User Researcher

Co-op; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading cooperative retail organization in Manchester is seeking a User Researcher to join their Colleague Product teams. The role focuses on understanding colleague needs through qualitative and quantitative research techniques. You'll collaborate with product teams and ensure user needs are prioritized in the design process. Candidates should have experience in user research within an agile environment. This opportunity offers a competitive salary, hybrid working, and various employee benefits.

Benefits

Annual bonus based on performance

28 days holiday plus bank holidays

Pension with up to 10% employer contributions

30% discount on Co-op products

Virtual healthcare services

Training and career support

Cycle-to-work scheme

Qualifications

• Experience as a User Researcher.
• Experience working in a product team using agile methodologies.
• Experience using a range of research methods.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with product teams to design user-centered products.
• Carry out primary qualitative research activities.
• Translate complex data into actionable insights.

Skills

User research techniques

Agile methodologies

Communication skills

Job description

User Researcher
£35,000 to £45,000 plus great benefits (Work Level 6A)
Manchester city centre (hybrid)

We’re open to flexible working arrangements, including condensed hours. You’ll work in a hybrid way, with occasional travel to our Manchester office for team days, meetings, and events

We’re looking for a User Researcher to join our Colleague Product teams, within our wider Digital technology and data team, in Manchester to make sure our colleague needs are at the heart of our design process. In this role, you’ll use a mixture of qualitative and quantitative research techniques to collect insights that we can use to improve our colleague, customer, and member experiences.

Why this role matters

At Co-op, we’re committed to creating digital experiences that make life easier for users. To do this, we need to make sure we’ve got the insights needed to design products and services that are accessible, impactful, and truly meet user needs. This is where you come in.

What you’ll do

• Collaborate with product teams to design user‑centred products and services
• Work closely with colleagues across Co‑op to understand their needs and define research objectives
• Identify the most appropriate research methodologies and techniques to gain insights into colleague users and their needs
• Carry‑out primary qualitative research activities to better understand our users, including defining and recruiting the right participants
• Prioritise the integrity and safety of users and their data
• Translate complex data into actionable insights and share findings with others
• Communicate research findings regularly, encourage evidence‑based decisions, and give feedback on designs to make sure they meet user needs
• Measure the impact of changes to the colleague experience
• Share your knowledge and expertise in our Research community of practice

What you’ll bring

• Experience as a User Researcher
• Experience working in a product team using agile methodologies
• Experience using a range of research methods, including unmoderated activities (e.g., card sorting, surveys, diary studies), as well as moderated interviews, usability testing, and observation/ethnographic studies
• The ability to plan and facilitate research interviews and usability testing
• An understanding of broader user and customer experience measurements
• Good communication skills, with the ability to explain often technical information to a non‑technical audience
• The ability to use insights to recommend improvements to a product or service based on user needs, business goals, and accessibility

We know some people may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet every requirement. At Co‑op, we’re committed to building diverse and inclusive teams, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly, we still encourage you to apply.

Why Co‑op?

At Co‑op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• 30% discount on Co‑op products and 10% off other brands
• Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
• Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
• 24/7 colleague support service
• Training and support for your development and career progression
• Cycle‑to‑work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.

We’re proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we’ll support you.

Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion