Senior User Researcher

Methods; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Training and development opportunities

Life and private medical insurance

Job summary

A leading consultancy firm in Manchester is seeking an experienced Senior User Researcher to champion user experience in public sector environments. The role involves developing research strategies, mentoring teams, and advocating for inclusive design. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in behavioral research and proven leadership skills. This hybrid position offers a supportive environment with numerous benefits including wellness resources and flexible working options.

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal skills to engage with stakeholders.
• Ability to mentor and develop less experienced colleagues.
• Demonstrated understanding of research methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Work with product managers to devise research strategies.
• Collaborate in a multidisciplinary team.
• Advocate for users and communicate their needs.

Skills

Behavioral research

Leadership skills

Agile environment

Facilitating service design

Inclusive research

Education

Relevant industry experience

Job description

Location: Manchester, England, United Kingdom (Hybrid).

We are seeking an experienced Senior User Researcher to join our growing team on a permanent basis. You will have a passion for understanding and championing the user. You will have experience of working on products and services in a public sector environment, conducting user research on projects to a high ethical standard, with knowledge of government service standards and principles.

Responsibilities

• work with client product managers/owners to devise appropriate research strategies that generate focused insights to support product development
• collaborate within a multidisciplinary team by including colleagues in research and analysis activities
• advocate for users, effectively communicating their needs and perspectives to support the design of intuitive and accessible services
• draw together, present and test reasonable conclusions from a wide range of incomplete and/or complex evidence and data
• take appropriate action or make decisions even when details are not clear
• weigh up data from various sources, recognising when to bring in additional Methods support
• identify the main issues in complex problems; clarify understanding or stakeholder expectations to seek the best option
• convincingly and tactfully persuade sceptical colleagues and stakeholders about the value and purpose of research
• effectively capture, use and share user/customer insight and views from a diverse range of stakeholders to ensure better policy and delivery
• support the Head of User Research in coordinating quality user research across the Digital Delivery portfolio through the research community
• guide, coach and mentor other user researchers in Methods and our clients
• work closely with colleagues to identify, develop and share good practice
• set and monitor standards for research, e.g. in ethics, lab testing, recruitment and documentation
• provide formalised peer-review to services, for quality assurance or as part of an assessment panel

Day-to-day activities

• confidently engage with stakeholders and colleagues at all levels, using strong interpersonal skills to develop and improve relationships within and outside of user research
• actively build and maintain a network of colleagues and contacts
• evaluate how Methods' user research compares to government and competitor best practice and identify necessary and desirable improvements
• advocate for user-centred design and be an active part of the user research community within Methods and across government
• take responsibility for your own learning and development and seek opportunities to improve your knowledge and experience
• project support, guidance, coaching and mentoring (as appropriate) to less experienced user researchers
• support bids, alongside the Head of User Research
• help recruit contract or permanent user researchers where more capacity is needed

Essential Skills

• demonstrable passion for behavioural research
• leadership skills
• ability to support and develop less experienced colleagues
• understanding the research question which needs to be answered, and choosing the best way to answer that question
• correctly applying a variety of research and analysis techniques
• ensuring research is representative and inclusive, enabling products/services to be designed to work effectively for anyone who may need it
• communicating research in a way others can understand
• running workshops and facilitating service design through collaboration with other professions
• identifying the ‘so what’ and communicating it in a compelling way
• working in an agile environment

Qualifications

• Relevant industry experience

Benefits

• Autonomy to develop and grow your skills and experience
• Be part of exciting project work that is making a difference in society
• Strong, inspiring and thought-provoking leadership
• A supportive and collaborative environment
• Development opportunities through a management development programme and training
• Wellness resources, flexible working, social activities, time off, volunteering, pension, discretionary bonus, life and private medical insurance, worldwide travel insurance, enhanced maternity/paternity pay, and travel benefits

For a full list of benefits please visit our website: www.methods.co.uk/careers/benefits