UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer

Company: Kainos

Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom (also open to Belfast, UK and Homeworker - UK)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Service Design

Date Posted: July 31, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (implied by responsibilities and "Senior Associate" title)

Remote Status: Hybrid (On-site with remote options available)

🚀 Role Summary

• Deliver intuitive and user-centered digital service experiences, aligning with user needs and design principles.

• Champion design thinking and service design methodologies to foster a user-first approach across projects.

• Lead the creation and utilization of journey maps and process maps to inform and prioritize design direction.

• Contribute to strategic planning and research efforts, ensuring design solutions are technically feasible and aligned with business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is explicitly for a UX Designer but the description heavily emphasizes "service design" and "digital services," indicating a strong focus on end-to-end user journeys and the creation of cohesive, impactful digital products rather than purely interface design. The "Senior Associate" title suggests a mid-to-senior level expectation with a blend of hands-on execution and guidance.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Guide the creation and implementation of design systems, setting a standard for best practices through personal example.

• Contribute to and facilitate ideation workshops, fostering collaborative brainstorming and solution generation.

• Lead the development and application of journey maps and process maps to effectively prioritize design efforts and guide strategic decisions.

• Analyze and design solutions while being acutely aware of technical and business constraints, ensuring practical and achievable outcomes.

• Actively participate in user research and strategic planning activities to inform design strategy and project roadmaps.

• Analyze and review existing Information Architecture (IA), making recommendations and implementing improvements to enhance user navigation and findability.

• Facilitate accessibility audits and conduct usability testing to identify and address user pain points and ensure inclusive design.

• Collaborate with the broader project team to articulate and demonstrate the value of UX design as a critical discipline.

• Play an instrumental role in the ongoing development and refinement of Kainos's internal UX design practice.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic contribution, hands-on design execution, and team development. The emphasis on leading map creation, facilitating workshops, and instrumentalizing practice development suggests a role that requires not only strong individual contributor skills but also the ability to influence and mentor.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating practical application of UX/Service Design principles is paramount. A degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, or a related field is often beneficial but not strictly required if equivalent experience and skills are demonstrated.

Experience: Proven experience in UX design, with a significant portion focused on service design and user-centered methodologies. The "Senior Associate" title and responsibilities imply a need for several years of professional experience, likely in the range of 5-10 years, to effectively lead initiatives and mentor others.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in leading the creation and application of Design Systems to ensure consistency and scalability.

• Demonstrated ability to guide and facilitate Ideation Workshops effectively.

• Expertise in creating and utilizing Journey Maps and Process Maps to drive design strategy.

• Strong understanding of Information Architecture principles and practical application.

• Experience in conducting and facilitating Accessibility Audits and Usability Testing.

• Comfort and experience contributing to Strategic Planning and user research initiatives.

• Advocacy and practical application of Design Thinking and Service Design principles.

• Ability to work within technical and business constraints, designing pragmatic solutions. Preferred Skills:

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

• Demonstrable knowledge and application of User-Centred Design (UCD) practices.

• Understanding of Interaction Design and Visual Design principles, complementing UX.

• Experience working in a full-service digital agency environment, understanding diverse client needs.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Desirable" skills are highly relevant for a role aiming to develop the practice. Experience with Agile, agency work, and community engagement indicates a candidate who is not only skilled but also forward-thinking and collaborative within the broader design ecosystem.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a range of UX and Service Design projects, with a clear emphasis on user needs and measurable impact.

• Detailed case studies demonstrating your process from problem identification through to solution delivery, highlighting your role and contributions.

• Examples of how you have applied design thinking and service design principles to solve complex user problems.

• Evidence of creating and utilizing journey maps, process maps, and wireframes/prototypes to communicate design direction and gather feedback.

• Demonstration of your ability to manage and contribute to design systems for consistency and scalability. Process Documentation:

• Showcase how you document user research findings, analysis, and insights, linking them directly to design decisions.

