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

Date Posted: May 15, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design for cutting-edge genomics products, establishing first-class design standards.

• Collaborate with cross-functional squads (engineering, research, product management, clinical staff) to define and realize product vision and roadmap.

• Translate qualitative and quantitative user insights into intuitive, highly relevant, and accessible digital experiences.

• Champion accessibility standards (WCAG 2.2) and ensure designs meet legal, regulatory, and ethical requirements, including external Research Ethics Committee (REC) review.

• Contribute to a shared component library and continuously improve design quality through feedback and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a 1-year Fixed-Term Contract (FTC), which is explicitly stated and should be a primary consideration for applicants. The company is a leader in genomic medicine, implying a complex and sensitive domain where user experience and accessibility are paramount. The emphasis on NHS design systems and regulatory compliance suggests a need for adherence to stringent healthcare standards.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the entire product design lifecycle, from discovery and user research interpretation to wireframing, prototyping, and final launch.

• Conduct user research to deeply understand user needs, behaviors, and pain points within the genomics and healthcare context.

• Design intuitive, user-centered interfaces and workflows for complex healthcare software systems.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers to translate user insights and business objectives into a well-defined product roadmap.

• Work with engineers to ensure technical feasibility of designs while maintaining a high standard of user experience.

• Partner with Content Designers to ensure all product content is accessible and understandable to a diverse user base.

• Ensure designs comply with all relevant legal, regulatory, and ethical guidelines, including those set by Research Ethics Committees (RECs).

• Actively contribute to and maintain a shared component library and style guide to ensure design consistency and efficiency across products.

• Facilitate co-creation workshops and decision-making sessions with diverse stakeholders, including users, clinical staff, and internal teams.

• Apply and adapt NHS design systems and frameworks where appropriate to ensure best practice and interoperability.

• Continuously iterate on designs based on user feedback, performance data, and evolving requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a senior-level expectation for independent ownership and leadership in the design process. The mention of "designing innovative, intuitive products" and "establishing first class design standards" indicates a need for not just execution but also strategic input into the design practice within Genomics England. The specific mention of REC review implies a critical need for understanding and integrating healthcare-specific compliance into the design process.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior Product Designer role. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: Substantial experience as a Senior Product Designer with a proven track record of successfully delivering live products.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrable experience leading end-to-end product design processes, from discovery through to launch and ongoing iteration.

• Advanced proficiency with industry-standard design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision).

• Strong understanding of user research methodologies and the ability to interpret qualitative and quantitative findings into actionable design solutions.

• Expertise in wireframing, user flow mapping, and creating interactive prototypes.

• In-depth knowledge of WCAG 2.2 accessibility guidelines and best practices for designing inclusive digital experiences.

• Proven ability to work effectively within cross-functional product squads, collaborating closely with product managers, engineers, and researchers.

• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the capacity to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a proactive approach to collaboration and stakeholder management.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working with or applying NHS design systems and frameworks.

• Familiarity with regulatory best practices and compliance requirements in the healthcare sector.

• Experience in the genomics or broader life sciences/healthcare technology domain.

• Knowledge of component library management and design system development.

• Experience facilitating co-creation workshops and design thinking sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize practical, hands-on experience with a strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end delivery. The "substantial experience" combined with the "Senior" title suggests a need for candidates with at least 5-10 years of dedicated product design experience. The preference for NHS design system knowledge is a significant differentiator.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design projects, demonstrating your ability to take a product from initial concept to successful launch.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your design process, the solutions you developed, and the impact of your work (quantifiable metrics are highly valued).

• Examples of wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and final UI designs.

• Demonstrations of how you have applied user research and feedback to inform design decisions.

• Evidence of your understanding and application of accessibility principles (WCAG 2.2).

Process Documentation:

• Showcase your ability to document design processes, user journeys, and decision-making rationales.

• Provide examples of how you have collaborated with engineers and product managers to define and refine product requirements and roadmaps.

• Demonstrate your approach to iterative design, including how you gather feedback and implement improvements.

