Web Designer

About our culture

The Works is such a welcoming place to… well… work!

Our atmosphere is supportive, friendly and inclusive. A second home-from-home where you can be your best and authentic you.

We’ve built an environment that’s busy, always moving, and full of energy. Yet we still make space to share must-watch TV recommendations and our favourite page-turners!

We’re a proactive and hardworking bunch who are dedicated to inspiring and empowering our customers to read, learn, create and play.

It’s the perfect place for people who know how to roll their sleeves up, get creative, and put their passion and imagination to work… we’re people who ‘do’!

If you’re the kind of person who is as ’crafty’, ‘caring’ and ‘can-do’ as we are, then this is the kind of culture for you.

What we will give to you!

• 25% off colleague discount in-store and online (Often increased to 50% off for seasonal offers!)
• 33 days holiday (Inclusive of Bank Holidays)
• Holiday Purchase scheme to increase your annual leave entitlement by 5 extra days per year
• Access to our MyWorks reward platform which has thousands of exclusive online discounts across hundreds of well-known retailers, utilities, holidays and much more!
• Hybrid working – This varies by department, but typically we’re working to 1 or 2 days per week in the office
• Save As You Earn (SAYE) scheme. Become a shareholder and buy your own piece of The Works by buying shares at an exclusive discounted rate direct-from-salary
• Company pension contribution
• Can-Do Academy – Instant access to training and development programmes when it suits you
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Employee Health, Wellbeing and Financial support through the Retail Trust and our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – Because you matter!
• Life Assurance
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Free Car Parking when on-site at our Support Centre
• Optional Charity Giving schemes – Pennies from Heaven and Give as you Earn

About the role

Reporting into the Development Team Lead, you will join a collaborative and supportive team of developers where you will get a chance to be involved in the full software development lifecycle with some fantastic projects. You will be comfortable working within a team using an Agile methodology and engaging with your colleagues to better understand and execute projects and BAU tasks. You will have a passion and an eye for good design, with the ability to easily design and implement your designs against web sites and web applications.

This role is to join the already established web development team. As part of the team, you will be responsible for designing, developing and maintain the styling for our internal and externally facing applications. This will include heavy use of CSS, HTML and JavaScript. A large part of this role will involve looking at the UX and accessibility of our applications, and ensuring that the design for them is fit for purpose and provides the best possible experience for our customers and users.

About you

You are a strong communicator and collaborator who can work within our development team to assist in delivering high quality design into production. You will be comfortable using tools to write in HTML, CSS and JavaScript. You will have a strong ability to design wireframes and storyboards before implementing them within our website or internal applications. When designing applications, you will take the UX and accessibility into account, ensuring the best possible experience for our customers and users.

You will have a can-do, team driven attitude with a real drive to produce high quality design work that we can be proud of as a team. You will have a passion for doing things right, contributing to the already established practices and processes.

You’ll also be;

• PASSIONATE – In everything you do – you want to learn, you want to grow and you want to develop the service we offer.
• STRONG COMMUNICATOR – Able to articulate issues, blockers and test results to an audience of varying levels of technical knowledge
• HIGHLY ORGANISED – You can prioritise your workload, set expectations and keep your promises.
• INNOVATIVE THINKING – You are able to “think outside the box” and are always looking for the next opportunity.
• PROACTIVE - You always look for the next thing to pick up and are willing to help out where you might be needed

Key responsibilities

High Quality Design

You will take requirements provided by the business to then estimate, design and implement your designs for our website and internal web applications. You will help establish standards for all of our styling across everything in Development, writing re-usable elements to maximise re-use.

UX & Accessibility

Your designs will consider the impact on UX and accessibility, looking to deliver the best experience possible for our customers and users. This will following the latest best practice around these principles.

Agile Planning

Contribute through our Agile planning ceremonies of stand ups, backlog refinement, planning and overview sessions. You will estimate work to the best of your ability and give concise updates on progress.

Support Applications

You will be involved in supporting applications in production, working on priority issues when they arise. This will involve assisting with any JavaScript or styling issues.

Support Your Team

You will be working collaboratively with your team, supporting others when necessary, by giving advice and pair programming on problems.

The sought-after experience we’re seeking

Mandatory

• Proficiency with HTML & CSS
• Proficiency in JavaScript
• Proficiency with a JS Framework – Angular, React or Vue
• UI / UX Design Experience
• Experience working in an Agile methodology
• Proficiency with Source Control tools such as Git
• Demonstrable experience adapting to and learning new technologies
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent Troubleshooting Abilities
• Proficient Wireframing & Storyboarding skills

Desirable

• Experience with Unit Testing
• Experience with TypeScript
• Experience with Salesforce Commerce Cloud
• Experience with CI/CD
• Understanding and demonstrating use of design patterns
• A/B Testing experience using tools such as Monetate
• Previous work on an eCommerce platform
• Experience with CSS pre-processors such as SASS
• Experience with NPM
• Experience with WebPack

Finally, the bit about The Works

We are working towards our ambition of becoming one of the most loved retailers in the UK and the go-to place for reading, learning, creativity and play.

We believe in the importance of fun and fulfilment and taking time out to do the things you love.

With 525 stores nationwide and a strong multi-channel proposition, our mission is to offer a unique and enjoyable shopping experience, built on core principles of value, variety and quality.

We’re super proud to be certified as two star ‘Outstanding to work for’ via Best Companies for three years running and a Sunday Times 2020 Top 25 Best Big Companies to work for.

