to meet with potential colleagues from product management, engineering, and research to assess collaboration style and cultural fit.

• Final Interview/Offer: A concluding discussion, potentially with senior leadership, before an offer is extended.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest end-to-end product design case studies that best demonstrate your senior-level capabilities, problem-solving skills, and impact.

• Focus on Process: Clearly articulate your design process for each case study. Explain why you made certain decisions, the research that informed them, and how you iterated.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to showcase the success of your designs. If direct metrics are unavailable, explain the potential impact or how success would be measured.

• Highlight Collaboration: Show examples of how you worked with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to achieve project goals.

• Address Accessibility & Compliance: Be prepared to discuss how you incorporated accessibility (WCAG 2.2) and considered regulatory/ethical requirements in your designs, especially if healthcare-related projects are included.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design philosophy, how you handle design challenges, your experience with design systems, and your understanding of the genomics/healthcare domain.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research Genomics England, its mission, the NHS, and the broader landscape of genomic medicine. Understand the ethical considerations and regulatory environment.

• Design Thinking: Be prepared to walk through a design thinking process for a hypothetical problem related to genomics healthcare.

• Problem-Solving: Anticipate a design challenge that requires you to apply your problem-solving skills to a user or business need within the genomics domain. Focus on structured thinking, user empathy, and creative solutions.

• Communication: Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely, especially when discussing complex design decisions or technical challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily rely on the candidate's portfolio and their ability to articulate their design process and impact. Candidates should prepare to discuss their experience in regulated environments and their understanding of user needs in healthcare.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Advanced proficiency is required. Likely candidates will be expected to use:

  • Figma: Widely used for collaborative design, prototyping, and component management.
  • Sketch: Another popular choice for UI design and prototyping.
  • Adobe Creative Suite: Potentially for specific graphic design or asset creation needs.
  • Prototyping Tools: InVision, Axure, or built-in Figma/Sketch prototyping features.

• User Research Tools: Familiarity with tools for usability testing, surveys, and analytics (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, SurveyMonkey, Google Analytics).

• Collaboration Tools: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Confluence for team communication and project management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Looker is beneficial for understanding user behavior and product performance data.

• Web Analytics Platforms: Google Analytics or similar for tracking user interactions on digital platforms.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how design impacts data flows within CRMs or patient management systems could be advantageous.

• Integration Tools: Awareness of how design outputs integrate with backend systems and development pipelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern design tools, particularly Figma, is almost certainly a prerequisite. The role may also involve interacting with data analytics to inform design decisions, so familiarity with analytics platforms is a plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to Genomics England's mission of improving healthcare through genomics, fostering a sense of purpose and impact.

• Collaboration: Emphasis on working effectively within cross-functional teams and with diverse stakeholders to achieve shared goals.

• Excellence & Quality: A drive for high standards in design, research, and product delivery, reflected in the establishment of first-class design standards.

• User Focus: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of patients, clinicians, and researchers.

• Innovation & Learning: Encouraging continuous improvement, embracing new technologies, and fostering a culture of learning and development.

• Integrity & Ethics: Adherence to strict ethical and regulatory standards, particularly critical in healthcare and genomics.

Collaboration Style:

• Agile and Iterative: Working in cross-functional squads, teams are likely to adopt agile methodologies, with regular feedback loops and iterative design approaches.

• Open Communication: Encouraging open dialogue, constructive feedback, and shared problem-solving across disciplines.

• Co-creation: Actively involving diverse perspectives (users, clinicians, engineers, researchers) in the design process to ensure holistic solutions.

• Evidence-Based: Decisions are informed by user research, data, and best practices, rather than solely on opinion.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Genomics England is likely to be a blend of scientific rigor, a strong humanitarian mission, and a modern, agile approach to digital product development. Collaboration and a commitment to excellence are key.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Domain Complexity: Understanding and designing for the intricate field of genomics and its application in healthcare requires continuous learning.

• Regulatory Environment: Navigating strict legal, ethical, and regulatory requirements (e.g., REC reviews) in healthcare product design.

• Balancing Innovation with Compliance: Finding the right balance between creating cutting-edge, user-friendly experiences and adhering to stringent healthcare regulations.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Managing diverse stakeholder needs and expectations across clinical, research, technical, and patient groups.

• Fixed-Term Contract Uncertainty: Adapting to a 1-year contract duration, requiring a focus on immediate impact and performance.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Genomics and Healthcare Expertise: Deepen knowledge in a specialized, high-growth sector of science and technology with direct societal impact.

• Advanced Design Practices: Opportunity to refine skills in areas such as design systems, accessibility, and complex data visualization within a healthcare context.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gain insights from working closely with experts in genetics, medicine, research, and software engineering.

• Professional Development Budget: Utilize allocated budgets for training, certifications, and attending relevant conferences to stay abreast of industry trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are significant but also present unique growth opportunities. Overcoming them will build highly valuable expertise in a niche but critical industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Walk me through a complex product you designed from start to finish. What was the problem, your process, the challenges, and the outcome?" (Focus on end-to-end ownership, problem-solving, and impact).

• "How do you approach designing for accessibility (WCAG 2.2) and regulatory compliance in a healthcare context?" (Demonstrate understanding of standards and their practical application).

• "Describe a time you had to balance competing stakeholder needs or technical constraints with user experience goals. How did you resolve it?" (Showcase negotiation, collaboration, and pragmatic problem-solving).

• "How would you contribute to establishing or improving a design system and component library for Genomics England?" (Highlight your understanding of design systems, collaboration, and quality standards).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Genomics England's mission and our work in genomic medicine?" (Show genuine interest and research into the company's purpose).

• "How do you approach collaboration within a cross-functional product squad, especially with engineers and product managers?" (Highlight your teamwork and communication skills).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, perhaps by case study. For each case study:

  1. Context: Briefly introduce the company/project and the core problem.
  2. Your Role: Clearly define your responsibilities and contributions.
  3. Process: Detail your research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and testing phases. Use visuals to illustrate.
  4. Solutions: Show the final designs and explain key features and design decisions.
  5. Impact: Quantify the results or discuss how success was measured.
  6. Learnings: Reflect on what you learned and how you would approach it differently.

• Storytelling: Frame your case studies as compelling narratives that highlight your problem-solving journey and impact.

• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, and prototypes. Ensure they are clear and easy to understand.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice your presentation to ensure it fits within the allotted slot, focusing on the most critical aspects.

• Engagement: Be prepared to answer in-depth questions about any aspect of your work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Hypothetical Scenario: If given a design challenge, take time to ask clarifying questions. Understand the user, the business goal, and any constraints.

• Process-Oriented: Focus on demonstrating your thought process rather than jumping to a final solution. Outline your steps, research methods, and decision-making criteria.

• User-Centricity: Always anchor your solutions in user needs and empathy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview will likely assess not just design skill but also strategic thinking, domain interest, and cultural fit within a mission-driven, regulated environment. Preparing specific examples for each question is crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features 2-3 end-to-end case studies that demonstrate senior-level product design experience, problem-solving skills, and quantifiable impact within digital products. Tailor your portfolio to highlight relevant skills such as user research interpretation, accessibility, and collaboration.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your experience with end-to-end product design, cross-functional team collaboration, advanced design tool proficiency, and any relevant healthcare or regulated industry experience. Use keywords from the job description (e.g., "Senior Product Designer," "User Experience," "WCAG 2.2," "NHS design systems," "cross-functional squad").

• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly research Genomics England, its mission, and its products. Prepare to discuss your portfolio case studies in detail, focusing on your process, decision-making, and impact. Practice answering strategy and behavioral questions, and be ready to discuss your understanding of accessibility and regulatory compliance in healthcare.

• Company Research: Understand Genomics England's role in the UK's healthcare system, its mission to enable genomic medicine, and its "blended working model." Familiarize yourself with their culture and values as outlined on their website.

⚠️ 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. The role is a 1-year Fixed-Term Contract (FTC).