About The Candidate

• Extensive experience in research at a Principal level across a range of complex delivery environments, and with a range of clients
• Experience working effectively within and leading multidisciplinary teams using user-centred design approaches throughout the product or service lifecycle
• Strong track record of applying a wide range of research methodologies, and adapting research to meet the accessibility needs of participants
• Expert consultancy and leadership skills, and confidence in exploring problem spaces with clients to determine most appropriate way forward
• Confidence operating within complex organisations and adapting quickly to new environments and ambiguous asks.
• Experience in identifying and effectively mitigating ethics and safeguarding issues, and supporting other user researchers to do this.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor other researchers and UCD practitioners, building profession or team capability and supporting long-term growth
• Working knowledge of the GDS Digital Standard and how to prepare for a GDS assessment, or extensive experience of delivering research and driving user centred approaches in the private sector
• Practical experience of implementing AI tools and workflows, producing stronger outcomes for users, clients and Hippo
• Experience providing continuous thought leadership within your profession

About The Company

Alongside working with some of the most talented people out there and on-top of a competitive salary, which we’re transparent about from the outset, you can also expect a range of benefits:

• Contributory Pension Scheme (Hippo 6% & Employee 2%)
• 25 Days Holiday plus UK Public Holidays
• Perkbox access for a wide range of discounts
• Critical illness cover
• Life assurance and death in service cover
• Volunteer days
• Cycle-to-work scheme for the avid cyclists
• Salary sacrifice electric vehicles scheme
• Season ticket loans
• Financial and general wellbeing sessions
• Flexible benefits scheme with options of:
  • Private health cover
  • Private dental cover
  • Additional company pension contributions
  • Additional holidays (up to an extra 2 days)
  • Wellbeing contribution
  • Charity contributions
  • Tree planting

Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at Hippo

At Hippo, we’re dedicated to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace that works for everyone. We understand that having a diverse team unlocks our capacity for innovation, creativity and problem solving. Only by building a community of diverse perspectives, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds can we create an environment where all can contribute and thrive.

We actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups including women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent and people with disabilities. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process that reflects our workplace culture. We are a registered Disability Confident Employer, Mindful Employer, Endometriosis Friendly Employer and a member of the Armed Forces Covenant. Hippo continually strives to remove barriers, provide accommodations and offer reasonable adjustments to ensure equity throughout our practices.

Hi, we’re Hippo

At Hippo, we design with empathy and build for impact. We do this by combining data-informed evidence, human-centred design and software engineering. We're a digital services partner who is genuinely invested in helping our clients thrive as modern organisations. Our delivery methodology is truly agile, from concept to reality, supporting innovation and continuous improvement to achieve your desired outcomes.

We firmly believe that technology should serve humanity, not the other way around. We take a human-centred approach to everything we do because we understand that complex problems require a service design approach. This means understanding how users behave and ensuring our solutions work for them in the real world.

Our combination of data, design, and engineering delivers bespoke digital services that make a positive and meaningful impact on organisations and society.

Have a look through our Website at Our Story & Purpose, Our Culture & Values, Case Studies and Our Solutions & Services to find out some more!

Hippo Locations

We are headquartered in Leeds and have offices across the UK in Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, London and Bristol. We're on the lookout for top talent nationwide but you need to be located within reasonable travelling distance from one of our offices. Given the dynamic nature of a consulting business, you may be required to work on-site at a Hippo office or at an in/out of town client location for a number of days per week (client dependent) and therefore candidates will need to be open/flexible to travel and working on one of those sites at least 2 days per week. We offer a generous relocation support package of up to £8,000 (please ask for terms and conditions) to help make your move a smooth one.