UX/UI Designer (SFIA3/4)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Designer (SFIA3/4)

Company: Zaizi

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: UX/UI Design & Product Development

Date Posted: August 18, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (SFIA3/4)

Remote Status: Hybrid (with potential for remote work within the UK)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and mentor a team of User Experience Designers in a delivery-focused, agile environment.

• Define and oversee the creation of prototypes and user-centred design artefacts that illuminate user motivations, contexts, behaviours, processes, and services across end-to-end user journeys.

• Collaborate closely within multidisciplinary teams, including Product Managers, Solution Architects, Designers, Developers, and testers, to ensure user-centred design outcomes effectively inform and guide continuing project activities.

• Plan, define, and oversee user-centred design activities, acting as the primary expert and go-to person for UX/UI design within project teams and with government clients.

📝 Enhancement Note: The SFIA3/4 designation indicates a mid-level to senior professional with a focus on both executing design tasks and providing guidance and mentorship. The role emphasizes a hands-on approach to design while also incorporating leadership and strategic input, particularly within the context of UK government projects.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design Leadership & Mentorship: Manage and mentor other User Experience Designers, fostering best practices and professional development within the team.

• User-Centred Design Strategy: Define and implement user-centred design approaches and methodologies for projects, ensuring alignment with client needs and agile project frameworks.

• Prototyping & Design Artefact Creation: Oversee and actively contribute to the creation of prototypes, wireframes, user flows, journey maps, and other design artefacts to visualize and validate user needs and solutions.

• Requirement Elicitation & Ambiguity Management: Skillfully elicit requirements from ambiguous user needs and translate them into clear, actionable design specifications.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Product Managers, Solution Architects, Developers, testers, and other stakeholders to integrate user-centred design principles throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Client & Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, effectively communicating user needs, design decisions, and the value of user-centred design.

• Workshop Facilitation: Design and conduct workshops with team members and stakeholders to gather insights, validate concepts, and foster collaborative design thinking.

• Accessible Design Advocacy: Provide expert guidance and champion best practices for accessible design, ensuring products meet WCAG standards and are inclusive for all users.

• Design-to-Production Handoff: Collaborate with Developers to ensure designs are accurately implemented in production, bringing user-centred designs to life.

• Synthesis & Strategic Insights: Synthesize raw research and data outputs to produce strategic insights that inform decision-making and drive project actions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities highlight a blend of technical design execution, strategic thinking, and team leadership. The emphasis on working with government clients and SC Clearance implies a need for high standards of security, data handling, and robust design documentation.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, or a related field is often preferred for such roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: Proven experience as a UX/UI Designer, with a significant portion of that experience in a mid-level to senior capacity (SFIA3/4 equivalent), demonstrating leadership and comprehensive design project lifecycle management.

Required Skills:

• Expert knowledge and hands-on experience with user interface design tools, particularly Figma.

• Extensive experience in user-centred design and service design techniques and practices.

• Excellent knowledge and experience of prototyping and interaction design.

• Ability to plan and define user-centred design activities and associated protocols.

• Strong skills in synthesizing research outputs to produce strategic insights.

• Proficiency in communicating complex design information to developers, testers, and stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in an agile and flexible manner across multiple projects.

• Experience in requirement elicitation from ambiguous user needs.

• Ability to provide guidance and best practices on accessible design. Preferred Skills:

• Experience working with UK Central Government departments or in the public sector.

• Familiarity with SC Clearance requirements and processes.

• Experience in mentoring junior designers.

• Skills in user research synthesis and analysis.

• Experience with design systems.

• Familiarity with design thinking methodologies.

• Experience in Solution Architecture and its intersection with UX/UI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "expert knowledge" in Figma and "excellent knowledge" in prototyping and interaction design suggests a high bar for technical proficiency. The SFIA3/4 level implies a need for a strong portfolio showcasing successful project delivery and problem-solving capabilities.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 significant UX/UI design projects, ideally including at least one government or complex enterprise-level project.

• Clearly articulate your role and contributions within each project, especially highlighting leadership, mentorship, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Demonstrate proficiency in the end-to-end design process: research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and implementation support.

• Include examples of user journey mapping, user flow diagrams, and interaction design specifications.

• Present case studies that detail the problem, your design process, the solutions implemented, and the measurable impact or outcomes achieved. Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how you have defined and documented user-centred design approaches and methodologies for projects.

