Senior Service Designer

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Oranga Tamariki, Ministry for Children is seeking a Senior Service Designer to lead user‑centred design across frontline technology upgrades in Aotearoa. You’ll shape services, experiences and design patterns that support frontline kaimahi and improve tamariki outcomes.

You’ll collaborate with clinicians, analysts and engineers to create scalable design system assets, run co‑design activities, and advocate accessibility and inclusive design throughout the programme.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in service design and UX.
• Experience in large-scale technology or digital delivery programmes.
• Strong understanding of modern UX practices and service design.
• Experience establishing design standards and design systems.
• Experience leading end-to-end design activities from discovery to implementation.
• Strong facilitation and workshop design skills.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management.
• Strong written and visual communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead service design activities across a complex transformation.
• Develop and govern UX standards, principles and design patterns.
• Lead the governance of design system assets, pattern libraries and interaction standards.
• Collaborate with technical teams to ensure designs are feasible, scalable and aligned to platform capabilities.
• Support usability testing, iterative design and continuous improvement.
• Advocate for accessibility, inclusive design and customer-centred approaches.
• Produce service blueprints, journeys, process maps, wireframes and prototypes.
• Build relationships and influence design outcomes across stakeholder groups.

Skills

Service design

UX design

Facilitation

Stakeholder engagement

User research

Workshop design

Figma

Tools

Figma

Job description

Are you passionate about designing digital experiences that make a real difference for tamariki, rangatahi and whānau?

Join a significant programme where you'll lead the design of user-centred digital services, helping shape the future of frontline practice through better systems, experiences and service outcomes.

Fixed term opportunity to October 2027.

Location: Wellington / Auckland

Mō mātou | About us

Oranga Tamariki, Ministry for Children has a commitment to putting tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of what we do. In our work, we aim to demonstrate these values:

• We put Tamariki first
• We believe Aroha is vital
• We respect the Mana of people
• We are Tika and Pono
• We value Whakapapa
• We recognise that Oranga is a journey

We are committed to ensuring that New Zealand is the best place in the world to be a child. We are also committed to ensuring Oranga Tamariki partners with hapū, iwi and Māori organisations to find appropriate solutions for tamariki in need.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

We're looking for an experienced and influential Senior Service Designer to join our Frontline Technology Systems Upgrade (FTSU) Programme and help shape technology that will support frontline practice across Oranga Tamariki.

This role sits at the intersection of people, process and technology. You'll work closely with operational staff, practice experts, delivery teams, business analysts, architects and technical specialists to design services, user interfaces, and digital experiences that meet user needs while supporting organisational objectives.

As our senior service design specialist, you'll lead the development of user-centred design approaches, establish and maintain UX standards and design patterns, and contribute to the creation of scalable design system assets that support consistency across the programme's technology solutions.

You'll play a key role in ensuring digital products and services are intuitive, accessible, fit for purpose and aligned with the needs of frontline kaimahi working to improve outcomes for tamariki and whānau.

Key responsibilities include

• Leading service design activities across a complex technology-enabled transformation initiative
• Developing and maintaining UX standards, design principles and reusable design patterns
• Leading the development and governance of design system assets, pattern libraries and interaction standards
• Collaborating closely with technical teams to ensure designs are feasible, scalable and aligned to platform capabilities
• Supporting usability testing, iterative design and continuous improvement activities
• Advocating for accessibility, inclusive design and customer-centred approaches across the programme
• Providing expert advice and leadership to delivery teams on service design and user experience practices
• Producing service blueprints, customer journeys, process maps, wireframes, prototypes and experience models
• Building strong relationships and influencing design outcomes across business, operational and technical stakeholder groups
• Planning and conducting user research, discovery and co-design activities with frontline staff and stakeholders
• Translating customer, user and business needs into clear service and experience designs

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring

To be successful in this role, you'll bring deep experience designing and improving digital services within complex organisational environments.

You'll have

• Significant experience in service design, user experience (UX) design, human-centred design or digital product design
• Experience working within large-scale technology, transformation or digital delivery programmes
• Strong understanding of modern UX practices, interaction design and service design methodologies
• Experience establishing and maintaining design standards, design systems, component libraries or pattern libraries
• Experience leading end-to-end design activities from discovery through to implementation
• Strong facilitation and workshop design skills
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management capability
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesise complex information into practical solutions
• Experience translating business requirements into user-centred design outcomes
• Experience working effectively within multidisciplinary teams including architects, developers, business analysts, testers and change specialists
• Strong written and visual communication skills

Ideally, you'll also have

• Experience working with enterprise platforms, case management systems or large-scale digital transformation initiatives
• Experience designing for complex operational environments
• Knowledge of accessibility standards and inclusive design practices
• Experience using design tools such as Figma or similar platforms
• Understanding and appreciation of cross-cultural practices, particularly tikanga Māori and Pacific peoples' cultures
• Experience working within government, social services, healthcare or similarly complex service environments

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

This is an opportunity to contribute to one of the most significant programmes within Oranga Tamariki.

You'll join a collaborative and purpose-driven team where your expertise will directly influence the design of services and systems that support better outcomes for tamariki, rangatahi and whānau.

We offer flexible working arrangements, a supportive team environment and opportunities for professional development and growth.

Applications close just before midnight on 13 October 2026.