About this role
Salary: £59,000 - 99,000 per year
Requirements: You have extensive lead-level user research experience across complex delivery environments and a range of clients.You have experience working effectively within and leading multidisciplinary teams, applying user-centred research and design throughout the product or service lifecycle.You have a strong track record of applying a wide range of research methodologies and adapting research to meet participants accessibility needs.You bring strong consultancy and leadership skills, and confidence exploring problem spaces with clients to determine an appropriate way forward.You are confident working in complex organisations and adapting quickly to new environments and ambiguous requests.You have experience identifying and mitigating ethics and safeguarding issues, and supporting other user researchers to do the same.You can lead and mentor researchers and UCD practitioners, build team or professional capability, and support long-term growth.You have practical experience implementing AI tools and workflows to improve outcomes for users, clients and our organisation.Working knowledge of the GDS Digital Standard and preparing for a GDS assessment is desirable; extensive experience delivering user-centred projects in the private sector is also relevant.We particularly encourage applications from candidates with extensive experience using AI in research or UCD practice, or working on products or services that embed AI. Responsibilities: Lead research on complex client engagements, championing user-centred approaches and adding value across complex projects and programmes.Advise senior client stakeholders, using data, insight and primary research to influence decisions and shape service direction and design.Lead teams to ensure products and services meet users needs and comply with GDS standards where appropriate, accessibility requirements and other relevant standards.Help evolve our research practice in response to AI, agile ways of working and changing delivery models.Lead within our research profession and internal workstreams, supporting its growth.Recruit, lead and mentor Intermediate and Senior researchers, strengthen professional capability, and foster continuous learning and improvement.Support business growth by contributing to bids, adding value to client accounts, and explaining the value of user research and user-centred delivery.Represent our research and UCD capability internally and externally, contribute to thought leadership, and help evolve our research practice. Technologies: AISupport More:
We are Hippo, a rapidly growing AI-enabled digital consultancy and digital services partner. We combine data-informed evidence, human-centred design and software engineering to create bespoke digital services and help public and private sector clients solve complex problems. We work collaboratively and with an agile approach, from concept to delivery, and believe technology should serve humanity. This is a permanent Lead Consultant role, advertised at £69,000–£77,500 plus benefits. We offer a contributory pension, 25 days holiday plus UK public holidays, Perkbox discounts, critical illness cover, life assurance, volunteer days, a cycle-to-work scheme, an electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket loans, wellbeing sessions and flexible benefits including optional private health or dental cover, additional pension contributions, extra holidays, wellbeing contributions, charity contributions and tree planting. We are committed to an inclusive and accessible workplace and recruitment process, and offer reasonable adjustments. We are headquartered in Leeds, with offices in Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, London and Bristol. You should live within reasonable travelling distance of one of our offices and be open to travelling and working at a Hippo office or client site at least two days per week, depending on client needs. We offer relocation support of up to £8,000, subject to terms and conditions.
last updated 40 week of 2026