Purpose of the role

In this role, you will be responsible for delivery of Smiling Mind's research and evaluation agenda, driving innovation, and delivering high quality impact measurement. You will be responsible for undertaking research and delivering insights that create a step change in how Smiling Mind develops and delivers mental fitness and wellbeing programs. This dynamic position offers the opportunity to develop best practice, drive analysis & insight generation, lead reporting and deliver deep, actionable research that shapes the organisation's strategic impact agenda.

You will foster meaningful collaborations both internally and with industry and academic partners, positioning Smiling Mind as a thought leader in mental fitness and wellbeing, with a focus on children and the adults that support them - namely educators and parents / carers. Additionally, you will develop, deliver, and work across a variety of research programs including quantitative and qualitative evaluation, voice of customer initiatives, ad-hoc program research, population studies, and impact modelling, all aimed at driving innovation and thought leadership in the mental wellbeing space.

Key Responsibilities

This role has decision making autonomy empowering you to lead and innovate across research, evaluation, and impact measurement, with a focus on proactive leadership and strategic thinking.

Strategic Impact and Innovation

• In collaboration with the Senior Leadership Team, develop and execute on our research and impact strategy.
• Proactively drive the delivery of our impact agenda, creating new program and partnership opportunities for Smiling Mind.
• Lead high profile research initiatives and projects, delivering high-quality outcomes that position Smiling Mind at the forefront of mental wellbeing innovation.
• Leverage your expertise and insights to influence and inform decisions across the organisation, translating research insights into actionable strategies.
• Pioneer innovations in research and evaluation, setting the stage for multi-year advancements in the field of mental fitness and wellbeing.
• Mentor and inspire a team of junior research staff, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous learning.

Thought Leadership and Knowledge Exchange

• Develop a cutting-edge impact measurement framework that defines key mental fitness measures across Smiling Mind's diverse portfolio.
• Develop program logic models, theories of change, and evaluation frameworks that extend current practice in mental wellbeing research.
• Design and implement mixed-methods research, showcasing Smiling Mind's commitment to rigorous and impactful evaluation.
• Produce compelling, action-oriented reports that demonstrate Smiling Mind's impact, position Smiling Mind’s advocacy direction effectively, and influence key stakeholders.

Strategic Collaboration and External Engagement

• Foster strategic relationships with internal stakeholders, championing a culture of research-driven decision-making across the organisation.
• Lead high-profile cross-collaboration projects with a range of external research partners
• Establish and nurture high-impact partnerships with academic institutions and industry leaders, positioning Smiling Mind as a key player in the mental wellbeing research landscape.

Driving Research and Program Development

• Deliver groundbreaking and high quality research and evaluation to inform the development of innovative products and programs, employing cutting-edge methodologies from evidence synthesis to co-design practices.
• Stay at the forefront of emerging research and evidence, actively seeking out and sharing new insights to inform Smiling Mind's program development and advocacy strategy.
• Bridge the gap between psychological theory and practical application, developing unique solutions that set Smiling Mind apart in the field.
• Influence and inform decisions regarding program and product evolution across the organisation, using evaluation insights and research acumen.

Elevating Impact through Strategic Communication

• Champion a culture of evidence-informed thinking across the organisation, inspiring colleagues to incorporate research into their work and decision-making processes.
• Produce and present high-impact research reports that captivate diverse audiences and showcase Smiling Mind's innovative approach to mental wellbeing.
• Translate complex research findings into compelling narratives that resonate with both technical and non-technical audiences, elevating Smiling Mind's profile in the field.

Key Teams / Stakeholders

This role offers the opportunity to collaborate with diverse stakeholders across Smiling Mind, as well as forge strategic partnerships with external research institutions and industry leaders. You'll be at the forefront of driving our research agenda and shaping the future of mental wellbeing interventions.

Join our passionate, high-growth team where your creativity, drive, and innovative thinking will directly contribute to changing lives. At Smiling Mind, we embrace challenges, celebrate successes, and work collaboratively to achieve extraordinary impact in mental wellbeing.

