Senior Innovation Service Designer, CANCER RESEARCH UK

Guardian Jobs; Stratford; Hybrid; CAD 103,000 - 111,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health charity is seeking a Senior Innovation Service Designer to shape future-forward service concepts that respond to changing user needs. In this role, you will design end-to-end services, prototype solutions, and collaborate with various stakeholders. The position offers flexible working options and a competitive salary range of £55,000 - £59,000.

Benefits

Generous benefits package

Career development opportunities

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Proven experience in service design delivering tangible results.
• Strong skills in service blueprinting and journey mapping.
• Experience with design thinking and agile methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Design and prototype services from concept through to pilot.
• Map and visualize complex service systems.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to co-create solutions.

Skills

Service blueprinting

Journey mapping

Systems thinking

Experience prototyping

Stakeholder management

Job description

Overview

SENIOR INNOVATION SERVICE DESIGNER

Salary: £55,000 - £59,000 per annum

Reports to: Director of Innovation

Directorate: Marketing, Fundraising & Engagement

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 35 hours per week

Location: Stratford, London w/ high-flex (1 - 2 days per week in the office). We are open to further discussion around flexible working for the successful candidate.

Closing date: Tuesday 14 October 2025, 23:55

You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship.

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer. We are professionals with purpose, beating cancer every day. But we need to go much further and much faster. That's why we're looking for someone talented, someone who wants to develop their skills, someone like you.

We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join us as a Senior Innovation Service Designer. You'll play a pivotal role in shaping and testing future-forward service concepts that respond to emerging trends, technologies, and changing user needs. Working at the intersection of design, business strategy, and technology, you'll design end-to-end services that explore what's next—not just what's now.

You'll work on early-stage innovation projects, often where the problem or opportunity is not fully defined, and will help turn insights, signals, and prototypes into viable service models with potential for long-term impact.

Responsibilities

• Designing and prototyping services from early-stage concept through to pilot, focusing on desirability, feasibility, and viability
• Mapping and visualising complex service systems, including current and future-state journeys, ecosystems, and value exchanges
• Collaborating with researchers, strategists, technologists, and business leads to frame opportunities and co-create solutions
• Translating user needs, behavioural insights, and market signals into service concepts and design principles
• Rapidly prototyping and testing service touchpoints across physical, digital, and human interfaces
• Building business models and operating models in collaboration with commercial and delivery teams
• Working with the Innovation User Researcher to initiate workshops (e.g. co-design, ideation, service blueprinting) with internal teams, users, and partners
• Clearly communicating and 'selling' products into the business, influencing peers in cross functional teams and senior stakeholders
• Contributing to the development of innovation methods and playbooks focused on H2/H3 innovation, that deliver substantiable incremental revenue.

What are we looking for?

• Proven experience in service design delivering tangible, commercial results, with the ability to work in ambiguous, exploratory environments and drive clarity
• Strong skills in service blueprinting, journey mapping, systems thinking, and experience prototyping
• Experience designing and launching disruptive early-stage concepts, with large commercial ambitions
• Comfortable facilitating co-creation and storytelling across levels of seniority
• Strategic thinker with the ability to connect user needs with business opportunities
• Familiarity with emerging trends and technologies, and how they can shape future services
• Strong ability to generate, evaluate, and execute new ideas, using data and user insights
• Experience with design thinking, agile methodologies, or lean innovation processes
• Good stakeholder management skills, and the ability to navigate and influence across complex matrix-management structures
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives and prioritise time effectively
• Resilient and committed team worker, who values others, can coach individuals, and proactively addresses challenges
• Achievement and action orientated, driving continuous improvement, learning from mistakes, and encouraging perseverance.

Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do.

• Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination
• Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism
• Human: Act to have a positive impact on people
• Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively

We're looking for people who can believe in and embody these organisation values and can use them to drive forward progress against our mission to beat cancer.

What will I gain?

We create a working environment that supports your wellbeing and provide a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools. Our policies and processes enable you to improve your work-life balance, take positive steps in your career and achieve your personal wellbeing goals.

How do I apply?

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; but we won't be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively.