Job Title : RAF Digital – Junior Designer

Company Name: UK Ministry of Defence

Job Details:  RAF Digital – Junior Designer | UK Ministry of Defence
18-23 minutes
About the job
Stokenchurch, South East England, HP14 3FE : Benson, South East England, OX10 6AA

Job Summary

Do you fancy the challenge of helping scale a dynamic and user focused software development team at the heart of the Royal Air Force (RAF)? If the answer is yes, then RAF Digital’s Appivate is the team for you!

Established in 2021, Appivate is the RAF’s in-house software development factory. The team have already released a variety of different software applications, including overhauling the HR (Human Resources) process for Aviators, and developing mobile applications such as an application to assist aircrew in calculations required to enable accurate and safer Military High-Altitude Parachuting.

As part of the RAF’s dedicated software development team, you will be responsible for creating software applications and capabilities fit for the Next Generation Royal Air Force.

Its generation has proven that using regular Service Personnel and Civil Servants allows for a more dynamic and user focused development lifecycle, whilst keeping the users at the heart of product delivery.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job Description

We believe that Designers play a key role in making digital services simple and easy to use for all user groups. As a Junior Designer, you will drive digital design across multiple RAF products and services. It is expected that you will work closely with a variety of designers, including; service designers, content designers, user researchers. You will be part of wider multi-disciplinary teams contributing to the delivery and assuring the quality of user experiences, services, and designs so that products deliver the outcomes most valuable to the user in a way they enjoy.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work on digital services that have a real impact and to work in a high performing team that actively shares knowledge and experiences.

If you can champion high standard designs, engage with users and have a passion for developing others, we encourage you to apply.

Responsibilities:

Build strong rapport and trust with the team, stakeholders, and product owners, championing design thinking and methods.
Learn how to apply best practice in experience design while balancing the technical constraints of the project.
Understand design thinking; supporting workshop activities and co-creation sessions; both in person and using online tools
Work with multi-disciplinary teams to craft useful, usable and delightful digital products and services
Analyse a wide range of data to reframe problems, articulate opportunities and form hypotheses
Create low and high fidelity design artefacts for validation/testing/delivery as required (e.g. service blueprints, experience maps, user journeys, wireframes, prototypes, detailed UI design).
Understand development principles and design methods (GDS agile delivery phases, Design Sprints, Agile sprints).
Learn design, prototyping and collaboration software (for example: Adobe XD, Sketch, Figma, Invision, Zeplin, Axure, Mural, Miro).
Utilise Jira and Confluence for delivery management of Design work.
Generate design assets for wider promotional use, and within applications utilising Adobe Creative Cloud, including Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop.
Communicate clearly and manage expectations about Design output.
Proactively explore further training opportunities and carry out training that will expand your technical knowledge.
Manage your time effectively to meet deadlines and produce a high standard of product.
Enable a free thinking, challenging, and solutionist culture that encourages best practice.
Carry out any other duties allocated by Principle Designer and OC Appivate.

We believe that Designers play a key role in making digital services simple and easy to use for all user groups. As a Junior Designer, you will drive digital design across multiple RAF products and services. It is expected that you will work closely with a variety of designers, including; service designers, content designers, user researchers. You will be part of wider multi-disciplinary teams contributing to the delivery and assuring the quality of user experiences, services, and designs so that products deliver the outcomes most valuable to the user in a way they enjoy.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work on digital services that have a real impact and to work in a high performing team that actively shares knowledge and experiences.

If you can champion high standard designs, engage with users and have a passion for developing others, we encourage you to apply.

Responsibilities:

Build strong rapport and trust with the team, stakeholders, and product owners, championing design thinking and methods.
Learn how to apply best practice in experience design while balancing the technical constraints of the project.
Understand design thinking; supporting workshop activities and co-creation sessions; both in person and using online tools
Work with multi-disciplinary teams to craft useful, usable and delightful digital products and services
Analyse a wide range of data to reframe problems, articulate opportunities and form hypotheses
Create low and high fidelity design artefacts for validation/testing/delivery as required (e.g. service blueprints, experience maps, user journeys, wireframes, prototypes, detailed UI design).
Understand development principles and design methods (GDS agile delivery phases, Design Sprints, Agile sprints).
Learn design, prototyping and collaboration software (for example: Adobe XD, Sketch, Figma, Invision, Zeplin, Axure, Mural, Miro).
Utilise Jira and Confluence for delivery management of Design work.
Generate design assets for wider promotional use, and within applications utilising Adobe Creative Cloud, including Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop.
Communicate clearly and manage expectations about Design output.
Proactively explore further training opportunities and carry out training that will expand your technical knowledge.
Manage your time effectively to meet deadlines and produce a high standard of product.
Enable a free thinking, challenging, and solutionist culture that encourages best practice.
Carry out any other duties allocated by Principle Designer and OC Appivate.

Person specification

Coming from a design background, you will have a sound understanding of design and a passion for creating great digital experience across multiple applications. This experience will be supported by a qualification in design (Diploma or equivalent). You can adapt to both business and user needs, explain and provide actionable customer insights and evidence-based recommendations on your design decisions. You are personally able to reflect and be responsive to feedback and work in a collaborative environment. You will be an advocate for user needs and will actively promote the work of your team and the benefits of content design with users and other stakeholders, with the confidence to talk about your work and the work of the team to a wider audience. You have excellent verbal and written communication, interpersonal skills, and have the ability to build relationships with, and influence, colleagues and stakeholders at all levels.

Languages

English

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

Leadership
Managing a Quality Service
Making Effective Decisions
Changing and Improving
Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

Making Effective Decisions
Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

Designing for everyone
Evidence-based design
Iterative design
Designing together

Alongside your salary of £29,580, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,569 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
Access to a confidential, professional support service
Discount schemes
Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
Special paid leave to volunteer (currently up to 6 days a year)
Learning and development tailored to your role
An environment with flexible working opportunities (following probation if applicable)
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
A very competitive Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD 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 at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Throughout the application process we will assess using the GOV.UK Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) framework for a Junior Interaction Designer.

Stage 1: Application

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. (Word count: 250)

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV, Statement of suitability and the following Success Profiles:

Behaviours

Making Effective Decisions
Delivering at Pace

Technical Skills |

Country: United Kingdom