Product Design Lead - SECURE Center

About the Opportunity

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.

JOB SUMMARY

The Product Design Lead will report to the Chief Research Operations Officer and Director of the Northeast Region of the 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.

1-year fixed term position, renewal based on available grant funding.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in fields such as Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Social Sciences, or Engineering

Experience:

• 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

Skills:

• 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

Personal Attributes:

• 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

Preferred Job Qualifications

• 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.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES

User Research & Insights 20%

• 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.

Facilitation & Stakeholder Engagement 20%

• 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.

Project Management 20%

• 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.

Design & Development 20%

• 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.

Continuous Improvement 20%

• Evaluate the effectiveness o