How to apply:
Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, skills, and potential fit within our organisation.
The selection process for this role will be:
Stage 1: Online Civil Service Verbal Test
Stage 2: Sift of CV and personal statement
Stage 3: Interview and Presentation
Stage 1: Online Civil Service Verbal Test
After submission of the first stage of your application (personal details), you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Verbal test. If you successfully pass the test/s, you will be invited to complete the full application (please see stage 2: sift for further information).
Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended) to give yourself enough time to complete your full application (please see stage 2: sift for further information). Both the online test and the full application must be completed by the closing date on the advert, otherwise your application will be rejected.
Guidance for the tests will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.
Stage 2: Sift
At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:
Experience you will be asked to provide a CV (unlimited wordcount)
When completing the CV candidates must provide full details of their eligibility qualifications and GCSEs within the qualifications section on the application form. If you do not meet the requirement then your application will be withdrawn. We would expect your CV to be no longer than the equivalent of 2 x A4 pages. We will not accept predicted grades for qualifications due after the role start date of June/July 2026.
Please structure your Personal Statement to provide detailed evidence of each of the following:
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How you have shown curiosity about how things work and your willingness to learn from others
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How you have understood what people need and then communicated and used that knowledge to guide decisions or actions
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How you work with others to solve problems or make something better
Please fully use the 750 word count when completing your personal statement.
The sift will take place week commencing w/c 3rd November 2025.
Stage 3: Interview
At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:
Civil Service behaviours
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Making effective decisions
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Communicating and influencing
Civil Service strengths
Technical skills -
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Designing for everyone
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Iterative design
You will also be required to create and deliver a presentation to assess the Technical Skills: Design Communication, Designing Together and Evidence Based Design. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.
Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework skills for an Associate Service Designer - https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/role/service-designer#associate-service-designer
The interviews will take place week commencing w/c 24th November 2025.
This interview will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.
You can find out more about our hiring process, how to apply, and application and interview guidance on our careers site .
Please note that we will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change.
Further information on the selection process
Feedback on your application can only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
We may also hold a12 month reserve list for this role. You can read more about our reserve lists here.
Should we receive a large number of applications, we may invite a shortlist of the highest performing candidates to interview. This means that some applications that meet the required standard could be placed on hold after the sift and invited to interview if the vacant position(s) remain unfilled. You will be notified if your application is being put on hold once the sift has been completed.
Appointments for this position will be made in order of merit. If you are successful in the selection process but there are no further available posts for the advertised role, you may be contacted to discuss an offer for a lower graded role (with similar experience and responsibility requirements).
If you are unsuccessful in the selection process, your application may be considered for a lower graded position if your demonstrated skills and experience meet the requirements of the alternative position. Candidates will be considered in order of merit.
AI Tools and Platforms
During the application process candidates are allowed to utilise AI (artificial intelligence) tools and platforms to support them in writing their Behaviours, CVs and Personal Statements. However, you must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application or used during interview is truthful and factually accurate. Applications may be rejected if plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or concepts generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. You can read more here.
Reasonable Adjustments
As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
Complete the Assistance required section in the Additional requirements page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if youre deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Document Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.
Further Information
For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.
Pre-employment Checking
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicants details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
