We are currently looking for a Senior Interaction Designer to join our Digital and Service Design Function within the Digital and Technology group.
This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based in 7/8 Wellington Place, Leeds, LS1 4AP.
Government departments and agencies are working towards implementing a minimum 60% attendance in office sites.
We are currently implementing a flexible, hybrid way of working, with a minimum of 8 days per month working on site to enable the collaboration and contact with partners and stakeholders needed to deliver MHRA business. Attendance on site is driven by business needs so depending on the nature of the role, this can flex up to 12 days a month, with the remainder of time worked either remotely or in the office. Some roles will need to be on site more regularly. Please discuss this with the recruiting manager before accepting an appointment.
This role attracts a Market Pay Supplement of up to £20,371 per annum, in recognition of the specialist skills required and current market rates. The supplement is reviewed annually and is non-pensionable.
Who are we?
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency enhance and improve the health of millions of people every day through the effective regulation of medicines and medical devices, underpinned by science and research.
The Digital and Technology Group (DTG) lies at the heart of the Agency and is responsible for delivering an optimised IT infrastructure and maximising the secure use of data to enable our scientists, inspectors, and the rest of the organisation to deliver world-class services which can improve outcomes for patients and the general public. Its centre of excellence is also responsible for delivering a broad portfolio of change initiatives, both to transform the Agency’s legacy technologies and to deliver innovative new solutions. The Group was essential in the race to approve COVID-19 vaccines in 2020 and in supporting the UK to set up its own medicines and devices approvals systems following our exit from the EU.
What’s the role?
This is an exciting opportunity for a Senior Interaction Designer to help shape a new user-centred design practice at the MHRA. Working across multidisciplinary teams and high-profile services, the post holder will contribute to designing high-quality digital products and services, liaising with external suppliers as well as co-ordinating customers, colleagues and stakeholders. This role will involve working with senior product and service owners, programme directors and SROs to develop design concepts and supporting design activities across multiple and often highly complex services.
Key responsibilities:
Provide design leadership and hands-on interaction design for complex projects and portfolios of work;
Use best practice and standards consistent with the rest of government;
Advise and support software engineers in the development of designs, and iterate gov.uk patterns and components
Work closely with service designers to gather and interpret evidence from service design walkthroughs and analysis, using this insight to design solutions and communicate well-reasoned rationale to stakeholders, ensuring that chosen approaches are grounded in user needs and service context
Who are we looking for?
Our successful candidate will:
Clarify your own understanding and stakeholder needs and expectations using evidence, before making decisions.
Analyse and accurately interpret data from various sources to support decisions. Find the best option by identifying positives, negatives, risks and implications. Present reasonable conclusions from a wide range of complex and sometimes incomplete evidence.
Communicate with others in a clear, honest and enthusiastic way in order to build trust. Explain complex issues in a way that is easy to understand.
Demonstrate positive customer service by understanding the complexity and diversity of customer needs and expectations with emphasis on the importance of considering the different needs and contexts of end users.
Deliver high quality, efficient and cost-effective digital products and services, with clear manageable plans for delivery within given constraints.
Person Specification:
Method of assessment: A=Application, T=Test, I=Interview, P=Presentation
Behaviour Criteria:
Changing and Improving (I, P)
Making Effective Decisions (I, P)
Communicating and Influencing (I, P)
Managing a Quality Service (I, P)
Experience Criteria:
Create and iterate prototypes to test and communicate ideas using a variety of methods (I)
Developing designs and user flows for interactive tools for example to support transactional services (A, I, P)
Understand user needs, user journeys and processes and how to design products and services that meet them (A, I, P)
User research methods and practice, with proven experience of using metrics and user feedback to inform designs (A, I)
Work with designers, user researchers and front-end developers to turn concepts into user-centred design and explain design decisions and how they were impacted by user research (I, P)
Contribute to growing the community of designers in the agency (I)
Leading workshops and discussions to facilitate the development of interactive designs through collaboration with other professions (I)
Technical Criteria:
Degree level or significant equivalent experience in interaction design (A, I)
Previous experience working with prototyping tools and wireframe development (A, I)
Working within an agile delivery framework (A, I)
Developing, delivering and improving digital products and services ideally in the public sector (A, I)
If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity, please read our Job Description and Person Specification !
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The selection process:
We use the Civil Service Success Profiles to assess our candidates, find out more here .
Online application form, including a statement of suitability, of no more than 750 words demonstrating how you meet the person specification. Please ensure all application questions are completed in full; your application may not be considered if any responses are left blank. Our applications are CV blind, and our Hiring Managers will not be able to access your CV when reviewing your application. Please ensure not to include any personal identifying information on your supporting information.
Presentation, to be prepared as part of your interview, with further information being supplied when you reach this stage.
Interview, which can include questions based on the Behaviour, Experience, Technical and Strengths Success Profiles.
Applicants are assessed on whether they meet any mandatory requirements as well as the necessary skills and experience for the role. Applications are scored based on the statement of suitability provided. You can view the criteria for this role in the job description.
Use of AI in Job Applications
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
If you require any disability related adjustments at any point during the process, please contact [email protected] as soon as possible.
Closing date: 9 August 2026
Shortlisting date: from 10 August 2026
Interview date: from 17 August 2026
If you need assistance applying for this role or have any other questions, please contact [email protected]
Candidates will be subject to UK immigration requirements as well as Civil Service nationality rules. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here .
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check as well as animal rights and pro-life activism checks. People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks .
Certain roles within the MHRA will require post holders to have vaccinations, and in some circumstances, routine health surveillance. These roles include:
Laboratory-based roles working directly with known pathogens
Maintenance roles, particularly those required to work in laboratory settings
Roles that involve visiting other establishments where vaccination is required
Roles required to travel overseas where specific vaccination may be required.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Any move to the MHRA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility here .
Individuals appointed on level transfer will retain their existing salary and are responsible for ensuring they fully understand the financial implications of any potential move and the impact (if any) on their terms. If an individual is in any doubt, they should seek clarification before accepting a job offer.
Staff joining on promotion will receive up to a 10% increase of their current basic salary, or the pay band minimum, whichever is the greater.
The individual will not retain any allowances paid by the former department/Agency, unless there are special circumstances, such as a reserved right to those allowances on transfer.
Successful candidates may be subject to annual Occupational Health reviews dependent on role requirements. If you have any queries, please contact [email protected] .
In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment on the basis of merit by a fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact the MHRA Recruitment Team at [email protected] .
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk
[email protected]
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