Service Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Service Designer

Company: Version 1

Location: London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Edinburgh, Belfast, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Digital Transformation / Service Design

Date Posted: 2026-04-14

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and deliver user-centered services that address complex client needs by evaluating current states and co-designing evidence-based solutions.

• Collaborate within multidisciplinary teams, including content designers, interaction designers, product managers, and user researchers, to shape service visions and define underlying structures and processes.

• Work across the full service lifecycle, from discovery to live, on high-profile digital transformation projects within sectors like education, training, social care, and the criminal justice system.

• Facilitate workshops, define service structures, and create essential service design artifacts to ensure accessible, efficient, and impactful service delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is explicitly stated as "Service Designer" but its responsibilities, particularly the focus on digital transformation projects and collaboration with technical teams, strongly align with broader GTM (Go-To-Market) and digital operations functions. The emphasis on evaluating existing services, co-designing solutions, and working across the full service lifecycle suggests a strategic operational component. The mention of specific sectors like education, training, social care, and criminal justice indicates a focus on public sector digital services, which often require a deep understanding of operational processes and user journeys within regulated environments.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Evaluate existing services, business ecosystems, policy frameworks, and operational realities to identify areas for improvement and innovation.

• Co-design evidence-based, user-centered service solutions in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders.

• Shape service visions, define strategic objectives, and translate them into actionable service designs and roadmaps.

• Facilitate effective workshops and co-creation sessions to foster shared understanding and drive consensus among diverse stakeholders.

• Define and visualize concepts, complex systems, and user journeys clearly using service blueprints, journey maps, and ecosystem diagrams for shared understanding and decision-making.

• Collaborate closely with User Researchers to gather insights and ensure that service designs are informed by user needs and behaviors.

• Work within agile, multidisciplinary teams, leveraging tools like Miro and Lucid for collaborative design and planning.

• Contribute to the full service lifecycle, from initial discovery and research through to implementation and live service optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a strong analytical and strategic component, moving beyond purely aesthetic design. The need to "evaluate current states (such as existing services, business ecosystems, policy and operational realities)" points to a deep dive into operational processes and existing workflows, which is crucial for effective service transformation. This requires a systems-thinking approach, common in operations roles focused on efficiency and effectiveness.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a background or demonstrated understanding of Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Information Architecture, or related fields is beneficial.

Experience: 2-5 years of experience in Service Design, UX Design, or a related digital design role, with a proven track record of contributing to service transformation projects.

Required Skills:

• Systems Thinking: Ability to simplify complexity, identify key insights from disparate analysis, and understand interconnectedness within service ecosystems.

• Workshop Facilitation: Proven ability to plan and lead effective workshops, co-creating solutions with diverse teams and stakeholders.

• Agile Methodologies: Comfortable working within agile, multidisciplinary teams, understanding agile principles and workflows.

• Collaboration Tools: Proficiency in using collaborative tools such as Miro and Lucid for design, planning, and communication.

• Communication Skills: Excellent communication abilities, capable of adapting information to various audiences and mediums, both written and verbal.

• Problem-Solving: Adept at cutting through noise to identify key issues and develop strategic, future-proof solutions.

• Ambiguity Tolerance: Comfortable working in ambiguous environments and guiding teams toward clarity and direction.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working to the GOV.UK Service Standard or within the public sector.

• Familiarity with basic Figma for design or prototyping.

• Knowledge of key service design artifacts and principles (e.g., service blueprints, journey maps, ecosystem diagrams).

• Experience in digital transformation projects across sectors like education, social care, or criminal justice.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Qualifications" section is rich with behavioral and soft skills crucial for operations roles, such as simplifying complexity, working in ambiguity, and strong communication. The explicit mention of "agile, multidisciplinary teams" and tools like Miro and Lucid points to a practical, hands-on approach to project execution, common in operations environments. The preference for public sector or GOV.UK Service Standard experience suggests an understanding of regulatory frameworks and process adherence, which are key in many operations roles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating your approach to service design challenges. Each case study should highlight a specific problem, your process, the tools used, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Process Documentation: Include examples of your work in defining and visualizing complex systems, such as service blueprints, user journey maps, or ecosystem diagrams.

• Collaboration Evidence: Demonstrate how you have facilitated workshops and co-created solutions with multidisciplinary teams, ideally with visual evidence or descriptions of the collaborative process.

