User Experience (UX) Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: User Experience (UX) Designer

Company: Uniting NSW.ACT

Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Job Type: Full-Time Permanent

Category: User Experience Design / Digital Technology

Date Posted: April 29, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3-7 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office, 2 from home)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead UX discovery and design thinking activities to create intuitive, inclusive, and engaging digital experiences for both internal and customer-facing platforms.

• Translate user insights into actionable deliverables such as personas, journey maps, and future-state experiences.

• Develop wireframes, prototypes, and contribute to design systems to bring ideas to life.

• Conduct user research and usability testing, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity are embedded in designs.

• Collaborate closely with developers, product managers, and business stakeholders to influence outcomes and uplift UX practice across the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role emphasizes a blend of hands-on design execution and strategic influence, requiring a UX professional who can operate autonomously, drive best practices, and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement within a purpose-driven organization. The "not just another UX role" phrasing suggests a unique opportunity to impact a significant non-profit.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead UX discovery and design thinking workshops, interviews, and co-design sessions with diverse user groups.

• Synthesize research findings into comprehensive user personas, customer journey maps, and detailed future-state experience designs.

• Create high-fidelity wireframes, interactive prototypes, and contribute to the development and maintenance of robust design systems.

• Plan and execute user research initiatives, including usability testing, to validate design concepts and ensure user needs are met.

• Champion accessibility and inclusivity standards throughout the entire design process, ensuring digital products are usable by everyone.

• Foster strong collaborative relationships with product managers, developers, and business stakeholders to ensure alignment and successful implementation of designs.

• Act as a trusted subject matter expert to influence UX best practices and decision-making across multiple programs and initiatives.

• Support agile delivery processes by contributing to backlog development, defining user stories, and participating in roadmap planning.

• Drive a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within the digital technology team and across the wider organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a proactive and influential role, requiring the candidate to not only design but also to educate and advocate for user-centered design principles within a non-profit context. The emphasis on autonomy and influencing outcomes suggests a senior-level individual contributor.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Psychology, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for UX Designer roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be strongly considered.

Experience: 3–7 years of professional experience in User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in UX/UI design, with a strong portfolio showcasing visual design, prototyping, and design system development.

• Expertise in conducting user research and usability testing to gather and interpret user feedback.

• Proficiency in translating user insights into personas, journey maps, and future-state experience designs.

• Skilled in creating wireframes and interactive prototypes.

• Demonstrated ability to design for diverse and inclusive user groups, with a strong understanding of accessibility standards.

• Excellent facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships.

• Experience influencing UX best practices and guiding teams without direct authority.

• Comfort working autonomously and navigating complexity within a dynamic environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working in Agile development environments.

• Familiarity with enterprise transformation programs.

• Exposure to front-end technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript).

• Experience with Miro or Mural for collaborative workshops.

• Familiarity with JIRA and Confluence for project management and documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement is specific (3-7 years), and the portfolio is a critical component. The inclusion of preferred skills like Agile, enterprise transformation, and front-end technologies suggests the company is undergoing significant digital evolution.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is essential, showcasing a range of UX/UI design work.

• Emphasis on visual design quality, demonstrating a strong aesthetic sense and attention to detail.

• Evidence of interactive prototyping skills, showing the ability to create functional mockups and user flows.

• Examples of design system contributions or development, illustrating an understanding of scalable design principles.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate experience in leading UX discovery and design thinking activities (e.g., workshops, user interviews).

• Showcase how insights are translated into tangible design artifacts (personas, journey maps, wireframes, prototypes).

• Evidence of conducting user research and usability testing, and how findings informed design iterations.

• Examples of contributing to or developing design systems and maintaining design consistency.

• Ability to articulate the design process and rationale clearly, especially concerning accessibility and inclusivity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a strong portfolio is paramount. Candidates should be prepared to walk through their process, articulate their design decisions, and demonstrate how they have addressed user needs and business objectives in their past projects.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the Sydney location, experience level (3-7 years), and the nature of the role within a non-profit organization, an estimated annual salary range would be AUD $90,000 - $125,000. This range is benchmarked against similar UX Designer roles in Sydney's tech and non-profit sectors, considering the responsibilities outlined.

