Lead, Human Centered Designer
GovCIO
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Remote
Location: Virginia • United States
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Salary
💰 $175,000 - $190,000 per year
Job Level
About the role
- Leads human-centered design projects from discovery through implementation, including scoping design problems, conducting empathy-based contextual inquiry, qualitative research, and field observation across VA Medical Centers.
- Manages a multi-disciplinary HCD team, delegating work, establishing priorities, and aligning efforts with VHA strategic goals and agency priorities.
- Leads design synthesis to analyze qualitative data and uncover meaningful insights using tools such as customer journey maps, personas, concept mapping, and reframing techniques.
- Provides design leadership and strategic guidance to senior VHA officials and program stakeholders on human-centered design, complex facilitation, and innovation initiatives.
- Supports key VHA programs including Ambient AI Scribe and Integrated Health Technology initiatives through discovery research, pilot support, expansion planning, and change management.
- Creates and delivers comprehensive research plans, Insight Reports, Executive Summaries, and Future State Journey Maps that identify pain points and opportunities for improvement.
- Manages daily team operations ensuring compliance with VA directives, timely completion of deliverables, and alignment with customer needs.
- Develops mechanisms for monitoring project progress and facilitates intervention and problem solving with team members and stakeholders.
- Ensures the Voice of the Veteran and Voice of the Employee are infused into all design solutions and deliverables.
- Reviews, manages, and controls status of projects and budgets; manages schedules and prepares status reports.
- Manages subcontract teams and vendor deliverables, ensuring quality standards and adherence to task order requirements.
- Conducts project meetings and is responsible for project tracking, analysis, and reporting.
- Supports change management efforts across VA Medical Centers to drive adoption of new technologies and processes.
Requirements
- Bachelor's (or equivalent) with 12+ years of experience.
- Minimum 5 years of experience leading human-centered design projects within a federal health care environment, preferably VHA.
- Demonstrated experience conducting empathy-based contextual inquiry, qualitative research, and field observation across multiple VA Medical Center sites.
- Experience managing multi-disciplinary design teams, including subcontractor personnel.
- Proven track record delivering HCD artifacts such as Insight Reports, Journey Maps, Personas, and Executive Summaries to senior government stakeholders.
- Experience supporting VA clinical technology pilot programs including discovery research, site-level implementation support, and change management across multiple facilities.
- Familiarity with VA directives, VA strategic planning, and federal government contracting environments.
- Clearance Level: Must be able to obtain and maintain a VA Public Trust (Tier 2) suitability.
Benefits
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Corporate Discounts
- Learning & Development platform, to include certification preparation content
- Training, Education and Certification Assistance*
- Referral Bonus Program
- Internal Mobility Program
- Pet Insurance
- Flexible Work Environment
- *Available to full-time employees
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard Skills & Tools
human-centered designqualitative researchcontextual inquirydesign synthesiscustomer journey mapspersonasconcept mappingchange managementproject trackingbudget management
Soft Skills
leadershipteam managementstrategic guidanceproblem solvingcommunicationfacilitationprioritizationcollaborationinsight generationstakeholder engagement
Certifications
Bachelor's degreeVA Public Trust (Tier 2)