• Impact Demonstration: Clearly articulate the impact of your service designs, focusing on improvements in user experience, efficiency gains, or operational effectiveness. Quantifiable results are highly valued.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Evidence of designing or optimizing end-to-end service workflows, detailing how processes were mapped, analyzed, and improved.

• Systemic Analysis: Examples of how you've analyzed existing systems (e.g., business ecosystems, operational realities) to inform service design decisions.

• Artifact Creation: Showcase the creation and application of core service design artifacts (e.g., service blueprints, journey maps) to drive clarity and decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Service Designer role, a portfolio is critical. The emphasis here is on demonstrating a structured, analytical, and collaborative approach to problem-solving, which aligns perfectly with operational roles focused on process improvement and efficiency. The request for evidence of "defining and visualizing complex systems" and "analyzing existing systems" directly relates to operational process mapping and optimization.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on location (London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast) and experience level (2-5 years), a typical salary range for a Service Designer in the UK would be £45,000 to £65,000 per annum. This range can vary based on specific skills, the complexity of projects, and the exact location within the UK.

Benefits:

• Quarterly Performance-Related Profit Share Scheme: A direct benefit of the company's success, aligning employee rewards with business performance.

• Career Progression & Mentorship: Access to dedicated programs like "Strength in Balance" and "Leadership" schemes, along with a quarterly "Pathways Career Development" program.

• Flexible/Remote Working: Significant understanding and offering of flexibility to support work-life balance, accommodating individual circumstances.

• Financial Wellbeing: Comprehensive package including Pension contributions, Private Healthcare Cover, Life Assurance, Financial Advice services, and an Employee Discount scheme.

• Employee Wellbeing: Initiatives such as Gym Discounts, Bike to Work schemes, Fitness classes, Mindfulness Workshops, and an Employee Assistance Programme.

• Generous Holiday Allowance: Standard holiday allowance, enhanced maternity/paternity leave, marriage/civil partnership leave, and special leave policies.

• Educational Assistance: Support for learning and development, including incentivised certifications and accreditations with partners like AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, and Red Hat.

• Reward Schemes: Annual Excellence Awards and an 'Call-Out' platform to recognize contributions.

• CSR Initiatives: Opportunities to get involved in Environment, Social, and Community First initiatives, fostering diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

Working Hours: Typically 40 hours per week, with a strong emphasis on flexibility to support work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for mid-level Service Designers in major UK cities. The extensive benefits package, particularly the emphasis on flexibility, career development, and wellbeing, reflects a company culture that values its employees and supports their holistic growth, which is a significant draw for operations professionals seeking a stable and supportive environment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology and Transformation Solutions (Microsoft, AWS, Oracle, Red Hat, OutSystems, Snowflake partner). Version 1 operates within the IT services and consulting sector, focusing on helping global brands with technology and transformation.

Company Size: 3300+ employees, a €350m/£300m revenue business. This indicates a large, established, and financially stable organization, offering opportunities for structured career growth and exposure to significant projects.

Founded: Over 30 years ago. This long history suggests a stable company with deep industry expertise and established processes, while also having a modern outlook on technology and transformation.

Team Structure:

• The Service Designer will join a "growing design capability," implying a dedicated team or function focused on design principles within the broader digital transformation practice.

• Collaboration is explicitly with "content designers, interaction designers, product managers, user researchers, business analysts and technical leads," indicating a multidisciplinary and cross-functional team structure common in agile digital delivery.

Methodology:

• User-Centered Design (UCD): The company explicitly implements UCD values, prioritizing empathy and curiosity in their ways of working.

• Agile Delivery: Collaboration within "agile, multidisciplinary teams" is a key aspect of their project execution.

• Partnership Focus: Strong partnerships with global technology leaders (Microsoft, AWS, Oracle) indicate a commitment to leveraging best-in-class technologies.

• Values-Driven: Version 1 is a "core values driven company," emphasizing kindness, empathy, curiosity, trust, psychological safety, and shared purpose.

Company Website: [Version 1 Website URL]

📝 Enhancement Note: Version 1's size and longevity suggest a mature operational framework. The emphasis on UCD and agile methodologies, combined with partnerships with major tech players, points to a sophisticated approach to digital service delivery. The culture described — "kindness, empathy, curiosity, trust, psychological safety, and shared purpose" — is highly attractive for operations professionals who thrive in collaborative, supportive, and mission-driven environments.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level Service Designer (2-5 years experience). This role is positioned to contribute significantly to project delivery while also growing within the design capability. It's a step beyond junior roles, expecting independent contribution and problem-solving.