Benefits:

• Tax-Free Salary Packaging: Access up to $18,550 annually in tax-free benefits, significantly increasing take-home pay.

• Wellbeing Programs: Access to the Fitness Passport program to support employee health and fitness.

• Employee Discount Program: Exclusive discounts through the U Rewards program.

• Meaningful Work: Opportunity to build a rewarding career in the social services sector, contributing to a purpose-driven organization.

• Hybrid Work Model: Flexibility with 3 days in the office and 2 days working from home.

Working Hours: Full-time permanent role, typically around 38-40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through the hybrid arrangement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on industry standards for this role and location. The tax-free salary packaging is a significant financial benefit for Australian employees and should be highlighted.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Human Services, Social Services, Non-profit, Community Services. Uniting NSW.ACT is a significant player in this sector, focusing on aged care, disability, community services, chaplaincy, and advocacy.

Company Size: Uniting is a large organization, indicated by its broad service offering and national presence (implied by "NSW.ACT"). This suggests a complex organizational structure with opportunities for impact across various departments.

Founded: While the exact founding date isn't provided, Uniting has a long history as part of the Uniting Church. This implies a stable, values-driven organization with a strong heritage.

Team Structure:

• The UX Designer will sit within the Digital Technology team.

• This team likely comprises developers, product managers, IT specialists, and potentially other digital transformation professionals.

• The role operates with a high degree of autonomy and influences UX practice across multiple programs, indicating a matrixed or collaborative reporting structure rather than a strict hierarchy for UX.

Methodology:

• The organization is committed to user-centered thinking and continuous improvement.

• Agile methodologies are likely employed, given the mention of backlog development, user stories, and roadmap planning.

• Design thinking is a core part of the UX process.

• Emphasis on accessibility and inclusivity suggests a commitment to ethical and equitable design practices.

Company Website: https://www.uniting.org/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission ("inspire people, enliven communities and confront injustice") is a strong differentiator. Candidates should align with these values. The role's position within Digital Technology suggests a focus on modernizing services and platforms.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level to senior individual contributor. The emphasis on leading discovery activities, influencing practice across the organization, and operating with autonomy points towards a significant level of responsibility and expertise. It's a key role for driving digital user experience improvements.

Reporting Structure: The UX Designer will report into the Digital Technology team, likely to a Digital Lead, Head of Digital, or similar management role. While they won't have direct reports, they are expected to lead and uplift UX practice, acting as a subject matter expert. This means their influence extends beyond their direct reporting line.

Operations Impact: The UX Designer will have a direct impact on the usability, inclusivity, and engagement of Uniting's digital platforms. This includes both internal tools used by staff and customer-facing services, ultimately affecting the efficiency of operations, the quality of service delivery, and the overall user satisfaction for clients and staff. Their work contributes to the organization's mission by making services more accessible and effective.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of UX, such as accessibility, service design for social impact, or complex enterprise system design.

• Leadership: Transition into a Lead UX Designer role, mentoring junior designers, or potentially moving into a Product Management or Digital Strategy role.

• Cross-functional Development: Gain broader experience in Agile methodologies, digital transformation initiatives, and stakeholder management within the non-profit sector.

• Contribution to Practice: Play a key role in shaping and maturing the UX practice within Uniting, influencing design standards and processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a significant opportunity to make a tangible impact in the social sector. Growth is likely to come from deepening UX expertise, influencing organizational practice, and potentially taking on more senior or specialized roles within the growing digital team.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job description specifies a hybrid work arrangement (3 days in office, 2 from home), indicating a modern, flexible work environment. The office is located on Pitt Street, Sydney CBD, a prime business location.

Office Location(s): Pitt Street, Sydney CBD. This central location offers excellent accessibility via public transport in Sydney.

Workspace Context:

• Collaboration: The hybrid model balances focused individual work with collaborative in-office time. The role requires close collaboration with developers, product managers, and stakeholders, suggesting an environment that supports teamwork.