• Illustrate your process for translating ambiguous user needs into clear design requirements and actionable artefacts.

• Show evidence of how you have collaborated with developers to bring designs to life in production, including any feedback loops or iteration processes.

• Include examples of how you have facilitated workshops or user research sessions, and how you synthesized the outputs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's emphasis on leadership and working with government clients, the portfolio should not only display design skills but also strategic thinking, process definition, and the ability to influence and guide others. Demonstrating an understanding of agile workflows and accessibility standards within the portfolio is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a mid-senior UX/UI Designer (SFIA3/4) in London, with hybrid working and SC Clearance requirements, the estimated salary range is £55,000 - £75,000 per annum. This range accounts for the required expertise, responsibility for mentoring, and the specific demands of working with government clients.

Benefits:

• Generous Holiday Allowance: 25 days of paid holiday, plus bank holidays.

• Health & Wellness: Vitality medical insurance.

• Retirement Planning: Workplace Pension with a 5% employer contribution.

• Life Assurance: Group Life Assurance.

• Commuting Support: Cyclescheme for bicycle purchase.

• Professional Development: 5 days per year allocated for approved training.

• Remote Work Support: WFH equipment allowance to ensure a productive home office setup.

• Work-Life Flexibility: Option to buy or sell holiday days.

• Community Engagement: 2 days of paid volunteering days per year.

• Flexible Working: Embrace flexible working arrangements to promote work-life balance.

Working Hours: Standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered to accommodate hybrid and remote working arrangements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on publicly available salary data for UX/UI Designers in London, considering the SFIA3/4 level, which indicates significant experience and responsibility. Factors like SC Clearance and government client work can often command a premium. The benefits package is comprehensive, reflecting a commitment to employee well-being and professional growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology Consulting & Software Development, with a strong focus on the UK Central Government sector. Zaizi specializes in digital transformation and building user-centred solutions for public services.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, Zaizi appears to be a growing mid-sized company based on the number of job openings and the structured interview process. This size often allows for a balance between established processes and agility, offering opportunities for individual impact.

Founded: Zaizi was founded in 2007, bringing over a decade of experience in delivering digital services and solutions, particularly within the public sector. This history suggests a stable company with deep domain knowledge.

Team Structure:

• The UX/UI Designer will work within multidisciplinary, agile delivery teams.

• These teams typically include Product Managers, Solution Architects, Developers, Testers, and other Designers.

• The role involves direct collaboration with senior stakeholders and clients within UK government departments.

• There's a clear reporting line for mentorship, with the UX/UI Designer expected to guide junior designers. Methodology:

• Agile Delivery: Projects are managed using agile methodologies, emphasizing iterative development, collaboration, and rapid feedback loops.

• User-Centred Design: A core methodology, ensuring that user needs and behaviours are at the forefront of all design and development efforts.

• Data-Driven Decisions: While not explicitly stated, the emphasis on "strategic insights" and working with government clients implies a reliance on data and evidence to inform design choices and project direction.

• Continuous Improvement: The company culture encourages "failing fast and learning quickly," suggesting a commitment to iterative improvement and learning from both successes and challenges.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Zaizi's focus on government clients and digital transformation means that operational efficiency, security, and user impact are paramount. The company culture values empowerment, rapid learning, and making a tangible difference, which is attractive to professionals who want their work to have a meaningful impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a SFIA Level 3 or 4 (Professional / Advanced Professional). This indicates a requirement for significant autonomy, specialized knowledge, and the ability to mentor others. At Level 3, the individual is expected to apply a broad range of skills and knowledge to perform complex tasks. At Level 4, they are expected to lead and influence, taking responsibility for significant projects and contributing to organizational strategy.

Reporting Structure: The UX/UI Designer will likely report to a Head of Design, a Delivery Lead, or a Project Manager, depending on the project structure. They will also be responsible for mentoring and guiding junior UX/UI Designers within their project teams.

Operations Impact: The UX/UI Designer's impact is critical to the success of Zaizi's projects. By ensuring user needs are met, they directly contribute to the usability, adoption, and effectiveness of digital solutions for government clients. This leads to improved public services, increased efficiency, and better user satisfaction, all of which are key metrics for government digital projects.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Progression from SFIA Level 3/4 to higher levels of design leadership, such as Lead UX Designer, Head of Design, or Design Director.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like accessibility, service design, user research, or design systems.

• Project Management: Transition into roles with broader project oversight or management responsibilities within agile delivery teams.

• Cross-functional Expertise: Develop skills in Product Management or Solution Architecture by working closely with these functions.

• Training & Certification: Utilize the allocated training days for certifications or courses that enhance UX/UI, agile, or government digital service expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The SFIA levels provide a clear framework for understanding the expected level of responsibility and growth. The emphasis on government projects offers unique career pathways within the public sector digital transformation landscape.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Zaizi operates a hybrid work model, allowing for a blend of remote work and in-office collaboration. This model aims to balance flexibility with the benefits of in-person teamwork.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is London, England, United Kingdom. Specific office details and accessibility information would be provided during the interview process, but London offers excellent transport links.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office environment likely features collaborative zones designed for team meetings, workshops, and brainstorming sessions, fostering interaction among multidisciplinary teams.

• Technology & Tools: Access to standard office technology, high-speed internet, and potentially dedicated design software and hardware, aligning with the tools mentioned in the job description (e.g., Figma).

• Agile Team Interaction: Opportunities to engage directly with developers, product managers, and other designers, facilitating a cohesive and efficient workflow.

Work Schedule: The role adheres to a flexible working schedule, typically around 40 hours per week. The hybrid nature allows for a degree of autonomy in structuring the work week, with specific in-office days likely coordinated with project teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model suggests a modern work environment that values both flexibility and the benefits of in-person collaboration. For operations professionals, this means being comfortable with remote tools and processes while also being able to engage effectively in person when required.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Stage 1: Initial Phone Screening: A brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, interest in the role, and cultural fit. Be prepared to discuss your general experience and motivations.

• Stage 2: Technical Interview: This stage focuses on your technical expertise in UX/UI design, prototyping, and your problem-solving abilities. Expect questions about your process and how you approach design challenges.

• Stage 3: Presentation & Panel Interview: A 10-15 minute presentation on a relevant project from your portfolio, followed by questions from a panel of interviewers from various departments. This assesses your communication skills, strategic thinking, and ability to articulate your design process and impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Wisely: Select projects that best demonstrate your SFIA3/4 capabilities, including leadership, mentorship, and complex problem-solving. Prioritize government or similar large-scale projects if possible.

• Storytelling is Key: For your presentation, structure your case study around a clear narrative: the problem, your approach (process, tools, collaboration), the solution, and the measurable impact. Focus on why you made certain design decisions.

• Highlight Collaboration: Emphasize how you worked with developers, product managers, and stakeholders, and how you handled feedback or conflicting requirements.

• Accessibility & Ethics: If applicable, showcase how you incorporated accessibility standards and ethical design principles into your work.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to present within the strict 10-15 minute timeframe. Practice your delivery to ensure you cover the most critical points effectively.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be ready for a potential design exercise during the technical interview or as a take-home assignment. This might involve critiquing an existing interface, sketching out a solution to a specific problem, or outlining a design process.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you would approach ambiguous requirements, manage stakeholder expectations, or resolve design conflicts.

• Technical Tool Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss your experience with Figma in detail, including specific features you leverage for complex design tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to evaluate technical skills, problem-solving ability, communication, and cultural fit. The presentation stage is critical for showcasing your ability to articulate complex design concepts and their impact to a diverse audience.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is the primary and essential design tool for this role, requiring expert knowledge for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma offers robust prototyping, experience with other dedicated prototyping tools may be beneficial.

• Design Artefact Creation Tools: Tools for creating user journey maps, wireframes, flowcharts, and potentially diagramming software.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a requirement for the designer, understanding how to interpret user analytics (e.g., from Google Analytics, Hotjar, or similar) to inform design decisions is a strong asset.

• Familiarity with tools used for user testing and feedback collection. CRM & Automation:

• Generally not a primary focus for UX/UI Designers, but an understanding of how CRM systems or automation workflows might impact user experience is helpful.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma indicates it's a core requirement. Proficiency in this tool, including its collaborative features, advanced prototyping capabilities, and component systems, will be heavily scrutinized.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of end-users, particularly citizens interacting with government services.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and cross-functional partnerships to achieve project goals.

