Senior Service Designer in London

About The Role

Focused on making an impact. Are you motivated by complexity, driven by purpose and passionate about designing services that genuinely improve the lives of children, young people and families? At Islington Council, we’re on an ambitious journey to redesign how services work across the children and families system. As a Senior Service Designer , you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping inclusive, person‑centred services and systems that respond to real needs, tackle inequality and support better outcomes for our communities.

You’ll lead high‑profile, multi‑agency design and improvement projects, working alongside colleagues across the council and with partners in health, education, policing and the voluntary sector. This is a hands‑on, influential role where you’ll combine strategic thinking with practical delivery – from framing complex problems, to testing new approaches, to supporting implementation and long‑term change.

Responsibilities

• Leading service and system design projects that improve how services support children, young people and families
• Applying inclusive, equitable and ethical design approaches, centring lived experience and addressing inequality
• Working in multidisciplinary teams to explore problems, develop solutions and support delivery at pace
• Collaborating with senior leaders and partners to shape change, build consensus and embed new ways of working
• Using research, insight and data to inform decisions and demonstrate impact
• Supporting services to transition from design into implementation, ensuring changes are sustainable and owned

Qualifications

• Strong experience or qualifications in service design or a closely related field
• Proven experience leading complex, multi‑disciplinary service or system design work
• A deep understanding of children and families services and whole‑system working in a local government context
• Confidence working with senior stakeholders and multi‑agency partners
• Experience applying research, insight and data to inform design decisions
• A clear commitment to inclusive, accessible and equitable public service design

Benefits

• Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
• A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work‑life balance, as well as a 35‑hour working week
• Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
• Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
• Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!

Equal Opportunity

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination. We maintain a zero‑tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues. We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone’s identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage. We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace. Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington.