Human-Centred Design Principal (Associate Director) in London

Human-Centred Design Principal (Associate Director)

We are looking for an experienced Human-Centred Design (HCD) Principal to join our HCD Practice at Social Finance.

This role offers a unique opportunity to drive systemic change across complex social issues through human-centred design and research.

Published

Salary

£80,000

Location

Hybrid, London Bridge

Closing date

The opportunity

Human-Centred Design is a key focus for Social Finance, and we are now looking to grow our leadership team to deliver on the ambitions of our impact strategy.

As an Associate Director in HCD you’ll be a strategic leader who champions human-centred design and research across the organisation, working with a small team to deliver impactful solutions rooted in real people’s needs.

The team

Our UK team comprises around 60 dedicated change‑makers, and the HCD Practice currently has three members – a Practice Lead (also an Associate Director), a Service Design Manager, and a Design Research Manager – plus a wider community of practice that meets monthly.

Key responsibilities

• Project leadership and delivery: Lead or advise on multiple projects concurrently, initially focusing on the Drive Project and our learning‑partner function.
• Practice development: Contribute to the HCD practice and community of practice, coach and mentor members, and champion and embed HCD across Social Finance.
• Business contribution: Lead or contribute to HCD‑focused new business and help embed HCD within impact or practice areas.
• Project leadership and delivery
• Oversee or advise on several complex, multi‑stakeholder research projects on sensitive social issues simultaneously, setting strategic direction and ensuring they inform the design of impactful products, services, and policies.
• Lead or advise on projects within the Drive Project, including the strategic Learning Partner function.
• Guide collaborative analysis and synthesis, developing actionable insights that drive decision‑making and positive social impact.
• Coordinate across a multi‑disciplinary project team, fostering effective collaboration across disciplines.
• Deliver strong project management, providing clarity, structure and momentum for team members.
• Contribute to a positive, inclusive team culture and support staff development, morale and wellbeing.
• Identify and manage risks, interdependencies and constraints, managing upwards effectively and coordinating with functional leads where appropriate (e. g.

Information Governance, Legal, Finance).

• Build and sustain trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across clients and delivery partners.
• Navigate complex political, commercial and organisational dynamics, exercising effective influence across partners with differing incentives and priorities.
• Act as a credible external ambassador for Social Finance in senior forums.
• Contribute to the development of Social Finance’s HCD practice, shaping approaches, tools and ways of working.
• Coach, mentor and develop members of the HCD practice and Community of Practice.
• Champion responsible, inclusive and ethical research practices, ensuring our work is accessible and beneficial for all users.
• Take an active role in the wider HCD Community of Practice, designing and running sessions to inspire and upskill the community.
• Business contribution
• Work closely with impact or practice areas to identify opportunities, build out work and embed Human‑Centred Design.
• Contribute to business development, identifying opportunities for effective collaboration, scoping and designing end‑to‑end projects, and helping to grow our design and research portfolio.
• Act as a business owner within the team, contributing to both impact and commercial sustainability.

About You

We are looking for an experienced Human‑Centred Design Principal, passionate about solving complex social problems through design and research.

You have led design and research project teams, ideally in contexts involving complex stakeholder environments and systemic challenges.

• Experience leading design and/or research project teams in complex public sector environments, with a strong understanding of UK digital transformation best practice.
• Ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments and comfort with ambiguity.
• A pragmatic approach to user research, service design and product development, balancing rigour with achievability within budgets and technical constraints.
• Analytical skill to synthesize research findings into actionable outputs, identifying long‑term value and strategic insights.
• Deep understanding of ethical considerations in research and experience conducting research with users with diverse needs.
• Experience working as a learning partner, or equivalent role.
• Collaborative and ego‑free, capable of giving and receiving feedback across all team levels, and experienced in mentoring junior researchers.
• Quick understanding of the political, social and technological context of designing services, mapping current journeys and creating blueprints for improved user experiences.
• Strong communication skills and comfort in client‑facing roles.
• A self‑starter capable of scoping and leading projects independently, with excellent organisational and delivery management skills.
• Effective in digitally immature environments, supporting clients to identify opportunities for digital innovation.
• Experience working in the VAWG sector, or a similar sector.
• Skilled in designing, prototyping and building user‑centred products, using a variety of tools such as Figma, Miro and non‑digital methods.
• Quantitative evaluation design and data analysis skills, comfortable designing data‑driven solutions to prioritise user needs within technical constraints.
• Experience working in, or leading, Agile teams and familiarity with GDS standards and service assessments.
• Experience in consulting and agency environments.
• Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

We actively encourage applications from under‑represented and minority‑ised groups, including those with lived experience of the social issues we are working to address.

We are an equal opportunities employer.

Flexible Working

We support a range of flexible working options and welcome UK‑based applications from outside of London/the Southeast, so long as in‑person meeting requirements can be met.

Secondments and part‑time working are also accommodated.

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