Senior Service Designer

We are looking for an experienced Senior Service Designer to shape and deliver complex public sector discovery work focused on improving outcomes for citizens and organisations.

This role will operate within a GDS-aligned, multidisciplinary environment, applying service design principles to complex policy and operational challenges. You will take a systems view of services, exploring how policy, legislation, operational processes, technology and user needs interact and identifying opportunities for meaningful, sustainable improvement.

You’ll work across organisational boundaries, helping stakeholders build shared understanding of evidence, constraints and opportunity spaces, and translating insight into clear service propositions and design principles.

This is a senior role suited to someone comfortable working in ambiguity, influencing at pace, and leading discovery within complex public sector environments.

• Lead end-to-end service design discovery within a public sector context, aligned to GDS standards and service lifecycle phases (Discovery, Alpha, Beta, Live).
• Take a systems-thinking approach, mapping the interactions between users, policy, legislation, operations, technology and governance.
• Synthesise existing research and analysis into clear insights, opportunity areas and design considerations.
• Define and apply service design principles to shape improved service outcomes.
• Identify unmet needs, friction points and structural barriers within complex service ecosystems.
• Facilitate collaborative workshops and structured sense-making sessions across multidisciplinary teams and policy stakeholders.
• Ensure service design recommendations are grounded in a clear understanding of the GB legal and regulatory framework.
• Produce high-quality artefacts including service maps, ecosystem maps, problem statements, design principles and strategic recommendations.
• Support teams through governance and service assessment processes where required.

• Significant experience delivering GDS-aligned service design within UK public sector environments.
• Strong understanding of the Government Service Standard and experience working through service assessments.
• Experience leading Discovery phases in complex policy or regulated contexts.
• Proven ability to work across multidisciplinary teams including policy, delivery, technology and operations.
• Experience shaping services influenced by legislative or regulatory frameworks.

• Strong systems thinking capability, able to see the whole service, not just individual touchpoints.
• Excellent synthesis skills: turning research and evidence into structured insight and direction.
• Confident facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills, including with senior audiences.
• Ability to balance user needs, organisational constraints and policy intent.
• Clear, structured communication, both written and visual.
• Comfortable working in ambiguity and shaping clarity collaboratively.

Why people choose to grow their careers at UBDS Group

Professionals choose to grow their careers at UBDS Group for its reputation as a dynamic and forward-thinking organisation that is deeply committed to both innovation and employee development. At UBDS Group, employees are given unique opportunities to work on cutting-edge projects across a diverse range of industries, exposing them to new challenges and learning opportunities that are pivotal for professional growth. The Group’s culture emphasises continuous improvement, offering ample training programs, mentorship, and the chance to gain certifications that enhance their skills and marketability.

UBDS Group fosters a collaborative environment where creativity and innovation are encouraged, allowing employees to contribute ideas and solutions that have a tangible impact on the company and its clients. This combination of professional development, a culture of innovation, and the opportunity to make meaningful contributions makes UBDS Group an attractive place for those looking to advance their careers and be at the forefront of technological and operational excellence.

Employee Benefits

• Training – All team members are offered a number of options in terms of personal development, whether it is technical led, business acumen or methodologies. We want you to grow with us and to help us achieve more
• Private medical cover for you and your spouse/partner, offered via Vitality
• Discretionary bonus based on a blend of personal and company performance
• Holiday – You will receive 25 Days holiday, plus 1 day for Birthday and 1 day for your work anniversary in addition to UK bank holidays
• Electric Vehicle leasing with salary sacrifice
• Contributed Pension Scheme
• Death in service cover

About UBDS Group

At UBDS Group our mission is to support entrepreneurs who are setting new standards with technology solutions across cloud services, cybersecurity, data and AI, ensuring that every investment advances our commitment to innovation, making a difference, and creating impactful solutions for organisations and society.

Equal Opportunities

We are an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, disability or age.