Service Designer, SEO, 12 Month FTC, Liverpool/Newport

Job summary

As a member of the Digital, Data and Technology function the post-holder will work closely with colleagues across the Commission in a multidisciplinary team and be responsible for the design of the end-to-end journey of a service. This helps a user complete their goal and the Charity Commission to deliver on its responsibilities. In this role, your work will involve the creation of, or change to, transactions, products and content across both digital and offline channels provided by the Charity Commission.

A service designer is a confident and competent designer who can develop designs based on evidence of user needs and organisational outcomes.

You will:

• Be trusted to make good decisions
• Recognise when to ask for further guidance and support
• Contribute to the development of design concepts
• Interpret evidence-based research and incorporate this into your work

Job description

Key Responsibilities

Design communication

• Clearly explain problems and design ideas to others
• Clearly explain design decisions to others using appropriate tools and methods

Designing for everyone

• Work with others to design and deliver inclusive, accessible and environmentally sustainable content or services that meet the needs of all users
• Ensure a design meets appropriate standards, for example accessibility regulations, with support

Designing strategically

• Align your design work to both the goals and vision of your team and the strategic objectives of your organisation
• Identify potential risks and use design to mitigate them
• Identify opportunities and use design to take advantage of them
• Contribute to the development of design patterns and components

Designing together

• Effectively plan and run a design session with your team, users or internal and external stakeholders
• Identify and engage the right people throughout the design process
• Give and receive constructive design feedback

Evidence-based design

• Analyse, synthesise and clearly explain evidence relevant to users or a service, for example, web analytics data
• Work with researchers or analysts to use evidence to inform, develop and test a design idea

Iterative design

• Apply iterative design principles and agile methodologies to your work
• Iterate and improve a design based on successive rounds of research
• Prototype your ideas at different fidelities to explore and test designs
• Use a range of design tools and techniques
• Use and iterate design patterns and components

Leading design

• Lead and coordinate design work in your team, with support
• Communicate the value of user-centred design to your team
• Support other designers
• Work with digital and data leaders in your organisation, when needed

Problem solving

• Draw together and present reasoned solutions based on a wide range of complex evidence and data - able to act or decide even when details are not clear.
• Recognise patterns and trends from a wide range of evidence / data and draw key conclusions, outlining benefits, risks and design opportunities.
• Identify the main issues in complex problems; clarify understanding or expectations to discover opportunities to create value to users and the business.
• Influence internal and external stakeholders and senior leaders through your analysis and make use of qualitative and quantitative evidence to inform design decisions.

Decision-making

• Present findings and related design / business recommendations to key decision makers.
• Work within clear criteria and timescales laid down by colleagues.
• Plot timelines and manage your workload to suit your own capacity and the project/business need.
• Make day to day operational decisions relating to the co-ordination of user research activity within the Commission.

Person specification

Essential criteria

Ability:

• Understanding of a range of user centred service design and delivery practices
• Ability to understand what problem your team is trying to solve, and align design activities to inform decision making and action
• Have an understanding of a range of service design methods, when to use those methods and how to apply them correctly
• Ability to utilise of a range of techniques for analysis of research data, synthesis of findings, and presentation of clear findings that colleagues can understand and use
• A good understanding of the social and technological context, , and the ability to align service design activities to help the team understand changing user behaviour
• Ability to use research and analytics to understand user needs, identify service failures and test different designs
• Ability to champion accessibility and inclusion, consider the impact of new technologies and make sure that designs meet accessibility, legal and security requirements
• Able to use evidence to challenge assumptions, negotiate with product owners and rationalise design decisions based on user research and established best practices.

Experience:

• Proven experience of prototyping and designing for web-based services
• Proven experience of designing and facilitating collaborative design activities
• Proven experience within a research and digital design environment
• Demonstrable knowledge, experience in and passion for user centred design practices for web, service and software development
• Experience of working with colleagues to plan and do continuous design practice in a multidisciplinary team
• Experience of involving your team in design activities, and in analysis and synthesis of research materials

Technical:

• Relevant certificated training in service/interaction/UX design, design thinking or human-centred design
• An understanding of agile approaches and experience of working in agile teams
• Proven experience using Azure Devops
• Proven experience of working within an Agile/Scrum team
• Prototyping tools such as Government Digital Service Prototype Kit. Axure and Figma
• Working knowledge of Government Digital Service, Service Design Standards or the ability to learn

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

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

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £45,348, Charity Commission contributes £13,137 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

This is your chance to make a contribution that really matters and to make an impact in an organisation where your voice will be heard and your hard work noticed.

