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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design of user-centred public services for a central government client.
- Company: Join a diverse and inclusive team focused on delivering impactful digital solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, remote work, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape essential public services and make a difference in people's lives.
- Qualifications: Experience with GDS standards and strong service design skills required.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on mentorship and community practice.
The predicted salary is between 32400 - 54000 £ per year.
We are supporting a central government client seeking an experienced Senior Service Designer with strong GDS (Government Digital Service) experience to lead the design and delivery of complex, user-centred public services.
This role sits within a multidisciplinary digital team and will play a key part in shaping services from discovery through to live, ensuring alignment with GDS Service Standards and best practice across government.
The Role
You will be responsible for designing end-to-end services that meet user needs while balancing policy, operational, and technical constraints. Working closely with Product Managers, User Researchers, Content Designers, Interaction Designers, and Technical Architects, you will help define and improve services used at scale.
You will:
- Lead service design activity across Discovery, Alpha, Beta, and Live phases
- Create and iterate service blueprints and artefacts (service maps, user journeys, ecosystem maps)
- Champion user-centred design principles across senior stakeholders
- Support and collaborate with User Research to translate insight into actionable design decisions
- Identify pain points across complex systems and design practical, scalable improvements
- Ensure services meet GDS standards and are assessment-ready
- Facilitate workshops and co-design sessions with business and technical teams
- Contribute to design community practice and mentor junior designers where required
Essential Experience
- Proven experience working on government digital services
- Strong understanding of GDS Service Standards and assessment processes
- Demonstrable experience delivering in multidisciplinary agile teams
- Expertise in mapping complex services across multiple channels
- Confident stakeholder engagement at senior level
- Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on delivery
- Experience working within Inside IR35 contracts
Desirable
- Experience working with legacy transformation programmes
- Familiarity with accessibility and inclusive design standards
- Previous central government department experience
Reasonable Adjustments:
Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.
If you need any help or adjustments during the recruitment process for any reason, please let us know when you apply or talk to the recruiters directly so we can support you.
Service Designer - GDS employer: Sanderson Government and Defence
Contact Detail:
Sanderson Government and Defence Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Designer - GDS
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who have experience with GDS. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best service design projects, especially those related to government digital services. Make sure it’s easy to navigate and showcases your user-centred design principles.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on GDS standards and assessment processes. Be ready to discuss how you’ve tackled complex service design challenges in the past and how you can bring that experience to the table.
✨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’re here to support you throughout the process, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help!
We think you need these skills to ace Service Designer - GDS
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your GDS experience. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant projects!
Showcase Your Process: When detailing your experience, focus on the end-to-end service design process. We love to see how you’ve tackled challenges and delivered user-centred solutions, so share those stories!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and make it easy for us to understand your experience and achievements.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sanderson Government and Defence
✨Know Your GDS Standards
Make sure you brush up on the GDS Service Standards before your interview. Being able to discuss how you've applied these standards in your previous roles will show that you understand the framework and can hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your User-Centred Design Skills
Prepare examples of how you've designed services with users in mind. Be ready to talk about specific projects where you identified user needs and how you translated those into actionable design decisions.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you've successfully engaged with senior stakeholders in the past. Have a few anecdotes ready that demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively and champion user-centred design principles across different teams.
✨Be Ready for Practical Scenarios
Expect to be asked about real-world scenarios during the interview. Prepare to discuss how you would approach designing a service from discovery to live, including any challenges you might face and how you'd overcome them.