• Illustrate how you have ensured design compliance with regulatory standards and ethical guidelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, especially in a regulated field like genomics, a portfolio that clearly demonstrates a structured, user-centered design process and tangible outcomes is crucial. The emphasis should be on showing how you solved problems and the impact of your solutions, not just the final visual output.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £63,300 per annum (for this 1-year FTC). Note: This salary is for the specified FTC role and may differ for permanent positions or other contract lengths.

Benefits:

• Generous Leave: 30 days' holiday plus bank holidays.

• Long Service Leave: Additional leave for extended tenure.

• Global Mobility: Option to apply for up to 30 days of remote working abroad annually (subject to approval).

• 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 up to 10% (with ability to contribute more).

• Life Assurance: 3x salary coverage.

• Payroll Giving: "Give As You Earn" scheme.

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

• 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.

• Health Services: Provision of eye tests and flu jabs.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week. The company operates a blended working model, with an expectation of a minimum of 2 days in the office per month, with specific arrangements agreed upon with team leaders based on role requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary is a specific figure for the FTC. Researching similar Senior Product Designer roles in London within the tech/healthcare sector with 5-10 years of experience indicates that £63,300 is competitive, potentially on the mid-to-high end for an FTC, especially considering the specialized domain. The benefits package is comprehensive and attractive, reflecting a commitment to employee wellbeing and development.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Genomics and Healthcare Technology. Genomics England is at the forefront of enabling genomic medicine and research, aiming to integrate genomics into mainstream healthcare by 2035. The company plays a pivotal role in supporting the NHS's national whole genome sequencing service and developing a National Genomic Research Library.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated in the provided data, Genomics England is a significant national initiative. Based on similar organizations and the scope of its operations (supporting NHS, national projects), it likely employs several hundred to over a thousand individuals.

Founded: Genomics England was established in 2013 to deliver the 100,000 Genomes Project. Its mission has since evolved to drive the broader integration of genomics into healthcare and research.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the "Design & Research" department, indicating a strong emphasis on user-centered development.

• You will work as part of a "cross-functional squad," which typically includes Product Managers, Engineers (front-end, back-end), UX Researchers, Clinical Specialists, and potentially Data Scientists or Bioinformaticians, depending on the project.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on translating quantitative and qualitative research findings into product decisions.

• Agile/Scrum: Working in cross-functional squads suggests an agile development methodology, with iterative design cycles.

• User-Centricity: Strong focus on understanding and meeting user needs, with direct input from patients and healthcare professionals.

• Collaboration & Co-creation: Active facilitation of decision-making and problem-solving across diverse teams and stakeholders.

• Standards Adherence: Commitment to established design systems (like NHS Design Systems) and regulatory compliance.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Genomics England operates in a mission-driven, high-impact sector. The culture is likely to be collaborative, innovative, and focused on scientific rigor and patient benefit. The "blended working model" indicates a modern, flexible approach to work.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product Designer. This level signifies a high degree of autonomy, responsibility, and leadership in the design process. It involves not only executing design tasks but also contributing to design strategy, mentoring junior designers, and influencing product direction.

Reporting Structure: The role is part of a cross-functional squad and falls under the Design & Research department. The Senior Product Designer will report to a Design Lead or Product Manager, with close collaboration across all squad members.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer will have a direct impact on the usability, accessibility, and effectiveness of critical healthcare software systems. Their work will directly contribute to Genomics England's mission of enabling genomic medicine, improving healthcare outcomes, and facilitating groundbreaking research discoveries. The products designed could touch the lives of countless patients and clinicians.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in healthcare UX, genomics-specific design challenges, or advanced accessibility.

• Leadership Development: Potential to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives, or contribute to the evolution of the design system.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain deeper understanding of clinical workflows, research methodologies, and software development processes within the genomics domain.

• Project Leadership: Opportunity to lead design for significant new product features or entirely new product streams.