Watch this short video to find out more about us.

We operate a flexible hybrid working policy where office attendance is combined with at least 3 days homeworking per week dependent on role requirements.

We recognise everyone as an individual, accepting people for who they are and treating everyone fairly. We welcome the unique contribution diverse applicants bring from all backgrounds and we aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We champion inclusion and wellbeing, aiming to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and has a sense of belonging.

We do not discriminate on the basis of culture, ethnicity, race, nationality or national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, religion or belief, disability status, sexual orientation, educational or social background or any other factor.

We offer access to the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme (employer contributions of 28.97%), far more than in the private sector, and a flexible, family-friendly environment. Additionally, you can look forward to other great benefits via our ‘Perkbox’ and ‘Edenred’ schemes. These include everything from an interest-free season ticket loan and bicycle loan (after two months) to discounts on gym membership, cinema tickets and restaurants. Please see the attached Charity Commission benefits document.

A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30 days per year.

The Charity Commission’s operational ambition is to realise the Commission’s values of being an expert regulator that is fair, balanced, and independent, which works in a way that is supportive, collaborative, and innovative to achieve our ambitions. We want to develop our capability to regulate charities to realise this goal and meet our statutory and public duties to ensure that charity in England and Wales can deliver maximum benefit to society in a way that upholds its reputation in the eyes of the public.

Work at the Charity Commission and you’ll make a difference every day to:

• The 170,000 charities of all shapes and sizes that we regulate across England and Wales.
• The trustees we partner with and advise.
• The people and causes that benefit from the £10bn generously donated each year by the public.

Find out more about working for us here.

To note: Any move across the Civil Service on or after 4 October 2018 may have implications on an employee’s ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers.

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that we are currently unable to offer Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Candidates must ensure they have the appropriate right to work in the UK before applying.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements 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, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

To apply for this post, you must complete an online application with the following:

• A blind CV setting out your Job History/Full Qualifications/Previous skill and experiences.
• A Personal Statement (maximum 750 words) demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria for the role outlined on the Job Description.

We will assess your CV and Personal Statement against the Essential criteria for the role.

We will ask you to carry out a Presentation at interview and we will assess you against the following Behaviours at interview:

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

Interview Arrangements

Interviews will be taking place via MS Teams

The sift is due to take place on the 9th November /2026

Interviews will be taking place on 18th and 19th November

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

At the interview, the panel can then probe further and ask applicants to provide further specific examples that show how they best demonstrate their skills.

We reserve the right to raise the score required at any stage of the process to manage numbers.

Behaviours:

The distinguishing Behaviours (the required skills, knowledge, and behaviours) for this role are set out in the Civil Service Behaviours Framework 2018 (Success Profiles - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)) and should be referred to when making this application.

You are required, under the Behaviours approach, to describe how you have dealt with a specific situation.

You must give evidence of your knowledge, skills, and behaviours and how you have applied this, such as what you did or said and how you interacted with other people.

When you are giving your examples, do not spend too many words on description and background information. Avoid using general or unspecific statements. Instead say what the situation was, what you did, what your thought process was and what was the result.

This post is full time however those applicants who do or wish to work an alternative working pattern are welcome to apply. The preferred working pattern may or may not be available. You should discuss this with the vacancy holder.

Reasonable Adjustment:

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled persons, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via Charitycommissionrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Reserve Lists:

If we have more successful candidates than available vacancies, we will hold a 12-month reserve list as standard.

During that time, we may use the list to fill the same, or similar roles with closely matching essential criteria, without further testing of merit. Any appointments from the Reserve list will be made in strict merit order.

Applying:

We recognise everyone as an individual, accepting people for who they are and treating everyone fairly.

All applications for these vacancies must be made online. There are limited exceptions to this. Paper applications will only be considered if you have a disability that will prevent you from applying online. If this is the case, please email Charitycommissionrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Once you have submitted your application it cannot be amended; only submit your application when you have completely finished and answered all the relevant questions.

Please note that late applications will not be accepted.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Martin Gordon
• Email : Recruitment@charitycommission.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : charitycommissionrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

The Charity Commission’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, which outlines that selection for appointment is made on merit based on fair and open competition.
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance hrselfservice@charitycommission.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web page here.

Attachments

Service Designer JD Opens in new window (pdf, 135kB)HEO Service Designer JD - Welsh Opens in new window (pdf, 271kB)Benefits Opens in new window (pdf, 169kB)02. Advert - Benefits - Welsh Opens in new window (pdf, 170kB)