Service Designer

We’re looking for a strategic, systems-minded Service Designer to join our growing design capability. You’ll work at the heart of multidisciplinary teams to shape end-to-end services that are accessible, efficient, and centred around real user needs. Service Designers at Version 1 work across the full-service lifecycle, from discovery through to live. You’ll lead the mapping of current and future states, align digital delivery with policy and operational realities, and design and deliver services that improve people’s lives. You’ll collaborate closely with content designers, interaction designers, product managers, user researchers, business analysts and technical leads. You’ll help shape service visions, facilitate workshops, and define the structures, processes and journeys that underpin great services.

We are a 15+ strong Service Design community within the Transformation Design Group (TDG), part of Version 1’s Digital, Data and Cloud capability. TDG tackles complex, systemic challenges – using research, evidence and data-driven insight to break them down and shape solutions that work for real users. For example, our work includes designing and delivering services that enable prisoners to receive more tailored support; applying a system lens to reduce the cost of hiring teachers across schools; and coaching teams to embed user-centred practices within some of the world’s most prestigious organisations. We embed user-centred design principles in how we work, leading with empathy and curiosity. Our teams are built on trust, psychological safety and a shared sense of purpose, underpinned by a strong no-blame culture. We value diversity of background, identity, experience and thought – creating an environment where people do their best work and deliver better outcomes.

You’re passionate about designing inclusive, sustainable services – grounded in evidence and shaped by real user and organisational needs. You bring people together, make the complex simple, and synthesise diverse perspectives into clear, actionable direction. More specifically, you are:

• Experienced – you have a strong grasp on the fundamentals of service design and putting them into action to drive real, measurable impact.
• Comfortable with ambiguity – you help teams find direction when the path isn’t obvious.
• Strategic – you think beyond the immediate problem to design services that are scalable and built to last.
• Inclusive by default – you champion accessibility and inclusion intuitively.
• A clear communicator – you communicate complex ideas simply, adapting to different audiences and contexts.
• Evidence-led – you use research and insight to inform decisions and stand behind them.
• Emotionally intelligent – you navigate stakeholder dynamics and handle difficult conversations constructively.
• A multiplier – you enable teams to move forward, and you make everyone around you better.

You work collaboratively and pragmatically to turn vision into reality. You bring teams together, guide them through structured thinking, and use the right methods to deliver high-quality, user-centred outcomes. Day to day you:

• Set and align around a clear service vision – bring teams and stakeholders together behind a shared direction.
• Facilitate with purpose – plan and run workshops that drive alignment, clarity, and decisions.
• Work as one team with clients – co-create solutions and build trusted, respectful partnerships.
• Collaborate across disciplines – work within agile, multidisciplinary teams to deliver iteratively.
• Make complexity visible – use service blueprints, journey maps, and other artefacts to bring clarity, tailored to your audience.
• Use data to guide decisions – interpret performance data to inform design and measure success.

When working with our clients, expectations are often aligned to SFIA and DDaT frameworks. Experience working in these environments is desirable, but not essential. We are looking for people who do great work. If that’s you, and you don’t match all the criteria above, we would like you to apply anyway!

We implement UCD values into our ways of working and lead with kindness, empathy and curiosity. We believe good teams are built on trust, psychological safety and shared purpose. We’re committed to creating a no-blame culture, where people support each other, take pride in their work, and lift each other up. We value strong team bonds just as much as strong outcomes. We actively welcome diversity of background, identity, experience and thought. You’ll be supported to show up as yourself, contribute fully, and grow your career in a way that works for you.

At Version 1, we believe in providing our employees with a comprehensive benefits package that prioritises their wellbeing, professional growth, and financial stability:

• Share in our success with our Quarterly Performance-Related Profit Share Scheme, where employees collectively benefit from a share of our company's profits.
• Strong Career Progression & mentorship coaching through our Strength in Balance & Leadership schemes with a dedicated quarterly Pathways Career Development programme.
• Flexible/remote working, Version 1 is tremendously understanding of life events and people’s individual circumstances and offers flexibility to help achieve a healthy work-life balance.
• Financial Wellbeing initiatives including Pension, Private Healthcare Cover, Life Assurance, Financial advice and an Employee Discount scheme.
• Employee Wellbeing schemes including Gym Discounts, Bike to Work, Fitness classes, Mindfulness Workshops, Employee Assistance Programme and much more.
• Generous holiday allowance, enhanced maternity/paternity leave, marriage/civil partnership leave and special leave policies.
• Educational assistance, incentivised certifications, and accreditations, including AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, and Red Hat.
• Reward schemes including Version 1’s Annual Excellence Awards & ‘Call-Out’ platform.
• Environment, Social and Community First initiatives allow you to get involved in local fundraising and development opportunities as part of fostering our diversity, inclusion and belonging schemes.

Version 1 is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace where everyone feels valued and able to thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences, and we value the different perspectives people bring. We want every candidate to have a positive and accessible recruitment experience. If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of the process, please contact one of the talent team at Version 1. We will consider all requests carefully, respectfully and confidentially.