Reporting Structure: The Service Designer will likely report to a Head of Design, Design Lead, or a senior manager within the Digital, Data, and Cloud department. They will work closely with Project Managers, Product Owners, and other senior technical and design leads.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on the effectiveness and efficiency of digital services delivered to clients. By designing accessible, efficient, and user-centered services, the Service Designer contributes to client satisfaction, operational streamlining, and the overall success of digital transformation initiatives. The focus on public sector projects means their work can have a significant societal impact.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific service design areas or industry sectors (e.g., public sector digital services, complex system design).

• Leadership: Progress to Senior Service Designer, Lead Service Designer, or potentially move into broader Product Management or Digital Strategy roles.

• Skill Development: Opportunities for training and certification through Version 1's educational assistance programs, particularly with technology partners like AWS, Microsoft, and Oracle.

• Mentorship: Benefit from formal mentorship programs ("Strength in Balance," "Leadership") and informal learning within multidisciplinary teams.

• Project Variety: Exposure to a wide range of high-profile digital transformation projects across different sectors, broadening experience and portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Operations Impact" section highlights how service design directly influences operational efficiency and client success, a key metric for operations professionals. The growth opportunities are well-defined, offering clear paths for career advancement within the operations and digital transformation space, emphasizing continuous learning and specialization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model. Version 1 offers "Flexible/remote working," indicating a blend of in-office and remote collaboration. The specific split is not detailed but the multiple office locations suggest opportunities for in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Edinburgh, Belfast. This provides geographical flexibility for candidates across the UK and Ireland.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Emphasis on UCD values, kindness, empathy, curiosity, trust, and psychological safety fosters a supportive and collaborative workspace.

• Tools & Technology: Access to modern collaborative tools (Miro, Lucid, basic Figma) and likely a robust IT infrastructure supporting digital transformation projects.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for close collaboration with a diverse range of professionals (designers, analysts, technical leads, product managers) within multidisciplinary teams.

Work Schedule: Typically 40 hours per week, with significant flexibility offered to support work-life balance and individual circumstances. This flexibility is crucial for operations professionals who often need to balance demanding project timelines with personal commitments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model and multiple office locations offer a blend of flexibility and in-person collaboration, which is often ideal for operations roles requiring both deep focus and team synergy. The emphasis on a positive, supportive, and psychologically safe work environment is a key cultural differentiator for attracting and retaining talent.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess suitability for the role.

• First Interview: Likely with a hiring manager or design lead, focusing on your experience, approach to service design, and understanding of UCD principles. Be prepared to discuss your portfolio.

• Workshop/Challenge: A practical exercise, potentially a mini-design challenge or a facilitated workshop scenario, to assess your skills in problem-solving, collaboration, and service design thinking.

• Final Interview: May involve meeting with senior stakeholders or a panel to discuss your strategic thinking, cultural fit, and long-term potential within Version 1.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio clearly, with distinct sections for each case study. Start with a summary of the challenge and your role, followed by your process, key artifacts, and outcomes.

• Process Focus: Emphasize your thinking process, how you approached complex problems, and how you collaborated with others. Detail the methodologies and tools you used.

• Outcome-Oriented: Clearly articulate the impact of your work. Use data and metrics where possible to demonstrate improvements in efficiency, user satisfaction, or operational performance.

• Tailor: Highlight projects that align with the types of digital transformation initiatives Version 1 undertakes, especially those in public sector or regulated environments if applicable.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to walk through your portfolio efficiently, focusing on the most relevant projects and insights.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand GOV.UK Standards: If you have public sector experience, be ready to discuss it. If not, research the GOV.UK Service Standard and its principles.

• Agile & Collaboration: Be ready to discuss how you work in agile teams and use collaborative tools.

• Problem Decomposition: Practice breaking down complex problems into manageable parts and identifying key stakeholders and user needs.

• Artifacts: Familiarize yourself with service blueprints, journey maps, and ecosystem diagrams and be ready to sketch or discuss their creation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process and portfolio review are geared towards assessing practical application of design thinking and collaboration skills, akin to operational problem-solving. Preparing case studies that demonstrate process optimization, stakeholder management, and measurable outcomes will be crucial for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Collaboration: Miro, Lucid (essential for workshop facilitation, system mapping, and collaborative design).

• Design/Prototyping: Figma (basic level expected), potentially other prototyping tools.

• Documentation: Standard office suite tools (Word, PowerPoint, etc.) for reports and presentations.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• This role is not directly CRM-focused but will likely interact with systems that manage user data or service delivery workflows. Understanding the principles of data management and process automation within services is beneficial.

