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- Tasks: Lead impactful user research to enhance social housing experiences for diverse tenants.
- Company: A Surrey-based housing provider focused on inclusive services.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, flexible working, and remote options with some travel.
- Other info: Opportunity to influence strategic decisions and improve tenant experiences.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in housing services while developing your research skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in user research or service design, especially with diverse needs.
A Surrey-based housing provider is looking for an experienced Senior User Researcher or Service Designer to lead a focused, high-impact programme of user research between June and September 2026. This is an interim role ideal for someone who can hit the ground running, work independently, and deliver high-quality insights at pace.
You’ll be shaping a major piece of work to understand and improve the experiences of social housing tenants with diverse and complex needs, directly informing a new strategic approach to inclusive housing services.
What you’ll be doing:
- Leading qualitative research with tenants, including those with a wide range of diverse needs
- Conducting interviews and focus groups (approx. 8 interviews + 2 groups)
- Developing 8 evidence-based personas, refining existing drafts and creating new ones
- Mapping key housing service journeys, including:
- Repairs
- Online “front door” and information-seeking
- Customer contact centre interactions
What we’re looking for:
- Experience in user research and/or service design, ideally in public sector, housing, health or other complex service environments
- Strong qualitative research skills: interviews, focus groups, co-design, observation
- Experience working with people with diverse needs (e.g. disabilities, health conditions, language barriers, digital exclusion)
- Proven ability to turn research into clear, actionable insights
- Skilled in creating personas, journey maps and service improvement recommendations
- Confident communicator able to engage stakeholders at all levels
- Experience upskilling teams in user-centred methods
- Comfortable working at pace on a time-bound project
- Proficiency with tools such as Miro, FigJam, PowerPoint, Excel
Why this role matters:
You’ll be central to shaping how a major housing provider understands and responds to the needs of its tenants. Your work will directly influence service improvements, strategic decision-making and long-term capability building across the organisation.
This vacancy is being advertised on behalf of Greenacre Recruitment Ltd who are operating as a recruitment agency and business.
Interim Senior Senior User Researcher / Service Designer in Guildford employer: Greenacre Recruitment Ltd
Contact Detail:
Greenacre Recruitment Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Interim Senior Senior User Researcher / Service Designer in Guildford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the housing and user research sectors. Attend relevant events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best work in user research and service design. Include case studies that demonstrate how you've tackled complex needs and delivered actionable insights. This will make you stand out when we’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to user research and service design. Think about how you can articulate your experience with diverse needs and your approach to creating personas and journey maps. We want to see your passion and expertise shine through!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about the role. Don’t forget to tailor your application to highlight your relevant experience in public sector or housing environments.
We think you need these skills to ace Interim Senior Senior User Researcher / Service Designer in Guildford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in user research and service design. We want to see how your skills align with the specific needs of the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing relevant projects!
Showcase Your Qualitative Skills: Since this role involves leading qualitative research, be sure to emphasise your experience with interviews and focus groups. We love seeing examples of how you've turned insights into actionable recommendations, so include those too!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so use bullet points where possible to make your key achievements stand out. Remember, we’re looking for high-quality insights at pace!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Greenacre Recruitment Ltd
✨Know Your User Research Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your user research methodologies, especially qualitative techniques like interviews and focus groups. Be ready to discuss your past experiences in detail, particularly how you've worked with diverse groups and turned insights into actionable recommendations.
✨Showcase Your Persona and Journey Mapping Skills
Prepare to talk about your experience creating personas and journey maps. Bring examples of your work that demonstrate how you've identified pain points and suggested service improvements. Visuals can be a great way to illustrate your points, so consider having a portfolio ready.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since this role involves communicating with various stakeholders, practice how you'll engage them during the interview. Think about how you can convey complex ideas simply and effectively, and be prepared to discuss how you've previously upskilled teams in user-centred methods.
✨Be Ready for Rapid-fire Questions
Given the fast-paced nature of this interim role, expect questions that assess your ability to work quickly and independently. Prepare examples that highlight your adaptability and efficiency in delivering high-quality insights under tight deadlines.