Senior User Researcher

J & C Associates Ltd

We are IT Recruitment Specialists partnered with a prestigious Global Consultancy that requires a Senior User Researcher for one of their Public Sector Clients based in the UK.

IR35 – This role is Inside of IR35

Job Title: Senior User Researcher

Duration: 12 Months

Location: London – min 2 days a week in office

Job Description:

We are looking for an outstanding Senior User Researcher, who can make a positive impact, and who wants to contribute to the most demanding and exciting new digital service for the UK Government. Let’s be clear about the impact of your work – better digital services in government will change the face of public services and have the potential to dramatically transform the future of millions of people.
You have a strong research background, with experience in the full range of User research and design methods and the ability to translate research findings into actionable recommendations and be ready to quickly get to work in an agile multidisciplinary team of Developers, Designers, and Analysts focused on the client’s flagship welfare reform programme.
Specifically, for the current assignment, you need to have experience working closely with Service Design and Data Science teams, preferably within government, and have strong CV and portfolio examples to demonstrate your expertise. We hope to find a researcher with strong experience in government as well as experimentation and ideation user research work.
You’ll be the kind of person who is unconcerned with titles and hierarchy; what really excites you is problem-solving and the opportunity to deliver innovative technology that carries real value for users. You will draw value from collaboration with others, actively seeking input from colleagues and valuing a multidisciplinary team over hierarchy.
You will be passionate about the value of integrating user insights into the design process of a service, channelling your energy and enthusiasm to ensure that quality user research is both carried out and delivered effectively into the design process and final service.

You will:

Lead on research projects, working with a wider team of Designers, Analysts and Developers to help define and deliver the best methodology to address the specific needs in producing a responsive digital service
Familiarise yourself with the project’s user research work to date and devise a strategy of moving the work forward
Plan, design and conduct user research sessions, including guerrilla testing, user testing, focus groups and workshops, persona creation and card sorting on a regular basis, testing both high-level concepts, and aspects of the service as it is designed and developed, and developing and maintaining a picture of the users
Collaboratively analyse the findings of user research to identify common themes and points of user contention and provide actionable recommendations to the relevant team members.
Apply knowledge in human factors, ethnography, and the user-centred design process to product and service design in an iterative development environment
Use findings of user data to work closely with designers and analysts to iterate the developing service
Manage business relations with usability and market research agencies to support necessary research processes
Support the learning and development of less experienced and trainee User Researchers within the team
Thrive working in an agile environment, using your own creativity, resourcefulness and initiative to maximise the quality of user research and its impact on the service development
Be visible within the team and be able to engage, build trust and energise a team culture that is responsive to the findings of user research.

You will have:

At least 5 years of practical experience of qualitative research methodologies, in terms of design, execution and analysis
Experience in taking a lead User Researcher role within a team, setting research direction and mentoring junior research colleagues
Experience managing team dynamics and holding sufficient authority to effectively challenge points of design without alienating individuals
Experience of working within an agile project environment, and maintaining effective performance in difficult and challenging circumstances

It would also be desirable to have:

Practical experience of quantitative research methodologies
An understanding of service design, visual design, Front End development and agile methodologies.

Specialist Skills

Essential

Demonstrable knowledge, experience in and passion for web user centred design practices.
Proven experience of gathering user requirements for web based services.
Proven experience of managing, executing and analysing usability test and research sessions.
Proven experience of working in an agile development environment with User Experience teams, designers and developers to create new digital products and services.
Experience of audience modelling and developing design personas.
An in- depth understanding of the available research methodologies.
Demonstrable experience working closely with Service Design and Data Science teams

Desirable

Degree in HCI/Usability/Cognitive Psychology/Market Research or related field.
Experience across web content, tools and transactional services, especially those with complex user journeys.
Experience within a research and digital environment.

Person specification- the ideal candidate:
Flexible/adaptable. Adjusts quickly to changing priorities and conditions.
Copes effectively with complexity and change.
Takes responsibility/ownership. Proactively removes blockers to ensure that work is delivered. Is able to produce significant output with minimal wasted effort.
High standards. Is committed to quality and is therefore willing to challenge colleagues and to constantly question their own approach.
Openness to criticism and ideas. Draws value from collaboration with others.
Actively seeks input from colleagues and values a multidisciplinary team over hierarchy.
Strategic thinking and visioning. Able to understand and communicate the big picture and use it to prioritise and judge impact of smaller tasks and objectives.
Creativity/innovation. Generates new and innovative approaches to problems.
Isn’t bound by the status quo.
Enthusiasm. Exhibits passion and excitement over work. Has a can-do attitude, even under pressure.
Considerate. Enjoys working with and is sensitive to the needs of others. Values a positive working environment.

If you are interested in this position and would like to learn more, please send your CV and we will get in touch with you as soon as possible. Please note, that candidates are often Shortlisted within 48 hours.