Ipswich, England, United Kingdom£74,716 – £84,404["Full time"]
• Future Suffolk / Suffolk County Council
• Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich, IP1 2BX, Hybrid working
• Salary: £74,716 - £84,404 per annum
• Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available
• Contract: Permanent
Suffolk's councils are working together on one of the most ambitious change
programmes the county has ever seen. Through Local Government Reorganisation
(LGR), we're creating three new unitary councils and building the foundations
for the future of local services across Suffolk.
We're looking for talented people to join our programme team and play a key role
in making that happen.
As our Service Designer, you'll help shape what local government in Suffolk
looks like in the future. You'll lead service design thinking and activity
across the LGR Programme, helping design future services, operating models and
ways of working around the needs of communities, service users and partners.
Working across multiple organisations and stakeholder groups, you'll bring
together different perspectives to help shape the future of local government
across Suffolk.
Your role and responsibilities
You'll lead service design thinking and activity across the programme, bringing
together key stakeholders and subject matter experts to help shape services that
meet the needs of Suffolk's residents now and in the future. Using insight,
evidence and design thinking, you'll develop future design options that support
better outcomes for communities and public services across Suffolk.
You will:
• Lead service design thinking and activity across the programme.
• Shape future operating models, service delivery approaches and organisational
design options.
• Bring together key stakeholders to inform future design decisions.
• Use insight and evidence to identify opportunities for improvement and public
service reform.
• Develop practical design options and recommendations for decision-makers.
• Challenge traditional thinking and encourage new approaches that maximise the
opportunities of LGR.
• Help create sustainable services that meet the needs of Suffolk's residents
now and in the future.
You will need
We’re looking for a strategic and innovative professional who can lead
user-centred service design and complex transformation, creating effective and
sustainable outcomes for Suffolk’s communities.
We hope you'll bring:
• Strong experience of service design and user-centred design, ideally within
public sector or another complex service environment.
• Experience leading complex transformation across organisational boundaries
and delivering sustainable outcomes.
• A strong understanding of public service delivery, improvement and systems
thinking.
• An innovative and curious approach, with the confidence to challenge
traditional ways of working.
• Excellent facilitation, engagement and influencing skills, bringing together
different perspectives, priorities and organisations to create practical
solutions.
• The confidence to work effectively in ambiguity.
• A clear commitment to using LGR to create services that better meet the needs
of Suffolk's residents, communities and partners.
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (JPP),
which you can find in the ‘
How to apply’ section towards the bottom of this
advert.
If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all
requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your
application.
The team
Although hosted by Suffolk County Council, this is a genuinely system-wide role
working across the full LGR system, bringing together multiple councils,
disciplines and partners behind a single shared objective. The team act on
behalf of all Suffolk councils and are accountable to the Future Suffolk
Implementation Board.
You’ll join a newly established programme team, united by a shared commitment to
delivering change that protects services for residents and creates strong,
sustainable new councils.
For more information on LGR in Suffolk, please visit the Three Councils for
Suffolk [https://threecouncilsforsuffolk.org/] and the Future Suffolk
[https://www.suffolklgrhub.gov.uk/] websites.
Applications from Suffolk's five councils
Colleagues currently working for one of Suffolk's five councils are encouraged
to apply. Where possible, appointments will be made on a secondment basis,
allowing you to retain your substantive role.
Empowering Everyone
We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas.
We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be
the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We
welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are
currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce
Equality Report
[https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/our-aims-and-transformation-programmes/the-councils-equality-and-inclusion-commitment-to-you].
For more information
Please contact Lysanne Eddy, Programme Director for LGR, for a casual
conversation. You can reach them by emailing Lysanne.Eddy@suffolk.gov.uk
[Lysanne.Eddy@suffolk.gov.uk].
How to apply
Step 1
• Read the Job and Person Profile (Word)
[https://sccrecruit.blob.core.windows.net/assets/SCC/24633-LGR-Service-Designer-JPP.docx].
Step 2
• Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3
• Please upload the following to your application:
1. An up-to-date copy of your CV
2. A supporting statement (maximum 500 words) outlining what you would bring to
the Suffolk LGR Programme and how your approach would help you succeed in a
complex, multi-organisational environment.
3. Case studies (up to three examples, maximum 250 words each) demonstrating
where you have led or played a key role in designing or redesigning
services, operating models or organisational approaches. Please include the
scale and complexity of the work, your role and contribution and the
outcomes achieved.
Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be
progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.
For guidance on completing your application, please see our
How to Apply page
[https://www.suffolkjobsdirect.org/#en/sites/CX_3001/pages/657088].
Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application
still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately,
your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI
[https://www.suffolkjobsdirect.org/#en/sites/CX_3001/pages/764097] to understand
what’s acceptable.
Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled
and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments.
You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk
or 03456 0144
12. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our
Reasonable Adjustment pages
[https://www.suffolkjobsdirect.org/#en/sites/CX_3001/pages/757078].
Closing date: 11.30pm, 8 September 2026
Provisional interview week: Week commencing 14 September 2026 (subject to
change).
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of
children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and
volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks
or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid #FutureSuffolk
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