Senior Designer/Designer in Oxford

Senior Designer/Designer in Oxford

Oxford Full-Time 50000 - 65000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead innovative design projects to improve the UK's infrastructure and digital ecosystems.
  • Company: Join a mission-driven organisation with a collaborative, high-trust culture.
  • Benefits: Hybrid working, 28 days holiday, up to 10% pension contribution, and annual bonus.
  • Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and meaningful contributions.
  • Why this job: Make a real-world impact while shaping user-centred design in diverse environments.
  • Qualifications: Experience in service design, strong problem-framing skills, and mentoring abilities.

The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.

Senior Service Designer role blending delivery, facilitation, and cross‑disciplinary leadership. Purpose‑driven work across transport, connectivity, and communications. Join a high‑impact UCD team and anchor design thinking in complex, technical environments.

Working across diverse, high‑stakes missions, this addition to the User-Centred Design team will be proficient in User Research, Service Design, and UX Strategy. You will lead complex discovery, translate business needs into technical understanding, and facilitate strategic change within a multidisciplinary organisation. You’ll thrive in an environment where no two days look the same, moving between innovative project spaces ranging from transport to communications to remote connectivity.

What you’ll be doing

As a Senior Service Designer, you will shape the end-to-end delivery of a range of programmes aiming to improve the UK’s infrastructure and digital ecosystems. You’ll shape early‑stage problem spaces by driving research, mapping insights, designing service concepts, and producing artefacts such as blueprints, systems maps and prototypes. Being confident in uncertain spaces is key, as this role will involve making sense of ambiguity and identifying what stakeholders need before solutions are defined.

A core part of this role is translating user needs and business goals into clear direction for highly technical teams. You’ll design and lead workshops, co‑creation sessions and decision‑making forums, acting as facilitator and mediator between internal and external stakeholders. As a Senior Designer, you will mentor mid‑level and junior designers, shape design standards, and help raise design maturity within an organisation embedding user‑centred practice. This Senior Service Designer role is hands‑on, strategic, and central to the success of high‑impact programmes.

What experience you’ll need to apply

  • Significant experience in service design, design research or strategic design.
  • Ability to independently lead ambiguous discovery without a defined brief.
  • Strong problem‑framing skills and comfort working across shifting contexts.
  • Experience facilitating workshops and cross‑disciplinary sessions with senior stakeholders.
  • Proven ability to create artefacts (blueprints, system maps, prototypes, concepts) that shape decisions.
  • Experience mentoring junior or mid‑level designers.
  • Comfortable working in technical or regulated domains, even without being a technical specialist.
  • Confident external‑facing communicator with strong stakeholder rapport.

What you’ll get in return for your experience

You’ll join a mission‑led organisation with a collaborative, high‑trust culture where design is growing in influence. Benefits include hybrid working from an Oxford office (2 days per week), 28 days holiday (plus Bank Holidays), up to 10% employer pension contribution, annual bonus and more. You’ll work flexibly, receive regular development support, and contribute to meaningful work with real‑world impact.

What’s next? If this Senior Service Designer role sounds like your next step, please apply for more details.

Senior Designer/Designer in Oxford employer: ADLIB Recruitment | B Corp™

Join a mission-driven organisation that champions a collaborative and high-trust culture, where your role as a Senior Service Designer will be pivotal in shaping impactful programmes across transport and connectivity. With flexible hybrid working from our Oxford office, generous benefits including 28 days holiday and a robust pension scheme, and ample opportunities for professional development, you'll thrive in an environment that values design thinking and user-centred practices.
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Contact Detail:

ADLIB Recruitment | B Corp™ Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Designer/Designer in Oxford

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend design meetups, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.

Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best work, especially projects that demonstrate your service design and user research expertise. Make sure it’s easy to navigate and visually appealing – first impressions count!

Tip Number 3

Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to service design. Think about how you would tackle ambiguous problems and lead workshops. We recommend role-playing with a friend to build confidence!

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our mission-driven work.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Designer/Designer in Oxford

User Research
Service Design
UX Strategy
Facilitation Skills
Problem-Framing Skills
Workshop Design and Facilitation
Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration
Artefact Creation (Blueprints, System Maps, Prototypes)
Mentoring Skills
Stakeholder Engagement
Adaptability in Ambiguous Environments
Communication Skills
Understanding of Technical Domains
Design Standards Development

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in service design and user research. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing relevant projects!

Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, give examples of how you've tackled ambiguous situations in the past. We love seeing candidates who can navigate uncertainty and come up with innovative solutions, so share those stories!

Highlight Your Facilitation Experience: Since this role involves leading workshops and sessions, make sure to mention any relevant experience you have in facilitating discussions with stakeholders. We’re looking for someone who can bring people together and drive collaboration.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get you into our system quickly. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at ADLIB Recruitment | B Corp™

Know Your Design Process

Make sure you can clearly articulate your design process, especially how you approach service design and user research. Be ready to discuss specific projects where you've led discovery phases and how you translated user needs into actionable insights.

Showcase Your Artefacts

Bring along examples of your work, such as blueprints, system maps, or prototypes. This will not only demonstrate your skills but also give you a chance to explain your thought process and the impact of your designs on previous projects.

Prepare for Ambiguity

Since this role involves navigating uncertain spaces, think of examples where you've successfully led projects without a defined brief. Be prepared to discuss how you framed problems and identified stakeholder needs in those situations.

Engage with Stakeholders

Practice how you would facilitate workshops or co-creation sessions. Think about how you can effectively communicate with both technical teams and non-technical stakeholders, ensuring everyone is aligned and engaged in the design process.

Senior Designer/Designer in Oxford
ADLIB Recruitment | B Corp™
Location: Oxford

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