Senior User Researcher

Sanderson Recruitment; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 94,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanderson Recruitment is seeking a Senior User Researcher in Scotland (Glasgow area) to lead user research across the product lifecycle, applying mixed-methods and prototypes to inform design decisions.

The role requires SC clearance eligibility, experience with public sector standards, and strong stakeholder collaboration within multidisciplinary agile teams.

Qualifications

• We require proven experience leading user research using a range of behavioural and attitudinal research methods.
• We require experience across multiple stages of a product or service lifecycle from discovery to delivery.
• SC Clearance or eligibility to obtain SC Clearance.
• Experience working to public sector digital service standards and applying digital design principles.
• Excellent communication, storytelling, stakeholder management and facilitation skills.
• Experience in multidisciplinary agile teams and influencing design through insights.
• Experience using prototypes to test assumptions and evaluate concepts.
• Knowledge of tools and best practices for both in-person and remote user research.

Responsibilities

• We collaborate with cross-functional teams to plan and deliver impactful user research.
• We help shape products and services solving real user problems and meeting expectations.
• We lead research activities within our team and choose appropriate methodologies.
• Plan and conduct qualitative research including remote and face-to-face interviews, observations, diary studies, and usability testing.
• We use quantitative methods like surveys and work with analytics to strengthen findings.
• We consider end-to-end user journeys within business, policy, and technical constraints.
• We communicate findings clearly and involve stakeholders in analysis to build user empathy.
• We champion user-centred design and embed research best practices across teams.

Skills

User research leadership

Lifecycle experience

SC Clearance eligible

Public sector standards

Stakeholder communication

Agile teams

Prototype testing

Mixed methods

Remote & in-person research

Continuous learning

Education

Bachelor's degree (related)

Tools

UX UI Design

Job description

Salary: £54,000 - 94,000 per year

Requirements

• We require proven experience leading user research using a range of behavioural and attitudinal research methods, with a strong understanding of when to apply them.
• We require experience working across multiple stages of a product or service lifecycle, from discovery and exploration through to design and delivery.
• We require current Security Check (SC) Clearance or eligibility to obtain SC Clearance through residency requirements.
• We require experience working to public sector digital service standards and applying digital design principles within service delivery environments.
• We require excellent communication, storytelling, stakeholder management and facilitation skills.
• We require experience working within multidisciplinary agile teams, leading user research activities and influencing product or service design through insight-driven recommendations.
• We require experience using prototypes to test assumptions, validate user journeys and evaluate concepts.
• We require knowledge of tools, techniques and best practices for both in-person and remote user research.
• We prefer a Bachelors degree in Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Human-Computer Interaction, User Experience Design or a related discipline.
• We prefer experience including diverse user groups in research activities to support the delivery of accessible and inclusive services.
• We prefer a passion for continuous learning, emerging technologies and professional development.

Responsibilities

• We collaborate with cross-functional teams to plan and deliver impactful user research that provides deep insight into user needs and behaviours.
• We help shape products and services that solve real user problems and meet user expectations.
• We lead research activities within our team, recommending the most appropriate research approaches and methodologies.
• We plan and conduct qualitative research including remote and face-to-face interviews, observations, diary studies, concept testing and usability testing.
• We use quantitative research methods such as surveys to generate actionable insights and work alongside analytics teams to strengthen findings.
• We consider the full end-to-end user journey, taking into account business, policy and technical constraints that may influence the user experience.
• We communicate research findings clearly and involve stakeholders in analysis and synthesis activities to build user empathy and support informed design decisions.
• We champion user-centred design principles and help embed user research best practices across teams and the wider organisation.

Technologies

• Support
• Security
• UX UI Design

More

We are a growing digital transformation and product delivery team seeking a Senior User Researcher to help teams better understand user needs, behaviours and motivations so we can create products and services that deliver meaningful outcomes. You will work closely with Product Managers, Designers, Developers and fellow User Researchers on meaningful and impactful projects, and join a growing community of digital professionals who share knowledge, expertise and best practices. We value respect, equality, partnership, and inclusion, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives.

last updated 36 week of 2026