Human Centred Design Lead

UNSW International; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Career development

17% superannuation contributions

Additional leave over Christmas

Discounts across retailers

Job summary

University of New South Wales is seeking a Human Centred Design Lead to drive the LMS transformation. You will turn user insights into intuitive systems, guiding design, navigation and workflows across a major digital program.

You will lead a multidisciplinary team, collaborate with change management and learning specialists, and apply inclusive, accessible design from the outset to support broad adoption.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in human-centred design, service design, UX/UI, HCI or related field.
• Substantial experience leading HCD practice at scale, preferably in higher education.
• Experience in discovery research, journey mapping, service design and usability testing.

Skills

HCD leadership

Discovery research

Journey mapping

Co-design workshops

Facilitation

Stakeholder engagement

Accessibility embedding

Education

Tertiary qualifications in HCD/UX

Job description

University of New South Wales – Sydney NSW

• 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

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

**********@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

For further details on the benefits, please visit https://www.jobs.unsw.edu.au/lifestyle-benefits

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.