Description We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Service Designer to become a vital member of our Service Design team. Here you’ll collaborate with multidisciplinary teams in an agile environment, confidently crafting designs grounded in both user needs and organisational outcomes. We value individuals who understand how services can effectively meet user needs. In this role, you will be trusted to make sound decisions, collaborate with experts across various fields, and contribute to impactful design concepts and documentation. A Service Designer is a confident and competent designer who can develop design based on evidence of user needs and organisational outcomes. A relevant degree and experience in a role titled ‘service designer’ is not a requirement. What’s important is understanding how a service works to meet people’s needs. At this role level, you will: be trusted to make good decisions work alongside multidisciplinary experts recognise when to ask for further guidance and support contribute to the development of design concepts and documentation interpret evidence-based research and incorporate this into your work raise awareness of how to make services accessible and inclusive engage with and contribute to the Scottish Government service design community of practice Responsibilities Responsibilities Collaborate within agile teams, employing an iterative and flexible approach to facilitate rapid service design delivery. Embrace feedback and adapt designs through reflection and responsiveness. Create and maintain thorough design documentation throughout the project lifecycle. Interpret and understand the needs of both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Manage and effectively communicate stakeholder expectations throughout the design process. Actively network and collaborate with team members to enhance service design. Foster connections that contribute to improved service design outcomes. Ensure feedback is effective and contributes to lasting improvements in the service. Use initiative to identify and resolve issues within team dynamics. Design services that meet user needs, prioritising inclusivity for diverse user groups. Document and iterate on designs based on evidence and user feedback. Contribute to the development of best practice guidelines in service design. Facilitate resolution of disputes by considering all perspectives from peers and stakeholders. Communicate design decisions and associated risks clearly, based on evidence. Approach prototyping collaboratively, leveraging a variety of methods to ensure effective testing. Champion user research that prioritises the needs of all users, including those facing digital barriers. Identify and manage project constraints, while critically evaluating their validity and ensuring they align with established standards. Qualifications Success Profiles We use an assessment framework called ‘Success Profiles’ which lists the elements we test and provides detailed descriptions of each. Find out more about how we assess the Success Profile elements Essential Experience Your experience of service design projects allows you to absorb large amounts of conflicting information. Using it to generate and test designs, making evidence based decisions. Making and recommending decisions while balancing levels of risks, business and user needs allows you to bring people together to form effective teams and projects. Your experience of working with user research and other user-centred design practitioners, allows you to make inclusive design decisions that meet the needs of a large range of users. Technical/Professional Skills This role is aligned to Service Designer within the Digital, Data and Technology Profession. Please review the following to understand the skill expectations - Service designer - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework (ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk) We will assess you against the following technical skills during the selection process: Leading Design - (Level: Working) Designing for Everyone - (Level: Working) Designing Strategically (Level: Working) Iterative design - (Level: Working) Please note that only the first 2 technical skills listed will be tested at application stage: Leading Design and Designing for Everyone. All 4 will be tested at interview/assessment. Behaviours Communicating and influencing (Level 3) Changing and improving (Level 3) You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours (publishing.service.gov.uk) How to Apply Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 750 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above. Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV and personal statement on Essential Experience only. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then have their applications fully assessed. We will test your behaviours, the first 2 technical skills and essential experience as part of the sift process, and if successful, you will be invited to an assessment and interview where we will test these again along with all 4 technical skills listed. Full details of the selection process will be made available to shortlisted candidates once the sift has been completed. Following the sift of applications there may be a telephone interview as part of the assessment process, prior to interview. Candidates selected for interview will be requested to provide a 10-minute presentation on the technical skills required, details of which, will be shared in advance of the interview. In the event of a large number of applications, the hiring manager may raise the pass mark for sift. If you meet the minimum pass mark but are not invited to the first round of interviews, you may be invited to a subsequent round. Any queries on this please contact recruitmentsocialsecurity.gov.scot. We aim to provide feedback on request, however; if we receive a large number of applications, it may not be possible for us to provide feedback on your application if you are not invited to attend an interview/assessment. We will provide feedback on request to all candidates that attend an interview/assessment. Information Session We will be holding an Information Session for this which will provide you with information about the application and interview process, as well as further information on the role and team. We will be talking about: The Service Designer role and Service Design team About Social Security Scotland Our recruitment process Q&A with the hiring manager The session will be held on Wednesday 5th February at 12-1pm Please join us using the link below: Join the meeting now Expected Timeline (subject to change) Sift – w/c 10th February 2025 Interview – w/c 3rd March 2025 Location – In Person in either Dundee or Glasgow Reserve List In the event that there are more successful candidates than posts available, a reserve list will be kept for up to 12 months. About Us Social Security Scotland, an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government, is undertaking the largest and most complex IT and digital change programme since devolution. With a lifetime budget of over £300m, Social Security Scotland is delivering a social security system that will support the people of Scotland for decades to come. Our benefits help people from all walks of life in Scotland. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles. We aim to develop a positive and inclusive culture, which supports our people to flourish, by embedding a working environment where we all treat each other with dignity and respect, and recognise each other’s contributions. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve. Find out more about us here. We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer. As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules. DDaT Pay Supplement This post attracts a £5000 Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) pay supplement after a 3 months DDaT competency qualifying period. The payment will be backdated to your start date in the role. Pay supplements are temporary payments designed to address recruitment and retention issues caused by market pressures and are subject to regular review. This post is part of the Scottish Government DDaT profession. As a member of the profession you will join the professional development system, currently BCS Role Mode plus. Working Pattern Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options, depending on the needs of the role. We embrace a hybrid working style where all colleagues will spend time in either our Glasgow or Dundee offices. There is an expectation of a minimum 2 days per week in your assigned location, which will be either Glasgow or Dundee. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us. Equality Statement Social Security Scotland are committed to equality and inclusion, and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation. Social Security Scotland are a Disability Confident Employer. We will consider and implement any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process and during the course of your employment, should you be successful in securing a post. If you feel you may require assistance with any part of our recruitment process, please contact us at recruitmentsocialsecurity.gov.scot Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer support and recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them. Further Information Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website. Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes. The successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 3 years unless successful in gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade. Social Security Scotland’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the recruitment principles of the Civil Service Commissioner, which outline that selection for appointment be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition - Recruitment - Civil Service Commission (independent.gov.uk) If you feel at any time your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, you can make a complaint, by contacting Social Security Scotland at recruitmentsocialsecurity.gov.scot in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commissioner. If you experience any difficulties accessing our website or completing the online application form, please contact the Resourcing Team via recruitmentsocialsecurity.gov.scot Apply before - 23:55 on Tuesday 11th February 2025 Contact name - Resourcing Team Contact email - recruitmentsocialsecurity.gov.scot