UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer

Company: Kainos

Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Experience Design / User Experience

Date Posted: 2026-11-05T00:00:00

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Deliver intuitive and user-centered service experiences by deeply understanding user needs and applying core design principles.

• Act as a passionate advocate for design thinking and service design methodologies, championing user needs throughout the project lifecycle.

• Lead the creation and utilization of journey maps and process maps to prioritize design direction and ensure alignment with business and technical constraints.

• Contribute to the strategic planning and research phases of projects, informing design decisions with data and user insights.

• Facilitate accessibility audits and usability testing to ensure digital services are inclusive and effective for all users.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Associate level within Kainos's Experience Design capability, indicating a need for demonstrated leadership in guiding design practices and mentoring junior team members. The emphasis on "needs-based design," "design thinking," and "service design" suggests a strategic approach to problem-solving rather than purely aesthetic execution.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Guide the creation and evolution of design systems, establishing and advocating for best practices through hands-on example and clear documentation.

• Contribute to the design and facilitation of ideation workshops, fostering collaborative environments to generate innovative solutions.

• Lead the creation and application of journey maps and process maps within project contexts to effectively prioritize design efforts and inform strategic direction.

• Proactively identify and design within the limitations and constraints of the technical and business landscape, ensuring practical and implementable solutions.

• Actively contribute to user research initiatives and strategic planning activities, translating insights into actionable design recommendations.

• Analyze and review existing Information Architecture (IA) to identify areas for improvement and redesign accordingly, ensuring logical navigation and content organization.

• Facilitate accessibility audits and usability testing sessions, translating findings into concrete improvements for digital services.

• Collaborate effectively with wider project teams, including developers, product managers, and business analysts, to establish and articulate the value of UX design as a critical discipline.

• Play an instrumental role in developing and maturing the UX design practice within Kainos, contributing to internal knowledge sharing, process improvements, and talent development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design work and strategic contribution. The expectation to "guide the creation of design systems" and "instrumentally develop the UX design practice" suggests a senior-level individual contributor role with significant influence on how UX is perceived and executed within Kainos.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating practical application of UX principles and methodologies is essential. A background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, or a related field is beneficial.

Experience: 5-10 years of professional experience in UX design, with a proven track record of delivering successful digital products and services. Experience in a full-service digital agency or a consultancy environment is highly desirable.

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to guide the creation and implementation of design systems and advocate for best practices.

• Experience in designing and facilitating ideation workshops to drive creative problem-solving.

• Expertise in leading the creation and use of journey maps and process maps for project prioritization and design direction.

• Demonstrated understanding of technical and business landscape limitations and the ability to design accordingly.

• Comfort and experience contributing to user research and strategic planning activities.

• Proficiency in analyzing and reviewing existing Information Architecture and implementing improvements.

• Experience in facilitating accessibility audits and usability testing to ensure inclusive design.

• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to establish and advocate for the value of UX design. Preferred Skills:

• Demonstrable knowledge and practical application of user-centered design (UCD) practices.

• Solid understanding of information architecture, interaction design, and visual design principles.

• Experience working within Agile delivery methodologies (Scrum, Kanban).

• Active participation and contribution to relevant professional communities (e.g., online UX forums, speaking at conferences).

• Passion for design thinking and service design principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Minimum (Essential) Requirements" are framed as essential skills and experiences, while "Desirable" points are highly valued additions. The 5-10 year experience level suggests candidates should be able to operate independently and mentor others.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 detailed case studies demonstrating end-to-end UX design process from discovery to delivery.

• Highlight projects where you've successfully applied design thinking and service design principles to solve complex user problems.

• Include examples of your work in creating and utilizing journey maps, process maps, and information architecture.

• Demonstrate your experience with design systems, including contributions to their creation or implementation.

• Present evidence of your ability to conduct and synthesize user research, accessibility audits, and usability testing.

• Quantify the impact of your designs where possible, using metrics related to user satisfaction, task completion, efficiency, or business outcomes. Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how you document your design process, including user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and final UI specifications.

• Illustrate your approach to collaborating with development teams and ensuring design fidelity during implementation.

• Show how you incorporate feedback from usability testing and stakeholder reviews into iterative design improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on developing UX practices, the portfolio should not only showcase individual project work but also demonstrate an understanding of process maturity and how to advocate for and implement best practices within an organization.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £45,000 - £65,000 per annum (Estimated based on UK market rates for a Senior UX Designer with 5-10 years of experience in a consultancy/technology firm, adjusted for Belfast location).

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and performance-related bonus opportunities.

• Comprehensive private medical insurance.

• Generous pension scheme with employer contributions.

• Life assurance and income protection.

• 25 days annual leave, plus public holidays, with options to buy additional leave.

• Opportunities for professional development, training, and conference attendance.

• Flexible working options, though this specific role is on-site.

• Employee assistance program and wellbeing support.

