Human-Centered Design Specialist IV – Research, Healthcare

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Oversee the creation of the Magnify Report, which serves as the official HCD deliverable for each assigned SBIR contract.

• Develop research methodologies, plans for stakeholder engagement, strategies for interviews, synthesis techniques, and processes for report development.

• Organize and execute expert and stakeholder interviews involving VA stakeholders, healthcare leaders, program representatives, subject matter experts, end users, and other contributors.

• Evaluate interview notes and qualitative data to uncover patterns, themes, relationships, gaps, and potential opportunities.

• Create personas, stakeholder maps, journey maps, experience maps, service blueprints, process maps, and other relevant HCD artifacts.

• Convert research insights into user needs, opportunity statements, design considerations, recommendations, and narratives suitable for executive review.

• Integrate interviews, research findings, HCD artifacts, and supporting evidence into comprehensive formal deliverables.

• Ensure traceability between research evidence, synthesized findings, and recommendations.

• Coordinate review sessions with project leadership, subject matter experts, and stakeholders, integrating feedback into final deliverables.

• Conduct background and contextual research on VA healthcare programs, stakeholders, policies, services, and operational environments.

• Validate intricate healthcare and program information with subject matter experts.

• Develop executive summaries, presentations, briefing materials, research summaries, and documentation for stakeholders.

• Keep organized repositories for HCD research, supporting documents, decision records, and source materials.

• Collaborate with HCD designers, UI/UX specialists, developers, analysts, evaluators, program managers, and healthcare subject matter experts.

• Facilitate research presentations, synthesis sessions, stakeholder workshops, and working sessions.

• Present findings and recommendations to both client and internal audiences.

• Operate independently with minimal oversight, supporting multiple HCD initiatives or SBIR activities as priorities shift.

• Engage in LMI's HCD community of practice, contributing methods, templates, writing practices, and lessons learned.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human-Centered Design, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Public Health, Health Administration, Healthcare, Communications, Human-Computer Interaction, Design Research, or a related field.

• 5-7+ years of experience in human-centered design, qualitative research, user research, healthcare research, program research, consulting, or a related area.

• Experience in supporting federal healthcare, public health, healthcare delivery, or other intricate health-related programs.

• Proven experience in planning and conducting interviews with stakeholders, subject matter experts, or users.

• Strong qualitative research and synthesis abilities, including the capacity to identify themes and convert findings into actionable insights.

• Outstanding professional writing, editing, and documentation capabilities.

• Proven track record of developing formal reports, research deliverables, executive summaries, findings, recommendations, or similar written products.

• Ability to swiftly comprehend complex programs, organizational structures, workflows, and subject matter.

• Excellent facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Effective communication skills with executives, subject matter experts, healthcare stakeholders, technical teams, and end users.

• High attention to detail and the capability to maintain accuracy across intricate documentation.

• Ability to independently manage research activities and deliverables with limited oversight.

• Capability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance.

• Preferred: Master’s degree in a related field; previous experience with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or Veterans Health Administration; knowledge of suicide prevention, mental health, behavioral health, public health, Veteran services, healthcare stakeholder populations, HCD or government consulting reports, HCD artifacts, federal healthcare policy or digital health environments, SBIR or digital modernization initiatives; understanding of accessibility, inclusive design, trauma-informed engagement, or sensitive-subject research; relevant certifications in HCD, UX research, public health, qualitative research, Agile, or facilitation.

🏝️ Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Generous paid time off and holidays.

• Retirement savings plan with company match.

• Opportunities for professional development and ongoing education.