Design Research Lead

Overview

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The Design Research Lead defines and delivers research programs across the entire design process from early exploration, strategy and problem definition, to ideation, testing, and final implementation. This role partners with team members across Product Design, Content Design, Product Management, Analytics, and Engineering to develop exceptionally creative user-centered experiences for Medicare consumers. The Design Research Lead uncovers proprietary insights that inspire prioritization, planning, and decision-making on product strategy through an agile test-and-learn approach.

Who We Are

Humana's Experience Design team within the Consumer Digital organization strives to eliminate friction in today s healthcare ecosystem. With relentless consumer-centricity, this effort aims to make consumers feel confident, respected, and heard in the decisions affecting their health.

The Design Research Lead develops a shared learning agenda across a portfolio of product activity. This includes intaking and prioritizing research requests, scoping and creating research strategy, conducting primary and secondary research, and delivering actionable insights. The Lead also guides product and design partners to act on these insights. They apply a variety of research methods for contextual research, such as trend scanning and market analysis.

These methods also include generative research, like user interviews and mental models, as well as evaluative research, such as concept testing and usability. The goal of these methods is to inform product strategy and design decisions. They follow solutions beyond delivery to assess the customer experience through VOC and analytics tools, supporting ongoing improvement and evolution of the customer s relationship with Humana and our digital offerings.

This is a remote role reporting to the Head of Design Research.

• Lead customer/user research and measurement contributions within a business domain or functional group
• Oversight of planning, development, and execution of research and insights programs and deliverables within a business domain or functional group
• Work independently, make decisions on complex issues, execute analysis and synthesis of disparate factors, determining best course of action on insights and design research programs
• Drive approaches to codify and socialize customer insights contribution to customer-centered approach within and beyond the business unit
• Influence and support leaders to create customer insights and design points of view, strategies, ways of working, methods and tools
• Build valuable strategic partnerships with stakeholders across the business unit, Humana, and vendors-at all levels, across functions and lines of business
• Demonstrate Humana and business unit values, leadership behaviors, and cultural attributes, modeling positive practices in all interactions
• Proactively collaborate with and cross-train design research teammates and cross-functional peers
• Support recruiting and hiring in design research and adjacent functional areas, including strategy, design, product, and marketing
• Identify new approaches, methods, and tools; activate and pilot them through design research programs; socialize and roll them out with the practice
• Demonstrate strategic rigor and craft standards, influencing a culture of mastery and excellence

• 8+ years of experience leading design research contributions in the context of innovation, human-centered design, and/or digital product
• 5+ years of experience independently managing design research programs
• Exceptional communication, problem-solving, coaching and management skills
• Demonstrated advanced education or expertise in design research tradecraft. This shows through a BS, MS, or PhD in a research-related discipline, such as Design Strategy, Human Computer Interaction, Interaction Design, Human Factors, Psychology, Anthropology, or Cognitive Science.
• Experience with a variety of UX and design research methodologies
• Experience with design thinking and Agile product development environments
• A…