Head of Service Design

Grow and shape HM Land Registry's service design function! HM Land Registry are looking for an experienced design leader to join as Head of Service Design, helping shape and transform critical national services that safeguard land and property ownership across England and Wales. Permanent role, salary £78,200 - £98,100 (based on assessment at interview), 29% employer pension contribution plus full Civil Service benefits. Flexible, hybrid working from 14 UK locations. OPEN SESSIONS If you would like to find out more about the role, the Service Design profession and what it's like to work at HMLR, a Hiring Manager Q&A session where you can virtually 'meet the team' will be held via MS Teams on Tuesday 4th August 12:30pm. Follow 'Apply' link for booking instructions. About the Head of Service Design role This is a senior leadership role within the User Centred Design team, offering the opportunity to set the strategic direction for service design across HM Land Registry. You will work closely with the Deputy Directors and senior colleagues to define the future vision for end-to-end services. The role will combine strategic leadership with hands-on service design, helping modernise paper-based and legacy services, improve customer outcomes and unlock the value of HMLR's data. You will lead and develop the service design capability, supporting designers to apply the right tools, methods and standards across complex programmes. Working across organisational boundaries, you will help teams understand the wider service context, challenge existing ways of working and ensure future services are accessible, inclusive, secure and built around genuine user needs. Responsibilities for the Head of Service Design • Set the strategic direction for service design and champion its value across the organisation. • Lead, develop and mentor service designers, supporting the growth of the wider design capability. • Work across high-profile transformation programmes to design and improve end-to-end services. • Influence senior stakeholders, programme boards and executive leaders on service strategy and priorities. • Lead workshops, service mapping and the development of artefacts such as journey maps, service blueprints and prototypes. • Ensure services are user centred, accessible, inclusive, secure and aligned with organisational goals. • Help teams understand the wider service context and make informed decisions across complex programmes. Essential criteria for the Head of Service Design • Extensive experience as a senior service designer or design leader working on complex services or systems. • Strong hands-on knowledge of service design practices, methodologies, frameworks and tools. • Experience leading, developing and empowering service designers. • Excellent stakeholder management, influencing and communication skills at senior level. • Ability to understand the wider service landscape and translate long-term challenges into a clear future vision. • Experience operating in an agile, multidisciplinary digital environment. Desirable criteria for the Head of Service Design • Experience shaping or growing a service design capability. • Experience working across large-scale transformation programmes in a complex organisation. • Awareness of service standards and how technology, data and AI can improve services. Benefits Alongside your salary of £78,200 plus any allowance up to £98,100 HM Land Registry contributes £22,654 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Plus: • Annual leave of 28.5 days' paid holiday during each holiday year plus 8 days public holidays • A clear progression pathway inc. personalised training and development plans including expensed accreditations with training days set aside • Over 29% employer pension contribution • Flexi-time scheme (You decide what working hours work best for you) • Opportunity to work condensed hours • Social and sports club • Access to our employee assistance programme for counselling and support on a wide range of issues • Interest-free loan for season tickets • Cycle to work scheme (salary sacrifice). • HMLR have a strong and positive culture, a commitment to inclusivity, an emphasis on continuous learning and development and flexible ways of working. Office locations The role is open across 14 of HMLR's locations: Birkenhead, Croydon, Coventry, Durham, Weymouth, Gloucester, Kingston upon Hull, Leicester, Nottingham, Peterborough, Plymouth, Warton, Swansea and Telford. Additional Requirements • HMLR expect everyone to spend 60% of their working time in one of the offices. • Occasional travel will be required to HMLR offices, supplier sites and other government departments, which may include overnight stays • This role operates under the flexible working hours agreement, supporting a positive work-life balance • The post is subject to BPPS level clearance • This role does not meet the category to offer sponsorship, and HMLR will not sponsor a skilled worker visa. Why join? HM Land Registry's services form part of the UK's critical national infrastructure, safeguarding land and property ownership valued at £8 trillion and supporting more than £1 trillion in secured lending. This is an opportunity to influence the future of nationally important services, shape a growing service design function and lead work that will modernise land registration for millions of customers and users. Apply now or contact Inspire People in complete confidence.