Senior UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer

Company: Sword Group

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: UX/Product Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-05-07

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end User Experience (UX) design process for complex energy and infrastructure programs, ensuring user-centered design principles are embedded.

• Conduct comprehensive user research, including interviews, observation, and usability testing, to gather insights into user needs and pain points.

• Develop high-fidelity UX artifacts such as user personas, journey maps, and service blueprints to effectively communicate user behaviors and operational workflows.

• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary delivery teams, including service owners, business analysts, developers, and product leads, to translate research findings into actionable design decisions.

• Drive iterative prototyping and validation activities to refine digital solutions, ensuring improved usability, effectiveness, and measurable value delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role focuses heavily on the intersection of UX design and operational efficiency within large-scale, complex programs, particularly in the energy and infrastructure sectors. The emphasis on "measurable value" and "operational workflows" suggests a strong need for designers who can demonstrate the business impact of their UX strategies.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct in-depth user research utilizing methods such as interviews, workshops, direct observation, and formal usability testing sessions.

• Create detailed user personas, comprehensive journey maps, and intricate service blueprints to accurately represent user behaviors, pain points, and end-to-end service interactions.

• Translate raw research findings into clear, actionable insights that directly influence and shape the strategic direction of program delivery.

• Plan, facilitate, and execute design sprints, iterative prototyping cycles, and rigorous validation activities to ensure design effectiveness.

• Analyze usability test results and performance data to identify areas for improvement, feeding these insights back into live programs for continuous optimization.

• Support the definition and refinement of both business requirements and user needs, ensuring alignment between stakeholder objectives and user experience goals.

• Champion and ensure adherence to established accessibility standards, usability best practices, and governance processes across all design deliverables.

• Contribute actively to the ongoing development and enhancement of the organization’s overarching User Experience (UX) Framework.

• Provide expert UX guidance and support across multiple concurrent projects and large-scale programs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a proactive and influential role for the Senior UX Designer, requiring them to not just execute design tasks but also to shape strategy, drive adoption of UX best practices, and contribute to the organizational UX framework. This implies a need for strong leadership and communication skills beyond typical design execution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating practical application of UX principles and methodologies is paramount. A degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Design, Psychology, or a related field would be advantageous.

Experience: Requires 5-10 years of proven experience as a UX Designer, with a significant portion spent operating within complex organizational settings and enterprise environments. Experience within the energy or infrastructure sectors is highly desirable, though not strictly required.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience as a UX Designer within structured, complex organizational settings.

• Strong understanding and practical application of UX methodologies across all phases: discovery, research, design, prototyping, and validation.

• Demonstrated experience in planning and running cross-functional workshops, design sprints, and comprehensive usability testing sessions.

• Ability to produce high-quality, insightful UX artifacts, including user personas, detailed journey maps, and comprehensive service blueprints.

• Proficiency in industry-standard prototyping tools such as Figma, Axure, Adobe XD, or equivalent.

• Solid knowledge of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and core usability principles.

• Excellent facilitation skills for leading workshops and design sessions.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the Energy or Public Sectors.

• Familiarity with UX governance processes and contributing to UX frameworks.

• Experience with agile development methodologies and cross-functional team collaboration.

• A structured, detail-oriented approach to documentation and adherence to governance protocols.

• A collaborative, inquisitive mindset with the confidence to challenge assumptions and advocate for user needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "complex organizational settings" and "enterprise environments" suggests that candidates with experience in large corporations or government entities will be highly valued. The preference for Energy or Public Sector experience indicates a need for understanding the specific challenges and user bases within these domains.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end UX design projects, with a clear emphasis on problem definition, research methodology, design process, and measurable outcomes.

• Case studies demonstrating experience in complex organizational settings, highlighting how user needs were balanced with business objectives and technical constraints.

• Examples of detailed UX artifacts such as user personas, journey maps, service blueprints, wireframes, and interactive prototypes, with explanations of their purpose and impact.