• Internal Mobility: While this is an FTC, successful performance could open doors to permanent roles or other opportunities within Genomics England or the broader NHS/genomics ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Senior Product Designer role is a significant step for individuals looking to make a tangible impact in a specialized, high-growth field. The FTC nature means growth opportunities might be more focused on skill acquisition and project impact rather than a linear career path within the company, unless an extension or permanent role arises.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Genomics England operates a "blended working model," indicating a hybrid work environment. This means a combination of remote work and in-office presence.

Office Location(s): The role is based in London, with other office locations in Cambridge and Leeds. The blended model suggests that individuals will be expected to attend the London office for a minimum of 2 days per month, with specific arrangements tailored to team and role needs.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office environment is designed to support collaboration, with spaces conducive to team meetings, workshops, and co-creation sessions.

• Technology Access: Employees will have access to the necessary tools and technology to perform their roles, including design software and collaboration platforms.

• Team Interaction: The blended model aims to balance the flexibility of remote work with the benefits of in-person interaction for team cohesion, brainstorming, and relationship building.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through the blended working model. This allows for a balance between work responsibilities and personal life, while ensuring critical design tasks and team collaborations are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The blended working model is a key aspect of the work environment. While offering flexibility, candidates should be comfortable with the expectation of attending the London office a few times a month and understand that specific patterns will be agreed upon with their team leader.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio by the recruitment team to assess alignment with the role requirements.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: A discussion focused on your experience, approach to product design, and understanding of the role's responsibilities. This may include behavioral questions.

• Portfolio Presentation/Design Challenge: A crucial stage where you will be asked to present your portfolio, highlighting specific projects that demonstrate your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. A practical design challenge, potentially involving a case study or a specific problem to solve, may also be included to assess your skills in real-time.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader or a panel, focusing on cultural fit, strategic thinking, and overall suitability for the role and Genomics England's mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Wisely: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that best showcase end-to-end design, your problem-solving process, and tangible results. Prioritize projects relevant to healthcare, complex systems, or accessibility.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the users you were designing for, your design process (discovery, ideation, iteration, testing), the challenges you faced, your solutions, and the impact of your work (quantifiable metrics are key).

• Highlight Process: Emphasize how you arrived at your solutions, not just the final visuals. Show wireframes, user flows, research insights, and iteration stages.

• Accessibility Focus: If possible, showcase how you've incorporated accessibility principles.

• Be Concise: Be prepared to present your portfolio efficiently, focusing on the most impactful aspects.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with genomics, healthcare, and the NHS. Understand the unique challenges and ethical considerations.

• Practice Problem-Solving: Be ready to approach a design prompt systematically, outlining your thought process, assumptions, and proposed solutions.

• Showcase Collaboration: Be prepared to discuss how you would collaborate with different stakeholders (engineers, clinicians, product managers) to solve a problem.

• Emphasize Impact: Think about how you would measure the success of any proposed solution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily rely on your portfolio. Be prepared to discuss your projects in detail, demonstrating a deep understanding of design principles, user-centered methodologies, and the ability to deliver impact in a complex domain. The "Senior" level implies expectations of strategic thinking and leadership in design discussions.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Advanced proficiency is required. Expect tools like Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), InVision, Axure, or similar.

• User Research & Analysis: Tools for user interviews, usability testing, surveys, and data analysis might be used. This could include platforms for remote testing, survey tools (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform), and analytics platforms.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Tools like Jira, Confluence, Trello, Asana, Slack, Microsoft Teams would be common for squad-level collaboration and workflow management.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Less directly relevant to the designer's core function, but familiarity with how user data is managed within CRMs or how workflows are automated might provide context for product design.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job description doesn't list specific tools, advanced proficiency with leading design and prototyping software (especially Figma, given its industry prevalence) is a must. Familiarity with collaboration tools used in agile environments is also essential.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to Genomics England's mission of enabling genomic medicine and improving healthcare outcomes.

• Collaboration: Emphasis on working effectively within cross-functional teams, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.

• Innovation: Encouraging new ideas and approaches to solve complex problems in genomics and healthcare.

• Integrity & Rigor: Maintaining high standards of scientific accuracy, ethical conduct, and data security, especially given the sensitive nature of genomic and patient data.

