Lead Design Researcher

Remote Nationwide · Remote
Full-time
$126,300 - $173,700
Posted Nov 10, 2026

Skills

Agile
Product Management
Wireframing
HIPAA

Job description

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Humana’s Consumer Strategy, Design & Transformation organizations is seeking an experienced Lead Design Researcher to join the Experience Design team working remote anywhere in the US. This team was formed to deliver one thing: a personalized, seamless and easy healthcare experience for all our members. This team operates with a mandate to design solutions based on how our members seek and receive care. By working together, following agile methodologies, and relentlessly focusing on the consumer experience, the Experience Design team seeks to deliver on this promise for all our members.

Within Humana’s Experience Design Research team, we are explorers, listeners, creators, and thinkers working together with our lines of business to create connected experience journeys that drive business and user value and impact.

As a Design Research Lead, you will define and deliver research programs across the entire design process from early exploration, strategy and problem definition, to ideation, prototyping, testing, and final implementation. You will partner closely with team members across Product Design, Content Design, Product Management, Analytics, and Engineering to develop exceptional and differentiated user-centered experiences for Medicare consumers. You will also uncover insights that drive prioritization, planning, and decision-making on product strategy through an agile test-and-learn approach. Your work will be driven by Journey Frameworks in service of developing targeted moments, needs, and opportunities where the Product, Experience Design, and BI teams can design, test, and deliver optimized experience.

Key Role Functions

•Assist with the creation of service and product concepts either through storyboarding, wireframing, and/or other visual mediums to facilitate future state micro-journey concepts

•Conduct current-state research and competitive benchmarking per micro-journey

•Recruit/Screen candidates for research and concept testing

•Develop research plans and/or interview guides for sessions

•Train other team members to get them up and running on their own research and concept studies

•Synthesize all research findings and work with product managers and other team members to add to backlog

•Work to iterate requirements, concepts, and other vision documentation

•Work collaboratively with customers, operators and leadership to propose novel experience improvements that align to priority measures

•Be a great storyteller, who can seamlessly lead teams to synthesize findings into insights and business recommendations that drive impact

•Collaborate and co-create with product teams and business partners quantify value the of a concept

•Create communication artifacts that define current state and future state of the optimized experience

Sponsorship is not available for this position (e.g. H-1B, E-3, TN, 0-1, STEM OPT, or any immigration work authorization requiring a written submission from the company to a government agency). Only candidates with Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Residency in the U.S. will be considered.

Use your skills to make an impact

Required Qualifications

•Master's degree or higher in a research-related discipline (e.g., Design Strategy, Human Computer Interaction, Interaction Design, Human Factors, Psychology, Anthropology, Cognitive Science)

•8 years of experience leading design research contributions in the context of innovation, human-centered design, and/or digital product

•5 years of experience independently managing design research programs

•Exceptional communication, problem-solving, coaching and management skills

•Understanding and experience with a variety of UX and design research methodologies

•Experience with design thinking and agile product development environments

Preferred Qualifications

•Previous Health Insurance industry experience

Additional Information

This is a remote role anywhere in the US that primarily operates on Eastern Standard Time business hours

Work at Home Requirements: To ensure Home or Hybrid Home/Office employees’ ability to work effectively, the self-provided internet service of Home or Hybrid Home/Office employees must meet the following criteria: At minimum, a download speed of 25 Mbps and an upload speed of 10 Mbps is required; wireless, wired cable or DSL connection is suggested. In certain roles, the minimum recommended internet speed required by Humana may not be sufficient for business needs. Humana reserves the right to require associates to upgrade their internet service if necessary. Work from a dedicated space lacking ongoing interruptions to protect member PHI / HIPAA information.

Travel: While this is a remote position, occasional travel to Humana's offices for training or meetings may be required.

Scheduled Weekly Hours

Pay Range

The compensation range below reflects a good faith estimate of starting base pay for full time (40 hours per week) employment at the time of posting. The pay range may be higher or lower based on geographic location and individual pay will vary based on demonstrated job related skills, knowledge, experience, education, certifications, etc.

$126,300 - $173,700 per year

This job is eligible for a bonus incentive plan. This incentive opportunity is based upon company and/or individual performance.

Description of Benefits

Humana, Inc. and its affiliated subsidiaries (collectively, “Humana”) offers competitive benefits that support whole-person well-being. Associate benefits are designed to encourage personal wellness and smart healthcare decisions for you and your family while also knowing your life extends outside of work. Among our benefits, Humana provides medical, dental and vision benefits, 401(k) retirement savings plan, time off (including paid time off, company and personal holidays, paid parental and caregiver leave), short-term and long-term disability, life insurance and many other opportunities.

Application Deadline: 11-16-2026

About us

About Humana: Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) is a leading U.S. healthcare company. Through our Humana insurance services and our CenterWell healthcare services, we make it easier for the millions of people we serve to achieve their best health – delivering the care and service they need, when they need it. These efforts are leading to a better quality of life for people with Medicare and Medicaid, families, individuals, military service personnel, and communities at large. Learn more about what we offer at Humana.com and at CenterWell.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of Humana not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status. It is also the policy of Humana to take affirmative action, in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and VEVRAA, to employ and to advance in employment individuals with disability or protected veteran status, and to base all employment decisions only on valid job requirements. This policy shall apply to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, upgrading, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, recall, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation and selection for training, including apprenticeship, at all levels of employment.