Description Join our Service Design Team as a Senior Service Designer to collaborate with stakeholders on innovative design concepts that meet our business goals and the needs of our users. You will test new designs, enhance user experience, and improve operational efficiency. In this pivotal role, you will mentor peers and leverage your service design expertise to inform decisions that ensure our services are accessible and inclusive. 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. We aim to develop within Social Security Scotland, 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. A Senior Service Designer is an experienced designer who works with minimal support and can influence and mentor others. At this role level, you will: work with managers and directors to develop design concepts. potentially have responsibility across complex services. help set direction and embed good practice within teams. make important decisions based on research and understand how this research impacts others. 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 in agile teams to manage, evaluate, and visualise outcomes while prioritising tasks and defining project scope. • Assist the team in selecting optimal processes, delivery methods, and approaches for project execution. • Develop and maintain comprehensive design documentation throughout the project lifecycle. • Listen to and interpret the needs of both technical and non-technical stakeholders, managing their expectations effectively. • Facilitate challenging discussions within the team and with diverse senior stakeholders. • Foster collaboration by actively networking and creating connections to enhance service design. • Incorporate feedback to improve team dynamics and service design effectiveness. • Apply digital understanding to create inclusive services catering to diverse users. • Design integrated systems for multiple services, focusing on simplicity and accessibility. • Utilise evidence to inform iterations and testing processes for continuous improvement. • Build consensus among stakeholders and facilitate motivation within the team. • Make informed decisions while managing risk and complexity, guiding others in sound design choices. • Share best practices, coach colleagues, and strategically recommend tools and methodologies. • Continually assess and adapt designs to meet evolving user needs and business requirements. • Identify, communicate, and navigate constraints while ensuring compliance 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 • You can apply strategic thinking in the design, delivery and improvement of customer focused services, end-to-end. You are experienced in meeting the needs of users across a variety of channels and you can lead the design and implementation of effective services, ensuring customer and employee needs and expectations are considered alongside business goals. • You understand the psychology of a team, have strong mediation skills and can solve and unblock design issues between teams or areas of business at all levels. You work successfully within a team upholding the values of dignity fairness and respect. Technical skills This role is aligned to Senior 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 strategically - Level: Practitioner • Design for everyone - Level: Practitioner • Evidence-based Design - Level: Practitioner Please note that only the first 2 technical skills listed will be tested at application stage: Leading Design and Designing Strategically Behaviours • Seeing the big picture - Level 3 • Leadership - 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, you must provide 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 the Experience criteria. Candidates who pass the initial sift will have their applications fully assessed. We will test your behaviours, technical skills and experiences as part of the sift process, and if successful, you will be invited to an assessment and interview where we will test these again. 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 15 minute presentation on the technical skills required, details of which, will be shared in advance of the interview. 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 specific feedback on your application. We will provide feedback on request to candidates who attend an interview/assessment. Information Session We are holding a candidate information session for this role to provide you with information about the application and interview process as well as further information on the role and team. Please join us for an online information session on Friday 21 st March at 12-1pm We will be talking about: • The Senior Service Designer role and Service Design team • About Social Security Scotland • Our recruitment process • Q&A with the hiring manager Join us using the link below: Join the meeting now Expected Timeline (subject to change) Sift - w/c 31 st March Interview – w/c 14 th April 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 is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government. 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 are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve. Find 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 is part of the Scottish Government Digital, Data and Technology (DDAT) profession and as a member of the profession you will join the professional development system. This post currently attracts a £5,000 annual DDAT pay supplement, applicable after a 3 months competency qualifying period. The payment will be backdated to your start date in the role. Pay supplements are reviewed regularly and there is one currently underway. Changes will be communicated when the review is concluded. 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 and support 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: 27th March 2025 at 23:55 Contact Name - Resourcing Team Contact email – Recruitmentsocialsecurity.gov.scot