• User-Centricity: Placing the needs of patients, clinicians, and researchers at the forefront of all design and development efforts.

• Excellence: Striving for high quality in all aspects of work, from design execution to regulatory compliance.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The culture encourages seamless collaboration between design, engineering, product management, research, and clinical teams.

• Open Communication: Fostering an environment where feedback is openly shared and constructive criticism is welcomed to drive continuous improvement.

• Co-creation: Actively involving diverse perspectives in the problem-solving and design process.

• Respectful Dialogue: Valuing different viewpoints and engaging in respectful discussions to reach optimal solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company emphasizes inclusivity and diversity. The four key behaviors mentioned on their careers page (though not detailed here) likely reflect values around collaboration, impact, learning, and accountability, which are critical for a mission-driven organization.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Domain: Designing for genomics and healthcare involves intricate scientific concepts, sensitive patient data, and complex regulatory frameworks, requiring a steep learning curve.

• Balancing User Needs with Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring that user experience is intuitive and accessible while adhering to strict legal, ethical, and regulatory requirements (e.g., REC approval) can be challenging.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Achieving consensus and effective collaboration among diverse stakeholders with potentially different priorities (e.g., researchers vs. clinicians vs. engineers).

• End-to-End Ownership in an FTC: Delivering significant impact and driving projects to completion within a 1-year contract period requires high efficiency and focus.

• Evolving Technology & Science: Keeping pace with rapid advancements in genomics and digital health technologies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Domain Expertise: Gaining in-depth knowledge of genomics, genomic medicine, and the healthcare technology landscape.

• Specialized UX Skills: Developing expertise in designing for complex scientific data, regulated environments, and advanced accessibility standards.

• Exposure to National Initiatives: Contributing to projects that have a significant impact on national healthcare and research infrastructure.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from experienced product managers, engineers, and clinical experts within the organization.

• Professional Development: Access to individual learning budgets, training, and certifications to enhance skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to working in a cutting-edge, regulated field. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a chance to build highly specialized and valuable skills.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex product you designed end-to-end. What were the biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on your process, decision-making, and impact).

• "How do you approach integrating accessibility (WCAG 2.2) into your design process from the outset?" (Be specific about methods and tools).

• "Walk us through a time you had to balance conflicting stakeholder requirements. How did you facilitate a decision?" (Showcase negotiation and collaboration skills).

• "How would you translate user research insights into actionable design improvements for a genomics product?" (Demonstrate analytical and ideation skills).

Company & Culture Questions:

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

• "How do you contribute to a positive and collaborative team environment?" (Relate to their emphasis on cross-functional squads).

• "How do you stay updated on the latest design trends and technologies, especially within healthcare?" (Demonstrate continuous learning).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a brief overview of Genomics England and the role, then present 2-3 curated case studies. For each, clearly state the problem, your role, the users, your process, key decisions, challenges, solutions, and quantifiable outcomes.

• Visuals: Use clear, high-quality visuals of wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and final designs. Annotate key design decisions.

• Storytelling: Frame each project as a narrative. Explain your thought process, your rationale, and the impact of your work.

• Interactive Elements: If possible, have interactive prototypes ready to showcase.

• Q&A Readiness: Be prepared to answer in-depth questions about your design choices, your process, and your contributions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and a good cultural fit for a mission-driven, collaborative organization. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your portfolio that align with the job description's requirements.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.smartrecruiters.com.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating end-to-end product design, complex problem-solving, user research interpretation, and accessibility considerations, ideally with relevance to healthcare or regulated industries.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your CV clearly outlines your experience as a Senior Product Designer, emphasizing achievements, responsibilities directly related to the job description, and proficiency in required design tools and methodologies. Use keywords from the job posting.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, project impact, and collaborative approach. Prepare to present your portfolio confidently and engage in thoughtful discussions about design strategy and problem-solving.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Genomics England's mission, values, and recent projects. Understand their role in the NHS and the broader genomics landscape to articulate your interest and alignment during the interview process.

⚠️ 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.