• Provide examples of how you have mapped user journeys and service blueprints to identify pain points and opportunities for improvement.

• Illustrate your approach to facilitating and documenting collaborative design workshops, including ideation and co-creation sessions.

• Detail your methods for conducting and reporting on usability testing and accessibility audits, including recommendations and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, the portfolio should strongly emphasize the candidate's ability to not just design interfaces but to understand and improve entire service ecosystems. Demonstrating experience with journey mapping, process mapping, and advocating for user-centered design within project teams will be critical.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the location (Birmingham, UK), experience level implied (Mid-Senior), and the company's standing in the technology consulting sector, a competitive salary range for a UX Designer with these responsibilities in the UK would typically fall between £45,000 - £65,000 per annum. This is an estimate and may vary based on specific experience, negotiation, and the exact banding within Kainos.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive healthcare package, including medical and dental insurance.

• Generous pension scheme with employer contributions.

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

• Flexible working arrangements, including hybrid options and potential for homeworking within the UK.

• Generous annual leave entitlement.

• Life assurance and income protection schemes.

• Access to employee assistance programs.

• Potential for performance-related bonuses.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week. Kainos offers a degree of flexibility, supporting a hybrid work model, allowing for a balance between on-site collaboration and remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on UK market data for mid-to-senior UX Designers in technology consulting roles, considering the cost of living in major UK cities like Birmingham and Belfast. Benefits are standard for a company of Kainos's size and industry.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology Consulting and Software Solutions. Kainos operates across various sectors, including digital transformation, Workday services, and healthcare. This diverse industry exposure means UX Designers will encounter a wide array of user problems and business contexts.

Company Size: Kainos is a significant employer, with over 2,000 employees globally. This size suggests a structured organization with established processes, but also ample opportunities for growth and cross-functional interaction.

Founded: Kainos was founded in 1986. With decades of experience, the company has a solid reputation and a deep understanding of the technology landscape.

Team Structure:

• The Experience Design capability at Kainos is described as growing, supportive, collaborative, and talented.

• UX Designers will likely report into a Head of Experience Design or a Senior UX Lead, working within project teams composed of developers, business analysts, project managers, and other specialists.

• Collaboration is a key theme, with an emphasis on cross-functional work to deliver integrated digital services. Methodology:

• Kainos likely employs a blend of methodologies, with a strong emphasis on Agile delivery, as indicated by the desirable skills.

• Design thinking and service design are core to their approach, focusing on understanding user needs and creating impactful, holistic solutions.

• Data analysis and user feedback are integral to informing design decisions and iterating on services.

Company Website: https://www.kainos.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Kainos's long history and size provide stability and extensive project opportunities. The emphasis on a growing, supportive UX team suggests a positive environment for designers to learn and contribute. Their industry diversity means a UX Designer will be exposed to varied challenges.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a "Senior Associate" within the UX Designer band. This implies a level of autonomy and responsibility beyond junior roles, with expectations to guide junior members and influence project direction. It sits within the broader "Experience Design" capability.

Reporting Structure: The UX Designer will likely report to a UX Lead or a Manager within the Experience Design practice. They will work collaboratively within multi-disciplinary project teams, reporting project progress to project managers and stakeholders.

Operations Impact: The UX Designer's impact is crucial in ensuring that Kainos's digital services are intuitive, effective, and user-friendly. This directly contributes to client satisfaction, user adoption, efficiency gains for clients, and ultimately, Kainos's reputation for delivering high-quality digital solutions. The focus on service design means the impact extends beyond interfaces to entire user journeys and service outcomes.

Growth Opportunities:

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

• Leadership: Progress to a Senior UX Designer, Lead UX Designer, or Experience Design Manager role, taking on more strategic responsibilities and team leadership.

• Skill Development: Access to continuous learning through Kainos's training programs, workshops, and potential for certifications. Opportunities to speak at conferences or contribute to internal practice development offer significant growth.

