Service Designer (SC Essential | DV Desirable)

Sanderson Government & Defence; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 111,000 - 148,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanderson Government & Defence is seeking a skilled Service Designer to shape AI-enabled services for a high-profile Defence programme in London. You will apply UCD and GDS principles across Discovery to Live phases while collaborating with researchers, designers, product managers and architects.

The role requires active SC clearance, with DV clearance highly desirable, and involves a London-based, 3-days-per-week onsite arrangement within an Inside IR35 contract.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Service Designer delivering large-scale digital transformation programmes.
• Strong understanding of User-Centred Design (UCD) principles and practices.
• Significant experience working within Central Government organisations.
• Strong knowledge of GDS Service Standard and Government Digital delivery frameworks.
• Experience creating service blueprints, journey maps and operating models.
• Skilled in facilitating workshops and engaging diverse stakeholder groups.
• Experience working in Agile multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Active SC Clearance is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead service design activities across Discovery, Alpha, Beta and Live phases.
• Map and improve complex end-to-end services, user journeys and organisational processes.
• Apply User-Centred Design methodologies to understand user needs and pain points.
• Create service blueprints, ecosystem maps, process maps and customer journeys.
• Facilitate workshops, co-design sessions and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Collaborate closely with User Researchers, UX Designers, Product Managers and Tech architects.
• Translate research insights into actionable service improvements.
• Design services that align with GDS Service Standards and Government best practice.
• Support AI-enabled services to be usable, accessible and trusted by users.
• Influence senior stakeholders and drive service transformation across complex environments.

Skills

User-Centred Design

GDS Service Standard

Agile delivery

Stakeholder management

Workshop facilitation

SC Clearance

DV Clearance

Defence sector experience

AI programme experience

Job description

Service Designer (SC Essential | DV Desirable)

£600-£800 per day | Inside IR35 | 6 Months + Extensions | London (3 Days per Week) | SC Clearance Required

We're seeking an experienced Service Designer to join a cutting-edge AI programme within the Defence sector, helping to shape complex services that support critical operational and strategic outcomes across Government and Defence.

This is an opportunity to work on a high-profile transformation initiative where User-Centred Design (UCD), Service Design and Artificial Intelligence are driving the future of service delivery. You'll work within multidisciplinary teams to design end-to-end services that are intuitive, accessible and effective for a diverse range of users and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead service design activities across Discovery, Alpha, Beta and Live phases.
• Map and improve complex end-to-end services, user journeys and organisational processes.
• Apply User-Centred Design methodologies to understand user needs and pain points.
• Create service blueprints, ecosystem maps, process maps and customer journeys.
• Facilitate workshops, co-design sessions and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Collaborate closely with User Researchers, UX Designers, Product Managers, Business Analysts and Technical Architects.
• Translate research insights into actionable service improvements.
• Design services that align with GDS Service Standards and Government best practice.
• Support the delivery of AI-enabled services by ensuring they are usable, accessible and trusted by users.
• Influence senior stakeholders and drive service transformation across complex environments.

Essential Experience

• Proven experience as a Service Designer delivering large-scale digital transformation programmes.
• Strong understanding of User-Centred Design (UCD) principles and practices.
• Significant experience working within Central Government organisations.
• Strong knowledge of GDS Service Standard and Government Digital delivery frameworks.
• Experience creating service blueprints, journey maps and operating models.
• Skilled in facilitating workshops and engaging diverse stakeholder groups.
• Experience working in Agile multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Active SC Clearance is essential.

Highly Desirable

• Current MOD DV Clearance.
• Previous experience delivering within the Defence sector.
• Experience supporting AI, Data or Emerging Technology programmes.
• Knowledge of MOD, Defence Digital or wider National Security environments.
• Experience working on complex transformation programmes involving multiple user groups and organisations.

Contract Details

• Duration: 6 Months + Extensions
• Location: London (3 days per week onsite)
• IR35: Inside IR35
• SC Cleared Rate: Up to £600 per day
• DV Cleared Rate: Up to £800 per day
• Clearance: Active SC Clearance required. MOD DV highly desirable.
• Start Date: ASAP

This role is ideal for a Service Designer passionate about applying UCD, GDS principles and AI innovation to solve complex challenges within Defence and Government. You'll play a key role in designing secure, effective and user-centred services that support critical national capabilities.

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.