About The Role Hippo is a rapidly growing AI‑enabled digital consultancy that builds transformative digital solutions for public and private sector clients.
We are hiring a
Principal Design Consultant
to lead strategy, design, and technology across complex programmes and organisations, shaping user strategy, defining design standards, and driving successful delivery at scale.
Key Responsibilities
Lead user‑centred design across the most complex and strategically important client engagements.
Act as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders, using data and design methodologies to influence decision‑making.
Lead teams to design services that meet the needs of all users and adhere to GDS and accessibility standards.
Evolve Hippo’s design approach, promoting the profession internally and externally.
Recruit, lead and mentor senior and lead designers, strengthening capability within Hippo’s community.
Support business growth through pre‑sales activity, shaping product propositions, and contributing to bids.
Represent Hippo’s design capability internally and externally, contributing to thought leadership and community engagement.
About The Candidate
Extensive experience as a principal designer in complex delivery environments.
Experience leading multidisciplinary teams using user‑centred design throughout the product or service lifecycle.
Confidence operating in technical environments and translating complex concepts into clear design direction.
Advanced consultancy and leadership skills, exploring problem spaces with clients to determine the best approach.
Ability to manage multiple work streams and dependencies while maintaining clarity of design direction.
Proven ability to lead and mentor designers, building team capability.
Working knowledge of the GDS Digital Standard and related assessment, or extensive delivery experience in the private sector.
Experience providing continuous thought leadership within your profession.
Benefits
Competitive salary and contributory pension scheme (Hippo 6% with 2% employee contributions).
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 and cycle‑to‑work scheme.
Salary‑sacrifice electric vehicle scheme and season ticket loans.
Financial and general wellbeing sessions.
Flexible benefits scheme with options: private health cover, private dental cover, additional company pension contributions, additional holidays (up to 2 days), wellbeing contribution, charity contributions, tree planting.
Locations
Leeds (Headquarters)
Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, London, Bristol
Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging We actively encourage applications from under‑represented groups and are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Hippo is a registered Disability Confident Employer, Mindful Employer, Endometriosis Friendly Employer and a member of the Armed Forces Covenant. We strive to remove barriers, provide accommodations, and offer reasonable adjustments to ensure equity across our practices.
#J-18808-Ljbffr