Job Description

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 service managers and programme 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

• Use a range of prototyping methods, maintain clear design documentation, and ensure services meet relevant standards to support effective testing, communication and delivery.
• Guide teams in selecting appropriate processes, delivery methods and evidence-led approaches, making proportionate decisions on risk and complexity while identifying, communicating and constructively challenging constraints.
• Take a strategic, end-to-end view of services, leading the design, implementation and evaluation of service strategies and policies, using insight, evidence and measurement to drive continuous improvement and building connections across the organisation and wider ecosystem to improve service outcomes.
• Engage stakeholders effectively, translating technical and non-technical needs, facilitating complex discussions, and building consensus to drive user-centred decisions.
• Lead and develop high-performing teams, fostering collaboration, resolving team challenges, providing design direction, and coaching others to build capability.
• Drive continuous improvement, delivering constructive feedback, enabling clear decision-making, and using evidence and measurement to improve design practice and service outcomes.

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 the framework here.

For this opportunity, the following Success Profile elements will be assessed:

Experience

1. Experience of service design projects allows you to absorb large amounts of conflicting information and use it to generate and test designs, making evidence based decisions for a team.
2. Experience of 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.
3. Experience of leading the design of complex services allows you to demonstrate the value of prototyping to your team, gain feedback early and iterate with others.
4. Experience of the wider digital ecosystem and accessible considerations, in a government context, enables you to apply a design understanding to your work.

How to apply

Please apply online, providing a Supporting Statement (of no more than 500 words) providing evidence of how you demonstrate the Success Profiles noted above.

Please note that a CV is not required for this opportunity.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

If you are interested in this opportunity, you should seek permission from your manager and C-band manager before applying on a level transfer (TLT) basis. If applying on Temporary Promotion you should inform your manager and C-band manager from the outset of your intention to apply. If successful in your application, your release must be agreed by your line manager and C-band manager or relevant unit head.

Please note that the post is only open to individuals who have satisfactorily completed their probationary period.

This is a Government Digital and Data (GDD) role within the User-Centred Design job family. Candidates who are not currently members of the GDD Profession, or who belong to a different GDD job family, will be required to complete a GDD technical assessment before an appointment can be confirmed.

If you are successful following the informal discussion and a technical assessment is required, further details will be provided in advance to allow you sufficient time to prepare.

Dates to Remember

Statement submitted by: 5pm on Monday 5th October 2026

Informal chats: week commencing Monday 19th October (This may be subject to change)

Duration of Temporary Opportunity

This opportunity is for 9 months.

Hybrid Working

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.

Further Information

This role is only available to those currently employed (on a permanent basis) by Social Security Scotland, Scottish Government Main or Common Citizenship organisations. Please note that applicants from Common Citizenship organisations may apply only on a promotion basis and not via a level transfer.

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 recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot

If you experience any difficulties accessing our website or completing the online application form, please contact the Resourcing Team via recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot

If you have any questions about the role please contact Jayne.Purcell at Jayne.Purcell@socialsecurity.gov.scot