At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead user research and shape strategies for complex client projects.
- Company: Hippo, a forward-thinking consultancy focused on user-centred design.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, pension scheme, discounts, and volunteer days.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team with opportunities for mentorship and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by influencing design with user insights and AI-driven methods.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in user research and leading multidisciplinary teams.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 66000 £ per year.
As a Lead Consultant, you shape user strategy across complex programmes and guide research practices within Hippo. You will lead user research in intricate client contexts, align teams to user outcomes, and mentor mid-senior researchers. You’ll influence decision-making with data and insight while advancing AI-enabled research methods. This role blends strategy, design, and technology to create meaningful, user-centered impact.
Pay / Benefits
- Contributory Pension Scheme
- 25 Days Holiday plus UK Public Holidays
- Perkbox access for discounts
- Critical illness cover
- Life assurance and death in service cover
- Volunteer days
Responsibilities
- Lead research on complex client engagements with a user-centred focus across projects or programmes
- Act as trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders, influencing service direction and design
- Lead multidisciplinary teams to ensure products meet user needs and accessibility standards (GDS where appropriate)
- Contribute to evolving Hippos research practice, especially regarding AI-driven changes to ways of working
- Lead and grow Hippos research capability by mentoring Intermediate and Senior researchers
- Support business growth through bids and client engagements, articulating the value of user research
- Represent Hippos research capability externally, contributing to thought leadership and practice evolution
- Foster ethical research practices and safeguard issues, guiding other researchers to do the same
Key requirements
- Extensive lead-level research experience across complex delivery environments and various clients
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams using user-centred research and design across the product/service lifecycle
- Strong track record across diverse methodologies; ability to adapt research for accessibility needs
- Consultancy and leadership skills with comfort exploring problem spaces with clients
- Confidence navigating complex organisations and ambiguity
- Experience identifying and mitigating ethics and safeguarding issues, mentoring others
- Proven ability to mentor researchers and build research capability
- Practical experience implementing AI tools/workflows to enhance outcomes
- Knowledge of GDS Digital Standard or experience delivering user-centered private-sector projects (desirable)
- Consultancy and leadership
- Stakeholder management
- Adaptability and resilience
- AI tools and workflows
- A range of user research methodologies
- Accessibility considerations in research
Lead User Researcher employer: Hippo Digital
Hippo is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and agile work culture, empowering employees to make a meaningful impact through innovative digital solutions. With a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Hippo offers extensive benefits including a contributory pension scheme, flexible working options, and professional development opportunities, making it an ideal place for talented individuals to thrive in their careers. The fully remote nature of the Principal Software Engineer role allows for flexibility while still being part of a dynamic team dedicated to delivering high-quality services to both public and private sector clients.