• Project Diversity: Work on a wide range of projects across different industries, broadening experience and problem-solving capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior Associate" title and the emphasis on developing the UX practice suggest a role with significant potential for growth and influence, moving beyond execution to strategic contribution and team development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Kainos operates modern office spaces in various locations, including Birmingham and Belfast. The role also offers a "Homeworker - UK" option, indicating a strong embrace of hybrid and remote work models.

Office Location(s): Birmingham, United Kingdom; Belfast, United Kingdom. The "Homeworker - UK" designation suggests that candidates residing elsewhere in the UK may also be considered, provided they can travel to an office location as needed for key meetings or collaborative sessions.

Workspace Context:

• Offices are designed to foster collaboration, with open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and breakout spaces.

• Access to standard office technology and software will be provided. For remote work, appropriate equipment and support are expected.

• Opportunities for regular interaction with fellow UX designers within the Experience Design capability, as well as with project teams.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is approximately 40 hours per week. The hybrid nature of the role provides flexibility, allowing individuals to balance office-based collaboration with remote work, accommodating personal needs and project requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The inclusion of "Homeworker - UK" alongside specific office locations indicates a flexible approach to work arrangements, catering to a broader talent pool while still valuing in-person collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess experience and fit for the role.

• First Interview: Likely with a hiring manager or senior member of the Experience Design team. This will focus on your background, approach to UX/service design, and understanding of core principles. Expect behavioral questions.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A dedicated session where you'll present selected case studies from your portfolio, detailing your process, challenges, solutions, and impact. This is a crucial stage to demonstrate your practical skills and strategic thinking.

• Skills/Technical Assessment: Potentially a practical exercise or a more in-depth discussion on specific UX techniques, design systems, or problem-solving scenarios relevant to Kainos's work.

• Final Interview: May involve meeting with more senior stakeholders, discussing cultural fit, career aspirations, and overall alignment with Kainos's values and objectives.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-4 strong case studies that best represent your skills in UX, service design, journey mapping, and design systems. Prioritize quality over quantity.

• Tell a Story: Structure each case study with a clear narrative: the problem, your role, your process (research, ideation, design, testing), the solution, and the measurable impact or outcomes.

• Highlight Process: Emphasize how you arrived at your solutions. Detail your research methods, design decisions, and how you incorporated user feedback.

• Showcase Collaboration: If possible, highlight instances where you collaborated effectively with developers, product owners, or other stakeholders.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion times, increased user satisfaction).

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to common UX challenges, such as designing for complex data, handling conflicting stakeholder requirements, or iterating on designs based on limited research.

• Familiarize yourself with Kainos's work and client base to tailor your examples and demonstrate industry understanding.

• Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely, especially during the portfolio presentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio review and presentation is standard for design roles. Candidates should be prepared to deeply discuss their process and rationale, showcasing their ability to think strategically and deliver tangible results.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision (proficiency in at least one, ideally Figma, is expected).

• Wireframing & Flow Tools: Balsamiq, Miro, Lucidchart, OmniGraffle (for creating wireframes, user flows, and journey maps).

• Collaboration Platforms: Miro, Mural (for workshops, ideation, and collaborative mapping).

• User Research & Testing Tools: UserTesting.com, Lookback, Hotjar, or similar platforms for conducting usability tests and gathering feedback.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or specific client-side analytics tools to understand user behavior and measure design impact.

• Ability to interpret data and translate insights into design improvements. CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary focus for UX, an understanding of how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and automation platforms impact user journeys and digital service design can be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in industry-standard design and collaboration tools is essential. The ability to leverage data from analytics platforms to inform design decisions is increasingly important for UX professionals.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• People-First Culture: Kainos emphasizes valuing individuals, supporting growth, and making a difference. This translates to a supportive work environment where employees are encouraged to contribute their ideas.

• Collaboration & Innovation: The company fosters a culture of working together and being problem solvers. This means an openness to new ideas and a willingness to collaborate across disciplines.

