Principal Service Designer

About the role: As a Principal Service Designer at NEC Digital Studio, you will hold multiple responsibilities around projects, the Research and Service Design team, and support the culture and operations of the business. You’ll report to the Head of Service Design.

This is one of several Principal roles across the NEC Digital Studio’s design and research teams and the post holder will be expected to consider how their role and areas of focus complement the work of the other principals to best support NEC.

In practice this may mean that you focus more on some of the areas below than others. We're looking for an experienced Service Designer with a strong track record of delivering complex service design projects.

You'll create end-to-end, evidence-based services that are inclusive, accessible and sustainable, working within multidisciplinary teams where autonomy, leadership and project management are essential.

You'll also champion user-centred design (UCD), helping clients understand and adopt UCD approaches, including organisations that may be new to user-centred ways of working.

As a Principal Service Designer, you'll contribute across three key areas: Practice: Lead complex service design projects across multiple sectors; shape Service Design practice, quality standards and ways of working; champion accessible, inclusive and sustainable design; support colleagues to embed these principles into their work; and advocate for Service Design across NEC Digital Studio and the wider organisation.

Leadership: Direct complex, high-value projects and strategic client partnerships; drive effective collaboration across disciplines; mentor, line manage and recruit colleagues; identify development needs; foster a supportive, high-performing culture; and build strong relationships across leadership, operations, delivery, HR and practice teams.

You'll also work alongside the NEC Digital Studio Design School to develop and deliver training, promote capability growth, and represen