• Agility & Adaptability: Embracing agile principles to respond quickly to changing requirements and deliver value iteratively.

• Impact & Purpose: A drive to make a tangible difference through digital transformation, improving public services and citizen experiences.

• Continuous Learning: Encouraging a culture of "failing fast and learning quickly," promoting experimentation and knowledge sharing.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamless collaboration with Product Managers, Solution Architects, Developers, and Testers is fundamental to delivering integrated solutions.

• Open Communication: Encouraging direct and honest feedback, fostering an environment where ideas can be shared and debated constructively.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that supports sharing best practices, learnings, and insights across teams and projects, potentially through internal meetups or documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Zaizi's values are geared towards creating impactful digital services. For a UX/UI Designer, this means demonstrating empathy for users, a proactive approach to collaboration, and a commitment to continuous improvement in a dynamic environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Government Bureaucracy: Working with government clients can involve complex stakeholder landscapes, longer decision-making processes, and adherence to strict regulations and security protocols.

• Ambiguous Requirements: The role requires comfort in eliciting and clarifying requirements from potentially vague or evolving user needs.

• Balancing User Needs with Technical/Project Constraints: Effectively translating user desires into feasible solutions within technical limitations, budget, and project timelines.

• Maintaining Design Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive user experience across multiple projects and platforms, especially in an agile environment with evolving teams.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized UX/UI Training: Leveraging the training allowance to deepen expertise in areas like advanced prototyping, accessibility standards (WCAG), user research methodologies, or design systems.

• Government Digital Landscape: Gaining in-depth knowledge of the UK government's digital service standards and procurement processes.

• Leadership Skills: Developing mentoring and team leadership capabilities through hands-on experience and potentially formal training.

• Exposure to Diverse Projects: Working on a variety of government projects offers exposure to different domains and user groups, broadening your experience base.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical of roles working with large, established organizations like government bodies. The growth opportunities are strong, particularly for those looking to specialize in public sector digital transformation or advance into leadership positions.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to elicit requirements from ambiguous user needs. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your structured approach, questioning techniques, and synthesis skills.)

• "How do you ensure your designs are accessible to all users? Can you provide an example of a challenge you faced related to accessibility and how you resolved it?" (Highlight your knowledge of WCAG and practical application.)

• "Walk us through a complex user journey you've designed. What were the key pain points, and how did your design address them?" (Use this as an opportunity to showcase your process and impact, potentially using a portfolio project.)

• "How do you balance user needs with technical constraints, budget, or stakeholder demands?" (Demonstrate your pragmatic approach and negotiation skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working with UK government clients, and specifically at Zaizi?" (Research Zaizi's mission and recent projects; connect your interests to their work.)

• "How do you approach mentoring junior designers or sharing best practices within a team?" (Prepare examples of your leadership and collaborative style.)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest UX/UI trends and best practices, especially in the context of government digital services?" (Showcase your commitment to continuous learning.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select Your Strongest Case Study: Choose a project that best represents your SFIA3/4 level, ideally one with a clear problem, a well-defined process, and measurable results.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify your contributions and the project's success wherever possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced support queries, increased user satisfaction scores).

• Articulate Your 'Why': Clearly explain the rationale behind your design decisions, linking them back to user research, business goals, and design principles.

• Practice Your Timing: Rehearse your presentation multiple times to ensure it fits within the 10-15 minute window. Be ready to elaborate on specific aspects if asked.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your process, challenges, and decisions. Be ready to discuss alternative approaches you considered.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess your practical design skills, strategic thinking, and ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences. Your portfolio presentation is a critical component, so prepare it thoroughly with a strong emphasis on your problem-solving process and the impact of your work.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on Workable.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your CV to highlight experience in user-centred design, agile environments, Figma proficiency, and any experience with government projects or SC Clearance. Use keywords from the job description (e.g., "prototyping," "interaction design," "stakeholder management," "accessible design").

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and easily accessible. Select 3-5 key projects that best showcase your SFIA3/4 capabilities and prepare your presentation for the final interview stage.

• Research Zaizi: Understand Zaizi's mission, values, and recent work, especially their projects within the UK government sector. Familiarize yourself with their approach to digital transformation and user-centred design.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio presentation multiple times to ensure it is concise, impactful, and fits within the allocated time. Be ready to answer detailed questions about your process and decisions.

⚠️ 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.