Lead Design Researcher

As a Lead Design Researcher at TPXimpact, you will lead and direct the implementation of design research best practices within TPXimpact client teams and programmes. You will also contribute to refining our working methods and advancing our client offerings, all in alignment with our purpose, DT Ways, and Missions. In your role on client projects, you will uphold TPXimpact's standards of excellence, collaborating directly with clients and delivery leadership to define statements of work where necessary. You will lead teams in developing products and services with design research best practice at their heart. Your leadership will extend to multidisciplinary teams, including colleagues from across TPXimpact, associates, and client team members, and you may serve as project director when required. As a leader within the Community of Practice, you will manage a line management structure and work alongside the Head of Research and Analysis to achieve practice outcomes and uphold high standards as well as ensure our visibility both internally and externally, while also supporting business growth initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate leadership and shape design research best practice through delivering client work embedding design research approaches into Agile ways of working, delivering high quality design research through others and providing strategic support.
• Act as Lead on projects helping shape the work, leading teams and work to ensure it is delivered on time and to high standards.
• Adapt your approach depending on a client's organisation cultures, design maturity and appetite for change.
• Support and coach other designers and client teams to promote design research best practice, to support delivery outcomes and individual development goals.
• Support the Head of Research and Analysis to lead the practice within TPXimpact, and to implement the DT Design and practice strategy.
• Foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement on teams and across the practice and DT Design.
• Support business development activities, including leading on the design research approach for proposals and sales bids, and contributing to pitches and client presentations.
• Line manage 2-4 Senior design researchers in our practice and providing support within the line management structure.
• Continuously stay up-to-date with emerging technologies and methods in design research trends, and share this knowledge with others.

About You

Professional knowledge and experience

• Experience leading approaches to problem framing and research scoping, working with teams to define assumptions and/or hypotheses within institutional complexity.
• Previous experience designing and leading design research to GDS standards on complex, user facing products and services in client facing teams, projects, or programmes of work.
• Experience supporting the design of inclusive and accessible products and services, adapting research methodologies to suit diverse contexts and ensuring safeguarding of both team and participants and compliance throughout the research process.
• Experience working with prototypes and/or pilot interventions using a mix of methods and/or within robust evaluation and impact measurement processes.
• Experience of working with service owners and programme level directors to develop research roadmaps and strategy.
• Experience working with other designers and researchers in a multidisciplinary team to deliver high quality design work.
• Experience of working with data, technology and change specialists in technical and complex programmes of work.
• Experience leading and coaching others in the practice and in client teams to create quality, impactful and user-centred products and services, including in organisations and teams with low design maturity.
• Experience line managing and coaching other designers, providing support to ensure wellbeing and good performance.
• Experience operating in a fast-paced environment, balancing internal business priorities with external delivery and work on client projects.
• Experience identifying and supporting new research and/or business opportunities.

Technical skills

• Able to design appropriate and engaging research, with ethical and inclusive consideration at its core.
• Able to deliver research independently and through others using a variety of methods from discovery to evaluative research.
• Able to independently analyse and synthesise qualitative data as well as lead and facilitate team members for continuous insight development.
• Able to own and manage research operations - quality assurance and governance, tooling, knowledge management at scale within client programmes and research practice team.
• Able to effectively convey the value and impact of user-centred design and research design.
• Able to create visual and engaging artefacts for conducting, communicating research and representing users.
• Able to work in the open - confidently shaping and communicating the story of your work and impact.
• Able to proactively and reactively influence and build consensus.
• Able to hold and lead others through ambiguity on behalf of clients and teams.
• Understanding and/or first hand experience in co-design, participatory, mixed method approaches.

Desirable

• Able to plan and manage budgets, including achieving margins, and revenue as part of successful programme, project delivery.
• Able to influence how emerging technologies can be applied in our work and deliver best value for our clients.

Benefits Include:

• 30 days holiday bank holidays
• 2 volunteer days for causes that you are passionate about
• Maternity/paternity - 6 months Maternity Leave, 3 months Paternity Leave
• Life assurance
• Employer pension contribution of 5%
• Health cash plan
• Personal learning and development budget
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Green incentive programmes including Electric Vehicle Leasing and the Cycle to Work Scheme
• Financial advice
• Health assessments

We actively encourage applications from all genders, ethnicities, disabled people, members of the LGBTQIA community, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Don't meet 100% of the criteria? We still want to hear from you. Please let us know if you require any adjustments during the recruitment process.