Product Design Lead - SECURE Center

Northeastern University•Boston, MA

5d•$76,335 - $107,824•Onsite

About The Position

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. The Product Design Lead will report to the Chief Research Operations Officer and Director of the Northeast Region of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Safeguarding the Entire Community of the US Research Enterprise Center (SECURE Center). The NSF SECURE Center is led by the University of Washington. We are looking for a collaborative and research-oriented Design Lead to join the SECURE Northeast Regional Hub, located at Northeastern University. As mandated in the “CHIPS and Science Act of 2022,” the NSF SECURE Center, a collaboration between nine institutions of higher education, will apply a co-design approach to serve as a clearinghouse for information to empower the research community to identify and mitigate threats that pose risks to the U.S. research enterprise. The Product Design Lead will be responsible for (a) managing the regional co-design hub, (b) leading the planning and execution of design activities, and c) coordinating with other regional hubs. This is a 1-year fixed term position, renewal based on available grant funding.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in fields such as Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Social Sciences, or Engineering
3-5 years in design, user experience, service design, or a related field, with a focus on design or participatory design methodologies.
Background in user research, human-centered design, and/or product development
Excellent facilitation and communication skills, with the ability to engage and inspire stakeholders at all levels
Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
Proficiency in design and prototyping tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Figma)
Ability to translate complex ideas into actionable design responses
Empathy and a deep understanding of user needs and behaviors
Strong leadership and collaboration skills
Creative thinker with a passion for innovation
Self-motivated and able to work independently as well as part of a team
Comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity

Nice To Haves

Domain knowledge in research security, academia, or government
Experience leading co-design initiatives and activities
Experience with design and/or development in complex multistakeholder domains such as healthcare, education, policy, or cybersecurity.

Responsibilities

Manage the regional co-design hub.
Lead the planning and execution of design activities.
Coordinate with other regional hubs.
Gather, analyze, and synthesize user insights and feedback to inform design requirements and co-design activities.
Ensure that user and stakeholder needs, pain points, and desires are deeply understood and integrated into the design of SECURE software products and services.
Use qualitative and quantitative data to synthesize design recommendations, guide decision-making, and validate design concepts.
Organize and lead co-design workshops, ideation sessions, and collaborative events involving internal teams, stakeholders (research administrators, researchers, funders).
Foster strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, ensuring their active participation and meaningful contribution throughout the design process.
Manage co-design projects from concept to completion, ensuring they are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget.
Develop project plans, set milestones, and track progress, while maintaining flexibility to adapt to changing needs and feedback.
Communicate project status, insights, and outcomes to stakeholders and senior leadership.
Work closely with the National Co-Creation team leadership and other teams to translate co-design outcomes into actionable design specifications, prototypes, and final products.
Oversee the iterative design process, ensuring that prototypes are tested with users and refined based on feedback.
Ensure that the final design solutions align with strategic objectives.
Evaluate the effectiveness of co-design processes and make recommendations for continuous improvement.
Share learnings and insights with the broader organization to promote a culture of innovation and collaboration.