Principal UX Designer

About The Role

Hippo is recruiting for principal consultants in UX design. UX designers ensure that people using a service can do what they need to do, when they need to do it, in a way that is easy for them. Working with user researchers, they identify what users need from a service and use that information to inform their design decisions. Champions of user-centred design, they work with other Agile team members to test and iterate designs, and advise clients on how to get the best from interaction design.

Hippo's principal consultants in UX design are experts in their field, supporting teams and clients at a strategic level. In return, we offer exciting opportunities to support clients at a senior level and to play an important part in the expansion of Hippo's business.

Please note: we are looking for candidates seeking growth at this level (principal). Therefore, the advertised salary band is at the lower end of our full banding for this position, allowing for progression in the role.

What you'll do

1. Develop strong relationships with clients and provide expertise in interaction design, people-centred design, and Agile methodologies.
2. Lead teams to design services that meet the needs of all users and adhere to GDS standards.
3. Evolve Hippo's approach to UX design, promoting the profession internally and externally.
4. Lead Hippo's UX design community of practice and provide thought leadership in your profession.
5. Recruit, line manage, and mentor other interaction designers.
6. Support Hippo's business strategy by leading on recruitment, resourcing, training, bid writing, or other business activities.

Skills and experience that you need

• Extensive experience in UX design across various environments and with different clients.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary Agile teams to design and deliver people-centred services (from Discovery to live).
• Advanced communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience educating stakeholders and team members on the value of interaction design and Agile ways of working.
• Experience line-managing or mentoring other UX designers.
• Working knowledge of the GDS Digital Standard and preparation for GDS assessments.
• Providing continuous thought leadership within your profession.
• An understanding of other design disciplines such as content and service design.
• Advanced consultancy and leadership skills, with confidence in exploring problem spaces with clients to determine the most appropriate solutions.

What makes us great

In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a range of benefits:

• Contributory pension scheme (Hippo 6% with employee contributions of 2%).
• 25 days holiday plus UK public holidays.
• Perkbox discounts.
• Critical illness cover.
• Life assurance and death in service cover.
• Volunteer days.
• Cycle-to-work scheme.
• Salary sacrifice electric vehicle scheme.
• Season ticket loans.
• Financial and wellbeing sessions.
• Flexible benefits scheme including private health and dental cover, additional pension contributions, extra holidays, wellbeing contributions, charity donations, and tree planting.

Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Hippo

We're dedicated to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We believe diverse teams foster innovation, creativity, and problem-solving. We encourage applications from underrepresented groups and are committed to accessible recruitment processes. We are a Disability Confident Employer, Mindful Employer, Endometriosis Friendly Employer, and a member of the Armed Forces Covenant. We strive to remove barriers, provide accommodations, and ensure equity throughout our practices.

Hi, we're Hippo.

At Hippo, we design with empathy and build for impact by combining data, human-centred design, and software engineering. We're invested in helping our clients thrive as modern organizations. Our agile methodology supports innovation and continuous improvement to meet your outcomes.

We believe technology should serve humanity. Our solutions are based on understanding user behavior and ensuring they work in the real world. Our approach delivers bespoke digital services that positively impact organizations and society. We are confident, authentic, and passionate about what we do. Let us help you build for the future and make a lasting impact.

Hippo locations

Headquartered in Leeds, with offices in Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, London, and Bristol. We welcome candidates nationwide with the flexibility to work remotely or on-site. We offer a relocation support package of up to £8,000 to facilitate your move. Due to the nature of our work, you may need to work at client sites or from home.