• Cycle-to-work scheme and other lifestyle benefits.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, typically Monday to Friday. While the role is on-site, Kainos generally supports flexible working arrangements where business needs allow, but core hours and project demands will dictate specific daily schedules.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in the UK, considering regional cost of living and demand for UX expertise. The specific benefits package is typical for a large technology consultancy like Kainos.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Software Development, Digital Transformation, IT Consulting. Kainos specializes in digital services for government and healthcare, as well as providing Workday implementation and support.

Company Size: Over 2,500 employees. This signifies a large, established organization with structured processes, diverse projects, and ample opportunities for career progression and internal networking.

Founded: 1989. With over three decades of operation, Kainos has a stable history and a strong reputation in the technology sector, offering a secure and well-resourced environment for its employees.

Team Structure:

• The Experience Design capability is a growing, specialized team within Kainos, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment.

• This role will likely report into a Head of Experience Design or a senior UX Lead.

• Close collaboration is expected with project managers, business analysts, developers, product owners, and client stakeholders. Methodology:

• Kainos emphasizes a user-centered approach to digital service delivery, integrating UX design throughout the development lifecycle.

• Agile methodologies are commonly employed across projects, requiring designers to be adaptable and integrated within development sprints.

• A focus on delivering measurable impact and quality products for millions of users is a core tenet.

Company Website: https://careers.kainos.com/gb/en

📝 Enhancement Note: Kainos's culture is described as "people-first," emphasizing collaboration, innovation, and impact. The specific mention of avoiding "marketing and dark patterns" suggests a commitment to ethical design and genuine user benefit, which is a positive indicator for UX professionals.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Associate (UX Designer). This level implies a mid-to-senior career stage, requiring significant autonomy, the ability to lead design initiatives, and a strong understanding of UX best practices. It suggests a stepping stone towards more senior leadership roles within the UX practice.

Reporting Structure: You will be part of the growing Experience Design capability. While specific reporting lines may vary by project, you'll likely report to a UX Lead or Head of Experience Design, with close collaboration across project teams.

Operations Impact: As a UX Designer, your primary impact will be on the usability, accessibility, and overall effectiveness of digital services, directly influencing user satisfaction, adoption rates, and the achievement of business objectives for clients. You will be instrumental in ensuring that Kainos delivers high-quality, user-centric digital solutions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like Service Design, Interaction Design, UX Research, or Design Systems.

• Leadership: Progress to Lead UX Designer, Principal UX Designer, or Head of Experience Design roles, managing teams and strategic initiatives.

• Cross-functional Development: Gain exposure to broader project management, product strategy, and client relationship management.

• Continuous Learning: Access to Kainos's extensive training programs, certifications, and opportunities to attend industry conferences.

• Practice Development: Contribute to shaping the future of UX design within Kainos, influencing methodologies, tools, and talent development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior Associate" title suggests a role with substantial responsibility, where individuals are expected to contribute significantly to the practice's growth and mentor others, aligning with the company's emphasis on development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Kainos operates modern, well-equipped office spaces designed to foster collaboration and productivity. The Belfast office is likely to feature a mix of open-plan workspaces, meeting rooms, and quiet zones.

Office Location(s): The primary location for this role is Belfast, Northern Ireland. Kainos's Belfast office is centrally located, providing good accessibility.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office design and company culture encourage teamwork, knowledge sharing, and cross-functional interaction.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software, hardware, and collaborative tools will be provided.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities to connect with fellow UX designers, project teams, and leadership, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are 40 per week. While the role is fundamentally on-site, Kainos generally supports flexibility where feasible. However, for a role involving design system guidance and workshop facilitation, consistent presence and availability during core business hours are typically expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement for this role suggests a preference for in-person collaboration, particularly for workshops, design system work, and team integration, which are crucial for developing a strong UX practice.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with Talent Acquisition to discuss your background, experience, and interest in the role.

• Technical Interview: A more in-depth discussion with a Senior UX Designer or Head of Experience Design. This may include a review of your portfolio, technical UX skills, and understanding of design principles.

• Design Challenge/Workshop: You may be asked to complete a take-home design exercise or participate in a live workshop scenario to assess your practical skills, problem-solving approach, and collaboration style.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: An opportunity to meet with other members of the UX team and potentially project leads to assess cultural alignment and team dynamics.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership to confirm suitability and discuss career aspirations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 strong case studies that best represent your end-to-end UX process, highlighting your problem-solving skills and impact.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the challenges you faced, and the outcomes achieved. Use visuals effectively to illustrate your journey.

• Demonstrate Process: Show your thinking – sketches, wireframes, user flows, prototypes, research findings, and iteration. Explain why you made specific design decisions.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased user satisfaction, improved task completion rates, reduced error rates, business KPIs).

• Tailor to Kainos: Research Kainos's work, particularly in digital services for government and healthcare. Highlight projects that align with their mission and values. Emphasize your experience with design systems, accessibility, and advocating for UX.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: If given a design challenge, ensure you fully understand the problem statement, constraints, and objectives.

• Think Aloud: For live challenges, articulate your thought process, assumptions, and design decisions clearly.

• Prioritize: Focus on solving the core problem effectively, rather than getting bogged down in minor details. Show your ability to make trade-offs.

