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- Tasks: Lead service design initiatives and mentor teams in public sector transformation.
- Company: Join a boutique consultancy driving innovation in local government services.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, competitive pay, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Why this job: Shape user-centered design practices and support meaningful change in communities.
- Qualifications: 5-10 years in service design or public sector reform; coaching experience required.
- Other info: Flexible hours with potential for increased days and contract extension.
A boutique management consultancy supporting local government innovation and public service transformation is seeking an experienced Senior Consultant with a strong background in service design, capability building, and organisational change to support a key capability-building programme within a local authority.
You will be engaged to work closely with senior service leads across Adult Social Care, Children’s Services, and Place, helping embed user-centered design practices through coaching, mentoring, and tailored training. Your role will be central in shaping how service design thinking is applied to real-world challenges and in supporting teams to build sustainable internal capability.
Responsibilities:- Provide mentoring and hands-on coaching to service leads on applying service design tools and methods
- Design and deliver practical training sessions aligned to live service challenges
- Support service leaders to apply service design in a way that improves outcomes and supports wider organisational reform
- Work collaboratively with transformation teams and other stakeholders to align efforts across the council
- Champion resident-centered approaches while supporting delivery of strategic priorities
- 5–10 years of experience in service design, public service reform, or local government transformation
- Strong track record in coaching and mentoring non-specialist teams in design-led approaches
- Expertise across one or more of: Adult Services, Children’s Services, Strategic Place
- Ability to work in complex environments and support change from within
- Experience working with or within local authorities or the wider public sector
- Excellent facilitation, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills
- Start date: end of June
- Duration: Until end of the year, 2.5 days per week, with potential to ramp up to 5 days and/or extend
- Day rate: Up to £300 PAYE depending on experience
- Location: Hybrid – 2 days per week in London office with occasional site visits
Contact Detail:
Placed Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Design Senior Consultant - Public Sector (London Area)
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the public sector and service design fields. Attend relevant events, webinars, or workshops to connect with potential colleagues and learn about the latest trends in service design.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with the specific challenges faced by local authorities in the London area. Understanding these issues will help you tailor your approach and demonstrate your knowledge during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your previous experience in coaching and mentoring non-specialist teams. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully implemented design-led approaches in complex environments.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your ability to champion resident-centered approaches. Think of ways to articulate how your work has positively impacted service users and contributed to strategic priorities in past roles.
We think you need these skills to ace Service Design Senior Consultant - Public Sector (London Area)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in service design, public service reform, and organisational change. Use specific examples that demonstrate your coaching and mentoring skills, particularly in non-specialist teams.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for public service transformation and user-centered design. Mention how your background aligns with the responsibilities of the role and provide examples of how you've successfully implemented service design in previous positions.
Showcase Relevant Skills: Emphasise your facilitation, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills in both your CV and cover letter. These are crucial for the role, so provide concrete examples of how you've used these skills to drive change in complex environments.
Highlight Your Experience: Clearly outline your 5–10 years of experience in service design and local government transformation. If you have worked with Adult Services or Children’s Services, make sure to detail this experience as it directly relates to the job requirements.
How to prepare for a job interview at Placed
✨Showcase Your Service Design Expertise
Make sure to highlight your experience in service design, especially within the public sector. Be prepared to discuss specific projects where you've successfully implemented user-centered design practices and how they led to improved outcomes.
✨Demonstrate Coaching and Mentoring Skills
Since the role involves mentoring service leads, share examples of how you've coached non-specialist teams in design-led approaches. Discuss the methods you used and the impact it had on their capabilities and confidence.
✨Understand Local Government Dynamics
Familiarise yourself with the challenges and opportunities within local authorities. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with the needs of the council and how you can support their strategic priorities through service design.
✨Prepare for Collaborative Scenarios
The role requires working closely with transformation teams and stakeholders. Think of examples where you've successfully collaborated across different teams or departments, and be ready to explain how you navigated complex environments to achieve common goals.