• Evidence of conducting user research (interviews, usability testing) and translating findings into design improvements.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase your ability to document and communicate design processes clearly, including research plans, user testing protocols, and design rationale.

• Provide examples of how you have contributed to or followed organizational UX frameworks and governance processes.

• Demonstrate how you have analyzed usability results and fed improvements back into live programs, including any documentation of these iterative cycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this Senior UX Designer role, the portfolio is critical. It needs to go beyond visual design and demonstrate a deep understanding of the process of UX design, from discovery to validation, within complex enterprise environments. The ability to clearly articulate the "why" behind design decisions and showcase measurable impact will be key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Senior UX Designer in Edinburgh, Scotland, with 5-10 years of experience, the estimated salary range is approximately £55,000 - £75,000 per annum. This estimate considers the cost of living in Edinburgh, the seniority of the role, and the specialized nature of working in complex enterprise environments within the energy and infrastructure sectors.

Benefits:

• Personalized Career Development: Customized development plans with a range of learning and development opportunities to foster professional growth.

• Flexible Working: Flexible work arrangements designed to support work-life balance, with an openness to discuss individual preferences.

• Generous Annual Leave Allowance: A substantial amount of paid time off for rest and rejuvenation.

• Enhanced Family Friendly Benefits: Support for employees with family responsibilities.

• Pension Scheme: A robust retirement savings plan.

• Access to Private Health: Comprehensive private health insurance coverage.

• Well-being Schemes: Programs and resources dedicated to employee mental and physical well-being.

• Insurance Schemes: Various insurance coverage options for added security.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with a commitment to flexible working arrangements where feasible.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on publicly available data for similar roles in the UK and Edinburgh, considering the specified experience level and the specialized nature of the work. The benefits package is extensive and emphasizes professional development and work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Business Technology Solutions, with a primary focus on the Energy, Public, and Finance Sectors. Sword Group leverages technology to solve complex business problems and drive transformational change for its clients.

Company Size: Sword Group is a mid-to-large enterprise, likely employing several hundred to a few thousand individuals globally. This size suggests a structured environment with established processes, but also opportunities for significant impact and cross-functional collaboration.

Founded: Founded in 2000, Sword Group has over two decades of experience in delivering technology solutions, indicating a stable and experienced organization with a proven track record in its core sectors.

Team Structure:

• The UX Designer will be part of multidisciplinary delivery teams, working closely with service owners, business analysts, developers, and product leads.

• There is an explicit mention of an "organization’s User Experience Framework," suggesting a dedicated UX community or center of excellence within Sword Group, even if the designer is embedded in project teams.

Methodology:

• The company emphasizes a user-centered design approach, grounded in genuine user needs to deliver measurable value.

• Data analysis and insights from user research and usability testing are crucial for informing delivery direction and continuous improvement.

• Workflow planning and optimization are inherent in service blueprinting and journey mapping.

• Automation and efficiency are likely considered through the lens of improving user experience and operational effectiveness within client programs.

Company Website: https://www.sword-group.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on specific sectors (Energy, Public, Finance) implies that understanding the unique user bases and regulatory environments within these industries will be beneficial. The emphasis on "transformational change" suggests a dynamic and forward-thinking approach to client solutions.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior UX Designer role, indicating a mid-to-senior level position. It requires a high degree of autonomy, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead design efforts on complex projects. The role is expected to mentor others and contribute to the broader UX strategy and framework within Sword Group.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Designer will likely report to a Design Lead, Head of UX, or a Program Manager, depending on the specific project structure. They will work closely with various stakeholders across different departments, including business analysts, developers, and product owners.

Operations Impact: The role's primary impact is on the usability, effectiveness, and value delivery of digital solutions within client programs. By ensuring solutions are grounded in user needs, the Senior UX Designer directly influences client satisfaction, adoption rates, and the achievement of business objectives within the energy and infrastructure sectors.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific UX methodologies, research techniques, and prototyping tools, particularly within the context of complex enterprise systems.