• Consider the User: Always ground your solutions in user needs and research.

• Practice Presentation: Be ready to present your work concisely and effectively, handling questions with confidence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "delivering intuitive service experiences," "advocating for design thinking," and "developing the UX design practice" suggests that interviewers will be looking for candidates who are not only skilled designers but also strategic thinkers and proactive contributors to the UX discipline.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD (candidates should be proficient in at least one, ideally Figma given industry trends).

• User Research & Testing: Tools like UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, or internal survey/interview platforms.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Trello, Asana (for working with development teams and documenting processes).

• Design System Management: Tools or platforms used for managing and documenting design system components.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to understand user behavior and measure design impact.

• Ability to interpret data to inform design decisions and validate hypotheses. CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary focus for a UX Designer, an understanding of how UX impacts CRM and automation platforms (e.g., Salesforce, Workday) can be beneficial, especially in client-facing roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools like Figma is highly expected. Experience with tools that facilitate collaboration and integrate with development workflows (like Jira) is also crucial.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs above all else.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with diverse teams to achieve shared goals and deliver integrated solutions.

• Impact: A drive to create tangible, positive change for users and clients through high-quality digital services.

• Innovation: Encouraging creative thinking and exploring new approaches to problem-solving.

• Excellence: Striving for high standards in design quality, execution, and continuous improvement.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamlessly working with developers, product managers, business analysts, and client stakeholders.

• Open Communication: Fostering an environment where ideas are shared freely, feedback is constructive, and challenges are discussed openly.

• Agile Mindset: Embracing iterative development, adapting to changing requirements, and participating actively in agile ceremonies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Kainos explicitly states they are "not about marketing and dark patterns; we are all about making a positive, measurable impact on millions of people through quality products and services." This highlights a strong ethical compass and a focus on genuine user value.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business/Technical Constraints: Navigating competing priorities to deliver solutions that are both user-friendly and feasible.

• Influencing Stakeholders: Effectively communicating the value of UX and advocating for user-centered decisions in a potentially non-design-centric environment.

• Driving Practice Maturity: Contributing to the ongoing development and adoption of UX best practices within a large, established organization.

• Adapting to Diverse Projects: Quickly understanding new domains and user groups across Kainos's varied client portfolio.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Formal Training: Access to Kainos's extensive internal learning and development programs, including courses on new design tools, methodologies, and leadership skills.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to be mentored by senior designers or to mentor junior team members, fostering skill development and knowledge transfer.

• Industry Exposure: Support for attending relevant conferences, workshops, and webinars to stay abreast of the latest trends in UX, service design, and digital transformation.

• Cross-Domain Experience: Working on a wide array of projects for different clients and sectors, broadening your understanding of various user types and business contexts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are common in senior UX roles within consultancies, requiring strong soft skills alongside technical expertise. The growth opportunities are robust, reflecting Kainos's investment in employee development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to advocate for a user need that conflicted with business goals. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, communication, and negotiation skills.)

• "How do you approach building and maintaining a design system? What are the key components and challenges?" (Demonstrate your understanding of system thinking and best practices.)

• "Walk us through a complex UX challenge you solved. What was your process, what tools did you use, and what was the measurable impact?" (Prepare a detailed case study for your portfolio.)

• "How do you ensure accessibility is integrated into your design process from the outset?" (Highlight your knowledge of accessibility standards and practical application.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Kainos and our work in digital services?" (Research Kainos's projects, values, and impact.)

• "How do you see yourself contributing to the growth of the UX design practice here?" (Relate your experience to their stated goals.)

• "Describe your ideal team environment and how you collaborate with others." (Align your style with Kainos's collaborative culture.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each case study, clearly outline: Problem, Your Role, Process, Solution, and Results. Use strong visuals.

• Highlight Process: Emphasize your thinking, iteration, and how you leveraged user research and design principles.

• Quantify Impact: Present metrics and outcomes clearly. If direct metrics are unavailable, explain the intended impact and how it would be measured.

• Be Concise: Be prepared to present your key case studies within a set timeframe (e.g., 15-20 minutes), leaving ample time for Q&A.

• Engage: Be ready to discuss your decisions, answer challenging questions, and demonstrate your passion for UX.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will likely assess not only your technical UX skills but also your ability to think strategically, communicate effectively, and contribute to the broader development of the UX discipline within Kainos.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Kainos careers portal link provided.

• Portfolio Preparation: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, showcases your best work with detailed case studies, and clearly articulates your UX process and impact. Tailor the selection to highlight experience relevant to Kainos's work.

• Resume Optimization: Highlight keywords from the job description such as "UX Design," "Design Systems," "Journey Mapping," "Accessibility," "User-Centered Design," and "Agile Methodologies." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Practice: Prepare to discuss your portfolio in detail, articulate your design philosophy, and answer strategic and behavioral questions. Practice explaining your thought process for design challenges.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Kainos's mission, values, and recent projects, particularly their digital service work. Understand their commitment to user-centricity and avoiding dark patterns.

⚠️ 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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