Service Designer

Service Designer Job in the UK – £36,446 Salary | Charity Commission

The Charity Commission is recruiting a Service Designer (Higher Executive Officer) for its Digital, Data and Technology team. This is a 12-month fixed-term opportunity for candidates with experience in user-centred design, UX, prototyping and digital service delivery.

The role is available in Bootle, Merseyside, or Newport, Wales, with flexible working arrangements and hybrid working.

Job Overview

• Job Title: Service Designer (HEO)
• Employer: Charity Commission
• Salary: £36,446 per year
• Location: Bootle, Merseyside, or Newport, Wales
• Contract Type: Fixed-term, 12 months
• Job Type: Digital
• Working Pattern: Full-time, part-time, flexible working or compressed hours
• Number of Vacancies: 1
• Job Reference: 488164
• Closing Date: 10 November 2026 at 11:55 pm
• Visa Sponsorship: Not available. The employer cannot offer Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already have the appropriate right to work in the UK.

About the Role

The successful candidate will work within the Charity Commission’s Digital, Data and Technology team to design and improve end-to-end services that help users achieve their goals.

You will collaborate with colleagues across the organisation to develop digital products, transactions, content and services across online and offline channels. Your work will be guided by user research, evidence, organisational objectives and accessibility requirements.

This opportunity is suited to someone who understands user-centred service design and can turn research and complex information into practical design solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Service Design and Communication

• Explain design problems, concepts and decisions clearly to colleagues and stakeholders.
• Develop design solutions that support user needs and organisational objectives.
• Contribute to the development of design patterns and reusable components.

Accessibility and Inclusion

• Help design inclusive, accessible and environmentally sustainable services.
• Ensure designs meet relevant accessibility, legal and security requirements.
• Consider the needs of different users throughout the design process.

Research and Evidence-Based Design

• Analyse research findings, user feedback and web analytics.
• Work with researchers and analysts to test design ideas.
• Identify service failures, user needs and opportunities for improvement.
• Use evidence to challenge assumptions and inform decisions.

Collaboration and Iterative Design

• Plan and facilitate collaborative design sessions with colleagues, users and stakeholders.
• Create prototypes at different levels of detail to explore and test ideas.
• Improve designs through research, feedback and repeated testing.
• Apply agile methodologies and established service design practices.

Leadership and Decision-Making

• Coordinate design activities within the team, with support.
• Communicate the value of user-centred design.
• Support other designers and collaborate with digital and data leaders when required.
• Present findings and recommendations to decision-makers.
• Manage workloads, project timelines and day-to-day design activities.

Essential Skills and Experience

Service Design Knowledge

• Understanding of user-centred service design and delivery practices.
• Knowledge of service design methods and when to apply them.
• Ability to analyse research data, synthesise findings and communicate conclusions.
• Understanding of changing user behaviour and the social and technological context of digital services.
• Ability to use research and analytics to identify user needs and test design solutions.
• Knowledge of accessibility, inclusion and relevant legal and security requirements.

Professional Experience

• Experience designing and prototyping web-based services.
• Experience facilitating collaborative design activities.
• Experience working in a research and digital design environment.
• Knowledge of user-centred design for web, services and software development.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams to plan and deliver ongoing design activities.
• Experience involving colleagues in design activities and analysing research findings.

Technical Requirements

• Relevant certified training in service design, interaction design, UX design, design thinking or human-centred design.
• Understanding of agile approaches and experience working in agile teams.
• Proven experience using Azure DevOps.
• Experience working within an Agile/Scrum team.
• Familiarity with prototyping tools such as the Government Digital Service Prototype Kit, Axure and Figma.
• Working knowledge of Government Digital Service standards or the ability to learn them.

Qualifications and Training

Relevant certified training in service design, interaction design, UX design, design thinking or human-centred design is required.

Applicants should also demonstrate the relevant technical skills and professional experience listed in the person specification.

Salary and Benefits

The successful candidate will receive an annual salary of £36,446, alongside the following benefits:

• Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• At least 25 days of annual leave, increasing by one day each year to a maximum of 30 days.
• Hybrid working, with at least three days of homeworking per week, subject to role requirements.
• Flexible and family-friendly working arrangements.
• Access to Perkbox and Edenred discounts.
• Interest-free season ticket and bicycle loans, subject to eligibility and scheme conditions.
• An inclusive working environment focused on collaboration, wellbeing and professional contribution.

The role is advertised as full-time, but applicants seeking part-time or alternative working arrangements are welcome to apply. Availability of a preferred working pattern should be discussed with the vacancy holder.

Visa Sponsorship Information

Skilled Worker visa sponsorship is not available for this vacancy.

The Charity Commission states that applicants must have the appropriate right to work in the UK before applying. Candidates who require the employer to sponsor a Skilled Worker visa should consider this restriction before submitting an application.

Selection Process

Recruitment will follow the Civil Service Success Profiles framework, assessing candidates against their experience and relevant behaviours.

Applicants must submit an online application containing:

• A blind CV: Covering employment history, qualifications, skills and previous experience.
• A personal statement: A maximum of 750 words explaining how you meet the essential criteria in the job description.

Applications will be assessed against the essential criteria.

Interview Arrangements

• Interviews will take place through Microsoft Teams.
• The sift is scheduled for 12 November 2026.
• Interviews are scheduled for 20 November 2026.
• Candidates will be required to give a presentation at interview.

The behaviours assessed at interview are:

• Changing and Improving
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Applicants should use specific examples from their own experience to demonstrate their skills, actions, reasoning and results. All application statements must be truthful and based on personal experience.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should review the full job description and ensure they meet the essential criteria before applying.

Applications must be submitted online through the official Civil Service Jobs website. Late applications will not be accepted, and submitted applications cannot be amended.

Closing Date: 10 November 2026 at 11:55 pm.

Contact Information

For enquiries about the vacancy:

• Job Contact: Martin Gordon
• Email: Recruitment@charitycommission.gov.uk
• Recruitment Team: charitycommissionrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

About the Charity Commission

The Charity Commission regulates charities in England and Wales, supporting trustees and helping ensure charities operate in accordance with their legal responsibilities. Its work supports approximately 170,000 charities and helps protect public trust in the charitable sector.

This role offers an opportunity to contribute to public services through user-centred digital design and service improvement.