• Tools & Technology: The team utilizes standard UX design and collaboration tools (Figma, Adobe CC, Miro, JIRA), providing the necessary resources for effective work.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with colleagues in the Digital Technology team and broader organizational stakeholders during office days. The role also involves leading discussions and workshops, fostering engagement.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (likely 38-40 hours/week) with the flexibility of a hybrid model. This arrangement supports work-life balance while ensuring project needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key feature, offering flexibility. The Sydney CBD location is a significant draw for many professionals. The description implies a supportive and collaborative digital environment focused on impactful work.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: A review of CV and cover letter, focusing on experience, portfolio, and alignment with Uniting's values.

2. Portfolio Review & Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager (Louise Massie) and potentially other team members. This will likely involve a deep dive into the candidate's portfolio, discussing their design process, problem-solving approaches, and how they've handled specific UX challenges.

3. Skills/Case Study Assessment: A practical exercise or case study may be presented to assess design thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to articulate solutions. This could involve a design challenge or a review of a past project in detail.

4. Cultural Fit & Stakeholder Interview: Further interviews to assess alignment with Uniting's values, communication style, and ability to collaborate and influence across teams.

5. Final Decision: Based on overall assessment of skills, experience, portfolio, and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Effectively: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects. Prioritize those that demonstrate the full UX process, from research to final design, and highlight impact.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the decisions you made (and why), the challenges you faced, and the outcomes or impact achieved. Use visuals to support your narrative.

• Showcase Diversity & Inclusivity: Highlight projects where you specifically considered diverse user groups and ensured accessibility.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced support queries, increased user satisfaction scores).

• Tailor to Uniting: Consider how your experience aligns with the mission and values of Uniting. Frame your contributions in terms of social impact and user-centered design for community benefit.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Research Uniting's services, mission, and target user groups. Consider the unique challenges of designing for a non-profit organization.

• Practice Design Thinking: Be ready to walk through your process for tackling a hypothetical design problem, focusing on user research, ideation, and iterative design.

• Articulate Stakeholder Management: Prepare examples of how you have managed conflicting stakeholder needs or influenced decisions through data and design rationale.

• Accessibility Focus: Be prepared to discuss how you incorporate accessibility and inclusivity into your design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely be thorough, with a strong emphasis on the portfolio and the candidate's ability to articulate their process and impact. Demonstrating alignment with Uniting's mission and values will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expected to be the primary tool for wireframing, prototyping, and visual design. Proficiency is essential.

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Likely used for graphic design, image editing, and potentially other visual assets. Familiarity with Photoshop, Illustrator, etc., is beneficial.

• Miro / Mural: Essential for collaborative workshops, brainstorming, journey mapping, and design thinking activities.

Analytics & Reporting: While not explicitly listed for the UX Designer, understanding how to interpret user data and analytics (e.g., from tools like Google Analytics, Hotjar, or platform-specific analytics) to inform design decisions would be advantageous.

CRM & Automation: Familiarity with how UX designs integrate with backend systems, CRMs (like Salesforce, if applicable to their platforms), or automation workflows could be a plus, especially when collaborating with developers.

Project Management & Documentation:

• JIRA / Confluence: Commonly used for managing development backlogs, tracking user stories, and documenting project progress. Experience here is listed as a bonus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is critical. Experience with collaborative tools like Miro/Mural is also highly valued for the discovery and ideation phases. Bonus points for JIRA/Confluence suggest the team operates within a structured development lifecycle.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Compassionate: A core value, reflecting the organization's mission to support vulnerable people. This translates to empathy in design and understanding user needs deeply.

• Inclusive: A commitment to diversity and ensuring all users are considered. Designs must be accessible and cater to a wide range of abilities and backgrounds.

• Courageous / Bold: Encourages innovation and taking initiative. This applies to proposing new design solutions and advocating for user needs.

• Respectful: Fostering safe and respectful environments for employees and clients. This underpins all interactions and design decisions.

• Imaginative: Driving creativity and finding innovative solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires working closely with diverse teams (development, product, business stakeholders), suggesting a collaborative and communicative approach is key.

• Influence without Authority: A significant aspect of the role, requiring strong interpersonal skills, clear communication, and the ability to build consensus.

