At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative service design projects that improve the UK's infrastructure and digital ecosystems.
- Company: Join a mission-driven organisation with a collaborative, high-trust culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, 28 days holiday, pension contributions, and an annual bonus.
- Other info: Mentor junior designers and thrive in a dynamic, ever-changing work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real-world impact while shaping user-centred design in diverse, high-stakes environments.
- Qualifications: Significant experience in service design and strong facilitation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 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:
- Shape the end-to-end delivery of a range of programmes aiming to improve the UK’s infrastructure and digital ecosystems.
- Drive research, map insights, design service concepts, and produce artefacts such as blueprints, systems maps and prototypes.
- Make sense of ambiguity and identify what stakeholders need before solutions are defined.
- Translate user needs and business goals into clear direction for highly technical teams.
- Design and lead workshops, co‑creation sessions and decision‑making forums, acting as facilitator and mediator between internal and external stakeholders.
- 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.
Service Designer / Senior Service Designer - Hybrid in Oxford employer: ADLIB Recruitment | B Corp™
Contact Detail:
ADLIB Recruitment | B Corp™ Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Designer / Senior Service Designer - Hybrid in Oxford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best work in service design and user research. Make sure it’s easy to navigate and showcases your ability to tackle complex problems and deliver impactful solutions.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to service design. Think about how you can demonstrate your problem-framing skills and your experience facilitating workshops with stakeholders.
✨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.
We think you need these skills to ace Service Designer / Senior Service Designer - Hybrid in Oxford
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 be shy about showcasing relevant projects!
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, give examples of how you've tackled ambiguous challenges 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 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 on joining 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 Facilitation Skills
Prepare examples of workshops or co-creation sessions you've facilitated. Highlight how you managed diverse stakeholders and navigated ambiguity to drive decisions. This will demonstrate your ability to lead in complex environments.
✨Bring Your Artefacts
If possible, bring along artefacts like blueprints, system maps, or prototypes from your previous work. This not only showcases your skills but also gives you tangible examples to discuss during the interview, making your experience more relatable.
✨Emphasise Mentorship Experience
Since mentoring is a key part of this role, be prepared to talk about your experience guiding junior designers. Share specific instances where you helped others grow and how you contributed to raising design maturity within your team or organisation.