Human Centred Design Lead

UNSW Employees, Location, Alumni; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Career development and leadership

17% superannuation contributions and 0

Leave loading payments

Christmas leave

Discounts across retailers

Job summary

UNSW is seeking a Human Centred Design (HCD) Lead to shape the LMS transformation, turning user insights into intuitive systems, navigation and workflows. You’ll bring designers, analysts and learning specialists together to create a solution that works for people and supports lasting adoption.

You will lead a multidisciplinary design team, mentor UX designers and accessibility specialists, and partner with change management to align design activity with adoption outcomes.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in human-centred design, service design, UX/UI design, or related field with substantial leadership experience.
• Experience leading human-centred design or co-design in large-scale transformations, preferably in higher education.
• Expertise in discovery research, journey mapping, service design, workshops and usability testing.

Responsibilities

• Lead HCD programs at scale and mentor a multidisciplinary design team.
• Translate user research and design decisions into practical standards, templates and guidance.
• Collaborate with designers, analysts and learning specialists across faculties to shape LMS transformation.
• Engage stakeholders and drive adoption through inclusive design and change activities.

Skills

HCD leadership

User research

Facilitation

Stakeholder engagement

Accessibility

Design systems

Education

Tertiary qualification in HCD/UX

Job description

At UNSW, we take pride in the broad range and high quality of our teaching programs. Our teaching gains strength and currency from our research activities, strong industry links and our international nature; UNSW has strong regional and...

• Employment Type: Full time (35 hours per week)
• Duration: 2 year Fixed Term Contract
• Location: Kensington, NSW (on-campus role, hybrid work arrangement)

About UNSW

UNSW isn't like other places you've worked. Yes, we're a large organisation with a diverse and talented community; a community doing extraordinary things. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all we do. Taking this combined approach is what makes our work matter.

Why this project

UNSW is introducing a new Learning Management System (LMS), and you're invited to take part in reshaping the digital environment that will support teaching and learning for everyone.

This is more than a system implementation. The program integrates change, training, communications, and engagement to support staff and students through a thoughtfully designed transition. Guided by a human-centred design approach, we are aligning the LMS with Flex-Semester and curriculum changes as a connected and cohesive transformation.

Joining at this stage means becoming part of an exciting phase of delivery in helping shape how this transformation is experienced across the University. You’ll collaborate with an experienced, multidisciplinary team, working within a program that benefits from strong executive sponsorship, clear direction, and meaningful institutional impact.

Why this role

As the Human Centred Design (HCD) Lead, you’ll shape the design approach for the LMS transformation, turning user insights into intuitive systems, navigation and workflows. You’ll bring designers, analysts, learning specialists and university communities together to create a solution that works for people and supports lasting adoption.

Skills and Experience

To be successful in this role you will need:

• Tertiary qualifications in human-centred design, service design, UX/UI design, human-computer interaction or a related field, or equivalent experience, with substantial experience leading HCD practice at scale.
• Demonstrated experience leading human-centred design or co-design programs in complex, multi-stakeholder / large-scale transformation institutional environments, ideally within higher education.
• Practical senior expertise in HCD methods, including discovery research, journey mapping, service design, co-design workshops and usability testing, and the ability to apply these across a large-scale digital transformation program.
• HCD Lead requires expertise in human-centred design, service design and user research, ideally within complex institutional or higher education environments.
• Working knowledge of participatory engagement frameworks such as the IAP2 Spectrum of Participation, and the ability to apply the right level of engagement to different stages of design.
• Experience leading or mentoring a multidisciplinary design team, for example UX designers, accessibility specialists and student or user representatives.
• Understanding of inclusive and accessible design principles, and experience embedding accessibility requirements into design practice from the outset.
• Demonstrated ability to translate user research and design decisions into practical standards, templates and guidance that can be adopted at scale across diverse faculties or business units.
• Excellent facilitation, stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to run workshops and build genuine buy‑in across academic, professional and student stakeholder groups.
• Experience partnering with change management functions to align design and change activity in support of adoption outcomes.
• Recognised as a subject matter expert in human-centred design, able to provide specialist advice and drive design‑led change.
• Experience in higher education strongly preferred

To Apply

Through the job portal, please submit the below as part of your application:

• Your CV
• A cover letter outlining your interest, and how your skills and experience aligns with the scope of the role.

Applications sent directly to the contact below will not be considered.
Please note: Sponsorship is not available for this role; valid Australian working rights are required on application.

The closing date for applications is 11:55pm on Sunday 22nd November 2026, 11:55PM

Job Queries: Ayla Kamal: Talent Acquisition Partner, for any recruitment‑related enquiries
ayla.kamal @unsw.edu.au

Benefits and Culture

People are at the core of everything we do. We recognise it is the contributions of our staff who make UNSW one of the best universities in Australia and the world. Our benefits include:

• Flexible working options
• Career development and leadership opportunities
• 17% flexible superannuation contributions and additional leave loading payments
• Additional leave over the Christmas period
• Discounts and entitlements across retail, education, and fitness providers

Pre‑Employment Checks

As part of our recruitment process, candidates may be required to undergo pre‑employment screening, including qualification verification, reference checks, right‑to‑work verification, and criminal history screening where relevant to the role.

UNSW is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disability, members of the LGBTIQ+ community, and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability and access to flexible work options for eligible staff.