• Impactful Work: A focus on creating real impact, whether through transforming digital services or delivering cutting-edge solutions. Designers are expected to contribute to meaningful outcomes.

• Professionalism & Quality: The description mentions "quality products and services," indicating a commitment to high standards in delivery.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect to work closely with developers, business analysts, project managers, and potentially client stakeholders.

• Supportive & Talented: The UX team is described as supportive and talented, suggesting an environment where constructive feedback is shared, and knowledge is actively exchanged.

• User-Centred Advocacy: Designers are expected to be advocates for the user, effectively communicating user needs and design rationale to project teams and stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "people-first culture" and "collaboration" suggests a work environment that is both professionally stimulating and personally supportive. Designers are expected to be team players and advocates for user needs.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business/Technical Constraints: A common challenge where designers must find innovative solutions that satisfy users while adhering to project budgets, timelines, and technical limitations.

• Driving Adoption of UX Best Practices: As part of a growing capability, designers may face the challenge of educating stakeholders and project teams on the value and implementation of user-centered design.

• Navigating Diverse Project Landscapes: Working across various industries and client types requires adaptability and the ability to quickly understand new contexts and user groups.

• Measuring Design Impact: Demonstrating the tangible value and ROI of UX/Service Design efforts can be challenging and requires robust data collection and analysis.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Internal Training & Workshops: Kainos likely offers ongoing professional development programs tailored to tech and design roles.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from senior designers within the growing Experience Design capability.

• Industry Engagement: Encouragement to participate in conferences, webinars, and professional communities to stay abreast of the latest trends in UX and service design.

• Career Pathing: Clear pathways for progression from Senior Associate to more senior or specialized roles within the design practice.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for mid-to-senior roles in a consulting environment, emphasizing problem-solving and advocacy. The growth opportunities are robust, aligning with a company focused on employee development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex service you've designed. What was your process, what were the key challenges, and how did you measure its success?" (Focus on journey mapping, service blueprints, and impact metrics).

• "How do you advocate for user needs when faced with strong business or technical opposition?" (Prepare examples of negotiation, data-driven arguments, and compromise).

• "Walk us through your experience with design systems. How do you contribute to or implement them, and what are their benefits?" (Highlight your understanding of consistency, scalability, and efficiency).

• "How do you approach user research and usability testing, especially within an Agile framework?" (Discuss your methodologies, tool preferences, and how you integrate feedback into iterative design). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Kainos and this specific UX Designer role?" (Research Kainos's projects, values, and recent news. Connect your skills and aspirations to their work).

• "How do you contribute to a collaborative team environment?" (Provide examples of your teamwork, communication style, and how you support colleagues).

• "How do you stay updated with the latest trends in UX and service design?" (Mention conferences, publications, online communities, and continuous learning). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Prioritize Process: Clearly articulate your design process for each case study, emphasizing research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.

• Showcase Problem-Solving: Focus on the problems you solved and the rationale behind your design decisions.

• Quantify Results: Wherever possible, present data or metrics that demonstrate the positive impact of your work.

• Be Enthusiastic: Convey your passion for user-centered design and your excitement about contributing to Kainos.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design choices, challenges faced, and alternative solutions you considered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills, but also strategic thinking, collaborative ability, and a genuine understanding of user-centered design principles and their application in a consulting context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Kainos careers portal via the provided URL.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-4 of your strongest projects that best showcase your UX, service design, journey mapping, and design system expertise. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your role, your process, the solution, and the outcome.

• Tailor Your CV: Highlight keywords from the job description, such as "UX Design," "Service Design," "Design Systems," "Journey Mapping," "Usability Testing," and "Agile." Quantify your achievements wherever possible.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your chosen portfolio case studies, focusing on clear communication, strong storytelling, and demonstrating your problem-solving approach. Be ready to answer in-depth questions about your design decisions and process.

• Research Kainos: Understand Kainos's mission, values, and the types of projects they undertake. Familiarize yourself with their approach to digital services and Workday solutions.

⚠️ 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.