UX Research Manager (12month FTC)

ZipRecruiter; Manchester; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading investment platform in the UK is seeking a UX Research Manager for a 12-month FTC. The role involves leading a research team, ensuring high-quality research standards, and advocating for user-centered research across the organization. Candidates should have strong leadership experience and expertise in user-centered research principles, along with proficiency in industry-standard tools. This position is based in Manchester.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading, mentoring, and managing UX research teams.
• Deep understanding of user-centered research principles.
• Expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Managers to align research strategies.
• Ensure high-quality research standards.
• Mentor and develop the research team.

Skills

Leadership and Team Management

User-Centered Research

Research Tools Proficiency

Design System and Accessibility Research

Digital Accessibility

Stakeholder Management

Tools

UserTesting

UserZoom

Content Square

Hotjar

Data analysis platforms

Job description

Job Description

UX Research Manager (FTC 12 months)

I am currently recruiting for a client that has been helping investors for nearly 30 years. They have seen market highs and lows and have been resilient throughout. They are now the UK's number one flat-investment platform, with assets under administration approaching £75 billion and over 450,000 customers. For a simple, flat monthly fee, they provide a secure home for pensions, ISAs, and investments.

They offer a wide choice of over 20,000 UK and international investment options, including shares, funds, trusts, and ETFs. They also provide impartial, expert content from award-winning financial journalists, a highly engaged community of investors, and daily newsletters and insights.

Key Responsibilities of a UX Research Manager:

1. Collaborate with Managers: Partner closely with the UX Operations Manager and UX Design Manager to align research strategies with broader business objectives and delivery squads. Ensure research insights are integrated into the design process to shape user-centered experiences.
2. Ensure High-Quality Research Standards: Lead the research team to maintain rigorous standards across all projects, employing robust methodologies and best practices to deliver high-quality, actionable insights that drive user-centered designs.
3. Consistency in Research Across Products: Establish and uphold a consistent approach to research across all products and services, ensuring a cohesive user experience informed by comprehensive insights. Work with the Brand team to incorporate brand considerations.
4. Mentor and Develop the Research Team: Provide leadership and mentorship, fostering continuous learning, professional growth, and research excellence within the team.
5. User-Centered Research Advocacy: Champion a user-centered research approach organization-wide, ensuring user needs and feedback influence strategic decisions and product development.
6. Test and Research with Users with Disabilities: Prioritize research involving users with disabilities, using methods such as usability testing, interviews, and observational studies. Collaborate with accessibility specialists to address accessibility needs, ensuring products are usable and enjoyable for all users.
7. Drive Innovation in Research Methods: Lead exploration of innovative research methodologies, tools, and industry trends to enhance research capabilities and insights.
8. Foster a Collaborative Team Environment: Cultivate a culture of open communication, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. Support professional growth and continuous improvement in research practices.
9. Empower UX Researchers: Support researchers in exploring and testing innovative methods to gain new insights, encouraging creativity and alignment with business objectives and user needs.
10. Conduct and Lead Research Critiques: Organize regular critique sessions, providing constructive feedback and fostering an environment for discussion and refinement of research work.

Skills & Experience Required:

1. Leadership and Team Management: Proven experience leading, mentoring, and managing UX research teams, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment.
2. User-Centered Research: Deep understanding of user-centered research principles, with experience in qualitative and quantitative methods such as interviews, surveys, usability testing, personas, and journey mapping.
3. Research Tools Proficiency: Expertise in industry-standard tools like UserTesting, UserZoom, Content Square, Hotjar, and data analysis platforms.
4. Design System and Accessibility Research: Experience contributing insights to design systems, supporting usability and accessibility standards across platforms.
5. Digital Accessibility: Knowledge of WCAG standards, experience conducting research with users of all abilities, and accessibility testing skills.
6. Stakeholder Management: Strong ability to manage relationships, set expectations, and communicate research goals and outcomes effectively.