About our culture

The Works is such a welcoming place to… well… work!

Our atmosphere is supportive, friendly and inclusive. A second home-from-home where you can be your best and authentic you.

We’ve built an environment that’s busy, always moving, and full of energy. Yet we still make space to share must-watch TV recommendations and our favourite page-turners!

We’re a proactive and hardworking bunch who are dedicated to inspiring and empowering our customers to read, learn, create and play.

It’s the perfect place for people who know how to roll their sleeves up, get creative, and put their passion and imagination to work… we’re people who ‘do’!

If you’re the kind of person who is as ’crafty’, ‘caring’ and ‘can-do’ as we are, then this is the kind of culture for you.

What we will give to you!

• 25% off colleague discount in-store and online (Often increased to 50% off for seasonal offers!)
• 33 days holiday (Inclusive of Bank Holidays)
• Holiday Purchase scheme to increase your annual leave entitlement by 5 extra days per year
• Access to our MyWorks reward platform which has thousands of exclusive online discounts across hundreds of well-known retailers, utilities, holidays and much more!
• Hybrid working – This varies by department, but typically we’re working to 1 or 2 days per week in the office
• Save As You Earn (SAYE) scheme. Become a shareholder and buy your own piece of The Works by buying shares at an exclusive discounted rate direct-from-salary
• Company pension contribution
• Can-Do Academy – Instant access to training and development programmes when it suits you
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Employee Health, Wellbeing and Financial support through the Retail Trust and our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – Because you matter!
• Life Assurance
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Free Car Parking when on-site at our Support Centre
• Optional Charity Giving schemes – Pennies from Heaven and Give as you Earn

About the role

Reporting into the Development Team Lead, you will join a collaborative and supportive team of developers where you will get a chance to be involved in the full software development lifecycle with some fantastic projects. You will be comfortable working within a team using an Agile methodology and engaging with your colleagues to better understand and execute projects and BAU tasks. You will have a passion and an eye for good design, with the ability to easily design and implement your designs against web sites and web applications.

This role is to join the already established web development team. As part of the team, you will be responsible for designing, developing and maintain the styling for our internal and externally facing applications. This will include heavy use of CSS, HTML and JavaScript. A large part of this role will involve looking at the UX and accessibility of our applications, and ensuring that the design for them is fit for purpose and provides the best possible experience for our customers and users.

About you

You are a strong communicator and collaborator who can work within our development team to assist in delivering high quality design into production. You will be comfortable using tools to write in HTML, CSS and JavaScript. You will have a strong ability to design wireframes and storyboards before implementing them within our website or internal applications. When designing applications, you will take the UX and accessibility into account, ensuring the best possible experience for our customers and users.

You will have a can-do, team driven attitude with a real drive to produce high quality design work that we can be proud of as a team. You will have a passion for doing things right, contributing to the already established practices and processes.

You’ll also be;

• PASSIONATE – In everything you do – you want to learn, you want to grow and you want to develop the service we offer.
• STRONG COMMUNICATOR – Able to articulate issues, blockers and test results to an audience of varying levels of technical knowledge
• HIGHLY ORGANISED – You can prioritise your workload, set expectations and keep your promises.
• INNOVATIVE THINKING – You are able to “think outside the box” and are always looking for the next opportunity.
• PROACTIVE - You always look for the next thing to pick up and are willing to help out where you might be needed

Key responsibilities

High Quality Design

You will take requirements provided by the business to then estimate, design and implement your designs for our website and internal web applications. You will help establish standards for all of our styling across everything in Development, writing re-usable elements to maximise re-use.

UX & Accessibility

Your designs will consider the impact on UX and accessibility, looking to deliver the best experience possible for our customers and users. This will following the latest best practice around these principles.

Agile Planning

Contribute through our Agile planning ceremonies of stand ups, backlog refinement, planning and overview sessions. You will estimate work to the best of your ability and give concise updates on progress.

Support Applications

You will be involved in supporting applications in production, working on priority issues when they arise. This will involve assisting with any JavaScript or styling issues.

Support Your Team

You will be working collaboratively with your team, supporting others when necessary, by giving advice and pair programming on problems.

The sought-after experience we’re seeking

Mandatory

• Proficiency with HTML & CSS
• Proficiency in JavaScript
• Proficiency with a JS Framework – Angular, React or Vue
• UI / UX Design Experience
• Experience working in an Agile methodology
• Proficiency with Source Control tools such as Git
• Demonstrable experience adapting to and learning new technologies
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent Troubleshooting Abilities
• Proficient Wireframing & Storyboarding skills

Desirable

• Experience with Unit Testing
• Experience with TypeScript
• Experience with Salesforce Commerce Cloud
• Experience with CI/CD
• Understanding and demonstrating use of design patterns
• A/B Testing experience using tools such as Monetate
• Previous work on an eCommerce platform
• Experience with CSS pre-processors such as SASS
• Experience with NPM
• Experience with WebPack

Finally, the bit about The Works

We are working towards our ambition of becoming one of the most loved retailers in the UK and the go-to place for reading, learning, creativity and play.

We believe in the importance of fun and fulfilment and taking time out to do the things you love.

With 525 stores nationwide and a strong multi-channel proposition, our mission is to offer a unique and enjoyable shopping experience, built on core principles of value, variety and quality.

We’re super proud to be certified as two star ‘Outstanding to work for’ via Best Companies for three years running and a Sunday Times 2020 Top 25 Best Big Companies to work for.