Senior Service Designer

We’re looking for a Senior Service Designer to help shape how Bristol City Council delivers public services in a digital-first environment. This is the first service design role within our team, and you’ll play a key part in establishing how we work, both internally and with residents.

You’ll lead on designing services that are inclusive, efficient, and based on real user needs. Our initial approach is to deliver a Minimum Viable Service; introducing stakeholders to the value of a user-centred, iterative design process that supports better outcomes for everyone.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading service design projects that improve the experience of residents and staff.
• Applying service design methods to understand problems, identify opportunities, and co-create solutions.
• Establishing the frameworks, tools, and standards that enable consistent service design across the council.
• Embedding service design into the wider transformation agenda.
• Working closely with content designers, user researchers, product managers, and developers.
• Engaging stakeholders and helping them understand complex problems through visual and narrative storytelling.
• Prototyping and testing ideas to ensure services meet user needs and organisational goals.

What we’re looking for

• A confident and experienced service designer, ideally with experience in the public sector.
• Strong understanding of user-centred design and inclusive design principles.
• Ability to lead and influence stakeholders, and to communicate complex ideas clearly.
• Experience in setting up new ways of working, including tools, standards, and design practices.
• Skilled in design research, journey mapping, prototyping, and iterative development.
• Comfortable working in multidisciplinary teams and navigating ambiguity.