FutureGov is the digital and design agency for public services. We’ve worked with a range of organisations delivering for public good: from local authorities to the Government Digital Service, from the UN Development Programme to social housing associations. The constant is that we use design, technology and change to transform these services and make them more human.
We’ve also developed a suite of digital products that support this vision. From Patchwork, which connects front line workers who are helping to keep their clients safe, through to Casserole, which provides a community alternative to meals on wheels, we are reshaping public services through beautifully designed technology.
Role description:
As a service designer you will lead a series of live projects designing inside local government. Part of a small team of designers and change managers, you will plan and manage a series of projects through the entire design process; from user research to inspiring radical new solutions to testing and refining working prototypes ready to be delivered at scale.
Working inside large bureaucracies can be hard. Large scale public services are the frontline of supporting users’ needs and changing them takes time. Our team of design, tech and change experts work to understand, test and implement new ways of working. Sometimes inside, sometimes outside the system.
As a designer you will work with change managers from within the council the services they provide, as well as service leads and experienced practitioners from inside public services themselves. You need to be able to collaborate, know when to challenge and when to listen and avoid being precious about your own ideas.
We’re not fussy about design disciplines. We employ service designers, product designers, researchers, visual people and strategic wizards. An understanding of tech would help but mainly, you need to be creative, motivated, the right fit and be ready for the challenge.
Your experience:
at least two to four years experience in delivering design-led solutions in the form of products or, ideally services
educated in design to at least degree level (or able to demonstrate a similar level of insight and experience)
experience in planning and leading design projects: managing stakeholders, clients and team members as well as keeping projects on time and budget
You are:
an innovative and inspirational thinker
able to question and challenge well
user-centred
able to support and inspire others
a strategic thinker
able to manage a fast paced workload
passionate about making a social difference
curious about the application of technology
emotionally intelligent, self-aware, and keen for feedback
Role requirements:
work in a diverse team, including relationships with stakeholders, clients and users
planning, coordinating and conducting user research; compiling the results into a series of insights, service opportunities and design principles
capturing and communicating your research to a wide audience
using research to design inspiring new solutions to the challenges faced by services, often in collaboration with end users, frontline workers and stakeholders
planning, organising and facilitating events and workshops: bringing together users and stakeholder to unpick the challenges faced by the service and propose new solutions
create elegant and functional service touchpoints for use in prototyping new solutions (including printed materials, sketches for digital tools, branding concepts)
planning and conducting user testing and live prototyping of ideas and solutions with frontline workers and end users, refining the product or service based on their feedback
briefing product designers and developers on your research and working closely with a product designer and development team to create initial user stories and wireframes
champion, explain and demonstrate the design process to key stakeholders, staff, frontline workers and the wider public
coach and support more junior designers in their work and help shape the way FutureGov use service design as a tool for public services
Salary is competitive and depends on experience.
Application deadline: September 21, 2015
How to apply
Send a CV and portfolio to carrie@wearefuturegov.com