Senior HCD Expert — User-Centered Service Design & Risk Reduction

ecsfederal; Virginia (MN); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Everforth ECS is seeking a Senior HCD Subject Matter Expert to support the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The role is in Arlington, VA (Hybrid) and focuses on validating user needs through rigorous research and co-design.

You will deploy HCD methodologies—contextual inquiry, usability testing, and co-design sessions—to ensure engineering work reflects verified user needs and reduces rework and risk before code is written.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• US citizenship with ability to obtain DHS Suitability (EOD).
• TS/SCI clearance is required.
• 7+ years of experience conducting and synthesizing user research and stakeholder analysis.
• Deep expertise in HCD methodologies, interaction design, service design, IA, and content strategy.
• Proven ability to synthesize research into actionable reports and roadmaps.

Responsibilities

• Customer-Centric Research & Analysis: conduct in-depth user research and validate service utility with stakeholders.
• Co-Design & Facilitation: lead participatory design sessions and bridge gaps between users and engineers.
• Artifact Creation & Strategy: develop user journeys, service blueprints, personas, and segmentations.
• Technical Debt Mitigation: identify debt from poor user alignment and advocate CX best practices.

Skills

HCD methodologies

Usability testing

Contextual inquiry

Co-design sessions

User journey maps

Service blueprints

Personas

Stakeholder analysis

Risk management

Facilitation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelors degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Everforth ECS is seeking a Senior HCD Subject Matter Expert to support the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The role is in Arlington, VA (Hybrid) and focuses on validating user needs through rigorous research and co-design.

You will deploy HCD methodologies—contextual inquiry, usability testing, and co-design sessions—to ensure engineering work reflects verified user needs and reduces rework and risk before code is written.