At a Glance
- Tasks: Conduct user research and collaborate with teams to improve digital services.
- Company: Dynamic consultancy focused on user-centred design and impactful projects.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, remote work, and opportunities for career growth.
- Other info: Supportive environment with a focus on learning and collaboration.
- Why this job: Gain hands-on experience in user research and make a real difference.
- Qualifications: Degree in relevant field and practical UCD experience required.
The predicted salary is between 62000 - 62000 € per year.
Remote (with occasional UK travel - approx. 2-3 days per month in London)
£310 per day | Inside IR35
Initial 7 months with strong extension potential
SC eligibility required - 5 years of UK Residency
About the role
I'm working with a key consultancy client that's looking to bring in an enthusiastic Junior User Researcher to support the delivery of impactful, user-centred digital services. You'll be embedded within a multi-disciplinary Agile team, collaborating closely with product managers, designers, developers and stakeholders to understand real user needs and translate insight into meaningful service improvements. This is a great opportunity if you're early in your user research career and want hands-on experience working to GDS standards within a well-supported delivery environment.
My client are looking for candidates who can evidence applied UCD practice within digital service or product teams - specifically hands-on usability testing, close collaboration with designers, iteration on prototypes, and the use of recognised UCD tooling. They aren't looking for candidates skewed either towards research-only, academic research, or research support/operations, with limited visible evidence of end-to-end UCD delivery, design-adjacent working, or tool-based usability workflows.
What you'll be doing
- Plan and support user-centred research activities across the delivery lifecycle
- Conduct qualitative and quantitative research such as interviews, usability testing and surveys
- Work alongside designers and delivery teams to shape research goals and test hypotheses
- Synthesise research findings into clear, actionable insights
- Communicate research outputs confidently through show-and-tells, playback sessions and written reports
- Ensure research activities align with GDS principles, ethics and accessibility standards
- Collaborate openly in Agile ceremonies and day-to-day team working
- Build your research capability while learning from experienced practitioners around you
Skills and experience I'm looking for
To be a strong match, your CV must clearly demonstrate experience in the skills below. Applications that do not reference these skills may not be flagged as relevant, so please ensure they are clearly evidenced. You will bring:
- A recent degree (BSc/MSc or equivalent) in a relevant subject such as psychology, HCI, design, social sciences, health sciences or similar
- Hands-on research experience
- Applied UCD practice within digital service or product teams - specifically hands-on usability testing, close collaboration with designers, iteration on prototypes, and the use of recognised UCD tooling.
- Not research-only or just academic research but strong experience of end-to-end UCD delivery
- Experience conducting or supporting user interviews, usability testing or surveys
- Strong written and verbal communication skills - you're comfortable presenting insights to different audiences
- A genuine interest in understanding user behaviours, needs and contexts
- Experience working collaboratively within Agile or user-centred teams
- A basic understanding of research ethics, informed consent and data protection
- An inclusive and accessible approach to user research
You'll also be proactive, curious, detail-oriented and comfortable engaging with participants, including in sensitive or complex contexts.
Desirable (not essential)
It's a bonus if you have exposure to:
- User research tools such as UserZoom, Optimal Workshop, Miro or Dovetail
- Usability testing methods, thematic analysis or affinity mapping
- Accessibility testing or remote research platforms
- Any experience within public-facing digital services or regulated environments
Why this role?
This is a fantastic opportunity if you want to build real-world user research experience, work on meaningful digital services, and develop your career within a supportive consultancy environment that values learning, collaboration and quality research practice. Please ensure your CV clearly demonstrates your UCD, interview and delivery experience. Due to high application volumes, I may not be able to respond where this is not evident.
Junior User Researcher (UCD experience required) employer: Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited
Join a dynamic consultancy that prioritises user-centred design and offers a collaborative, Agile work environment. As a Junior User Researcher, you'll gain invaluable hands-on experience while working alongside seasoned professionals, ensuring your growth in the field of user research. With flexible remote work and occasional travel to London, this role provides a unique opportunity to contribute to impactful digital services while developing your skills in a supportive setting.
Contact Detail:
Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Junior User Researcher (UCD experience required)
✨Tip Number 1
Get your networking game on! Reach out to professionals in the user research field, especially those who work with UCD. Join relevant groups on LinkedIn or attend meetups to connect with potential employers and learn about job openings.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your hands-on usability testing and collaboration with designers. Use real examples from your experience to demonstrate your end-to-end UCD delivery and make it easy for recruiters to see your value.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Prepare for interviews by rehearsing answers to common user research questions. Focus on how you've applied UCD principles in your past projects and be ready to discuss your research methods and findings confidently.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities that might just be the perfect fit for you. Plus, applying directly can sometimes give you an edge over other candidates. So, get your application in and let’s land that job together!
We think you need these skills to ace Junior User Researcher (UCD experience required)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your UCD Experience:Make sure your CV highlights your hands-on experience with user-centred design (UCD). We want to see clear examples of usability testing, collaboration with designers, and any tools you've used. This is your chance to shine!
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic CV! Tailor it to reflect the skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. We’re looking for specific evidence of your UCD practice, so make it easy for us to see how you fit the bill.
Communicate Clearly:Your written communication skills are key! When you write your application, be clear and concise. We want to see that you can present insights confidently, just like you would in a show-and-tell or report.
Apply Through Our Website:To maximise your chances, make sure you apply through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and keep track of all the amazing candidates we’re considering!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited
✨Know Your UCD Inside Out
Make sure you can talk confidently about your experience with User-Centred Design (UCD). Be ready to share specific examples of usability testing, collaboration with designers, and how you've iterated on prototypes. This will show that you understand the practical application of UCD principles.
✨Prepare for Agile Conversations
Since you'll be working in an Agile environment, brush up on Agile methodologies and be prepared to discuss how you've collaborated in such settings before. Think of examples where you contributed to team ceremonies or helped shape research goals alongside product managers and designers.
✨Showcase Your Research Skills
Be ready to discuss the qualitative and quantitative research methods you've used, like interviews and surveys. Prepare to explain how you synthesised findings into actionable insights and how you communicated these to different audiences. This will highlight your ability to translate research into meaningful service improvements.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Users
Let your genuine interest in understanding user behaviours and needs shine through. Share stories that illustrate your curiosity and detail-oriented approach, especially in sensitive contexts. This will help convey that you're not just looking for a job, but are truly invested in making a difference through user research.
