Principal Design Researcher / Principal Design Researcheress and Service Designer / Service Designeress

Principal Design Researcher and Service Designer

Roche Switzerland bridges the gap between pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Important research and development functions are located here. For our long-term client, Roche Diagnostics in Rotkreuz, we are looking for a Principal Design Researcher and Service Designer.

Background

We are seeking a leader who confidently manages overall research delivery operations, builds strong relationships with team members and customers, and influences projects and business by fostering customer-centric best practices and strategic thinking. You will play a significant role in enhancing design maturity at Roche alongside passionate, energetic, and caring peers in a connected, multicultural, and highly motivated team.

Tasks & Responsibilities

• Lead design research teams in large global cross-chapter projects.
• Navigate the complexities of business objectives and customer needs, translating them into design decisions through a solid design thinking process that is aimed at positively impacting business and customer experience.
• Produce key deliverables and guide client conversations within your discipline.
• Analyze and evaluate design challenges from multiple perspectives, translating them into actionable tasks for the team.
• Translate client expectations into detailed workstreams for the team and effectively communicate this integration in future discussions.
• Coach cross-chapter team members and other designers on design methodologies and best practices, contributing to their skills development.
• Facilitate practice discussions and lead aspects of team culture and rituals.
• Gather system-level information from various sources and communicate clearly to internal clients, users, and customers.
• Define workshop goals and objectives, design and plan workshop exercises, and facilitate sessions to synthesize information for strategic project decisions.

Additional Tasks

• Support senior roles in shaping approaches and pitching work to clients.
• Assist in managing day-to-day activities, understanding stakeholders' expectations, and adjusting project plans as necessary.
• Lead discussions regarding domain and regulatory context with clients, users, and customers, integrating these insights into design solutions.
• Contribute to CXSD work packages aimed at creating more efficient processes and practices.
• Encourage constructive critiques and personal feedback within the team through retrospectives, suggesting actionable improvements.
• Create content that supports thought leadership initiatives.
• Help define overarching narratives and frameworks for client presentations, clearly communicating storylines to clients at Roche as appropriate.
• Represent the CXSD team at Roche events and meetings, articulating the business value of design.
• Actively capture value stories from projects and share them internally or through thought leadership channels.
• Identify inter-dependencies or risks early, proposing solutions to address them.
• Oversee and evaluate new team members during their ramp-up and serve as a buddy.

Must Haves

• Strong in-depth knowledge of Design Research and broad knowledge of related design disciplines (e.g., Product Design and Service Design).
• Ability to orchestrate research activities across multiple projects.
• A proven track record in creating experience strategies based on customer insights.
• Experience in managing both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and integrating different data sets.
• Ability to guide junior designers in projects requiring in-depth knowledge of healthcare solution areas and related regulations.
• Minimum 5-10 years of experience in medical technology or regulated environments.
• Excellent presentation skills, capable of effectively communicating ideas, solutions, and deliverables.
• Strategic thinker and results-oriented, able to drive experience and business discussions.
• A collaborative team player, skilled at generating consensus and buy-in in complex organizational contexts.
• Curious and humble, maintaining a learner's approach to research and design challenges.
• Creative problem solver, focused on finding the best solutions to challenges.
• Data-driven, grounded in a robust understanding of the problem space.
• Often the backbone of projects from inception to completion.
• Leads the design process for key projects and manages design research discussions for similar projects or environments.
• Effectively communicates organizational and product development changes to cross-chapter team members and designers.
• Observes project challenges and discusses contingencies and mitigation strategies with the project lead.
• Demonstrates resilience in the face of failure, obstacles, or project changes.
• Is deeply committed to long-term project goals, directing product and design team attention to them.
• Thinks logically and critically about client problems, employing a methodical and process-oriented approach to tackling them.
• Work independently on project development with minimal guidance from senior roles.
• Effectively engage and communicate with Roche customers and potential customers to foster customer-centricity in projects.

What You Will Be Offered

• An opportunity to work with one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies.
• A modern campus with ample green spaces and collaborative meeting areas.
• A varied job profile with ample opportunities for further training.
• Collaboration within a dynamic and motivated team.

If you are interested, apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.