Our mission and where you fit in

At Employment Hero, we’re an ambitious bunch of people on a mission to make employment easier and more valuable for everyone. Since our inception in 2014, we've had some pretty impressive growth (100% YoY), reached unicorn status in 2022, and now serve 300,000 businesses globally, with 2 million+ users on the platform. We have no plans to slow down. 

There’s never been a more exciting time to join one of the fastest-growing SaaS unicorns, so let’s see if we could be a match!

What might your days look like:

As our UX Research Lead, you will play a pivotal role in democratising research practices across the organisation, making user insights accessible and actionable for all teams.

By leading a talented UX research team and partnering closely with Product and UX, you will help drive user-centric innovation and ensure that research is integrated into every stage of product development. Your leadership will inspire cross-functional collaboration, foster a culture of learning, and champion research excellence, all while shaping our product strategy and supporting company OKRs.

As our UX Research Lead, you’ll:

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of UX researchers, nurturing a collaborative, inclusive, and growth-oriented culture where research is seen as a shared responsibility across the organization.
• Conduct and oversee diverse research projects, employing a balanced approach that combines rapid, lean methods with deep, high-quality insights that influence product decisions and strategy.
• Scale and optimise research operations, ensuring research processes and tools are efficient, effective, and aligned with best practices. Promote the use of user insights throughout the product lifecycle to drive actionable change.
• Build strong cross-functional relationships, working closely with Product Management, General Managers, and the Executive Leadership Team to ensure research efforts are aligned with broader business goals and OKRs.
• Champion research excellence and advocacy, ensuring the highest quality research practices and insights are accessible to all teams. Create clear pathways for disseminating research findings across the company to inform decision-making.
• Democratise user research by coaching and empowering other teams across the organisation to adopt user research methods, tools, and best practices. Ensure all stakeholders have the knowledge and resources to conduct their own research and make user-centered decisions.
• Influence long-term goals and objectives, helping to shape a user-centric culture and ensure research is woven into the fabric of our product development process from start to finish.

What will you bring 

• Proven experience in leading and mentoring UX research teams.
• Strong background in conducting a variety of research projects, including problem validation and strategic research.
• Ability to foster an open, collaborative, and trusting team culture.
• Skilled in setting clear expectations, providing feedback, and supporting professional growth.
• Experience in scaling and optimising research operations, with knowledge of best practices.
• Excellent relationship-building skills with cross-functional teams and ability to advocate for research practices.
• Deep understanding of diverse research methods and tools, with proficiency in defining research budgets and reporting on metrics.

Experience is important, but for us the biggest measure of success is people who can live and breathe our values. Show us what you can bring to the table, and we’ll empower you to let your talents shine.

The EH Way

The EH Way is how we describe our culture at Employment Hero and how we all operate. It is our DNA. You can read all about it on our careers page: https://employmenthero.com/careers/ 

In short, you’ll love working with us if:

• Revolutionising employment gets your heart racing.
• You thrive on the flexibility (and responsibility) of a remote-first business.
• Our values align, and shape how you show up every day.
• You love the dynamic pace of a startup, are driven by innovation, and enjoy working with other smart people.

Plus, you’ll get to enjoy a number of great perks, including: 

• A generous budget for your home office.
• Cutting-edge tools and technology.
• Reward and recognition programs - because great work should be recognised and rewarded.
• Cashback offers and discounts on popular brands through our Swag app.
• Employee Share Option Program: be an owner of Employment Hero.
• Annual Global Gathering - so far we’ve been to Thailand, Vietnam and Bali and are excited to meet in Dubai in September 2025.

Are we a match? 

Think we're the right match for you? Fantastic! Click 'Apply' and our talent team will reach out with the next steps.

At Employment Hero, we are committed to safeguarding the privacy of your application data. To understand how we do so, you can read our Applicant Privacy Policy here: https://employmenthero.com/legals/applicant-policy/

Employment Hero celebrates diverse perspectives and experiences, we invite people of all backgrounds and identities to apply for this position.

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