- Future Suffolk / Suffolk County Council
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Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich, IP1 2BX, Hybrid working
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Salary: £74,716 - £84,404 per annum
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Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available
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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:
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Lead service design thinking and activity across the programme.
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Shape future operating models, service delivery approaches and organisational design options.
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Bring together key stakeholders to inform future design decisions.
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Use insight and evidence to identify opportunities for improvement and public service reform.
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Develop practical design options and recommendations for decision-makers.
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Challenge traditional thinking and encourage new approaches that maximise the opportunities of LGR.
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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:
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Strong experience of service design and user-centred design, ideally within public sector or another complex service environment.
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Experience leading complex transformation across organisational boundaries and delivering sustainable outcomes.
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A strong understanding of public service delivery, improvement and systems thinking.
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An innovative and curious approach, with the confidence to challenge traditional ways of working.
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Excellent facilitation, engagement and influencing skills, bringing together different perspectives, priorities and organisations to create practical solutions.
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The confidence to work effectively in ambiguity.
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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 and the Future Suffolk 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.
For more information
Please contact Lysanne Eddy, Programme Director for LGR, for a casual conversation. You can reach them by emailing [email protected].
How to apply
Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (Word).
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Please upload the following to your application:
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An up-to-date copy of your CV
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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.
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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.
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 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 [email protected] or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages.
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
