Band 8A NHS Lead Service Designer
?? Location: Fully Remote
?? Rate: £300 per day (Inside IR35)
?? Contract: 12 months initially, with strong potential to extend
We are currently seeking a skilled and experienced Lead Service Designer to support a high-impact NHS digital transformation programme. This is a Band 8A role suited for professionals who are confident in leading user-centred design in complex healthcare settings.
Key Responsibilities: - Lead the planning and delivery of complex service design activities across digital health projects.
- Manage, coach and mentor junior researchers and designers, embedding best practice and user-centred methods across teams.
- Shape end-to-end service design by conducting in-depth user research, mapping journeys and aligning digital services to user needs.
- Champion inclusive and accessible design, ensuring engagement with diverse user groups.
- Work with Agile multidisciplinary teams, influencing service improvements and ensuring quality across outputs.
- Support delivery teams in understanding behavioural data and evidence to shape service improvements and strategic decisions.
- Play an instrumental role in driving cultural change across the organisation through stakeholder engagement and user advocacy.
Essential Skills & Experience: - Proven experience as a Lead Service Designer or Senior User Researcher in digital environments.
- Strong understanding of Agile, user-centred design and service transformation methods.
- Hands-on experience with end-to-end user research and analysis, journey mapping, and service blueprinting.
- Expertise in collaborating with cross-functional teams including product owners, developers, policy teams and delivery managers.
- High-level stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with ability to simplify complex findings.
- Strong documentation, facilitation and coaching skills.
- Experience working in healthcare, public sector or similarly regulated environments.
Desirable: - NHS or healthcare digital programme experience.
- Experience supporting implementation of GP service delivery tools or national digital health services.
- Familiarity with CA-SPA, Email Connect, or Integration Hub platforms.
- FEDIP Senior Practitioner or similar recognised UX/Research certification.
*Rates depend on experience and client requirements