• Leadership Development: Potential to take on leadership roles within project teams, mentor junior designers, and contribute significantly to the evolution of the organizational UX Framework.

• Industry Specialization: Growth in expertise within the Energy and Public Sectors, understanding the nuances of user needs and regulatory requirements in these critical domains.

• Strategic Contribution: Influence the strategic direction of UX within Sword Group and contribute to how technology solutions are designed and implemented for key clients.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title and the mention of contributing to the "UX Framework" suggest a path towards UX leadership, specialized consulting, or even product management roles within Sword Group or its client organizations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "Hybrid," indicating a mix of remote work and in-office presence. This suggests a modern work environment that values flexibility while also recognizing the importance of in-person collaboration for certain activities.

Office Location(s): Primarily based in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom. While the specific office facilities are not detailed, hybrid roles typically offer a blend of remote work and access to a physical office space for team meetings, workshops, and collaborative sessions.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role requires close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, suggesting an environment that fosters teamwork and open communication.

• Tools & Technology: Access to standard UX design and prototyping tools (Figma, Axure, Adobe XD) is expected, along with the necessary IT infrastructure to support hybrid working.

• Operations Team Interaction: Regular interaction with business analysts, developers, and service owners will be part of the daily workflow, facilitating a dynamic and integrated approach to project delivery.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week. The "Flexible working" benefit suggests that there may be some adaptability in start and end times, or work arrangements, to accommodate individual needs and project demands, provided that core responsibilities and collaborative needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role implies a need for strong self-management and communication skills to maintain productivity and collaboration across remote and in-office settings.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess relevant experience and skills.

• Technical Interview: Likely involves discussing your UX process, methodologies, and problem-solving approaches through case studies from your portfolio. Expect questions on user research, prototyping, and usability testing.

• Practical Exercise/Case Study: You might be asked to complete a design challenge or present a detailed breakdown of a past project, focusing on how you translated research into actionable design and delivered value.

• Stakeholder/Team Interview: Meeting with potential team members and stakeholders to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and communication skills.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss strategic alignment and overall fit within Sword Group.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Process, Not Just Polish: Emphasize your end-to-end UX journey for each project. Detail your research methods, your iterative design process, and how you validated your solutions.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, provide metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the positive impact of your design decisions on user behavior, business goals, or operational efficiency.

• Tailor to the Role: Highlight projects that demonstrate experience in complex organizational settings, working with diverse stakeholders, and ideally, within sectors like energy or public services.

• Artifact Clarity: Ensure your UX artifacts (personas, journey maps, service blueprints, wireframes) are well-organized, clearly explained, and demonstrate a logical progression from insights to solutions.

• Accessibility & Governance: Be prepared to discuss your understanding and application of accessibility standards and your approach to design governance.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research Sword Group's focus on the Energy, Public, and Finance sectors. Consider the typical user challenges and operational complexities within these industries.

• UX Framework: Familiarize yourself with common UX frameworks and how they are applied in enterprise environments.

• Stakeholder Management: Prepare examples of how you have managed competing stakeholder needs and effectively communicated design rationale.

• Problem-Solving: Practice articulating your approach to ambiguous problems, breaking them down, and applying UX principles to find solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely emphasize practical application and strategic thinking. A strong portfolio is essential, and candidates should be ready to articulate their design process and its impact, especially in the context of complex enterprise programs.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping & Design: Proficiency is required in tools such as Figma, Axure, or Adobe XD. Candidates should be comfortable using these for wireframing, interactive prototyping, and potentially high-fidelity mockups.

• User Research & Analysis: Experience with tools for conducting user interviews, usability testing (e.g., Lookback, UserTesting.com), and analyzing qualitative data.

• Collaboration Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Jira, Confluence, Microsoft Teams, or Slack for project management and team communication, especially in a hybrid work environment.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• While the role is UX-focused, an understanding of how UX design integrates with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and business process automation tools used by clients would be advantageous, particularly for understanding the end-to-end user journey within client business operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirement revolves around proficiency in standard UX design and prototyping software. The ability to integrate UX insights with broader business objectives and client systems is a valuable, though likely secondary, skill.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A fundamental commitment to understanding and addressing genuine user needs as the primary driver for design decisions.

