Senior User Researcher

Made Tech aims to positively impact the country's future by leveraging technology to improve society. We believe that a design-led approach can create positive outcomes in the public sector through critical services enabled by technology. We are building a community of designers and researchers to support the growing demand for a design-led approach to service delivery in the public sector.

Senior User Researchers are experienced practitioners confident in collaborating with UCD colleagues and external professions such as Data & Tech teams. They work together to understand the challenges faced by users of public services. They conduct user research employing qualitative and quantitative methodologies with real users, ensuring insights inform the end-to-end design of public services.

Key responsibilities

• Act as the research subject matter expert within a multidisciplinary team, facilitating the research process and communicating findings to team members and stakeholders.
• Define the focus of research to ensure shared understanding of success criteria.
• Select appropriate research methods to design effective research projects.
• Work independently as a researcher within a multidisciplinary team on client projects.
• Advocate for user research within projects and with stakeholders.
• Plan research to inform the design of accessible, usable, and effective public services.
• Apply methods to analyze data and synthesize findings.
• Create actionable insights suited to various research phases.
• Identify key stakeholders, build relationships, and keep them updated on research progress.
• Present findings in meetings and 'show & tell' sessions to teams and stakeholders.
• Interpret research findings to validate or challenge team understandings of problems and solutions.
• Encourage decision-making based on research insights.

Skills, knowledge, and expertise

• Experienced in user-centered, lean, and agile research methodologies including usability testing, contextual enquiry, rapid research, and evaluative research.
• Knowledge of accessibility and inclusive design.
• Understanding and adherence to Made Tech’s research standards, the MRS code of practice, and GDPR.
• Ability to communicate clearly and ethically with research participants, including GDPR compliance.

Community

• Support hiring and onboarding of researchers.
• Help define Made Tech’s design principles through delivering effective public services.
• Represent the community both internally and publicly.
• Contribute to communities of practice by sharing ideas, methods, and best practices.
• Proactively learn new research methods and analysis techniques, sharing knowledge with the UR community.
• Seek feedback on work and provide constructive feedback to colleagues.

Desirable: Skills in Service Design, Content Design, or Interaction Design.

Key measures

• Delivery of effective public services for users and clients.
• Development of case studies demonstrating good public service design and outcomes.
• Growth and satisfaction within the UCD community at Made Tech.

We continually listen to our teams and evolve our benefits, including flexible benefit schemes, social and wellbeing events, paid counselling, and support services. Successful candidates may be required to undertake SC clearance. Our hiring process is thorough, transparent, and supportive, with regular updates and feedback. Register your interest to be notified of relevant roles.