User Centred Design Lead

Location:       Hybrid 

Contracted to our Wilmslow, London, Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast office, however, we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need.  

Why work for the ICO? 

• Pay progression scheme.
• Hybrid and flexible working options.  
• 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays. 
• Flexi leave (up to 26 additional days leave per year). 
• Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%). 
• Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more. 
• Health Cash Plan. 
• Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress. 

Further details can be found on the benefits section of our website . 

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data. 

As an employer, we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people, and we empower you to be curious, impactful, collaborative and respectful. 

Job description

As a member of the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) team the postholder will work closely with colleagues across the ICO and external organisations, including Senior Sponsors and Project teams to design new products, services or processes, or improve existing ones - in a user centred way.

User Centred Design Leads will be key figures across the Design and Delivery team helping design and deliver new amazing digital services.  You will support the team to design effective user journeys based on a deep understanding of the people – citizens, businesses or government colleagues – who use the ICO’s services. And, continuously improve services, based on data, analytics and evidence.

Working within a multi-disciplinary team on a wide range of user experience and research activities, you will work independently, with support and guidance from colleagues across the DDaT team.

 Key Responsibilities 

• Work with product owners and key stakeholders to design effective and easy to use end-to-end services that help users complete their goal.
• Recognise patterns and trends in a wide range of evidence and data and draw key conclusions, outlining benefits, risks and potential solutions to ensure the continuous improvement of products, services and processes.
• Understand, advocate and implement accessibility standards in all product, service and process designs.
• Work closely with product managers and developers to turn user research findings into stories and actions that lead to valuable product and service features
• Negotiate with stakeholders in order to balance business needs against user needs.
• Plan, design and implement a range of user research activities and analyse and share the results.
• Responsibility for identifying, raising and managing risks within a given project/product/service.
• Communicate with team members across the business to plan and drive activities, monitor progress, resolve issues, and promote a spirit of collaboration

Person specification 

Essential criteria assessed at application stage:

• Proven experience in a User Centred Design role within a DDaT function
• Proven experience of designing end to end services that are usable and accessible, alongside product owners and developers.
• Experience using research, data and insights to drive the continuous improvement of products, services and processes.
• Experience creating UX deliverables such as  storyboards, wireframes, prototypes and information architecture designs - using the latest tools.  
• Experience conforming to design and service standards, style guides, corporate brand, and WCAG 2.1 standards, and advocating for their importance in relation to user centred design.

Essential criteria assessed during interview:

• Experience influencing stakeholders and advocating for user centred design standards at the highest level.
• Ability to turn complex information into clear content.
• Ability to understand what problem the team is trying to solve, and align user research and design activities to inform decision making and action
• Knowledge of how digital technology is changing user behaviour, and the challenges and opportunities for government services.
• Demonstrate experience in basic user research methods and when to use these methods and how to apply them correctly

Equality, diversity, and inclusion 

The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website.  

Candidates with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy will be invited to interview as part of the ICO’s commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme. 

If you have a disability or impairment and require an alternative application method, please email the HR team at recruitment@ico.org.uk . 

Closing Date 

Please submit your CV and cover letter detailing your suitability to the role by 23:59, Thursday 7^th November   

We reserve the right to close this vacancy before this date should we receive sufficient applications. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is considered.