
Senior Service Designer
- Public sector
- London
- 13/03/2025
- £55,403.00 - £73,702.00 /yearly
- Fixed Term Contract
Location
Job Type
Salary
Date Posted:
Expiration date:
Job ID
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The Public Sector Reform Test, Learn and Grow (PSR TL&G) team is at the heart of the UK governments initiative to drive innovation and reform in public service delivery. With the £100 million PSR Innovation Fund, our team collaborates with local authorities and government departments across the United Kingdom and with the Devolved Governments to design, test, and grow innovative solutions that enhance public service outcomes. By employing a "Test & Learn" approach, we focus on creating evidence-based improvements while relieving pressures on public services. Our work involves piloting foundational programmes and place-based initiatives to accelerate mission delivery, support preventative measures, and foster a collaborative environment that encourages continuous improvement and innovation in public services. A secondment with HMG offers a unique opportunity to work temporarily within the Civil Service, where you will remain an employee of your current organisation. This opportunity will allow you to develop some unique skills, but bring in specific knowledge and expertise, and work on projects that aim to deliver better public services for UK citizens. It is an immersive experience, providing you with new perspectives and the chance to contribute to significant and meaningful work. If you have confirmed with your employer that you are eligible for a secondment you'll be presented with a question in relation to this on your application form. |
Youll lead design in a multidisciplinary Pioneer teama place-based project with public sector partners to prototype solutions and policies aligned to government missions. Youll design and facilitate workshops and stakeholder engagements, support the team with design research when needed, prototype solutions and help your team use various methods and approaches for test and learn.
This role is mapped to the Senior Service Designer role in the Government Digital and Data framework, however were looking for some wider additional skills in UX design, design research and/ or policy design. Were looking for someone who can bring digital and data skills to a policy environment and is excited about working on the ground alongside place-based partners.
This role will require travel within the UK to work closely with local partners.
Responsibilities
You will:
lead and coordinate design work in your team
work effectively in a multidisciplinary, agile environment, adapting quickly to changes in requirements, priorities or user needs
use research and analytics to understand policy areas and users needs, identify service failures and test different designs
lead design research when needed, working alongside the Data Analyst responsible for data and quantitative research
design collaboratively and in the open, engaging your whole team with the design process and adapting it if necessary
champion accessibility and inclusion, consider the impact of change: new policies and technologies and ensure that designs meet legal requirements
collaborate with designers in other teams and departments, reviewing each other's work and developing shared patterns
guide, support and mentor designers
A virtual drop in session will be held to explain more about the Public Sector Reform Test, Learn and Grow programme and secondments. Please see the meeting instructions below.
14th March between 1500-1530
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/dyi-hnni-cmw
Or dial: (GB) +44 20 3937 3318 PIN: 799 311 036#
Its essential that you:
Design communication
work with the team and stakeholders to frame problems, map systems and processes and create clear, evidence-based cases for change supported by high quality outputs and deliverables
facilitate stakeholders toward a shared goal, build consensus around an approach and build strong relationships
Designing for everyone
understanding of the importance of inclusive, equitable, accessible and sustainable public services
design and deliver ethical solutions that consider the personal and social context of stakeholders and users
support equity and inclusion for your delivery work as well as in your team
Designing strategically
use risks, opportunities and constraints in technology, systems and policies to shape design
work with senior stakeholders with the ability to negotiate important design decisions
lead design in a multidisciplinary team working in a complex policy environment ensuring test and learn approaches are grounded in theories of change and measurable
Designing together
engage with people in a variety of ways (e.g. workshops; co-design activities; mapping) and have the ability to adapt a design session to ensure you achieve a useful outcome
Evidence-based design
make effective decisions with research and data
apply design research methods to support qualitative research
Iterative design
work in an agile, multidisciplinary and collaborative environment
prototype complex ideas at an appropriate fidelity
Its desirable that you:
Systems thinking
understand and can apply systems thinking frameworks and practices to complex policy areas
Policy design
understand the policymaking cycle and where the opportunities are for change, involving lived experience, and/ or relational/participatory work.
Additional information:
A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
Application process
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and a 750 word personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. You will also be assessed on Technical Skills and Behaviours at application. Your CV will be information purposes only and will not be scored.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the personal statement under lead criterion "work with the team and stakeholders to frame problems, map systems and processes and create clear, evidence-based cases for change supported by high quality outputs and deliverables". Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to the final assessment/interview.
Depending on how many applications received, there might also be an extra stage before the video interview. This will consist of a telephone interview and will further assess your responses to the lead criteria within the Personal Statement above.
At interview candidates will be assessed on Technical Skills and Behaviours:
Interview location - Video interview.
Candidates invited to the interview will be asked to share work from their portfolio; and do a short task, which will be sent to you ahead of the interview. Full details will be made available to all shortlisted candidates at a later date.
We will assess the listed specialist technical skills as defined in the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework. Please refer to the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework.
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to Cabinet Office 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service or Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email [email protected]
Please note that this role requires CTC (Counter Terrorist Check) clearance, which would normally need 3 years UK residency in the past 3 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.
Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band. If successful, you will be assessed at interview for capability based pay. Once an offer has been made, the TL&G team will follow up with a Government Digital and Data pay allowance offer.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicants details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected]@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the Assistance required section in the Additional requirements page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if youre deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Near Miss
Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Cabinet Office which may be at a lower grade, but have a potential skills match.
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
Cabinet Office Employee Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 302kB) |
Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External 2025-02-20 Opens in new window (docx, 94kB) |
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