Service Designer Lead

Location: Crewe - Hybrid Working
Rate: £36.49 per hour
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: Fixed-term contract until April 2027

Are you an experienced Service Designer with a passion for transforming public services?

We're looking for a Service Designer Lead to join a major transformation programme, leading the design and delivery of innovative, user-centred services that improve outcomes for residents and staff.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at a strategic level, influencing senior stakeholders, leading a multidisciplinary service design function, and driving complex organisational change.

The Role

As Service Designer Lead, you will:

• Lead the Council's service design function and establish best practice across the organisation.
• Manage and develop a team of Service Designers, providing coaching, direction and support.
• Lead complex service redesign and transformation programmes from discovery through to implementation.
• Work closely with senior leaders, Heads of Service and programme teams to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Use user research, data and evidence to develop innovative service solutions.
• Facilitate workshops and co-design activities with stakeholders.
• Develop service blueprints, customer journeys, operating models and service specifications.
• Produce business cases and recommendations supported by evidence, benefits and financial analysis.
• Ensure service designs are legally compliant, financially sustainable and focused on delivering better outcomes.

About You

We're looking for someone who has:

• Significant experience leading service design and transformation programmes.
• Experience managing or mentoring service design teams.
• A strong background in user-centred design within complex organisations.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams and senior stakeholders.
• Excellent workshop facilitation, communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience using service design methods such as journey mapping, service blueprinting, prototyping and iterative design.
• The ability to influence strategic decision-making and drive organisational change.

Experience within local government or the wider public sector is highly desirable.

A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential, as the role requires travel to Council sites and meetings across the Cheshire East borough.

What's on Offer?

• £36.49 per hour
• 37 hours per week
• Hybrid working based from Crewe (CW1)
• Contract until April 2027
• Opportunity to lead high-profile transformation projects that make a real difference to public services.
• Collaborative and supportive working environment.
• Chance to shape the future of service design across a large organisation.

If you're an experienced Service Designer ready to lead transformational change and help deliver better services for communities, we'd love to hear from you.