Vacancy -- Interaction Designer

Working for the Civil Service

The Welsh Government's recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

Vacancy Details

Office of the First Minister and Cabinet Office
Communications
HEO - £32,460 - £39,690
£29,100
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Fixed term
2 years with the possibility of being made permanent
Pan Wales
'Pan Wales' means that the location in which the vacancy can be based is flexible, subject to the needs of the business. Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location, but requests will be taken into consideration.
To be confirmed

Purpose of Post:

Working to the Senior Interaction Design Manager, the post holder will work as part of the Corporate Digital Team to ensure that the Welsh Government makes best use of the capability of its websites. The post will involve working to the interaction design process on all websites hosted on the Welsh Government’s corporate internet service. The post holder will be required to deliver professional, standards compliant website designs, for Welsh Government websites, with due consideration of customer research and user journey.

Key tasks:

• Design of websites and online systems working to the Welsh Government Global Experience Language (WG GEL)
• Development of HTML and CSS for usable, accessible, web standards compliant websites
• Development of complex interactive components using languages, libraries, and techniques including JavaScript, jQuery, and AJAX
• Development of mobile specific and responsive templates
• Design and production of graphical elements across projects
• Wireframing and rapid prototyping of user journeys
• Assisting with usability testing sessions and other user research activities
• Provide estimates and updates to Senior Interaction Design Manager
• Work in a team environment working to the Interaction Design Team’s processes and methodologies
• Provide advice to clients on user experience and information architecture best practice
• Offer creative advice and practical ideas for improving existing website presence of clients

Development opportunities:

This is a demanding, rewarding role in a key communication area. The post offers the opportunity to develop skills in the areas of interaction design and wider communication disciplines that develop the full range of competencies for future advancement.
If you are successful, you will become a member of the GCN.

This position is initially offered on a fixed two year contract with the possibility of being made permanent.

Closing Date:

24/02/2017, 16:00

Eligibility

Posts recruited to as part of this recruitment campaign are broadly open to UK nationals, those with right to remain and work in the UK and those that meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules only. Check your eligibility here:

Prior to appointment, all successful applicants will be required to produce original, acceptable documents as part of the pre-employment checks. If it becomes apparent at a later stage in the process that you aren’t eligible to apply, your application will be withdrawn, or offer retracted.

Equality and Diversity

The Welsh Government is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. This is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010 and will be adhered to at each stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure that these commitments are also embedded in our day-to-day working practices with all our customers, colleagues and partners.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and increasing diversity in the Welsh Government by removing barriers and supporting all our staff to reach their potential. We are committed to recruiting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and disabled people who are currently under-represented in Welsh Government.

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, marriage and civil partnership (both same sex and opposite sex), impairment or health condition, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender identity or gender expression.

We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident Level 3 (Leader) organisation. Key to supporting this work and providing peer support are five Board sponsored Staff Networks (Disability Awareness and Support (DAAS); Minority Ethnic Support Network (MESN); Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex +) and Women Together.

Disability Confident

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Welsh Language Requirements

The Welsh Government is a bilingual organisation and Welsh language skills are considered an asset to the organisation. We encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills in the workplace. 

The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the line manager on behalf of the Welsh Government of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.

Not necessary to undertake the duties of this post

Social Partnership

In Welsh Government, the relationship between the employer and trade unions is based on social partnership. We believe our goals can best be achieved by management and trade unions working together.

Our 3 recognised trade unions are:
•         PCS
•         Prospect
•         FDA

This relationship is underpinned by a partnership agreement. This sets out how our unions work with Welsh Government on issues such as:
•         pay
•         terms and conditions
•         policies and procedures
•         organisational change.

Our Welsh Government trade union colleagues work together to give their members a real say in the workplace. They make sure that the interests of their members are promoted and protected. They also help reduce inequalities and improve terms and conditions.

The Welsh Government has an excellent track record of working in partnership with its trade unions. We encourage staff to get involved. We support you to join a recognised trade union, to ensure your voice is heard in the workplace. and to learn more about trade unions and partnership working.

Competencies / Job Specific Criteria

Leading and communicating:
- Communicate using appropriate styles, methods and timing, including digital channels, to maximise understanding and impact.
Making effective decisions:
- Identify a broad range of relevant and credible information sources and recognise the need to collect new data when necessary from internal and external sources.
Collaborating and partnering:
- Actively seek input from a diverse range of people.
Managing a quality service:
- Establish mechanisms to seek out and respond to feedback from customers about service provided.


Job Specific Criteria:

1. Significant experience designing and hand coding complex websites including for mobile using HTML/CSS/jQuery/JavaScript, within content management system environments.

2. Ability to demonstrate creative proficiency in a variety of industry standard design tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Fireworks, and Axure RP Pro.

3. Good understanding of the principles and processes of User Centred Design for the web.

Assessment Process

Other Information

  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘actual starting salary’, all candidates will start at the minimum of the pay scale being appointed to (this includes existing civil servants).This is not negotiable.
  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘type of opportunity’, this recruitment advert is not open on a Loan or Secondment basis.
  • For more information on the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for Loan and Secondment positions in Welsh Government, please see external recruitment candidate guidance.
  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘Location of Post’ the role/s recruited to via this campaign can only be worked in the UK, not overseas.

- This post has a duration of 2 years with the possibility of being made permanent.

- Please note that applications received will be subject to two sift stages.  The first stage will look at the job specific criteria for the role. Only those meeting the minimum requirements for the job specific criteria will have their applications sifted further.

Tim Andrews (029 20825012) - timothy.andrews@wales.gsi.gov.uk // Aeddan Davies (029 20821647) aeddan.davies@wales.gsi.gov.uk

How to apply

All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system.  If you have a disability which would prevent you from applying on-line, please e-mail SharedServiceHelpdesk@wales.gsi.gov.uk to request an application pack in an alternative format, or to request a reasonable adjustment related to a disability in order to submit your application.

To apply, you'll need to have an account on our online application system.  Click the 'Apply' button below, and you'll be asked to 'Log in' if you already have an account, or 'Register' if you don't yet have an account.  Registration takes just a few minutes to complete.  You'll need an e-mail address to be able to register.  Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form, which you'll need to fully complete and submit before the deadline on the closing date.  

If you’d like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the ‘Newid Iaith / Change Language’ link at the top of this page, to take you to the Welsh version of this advert, from which you can apply in Welsh.

For further information regarding the Welsh Government recruitment process, please see the Recruitment Guidance for External Candidates (link).

When evidencing your suitability for the post, it is recommended that you refer to the Civil Service Competency Framework (link)

Grievance and Complaints

Anyone who believes they have been treated unfairly, or has a grievance or complaint, about how the process was conducted should either write to the Head of Resourcing, Welsh Government, Cathays Park 2, Cardiff CF10 3NQ or email SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales.  If you are unhappy with the outcome of the complaint raised with the Welsh Government and feel that the principles of appointment on merit through fair and open competition have not been met you have the right to pursue your grievance with the Civil Service Commission.

This vacancy is closed to applications.