At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic service design to create user-centred digital services for the UK government.
- Company: Join Defra, a key player in safeguarding the environment and supporting rural economies.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, industry-leading pension, and potential skills supplement up to £28,995.
- Other info: Opportunity to shape the future of digital services in a dynamic government setting.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on public services while driving innovation in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in user-centred design and strong stakeholder management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 61816 - 75552 £ per year.
Grade 6 National: £67,730 - £75,480 London: £73,165 - £81,535, plus industry leading pension and benefits. This post offers successful candidates the opportunity to be considered for an additional Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) Skills Supplement. The level of the awarded supplement is determined following a separate skills assessment process. This digital capability supplement ranges from £0 to £28,995 based on results of your additional skills assessment.
Job Summary
Defra is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people's day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink.
Digital, Data, Technology and Security (DDTS) is the trusted team for digital across the entire Defra Group. We have around 1000 colleagues across DDTS and our ambition is to make it easier and faster than ever for people to interact with Defra. If you are ready to drive innovation and push boundaries, we want to hear from you.
Job Description
These Grade 6 Principal Service Designer roles operate at a strategic level within Digital Delivery, bridging policy design and digital delivery to ensure services are coherent, user-centred and deliverable. The roles provide design leadership across multiple complex services, setting direction for service design activity and assuring quality across teams. By embedding systems thinking and user-centred design early in the policy lifecycle, these roles help prevent fragmented delivery, reduce the risk of costly rework, and ensure digital services are designed as an integral part of policy rather than as an afterthought.
Principal Service Designers work closely with programme directors, service managers and policy teams, as well as delivery partners, to shape end-to-end service outcomes. The roles also involve leading and coordinating other service designers, aligning their work with the wider service landscape and helping to create a consistent experience across Defra services.
Responsibilities
- Leads discussions at senior level and negotiates change to support the delivery of better end to end services.
- Prioritises understanding needs and behaviours of users to underpin the services the organisation designs.
- Sets standards for service design quality, output and impact.
- Ensures services meet the Government Service Standard.
- Ensures teams design services accessible to a full range of users, including those with accessibility needs.
Skills And Experience
The successful candidate will be a senior service design practitioner with extensive experience of delivering and leading user-centred design in complex government environments. They will be comfortable operating at a strategic level, influencing senior stakeholders and navigating ambiguity, while maintaining a strong focus on user needs and service outcomes.
They Will Bring The Following Essential Qualities And Experience
- Strategic service design expertise, with a proven track record of leading service design across large, complex programmes and influencing policy and programme-level decision-making.
- Strong government UCD experience, including delivery to GDS standards and applying user-centred design methods across discovery, alpha, beta and live.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, with experience working across policy teams, arm’s-length bodies, suppliers and senior leaders from other professions.
- Systems thinking capability, able to see and design for whole service ecosystems rather than isolated services or transactions.
- Leadership and people development experience, including directing, mentoring and coordinating service designers to ensure consistent, high-quality outcomes.
- Resilience and pragmatism, able to adapt to a changing policy landscape while maintaining focus on long-term service quality and user outcomes.
- Confidence to challenge constructively, advocating for users and user-centred approaches in environments where operational or business pressures may dominate.
Principal Service Designer employer: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is an exceptional employer that prioritises the health of our environment and agricultural sectors. With a strong commitment to employee development, you will find ample opportunities for growth and collaboration in a supportive work culture that values innovation and public service. Located at the heart of policy-making, this role offers a unique chance to make a meaningful impact on plant health both nationally and internationally.
Contact Details:
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Service Designer
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
In the world of UX/UI design, your portfolio speaks volumes! Make sure it's packed with your best work and showcases your process, not just the final product. We want to see how you tackle design challenges, so consider adding case studies that reflect your thought process and user-centric approach.
✨Get Involved in Design Communities
Jump into local or online design meetups and workshops! Places like UXPA or local design events can be goldmines for networking and learning. Plus, mingling with fellow designers can introduce you to potential job openings that might not be listed elsewhere.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you find a role that excites you, like the one at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for a Principal Service Designer, make your application count! Highlight specific projects and skills that directly relate to the job description. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who fit into their specific team, so show them you’re the one!
✨Leverage Social Media
Don't underestimate the power of social media in finding a UX/UI design job! Follow design leaders on platforms like Twitter or Instagram, share your work, and engage in conversations. It’s a great way to get noticed by recruiters and even catch wind of openings at companies like Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs before they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Service Designer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Principal Service Designer at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, make sure to include examples that clearly highlight your design process. We want to see not just the final product but also the journey that led you there—wireframes, user personas, and iterations demonstrate your thought process and user-centric approach!
Tailor Your Portfolio:A tailor-made portfolio is crucial for a full-time design role! Curate your best projects that align with the kind of work Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs does. We suggest including 3-5 case studies that showcase a variety of skills such as wireframing, prototyping, and user testing to really make your application pop.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should not just be a summary of your CV. Use it to express why you’re excited about UX/UI Design and what draws you specifically to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Mention any relevant experience, tools you’re proficient in (like Sketch or Figma), and how you can contribute to their projects.
Highlight Collaboration Skills:In the world of UX/UI Design, teamwork is crucial. Make sure to highlight any past experiences where you worked in cross-functional teams. Illustrate how you communicated design decisions and listened to feedback, as this will resonate well with the culture at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
How to prepare for a job interview at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
When you're gunning for a full-time UX/UI design role, your portfolio is your best friend! Make sure you've got a solid selection of your work, showcasing not just the final designs, but the process behind them—think wireframes, user flows, and any user research you've conducted. During the interview with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, be prepared to discuss your design decisions and how they solve specific user problems.
✨Prepare for Design Challenges
Expect to face some practical design tasks during your interview. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs might ask you to tackle a quick design challenge or critique an existing interface. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and try to articulate your thought process as you work through these scenarios. Showing how you approach a design problem is just as important as the final output!
✨Know the Tools of the Trade
Familiarise yourself with the tools commonly used in the industry—figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch should be second nature to you. Be ready to discuss your preferred tools during the interview and how they've shaped your design process at previous positions. This knowledge could give you an edge at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs!
✨Show Passion for User Experience
In a full-time UX/UI design role, having a genuine passion for improving user interactions can set you apart. Be prepared to share instances when you went above and beyond to ensure a great user experience in your previous projects. This will demonstrate that you’re not just a designer, but a user advocate, which is exactly what Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is looking for.