• User-Centered Advocacy: Acting as the voice of the user, ensuring their needs are prioritized throughout the design and development lifecycle.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates must demonstrate alignment with Uniting's core values, especially compassion and inclusivity, as these are central to their mission. The ability to collaborate effectively and influence others is paramount for success in this role.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Organizational Constraints: Navigating the complexities of a large non-profit, where resource limitations or established processes might challenge ideal UX solutions.

• Influencing Stakeholders without Direct Authority: Persuading various departments and leaders to adopt user-centered design principles and invest in UX improvements.

• Designing for Diverse User Groups: Ensuring digital products are accessible and meet the needs of a wide spectrum of users, including those with disabilities or facing socio-economic challenges.

• Driving UX Maturity: Upholding and elevating the standard of UX practice across an organization that may have varying levels of digital maturity.

• Hybrid Work Dynamics: Effectively collaborating and maintaining team cohesion in a hybrid work environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Impact: Contribute to meaningful social impact through design work, gaining fulfillment from improving services for vulnerable communities.

• UX Practice Development: Help shape and mature the UX discipline at Uniting, potentially defining new processes, templates, and standards.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gain exposure to the intricacies of social services, aged care, disability support, and advocacy through close collaboration.

• Skill Enhancement: Opportunities to refine skills in user research, accessibility, service design, and stakeholder management.

• Industry Engagement: Potential to attend conferences or training related to UX, digital transformation, or the non-profit sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents a unique opportunity to apply UX skills to solve real-world social challenges. The challenges are inherent to working in a large, mission-driven organization and require strong soft skills alongside technical expertise.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex UX challenge you faced where you had to influence stakeholders without direct authority. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Assesses influence, stakeholder management, problem-solving)

• "Walk us through a project from your portfolio where you prioritized accessibility and inclusivity. What specific steps did you take, and what was the impact?" (Assesses understanding of core values, practical application of inclusivity)

• "How would you approach leading a design thinking workshop for a new digital service for our clients?" (Assesses facilitation, design thinking methodology, understanding of context)

• "Imagine you're designing a new feature for our internal staff portal. What would be your process, and who would you involve?" (Assesses process, collaboration, understanding of internal vs. external platforms)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for Uniting, and how do your personal values align with our mission?" (Assesses alignment with company purpose)

• "How do you approach building relationships and collaborating with diverse teams, such as developers and non-technical stakeholders?" (Assesses collaboration style)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each case study, clearly outline: The Problem, Your Role, The Process, Key Decisions & Rationale, Challenges, Solutions & Outcomes.

• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, prototypes, and personas. Show the evolution of the design.

• Storytelling: Frame your work as a narrative. Explain why you made certain choices, not just what you did. Connect your work to user needs and business/mission objectives.

• Quantify: Use data and metrics wherever possible to demonstrate the impact of your designs.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to present key projects within a given timeframe, focusing on the most impactful aspects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should research Uniting's mission, values, and services thoroughly. Be prepared to demonstrate not just design skills but also strong communication, influence, and a genuine passion for social impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this User Experience Designer position:

• Submit your CV and Cover Letter through the provided job advertisement platform (Dayforce). Direct applications cannot be accepted.

• Portfolio Preparation: Ensure your portfolio is polished, easily accessible (link in CV or cover letter), and showcases projects relevant to the responsibilities described, emphasizing visual design, prototyping, and user research.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 3-7 years of UX/UI design experience, specific tool proficiencies (Figma, Adobe CC, Miro), and experience with user research, design thinking, and stakeholder engagement. Use keywords from the job description.

• Cover Letter Crafting: Write a compelling cover letter that addresses your interest in Uniting's mission, your alignment with their values (compassion, inclusivity), and how your skills and experience make you a strong candidate for this specific UX role.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Uniting NSW.ACT's services, values, and recent digital initiatives (if discoverable) to tailor your application and prepare for interview questions.

⚠️ Important Notice: Applications must be submitted via the specified platform. Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and readily available. Tailor your cover letter to demonstrate genuine interest in Uniting's mission and values.