Human-Centred Design Principal (Associate Director)
We are looking for an experienced Human-Centred Design (HCD) Principal to join our HCD Practice at Social Finance. This role offers a unique opportunity to drive systemic change across complex social issues through human-centred design and research.
Published: 5 July 2026
Updated: 13 July 2026
Salary: £80,000
Location: Hybrid, London Bridge
Closing date: 24 July 2026
The opportunity
We are looking for an experienced Human-Centred Design (HCD) Principal to join our HCD Practice at Social Finance. This role offers a unique opportunity to drive systemic change across complex social issues through human-centred design and research.
Human-Centred Design is a key focus for Social Finance, and we are now looking to grow our leadership team to deliver on the ambitions of our impact strategy. At Social Finance, we take an iterative, participatory approach to systems change and design. Our work is incredibly varied — we design digital products and services, organisational ways of working and business models, and instill complex systems change. As an Associate Director in HCD, you'll be a strategic leader who champions human-centred design and research across the organisation, working with a small team to deliver impactful solutions rooted in real people's needs.
We value curiosity, collaboration, pragmatism and comfort with ambiguity. We aim to invest and grow human-centred design and research capabilities in our organisation, and you'll be joining at a time when you have a genuine opportunity to shape the direction of our HCD practice and wider Community of Practice.
The team
Our UK Team comprises around 60 dedicated change-makers, bringing together a wide range of skills and expertise to deliver better solutions to complex social problems.
This role will sit within our Human-Centred Design Practice, anchored within our wider HCD Community of Practice. There are currently 3 people in the HCD Practice; the Practice Lead (also an Associate Director), a Service Design Manager, and a Design Research Manager. We have roughly 10 additional people from around Social Finance who meet on a monthly basis as part of our Community of Practice.
Our portfolio spans Social Finance's four key impact areas: Children & Young People, Health & Social Care, Employment & Skills, and Housing & Homelessness. While this role will be able to work across our impact areas as projects come up, the role will initially focus on our Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) projects, in particular the Drive Project, described in more detail below.
Key responsibilities
At a high-level the role will cover the following elements:
* Project leadership and delivery: Lead or advise on multiple projects concurrently. Initially these projects will be focused on the Drive Project, including leading our strategic Learning Partner function. Supporting and QA'ing the work of people both within and outside of the team.
* Practice development: Contributing to the HCD practice and community of practice, including coaching or mentoring members. Helping to champion and embed HCD across Social Finance.
* Business contribution: Leading or contributing to HCD-focused new business.
Project leadership and delivery
* Oversee or advise on several complex, multi-stakeholder research projects on sensitive social issues simultaneously, setting the strategic direction and ensuring they inform the design of impactful products, services, and policies.
* Lead or advise on projects that sit within our work on the Drive Project, including our strategic Learning Partner function.
* Guide collaborative analysis and synthesis, developing actionable insights that drive decision-making and positive social impact.
* Coordinate across a multi-disciplinary project team, fostering effective collaboration across disciplines.
* Deliver strong project management, providing clarity, structure and momentum for team members.
* Contribute to a positive, inclusive team culture, and support staff development, morale and wellbeing.
* Identify and manage risks, interdependencies and constraints, managing upwards effectively and coordinating with functional leads where appropriate (e.g. Information Governance, Legal, Finance).
* Build and sustain trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across clients and delivery partners.
* Navigate complex political, commercial and organisational dynamics, exercising effective influence across partners with differing incentives and priorities.
* Act as a credible external ambassador for Social Finance in senior forums.
Practice development
* Contribute to the development of Social Finance's Human-Centred Design practice, including shaping approaches, tools and ways of working.
* Help to coach, mentor and develop members of the HCD practice and Community of Practice.
* Champion responsible, inclusive, and ethical research practices, ensuring our work is accessible and beneficial for all users.
* Take an active role in the wider HCD Community of Practice at Social Finance; designing and running sessions to inspire and upskill the community.
Business contribution
* Work closely with one or more of Social Finance's impact areas or practice areas to identify opportunities, build out work, and to help embed Human-Centred Design.
* Contribute to business development, identifying opportunities for effective collaboration, scoping and designing end-to-end projects, and helping to grow our design and research portfolio
* Act as a business owner within the team, contributing to both impact and commercial sustainability.
For complete job description and to apply, visit:
https://www.socialfinance.org.uk/join-us/current-vacancies/human-centred-design-principal-associate-director