User Researcher

Methods Business and Digital Technology; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Home working

Pension

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Travel insurance

Volunteering days

Job summary

Methods Business and Digital Technology Limited in Manchester seeks an experienced User Researcher to champion user needs across public sector digital products and services. You will conduct ethical, high-standard user research within agile teams and collaborate with designers and developers to turn findings into value.

The role emphasizes planning, recruiting, storytelling and presenting evidence to diverse audiences, with flexibility for home working and part-time arrangements.

Qualifications

• Knowledge, experience and passion for user centered design practices.
• Experience undertaking user research and using a range of research methods (usability testing, interviewing, surveys) and choosing appropriate methods.
• Experience in agile multidisciplinary teams (designers, developers) to build digital products and services.
• Confidence developing user needs, personas, journey maps and other research artefacts.
• Experience applying ethical research practices (consent).
• Experience gathering evidence to support decisions and form research questions with the project team.
• Confidence championing user-centred design practices for digital products and services.
• Experience managing stakeholders and collaborating with teams to define research goals.

Responsibilities

• Championing the user on services and products.
• Planning and conducting user research, developing recruitment briefs, conducting analysis and presenting findings.
• Telling the story of research findings to different audiences.
• Collaborating with the product team to translate findings into prototypes and features.
• Presenting research findings, insights and recommendations to the product team and stakeholders.
• Promoting user centered design principles and best practices within government.
• Applying knowledge in the user-centered design process to product/service design.
• Undertaking qualitative and quantitative research projects (ethnography, usability studies).

Skills

User-centered design

Usability testing

Interviews

Surveys

Agile teams

User journeys

Ethical research

Stakeholder management

Tools

GDS standards

Job description

User Researcher

Methods Business and Digital Technology Limited

Methods is a £100M+ IT Services Consultancy who has partnered with a range of central government departments and agencies to transform the way the public sector operates in the UK. Established over 30 years ago and UK-based, we apply our skills in transformation, delivery, and collaboration from across the Methods Group, to create end-to-end business and technical solutions that are people-centred, safe, and designed for the future.

Our human touch sets us apart from other consultancies, system integrators and software houses - with people, technology, and data at the heart of who we are, we believe in creating value and sustainability through everything we do for our clients, staff, communities, and the planet.

We support our clients in the success of their projects while working collaboratively to share skill sets and solve problems. At Methods we have fun while working hard; we are not afraid of making mistakes and learning from them.

Predominantly focused on the public-sector, Methods is now building a significant private sector client portfolio.

Methods was acquired by the Alten Group in early 2022.

Your role

We are looking for an experienced 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 GDS standards.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Championing the user on services and products
• Planning and conducting user research, developing recruitment briefs, conducting analysis and presenting research findings
• Appropriate story telling of research findings to different audiences
• Collaborating with the product team to turn research findings into prototypes and features that meet the user need
• Presenting research findings, user insight and recommendations to the product team and wider stakeholders
• Promoting user centered design principles and best practice within government
• Applying relevant knowledge in the user-centered design process to product and service design
• Undertaking qualitative and quantitative research projects, such as ethnography and usability studies

Requirements

Essential skills

• Knowledge, experience and passion for user centered design practices
• Experience undertaking user research and using a range of research methods, such as usability testing, interviewing, and surveys, as well as being able to choose an appropriate method for a project
• Experience working in agile multidisciplinary teams, including designers and developers, to build digital products and services
• Confidence developing user needs, personas/mindsets, user journey maps, and other research artefacts
• Experience applying and understanding of ethical research practices and processes, such as consent
• Experience gathering evidence to support decision making, and gathering research questions and assumptions from a project team
• Confidence championing user-centred design practices for digital products and services
• Experience managing stakeholders, building successful relationships, and collaborating with stakeholders and the project team to define research goals and involve them in research

We know not everyone will have all of the skills we are looking for. We are happy to support you to grow your skill set and experience through our training budget, working with our experienced teams and mentoring.

Desirable skills

Skills that would also be useful in this role include:

• Advocating for fully accessible and inclusive products and services, along with a working knowledge of applying accessibility and inclusivity to projects
• Taking a proactive approach to diversity, equity and inclusion internally and with clients
• Experience or a working knowledge of GDS service assessments

Methods is passionate about its people; we want our colleagues to develop the things they are good at and enjoy.

By joining us you can expect

• 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 – access to LinkedIn Learning, a management development programme, and training
• Wellness – 24/7 confidential employee assistance programme
• Flexible Working – including home working and part time
• Social – office parties, breakfast Tuesdays, monthly pizza Thursdays, Thirsty Thursdays, and commitment to charitable causes
• Time Off – 25 days of annual leave a year, plus bank holidays, with the option to buy 5 extra days each year
• Volunteering – 2 paid days per year to volunteer in our local communities or within a charity organisation
• Pension – Salary Exchange Scheme with 4% employer contribution and 5% employee contribution
• Life Assurance – of 4 times base salary
• Private Medical Insurance – which is non-contributory (spouse and dependants included)
• Worldwide Travel Insurance – which is non-contributory (spouse and dependants included)
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay
• Travel – season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme

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