Join the Planning Inspectorate as a Senior Interaction Designer and help shape accessible, user-centred services that meet the needs of citizens and staff alike. In this pivotal role, you'll work within multiskilled delivery teams to design intuitive, inclusive experiences that function seamlessly across devices, platforms, and channels. You'll lead the development and implementation of design standards and patterns, ensuring our services align with the GOV.UK service standard and deliver real value to users.
We're looking for a proactive, experienced designer who thrives on complexity and collaboration. You'll use research to guide design decisions, advocate for best practices, and contribute to a growing library of departmental design patterns. As a senior member of the team, you'll take ownership of your professional growth while mentoring others and championing high-quality design across the organisation. If you're passionate about improving public services through thoughtful, accessible design, we'd love to hear from you.
The Planning Inspectorate has a long and proud history in ensuring a fair planning system for England. The work we do has a significant impact on people's lives, the communities where they live and the economy.
We want our colleagues to be able to work more flexibly and more collaboratively, exploring new and innovative ways to improve the way we provide services.
For further information on the Planning Inspectorate, please visit our careers page at Civil Service Careers
Job description
You will work with a multi-disciplinary project team. You will analyse problems and design solutions to those problems. You will help to ensure that services focus on user needs. You will work with other designers to improve design approaches and strategies. Your work will meet project goals and delivery cycles. You will be an integral part of the digital team and help maintain design and data standards.
Salary
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. Internal rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest
This role is being advertised at SEO Grade
Salary range for the Grade role is £45,219 - £47,341
Working hours:
Standard working week is 37 hours, flexible working hours policy available
Office Attendance
This role is contractually based at Temple Quay House, Bristol which is currently out of use due to undergoing refurbishment work. In the interim, we have the use of alternative office space in very close proximity to Bristol Temple Meads railway station. We recognise and value the mutual benefits of hybrid working and have a flexible approach to in person attendance, which can vary dependent on the requirements of individual business units - the details of which can be discussed with candidates if invited to attend an interview.
Person specification
We will assess your application against the Essential Criteria and Success Profile elements listed:
Essential Criteria
* Experience of working in multidisciplinary teams to embed user-centred design practices and deliver continuous design work.
* Experience of designing interactions professionally for the web and mobile in a range of design environments.
* Knowledge of accessibility guidelines and experience of ensuring that digital services are accessible to all users, including users with low digital skills.
* Demonstrable experience of prototyping in HTML & CSS.
* Experience with a wide range of design software (e.g. Mural, GitHub, code editors).
* Experience of applying Agile principles in practice.
* Encourage joined up teamwork within own team and across other groups.
* Establish professional relationships with a range of stakeholders. Collaborate with these to share information, resources and support.
Desirable
* Experience of using the GOV.UK prototyping kit.
* Experience designing GOV.UK services and the Government Service Standard
Experience
* See Essential Criteria
For guidance on how to structure your application please visit: About the application process, Civil Service Careers
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Working Together
* Delivering at Pace
* Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Experience of prototyping, experience with a wide range of design software, assessed in sift and interview. Preferred experience of working on GOV.UK projects, with the GDS prototyping kit.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £45,219, Planning Inspectorate contributes £13,099 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
* Flexible working options, including flexi-time, and home working if suitable for the role.
* A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
* 25 days annual leave increasing by 1 day per year up to 30 days after 5 years, plus 1 privilege day to mark the King's birthday. In addition to the normal bank holidays.
* Generous family friendly policies.
* Fast and modern IT kit which utilises Windows 11 and Microsoft 365, enabling seamless working from home and collaboration across teams.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
Application
Complete the online application form on Civil Service Jobs which requires the following information:
* A CV:
The CV section lets you share your job history. List your jobs, how long you worked at each, and briefly describe your roles and duties. Make sure to show how your experience matches the e
ssential criteria of the job
you're applying for. Type or paste this information into the 'Employment History' box in the online application. You can't attach your CV.
* A Personal Statement (750 words max):
The personal statement lets you explain why you're a good fit for the job in more detail. Use it to show how you meet the e
ssential criteria listed in our advert
and connect your answers to the Success Profile elements we're looking for
If there are many applications, we might use a lead sift. This means we'll first check if you meet the key requirement listed below. If you don't, we won't review the rest of your application.
* Experience of designing interactions professionally for the web and mobile in a range of design environments
All shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome shortly afterwards.
Interview
If you are shortlisted, you will:
* Be asked to attend an interview to have a more in-depth discussion about your experience and suitability for the role
* Interviews will be a blend of behaviour, strength, experience and technical questions
Candidates who pass the shortlist stage will receive full assessment details with their interview invitations.
Other Information
Shortlist Date: w/c 6th October 2025
Interview Date: w/c 20th October 2025
Interviews will be held remotely using MS Teams. The interview will not be recorded or retained, other than usual interview protocol and in line with Civil Service Jobs privacy notice.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Recruitment
T
he Civil Service Careers site has published a new page for candidates, covering what they should consider before using AI in their applications or interviews. Please click on the link below:
Artificial intelligence and recruitment
Reserve list
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Future Matches
Candidates who demonstrate strong potential and future readiness but score just below the required level at interview may be considered for alternative positions. These roles may be at a lower grade but align with their skills and offer opportunities for growth.
Merit list order
We appoint in merit list order, starting with any permanent appointments followed by any fixed term appointments.
We encourage all candidates to make themselves familiar with the role and what we will be assessing you against which is detailed in the Person Specification.
ID and Documents
If the job needs specific qualifications or memberships and you get the job, you'll need to send scanned or photographed images of them before you start.
We must check that any successful candidates are allowed to work for the Civil Service before we employ them. If successful, you will be asked to do a right to work check using identity document validation technology (IDVT) through the services of an Identity Service Provider (IDSP), Civil Service Jobs. If we are unable to confirm your right to work and through the IDVT we will need to do a manual right to work check using original documents with you in person.
Visa Sponsorship
The Planning Inspectorate cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates, we do not hold a Visa sponsorship licence.
Disability Confident Interview scheme/Reasonable Adjustments
The Civil Service values diversity and offers equal opportunities. We have a Disability Confident Interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the job's minimum criteria. We will also provide reasonable adjustments to all where possible. For more information please see
Reasonable Adjustments, Civil Service Careers
.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
* UK nationals
* nationals of the Republic of Ireland
* nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
* nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
* nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
* individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
* Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
* Name :
* Steve Murphy
* Email :
*
Recruitment team
* Email :
*
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact in the first instance: The Vacancy Manager via the Recruitment Team ).
If you are not satisfied with the response, you receive you should then contact, Chief People Officer, via the Recruitment Team ).
If you are still not satisfied with the response you receive from the Planning Inspectorate, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commission.