• Familiarity with digital transformation platforms and government service delivery platforms could be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Miro and Lucid highlights the need for strong visual collaboration and process mapping skills, which are foundational for many operations roles. Figma proficiency, even at a basic level, suggests an integration with digital product development workflows.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Kindness, Empathy, Curiosity: Core to the company's approach, fostering a supportive and user-focused environment.

• Trust & Psychological Safety: Essential for open communication, risk-taking, and innovation. This encourages team members to voice concerns and ideas freely.

• Shared Purpose: A commitment to delivering impactful digital transformation solutions, particularly in sectors that serve the public good.

• Efficiency & Effectiveness: While not explicitly stated as a value, the nature of service design and digital transformation inherently drives towards creating services that are both efficient to operate and effective for users.

• Collaboration: Valued highly, with an emphasis on multidisciplinary teamwork and learning from diverse perspectives.

Collaboration Style:

• User-Centric: All collaborative efforts are ultimately aimed at serving user needs effectively.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Seamless collaboration across design, research, product management, business analysis, and technical roles is expected.

• Iterative & Agile: Working in iterative cycles, with continuous feedback and adaptation.

• Open Communication: Encouraging a "no-blame culture" where feedback is constructive and aimed at collective improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "kindness, empathy, curiosity, trust, psychological safety, and shared purpose" creates a culture that is highly conducive to collaboration and learning. This is particularly attractive for operations professionals who often rely on strong interpersonal skills and a supportive team environment to drive complex initiatives.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Simplifying Complexity: Navigating and bringing clarity to multifaceted client challenges and existing operational realities.

• Ambiguity: Leading teams and projects when initial information is scarce or unclear, requiring strong problem-definition skills.

• Cross-Disciplinary Influence: Effectively communicating design vision and rationale to diverse stakeholders with different technical and business backgrounds.

• Measuring Impact: Quantifying the success of service designs, especially in public sector contexts where outcomes can be complex and long-term.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Service Design Expertise: Deepen knowledge in advanced service design methodologies, tools, and best practices.

• Public Sector Domain Knowledge: Gain in-depth understanding of specific sector challenges (education, social care, criminal justice) and relevant regulations.

• Digital Transformation Strategy: Contribute to broader digital transformation strategies by understanding how services integrate with wider business and technology goals.

• Certifications: Access to incentivised certifications from partners like Microsoft, AWS, and Oracle, enhancing technical and cloud expertise.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and grow into leadership roles within the design capability or broader digital teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are common in operations and transformation roles, requiring adaptability, strong analytical skills, and effective communication. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a clear path for skill enhancement and career progression within a reputable technology consultancy.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to simplify a complex service or system. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your analytical and simplification skills).

• "How do you approach working with stakeholders who have competing priorities or different levels of understanding of service design?" (Highlight your communication and collaboration strategies).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Version 1's work, particularly in sectors like education or social care?" (Show you've researched their projects and values).

• "How do you contribute to a culture of trust and psychological safety within a team?" (Relate to UCD values and your collaborative style).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame each case study as a narrative: the challenge, your role and process, the solution, and the measurable impact.

• Visuals: Use clear, well-annotated visuals of your artifacts (blueprints, maps, wireframes) to support your explanation.

• Data-Driven: Quantify impact whenever possible. If quantitative data isn't available, focus on qualitative evidence (user feedback, stakeholder testimonials).

• Conciseness & Clarity: Be prepared to summarize key points quickly and answer specific questions about your designs and process.

• Show Collaboration: Highlight instances where you worked effectively with others, particularly in multidisciplinary teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice focuses on demonstrating both technical design skills and operational thinking – the ability to translate user needs into practical, implementable, and efficient services. Case studies that show process improvement and stakeholder management will be highly valuable.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Service Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Version 1 careers portal via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to showcase 2-3 of your strongest service design case studies, emphasizing projects that demonstrate complexity simplification, user-centric problem-solving, and collaboration within multidisciplinary teams.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly highlights experience relevant to service design, digital transformation, UCD principles, and the use of collaborative tools like Miro and Lucid. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, workshop facilitation experiences, and how you measure the impact of your work. Prepare to discuss your approach to working in agile environments and with diverse stakeholders.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Version 1's values, their partnerships (Microsoft, AWS, Oracle), and their work in sectors like public sector digital services. Understand their commitment to UCD and flexible working.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.