React Job: UI-UX Designer

The European Patent Office (EPO) is in the midst of a major transformation, building a DevOps practice and making agile principles a reality. It's like nothing we've ever done before!

Our mission is to support innovation, competitiveness and economic growth across Europe. We pride ourselves on taking innovation seriously and are fully committed to our digital transformation.

Whilst preparing our next strategic plan, we are seeking talent to reinforce our teams and prepare the next generation of tools and practices, to increase the productivity of our workforce.
We are looking to recruit highly creative individuals with a broad range of skills across the field of IT, as well as developing a talent pool in anticipation of future openings.

We are currently looking for an experienced UX expert with good communication and influencing skills who can work autonomously in their area of expertise across different project and product teams. As part of our team, your role will be to optimise and harmonise the user experience for EPO staff and customers. Your focus will mainly be on transactional software for our 6 000 in-house users, as well as our external customers/stakeholders based in Europe and around the world.

With us you will:

• define specific UX-architecture-related elements and complex components

• play an active role in co-ordinating the activities and governance around the maturing, usage and repository of the EPO design system

• ensure a consistent user experience across all design system products

• lead centralised activities (or elements common to several projects) in user research, user interface design, graphic design, relevant elements of information architecture, accessibility, UX copy and language aspects, visual design and instructional documentation

• design and deliver mock-ups and wire frames with intuitive user experience in focus for specialised and also large internal and external audience groups

• present mock-ups and designs to stakeholders and developers, and effectively collaborate with both parties to implement features

• define and conduct user testing, research (surveys, interviews, etc.) and web analytics, turning the results into actionable changes and improving tooling

• integrating hands-on UX expertise into the EPO's strategic programmes and projects

• work closely with (external) design and development teams to ensure that the solution is accurately translated to the final application

• innovate and co-ordinate with other EPO departments and (external) teams dealing directly or indirectly with user experience

• shape and implement the EPO's user experience/ergonomics strategy, also in terms of tools and methods

• mature and enhance our user experience policy and architecture

• lead change and apply agile methodologies (BDD, design thinking, kanban, scrumban)

• build up in-house knowledge and expertise

Apply if you have:

• at least five years' relevant working experience

• experience in a lead role successfully delivering complex projects, designing software applications, working in agile teams

• demonstrated experience with design systems

• proficiency in designing and prototyping tools, e.g. Figma, Framer, Sketch, Dribble
• up-to-date knowledge and hands-on experience of interactive web technologies, e.g. HTML, CSS and JavaScript (ReactJS preferred, VueJS or other optional)

• good knowledge of software ergonomics and of human cognitive constraints in environments where complex software is developed

• capacity to network, establish and sustain partnerships with a large variety of stakeholders and subject-matter experts

• excellent communication skills, team spirit and a proactive, positive attitude

You may also have (desirable but not mandatory):

• experience working with ReactJS and Drupal for hosting content (currently used for the EPO design system)

• knowledge of standards (in particular ISO 9241, ISO 45001 and WCAG 2.0)

• experience in leading change (in particular in the context of the introduction of software development work processes, including BDD, DDD, CI/CD, design thinking)

Minimum requirements

• Diploma of completed studies at master's level or – in exceptional cases – equivalent professional experience

• Excellent knowledge (at least C1) of one official language (English, French and German) and the ability to understand the other two; alternatively, excellent knowledge (at least C1) of English (in such cases, the willingness to learn the missing languages and to reach level B2 within a set time frame would be required)

• Citizenship of one of the member states of the European Patent Organisation

What we offer

• An opportunity to participate in complex IT projects at the heart of the EPO's digital transformation initiative

• Daily collaboration with a diverse, hard-working and united team of highly skilled and dedicated professionals from all over Europe

• Self-development opportunities through a broad range of training activities provided by our Talent Academy

• A challenging yet highly rewarding working environment

• A comprehensive and family-friendly benefits package

• A flexible working model

• Access to a wide variety of social activities and clubs

• Flexibility to work in either Munich or The Hague

Process:
The successful candidate will be selected on the basis of qualifications and relevant experience, supplemented as appropriate by interviews, tests and/or a personality questionnaire.

Key information

Job group: 4
Grade: G7 to G10 (net basic) monthly salary\* for this vacancy: EUR 6 459 to 9 364, depending on experience and location)
Duration of appointment: Five years
Career path: Technical
Location: Hybrid based in Germany (Munich) or The Netherlands (The Hague)
Application deadline: 29 March 2023
Interviews planned: April and May 2023