Principal Design Leader - AI-Driven Service Strategy

Hippo Digital Limited; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Contributory Pension Scheme

25 Days Holiday

Perkbox access

Private health cover

Private dental cover

Cycle-to-work scheme

Season ticket loans

Wellbeing contribution

Flexible benefits scheme

Job summary

Hippo is a rapidly growing AI-enabled digital consultancy based in Leeds. We are hiring a Principal Design Consultant to shape user strategy across programs, set design standards and lead complex, high-impact engagements for public and private sector clients.

You will mentor senior and lead designers, contribute to building our design capability, and influence executive stakeholders while championing user-centred outcomes at scale, including AI-enabled approaches.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in design at a Principal level across complex delivery environments.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams using user-centred design approaches throughout the product/service lifecycle.
• Ability to translate complex concepts into clear design direction that delivers measurable outcomes.
• Proven consultancy and leadership skills with clients to determine the best path forward.

Responsibilities

• Be part of the leadership of our most complex and strategically important client engagements, driving a user centred approach across all projects and adding design value across a programme or account.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders— including executive leadership— using data, insight and design methodologies to influence decision-making and shape long-term service strategy.
• Lead teams to design services that meet the needs of all users and adhere to GDS standards, accessibility and other relevant guidelines.
• Be part of the leadership team of Hippo’s design profession, leading internal workstreams to grow the profession during rapid business growth.
• Work with other design leaders to evolve practices and maintain our reputation for high-quality user-centred design and delivery as the market evolves with AI.
• Recruit, lead and mentor Senior and Lead designers, strengthening capability and fostering continuous learning.
• Support business growth through pre-sales activity, shaping propositions, contributing to bids, and helping clients understand the value of user-centred design.
• Represent Hippo’s design capability internally and externally, contributing to thought leadership and industry engagement.

Skills

Design leadership

User-centred design

Multidisciplinary teams

Strategic thinking

Mentoring

AI in design

Executive stakeholder engagement

Presales experience

Tools

AI tools

Job description

Hippo is a rapidly growing AI-enabled digital consultancy based in Leeds. We are hiring a Principal Design Consultant to shape user strategy across programs, set design standards and lead complex, high-impact engagements for public and private sector clients.

You will mentor senior and lead designers, contribute to building our design capability, and influence executive stakeholders while championing user-centred outcomes at scale, including AI-enabled approaches.