Lead User Experience Designer

1. Purpose  The University of Canberra’s (University) Future Students Digital Handbook (FSDH) is a strategic digital transformation initiative that has been established in response to the planned decommissioning of the University's existing Digital Handbook in January 2027. The FSDH is intended to support the provision of a modern, accessible and future-focused course discovery experience for prospective students.   The University requires specialist resources to supplement internal capability and provide the expertise necessary to design, architect, develop, integrate and test the FSDH within the required implementation timeframe. The proposed procurement seeks a suitably qualified User Experience (UX)/ User Interface (UI) Designer who will play a critical role in defining and validating the future student experience, ensuring course information is easy to find, understand and compare, while supporting future student recruitment and conversion objectives.  The contract is anticipated to commence in September 2026 and conclude in December 2026, for an initial term of approximately four (4) months. The term may be extended, subject to Project delivery requirements and the University’s ongoing need for specialist support.  2. Services  The Contractor shall provide a suitably qualified UX/UI Designer to support implementation of the FSDH Project. The UX/UI Designer will work collaboratively with the University’s Student Recruitment and Marketing, Digital, Information and Technology Management, Content Management System (CMS) implementation partner and other Project stakeholders to design a cohesive digital experience that supports a single source of truth for course information and improves content discoverability, accessibility and user engagement.  It is noted that the UX/UI Designer may provide the required services either on-site at the University or remotely, as agreed with the University.  3. Specifications Mandatory  The UX/UI Developer must demonstrate the below attributes:  minimum five (5) years' experience in UX, UI and digital experience design;  demonstrated experience delivering complex digital transformation or customer experience initiatives;  demonstrated experience designing large-scale websites, digital platforms or content-rich online experiences;  experience designing accessible digital experiences aligned to WCAG accessibility requirements;  experience leading user research, stakeholder engagement and workshop facilitation activities;  experience developing information architecture, navigation structures and user journeys;  strong proficiency in Figma and other contemporary UX/UI design tools; and  strong written communication, presentation and stakeholder engagement skills.  Desirable  The UX/UI Developer should demonstrate the below attributes:  experience within Higher Education, Government or similarly complex organisations;  experience designing Content Management System (CMS) based solutions;  experience working with Digital Experience Platforms (DXP);  service Design experience;  experience supporting Agile delivery projects; and  experience designing search, taxonomy and content discoverability experiences. Key duties and responsibilities 1. Key Duties and Responsibilities The UX/UI Designer will:  undertake user research, analysis and stakeholder consultation activities to understand future student needs, behaviours and pain points;  facilitate workshops, co-design activities and design reviews with business and technical stakeholders;  develop future-state user journeys, user flows and service blueprints;  review and optimise information architecture, navigation structures and content hierarchy;  design study area, course and supporting content page experiences;  develop wireframes, prototypes and high-fidelity user interface designs;  maintain appropriate documentation and design artefacts throughout the engagement;  design experiences that surface key decision-making information including entry requirements, costs, delivery modes, career outcomes and key dates;  support optimisation of search, content discoverability and engagement pathways;  design reusable templates, design patterns and digital components that support consistency across the platform;  undertake usability testing and validation activities and incorporate feedback into design iterations;  ensure all proposed designs align with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA accessibility requirements and University digital standards; and  produce design artefacts, specifications and supporting documentation required to support implementation and knowledge transfer.  2. Out of Scope  The following activities are out of scope for this engagement:  software development, configuration and technical implementation activities;  solution architecture ownership, enterprise architecture governance and integration design;  backend development, Application Programming Interface (API) development and system integration activities;  infrastructure support, platform administration and operational support;  content creation, content approvals and business ownership of course information; and  Project, vendor, procurement and contract management activities.  The UX/UI Designer will focus on delivering user research, user experience design, interface design, information architecture, accessibility, usability validation and design artefacts required to support implementation of the FSDH.  The University will retain responsibility for Project governance, business approvals, stakeholder management, content ownership and implementation oversight.  3. Anticipated Deliverables The Contractor shall provide the following Deliverables:  Deliverable  Inclusions  Due Date  User experience design artefacts  User research findings and insights  User personas and user needs analysis  User journeys and user flows  Information architecture and navigation structures  Accessibility and usability considerations  Design recommendations to support user-centred outcomes  Maintain throughout the Contract term  Status Update   completed and planned activities;  key decisions;  risks;  issues;  dependencies; and   support required  Weekly  Wireframes, prototypes and high-fidelity user interface designs  Low-fidelity wireframes  Interactive prototypes  High-fidelity user interface designs  Responsive design artefacts  Design iterations based on stakeholder and user feedback  As required throughout the Contract term  User Interface Design and Design System Components  Reusable templates and page layouts  Design patterns and digital components  Design system assets and documentation  Style guides and visual design standards  Accessibility-compliant user interface components  Prior to Contract completion  Handover documentation  Design handover documentation  Final design files and component libraries  Design system documentation and asset inventory  Knowledge transfer sessions and supporting materials  Outstanding issues, risks and recommendations  Prior to Contract completion  4. Reporting and Meetings The UX/UI Developer will:  participate in Project governance, delivery, design and stakeholder workshops, as reasonably required by the University;  participate in design review sessions, sprint ceremonies, implementation planning activities and solution walkthroughs where relevant to the engagement;  escalate emerging risks, issues, constraints and dependencies that may impact Project outcomes, scope, schedule or quality;  participate in Project reporting, implementation planning and prioritisation activities, as required;  support knowledge transfer activities to University staff and Project team members;  participate in ad hoc meetings, as requested by the University; and  participate in transition activities prior to completion of the engagement.  Criteria The buyer has specified that each candidate must provide a response to each criterion. Each response is limited to 3000 characters. Essential criteria Weighting 1. TECHNICAL COMPLIANCE   - The extent to which the Quotation is assessed as meeting the technical requirements set out in the Statement of Requirement. - The Supplier’s understanding of the task, potential Project specific risks and details of how the risks will be managed during the Project.  - The Supplier’s proposed methods of managing interactions with the University. Weighting: 50% 2. CAPABILITY, CAPACITY AND EXPERIENCE - The Supplier’s demonstrated experience in delivering comparable user-centred digital experiences within the last five (5) years. Suppliers are requested to provide a minimum of two (2) relevant examples;   - Any assumptions, exclusions or constraints associated with the proposed engagement; and  - The Supplier’s availability, including the earliest possible commencement date; and proposed personnel’s availability for the indicative engagement period. Weighting: 20% 3. PROPOSED PERSONNEL RESOUCES The Supplier’s proposed key personnel including - concise current Curriculum Vitae (CV); - relevant qualifications, certifications and professional accreditations; and - a summary of the proposed personnel’s experience delivering comparable digital transformation, web platform, user experience or higher education initiative. Weighting: 20% 4. INDIGENOUS ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT Evaluation of Quotations will consider the Supplier’s indigenous programs and certifications, including whether the:  - Company is a registered or certified Indigenous owned enterprise by Supply Nation; - Company is noted on a State or Territory Register as being an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned enterprise; and/or  - Company has provided details of their company’s Indigenous program. Weighting: 10% Opportunity summary Sellers can submit Up to 2 candidates Number of sellers invited Fewer than 5 Number of candidates submitted Fewer than 10 Send us feedback About Accessibility Privacy Terms of use Disclaimer and copyright An initiative of the Digital Transformation Agency The Australian Government acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the Elders past and present. © Commonwealth of Australia