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working effectively within multidisciplinary teams, fostering open communication and shared ownership of project outcomes.

• Data-Driven Approach: Utilizing user research, usability testing, and performance data to inform design choices and measure impact.

• Efficiency & Value Delivery: Designing solutions that not only meet user needs but also deliver measurable business value and improve operational effectiveness for clients.

• Continuous Improvement: An iterative mindset focused on analyzing results and feeding insights back into design processes for ongoing optimization.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role necessitates close collaboration with business analysts, developers, product leads, and service owners, requiring a proactive and integrative approach.

• Process Review & Feedback: An open culture for reviewing processes, sharing feedback constructively, and collectively refining design approaches.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of UX best practices, research findings, and project learnings across teams and within the broader organization's UX Framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values appear to align closely with modern design and operations principles, emphasizing user needs, data, and collaborative problem-solving to achieve tangible business outcomes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complex Enterprise Environments: Navigating the intricacies of large, established organizations, including established processes, legacy systems, and diverse stakeholder needs.

• Balancing User Needs with Business/Technical Constraints: Effectively advocating for user experience while also adhering to project budgets, timelines, and technical limitations.

• Translating Research into Actionable Insights: The challenge of moving from raw data and observations to clear, compelling recommendations that drive design decisions.

• Promoting UX Best Practices: Ensuring adherence to accessibility standards and usability principles across multiple projects and within teams that may have varying levels of UX maturity.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• UX Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in advanced research techniques, inclusive design, and emerging UX technologies.

• Industry Specialization: Gain significant experience and knowledge within the Energy, Public, and Finance sectors, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Leadership and Mentorship: Opportunities to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and contribute to strategic UX planning and framework development.

• Cross-Functional Learning: Exposure to business analysis, development cycles, and product management within large-scale programs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior roles in enterprise settings, requiring strong problem-solving skills, resilience, and strategic thinking. The growth opportunities are substantial and focus on both technical UX expertise and broader leadership capabilities.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting stakeholder requirements for a UX project. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on communication, negotiation, and UX rationale.)

• "Walk us through a complex project where you led the end-to-end UX process. What were the key challenges, your methodology, and the measurable impact of your design?" (Prepare a detailed case study from your portfolio.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Sword Group's focus on the Energy and Public Sectors?" (Research the company's work and demonstrate an understanding of these industries.)

• "How do you approach collaboration within a multidisciplinary team, particularly with developers and business analysts?" (Highlight your teamwork and communication skills, referencing your experience with hybrid work.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, your process (research, ideation, design, testing), the solutions you developed, and the results/impact.

• Highlight Your Process: Focus on how you arrived at your design decisions. Explain your research methods, the rationale behind your wireframes, and the insights gained from usability testing.

• Demonstrate Adaptability: Showcase projects that illustrate your ability to work within constraints, adapt to changing requirements, and collaborate effectively with technical teams.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Prepare to answer detailed questions about specific tools, techniques, and decisions made within your portfolio projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and a strong understanding of how UX contributes to business outcomes in complex, enterprise-level projects.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature projects that demonstrate experience in complex organizational settings, end-to-end UX processes (discovery to validation), and ideally, within sectors relevant to Sword Group (Energy, Public, Finance). Ensure case studies clearly articulate your process and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords such as "User Research," "Prototyping," "Journey Mapping," "Service Blueprinting," "Usability Testing," "Accessibility Standards," "Stakeholder Engagement," and experience with tools like Figma or Axure. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your UX methodology, problem-solving approaches, and project outcomes. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions related to collaboration, stakeholder management, and navigating complex environments. Rehearse your portfolio presentation.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Sword Group, its mission, its core sectors (Energy, Public, Finance), and its approach to business technology solutions. Understand their commitment to user-centered design and professional development.

⚠️ 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.

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