Senior User Researcher in Bristol

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Senior User Researcher to manage a user research team while delivering high-quality research across a range of digital projects. The role requires the ability to effectively manage day-to-day research activities while maintaining a clear strategic focus aligned with wider organisational goals and objectives. You will be educated to degree level or equivalent and bring extensive experience in both qualitative and quantitative research methods. You will have a strong understanding of Government Digital Service (GDS) user research standards and demonstrable experience of applying user experience research and insight within a service-based organisation. A proven track record of working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams to deliver user research projects in an Agile environment is essential, alongside excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and leadership skills.

Main duties of the job:

• Leading and conducting pro-active user experience research projects including the creation of user research deliverables to provide in-depth, actionable insight, so that issues and opportunities are clearly identified and properly reported.
• Planning, designing and conducting interviews, workshops and usability testing sessions to support the design and development of digital services.
• Leading the user research process from developing the research methodology and user recruitment scripts through to analysis and user research outputs.
• Conducting in-house user research with users to test concept developments and prototypes using a wide range of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, such as contextual interviews, pop-up interviews, surveys and usability testing, to ensure that user needs are fully understood in the service design.
• Taking an innovative approach to ensure that all customer groups are represented in the user research - testing and using a variety of channels to achieve this.
• Using hands-on and creative techniques to recruit participants as needed on the project.
• Working collaboratively with the project team, designers and developers to turn user data into actionable product/service requirements that feeds into prototype development, and influences product direction.
• Effectively delivering user research projects within deadlines and maintaining a focus on results despite unforeseen challenges and setbacks.

About us:

At the HRA, we are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive working environment where we actively invest in the development and empowerment of our staff, enabling them to perform at their best. We strive to promote a healthy workplace culture where wellbeing, collaboration, and professional growth are valued and encouraged.

Working at the HRA, we support flexible working, recognising that home-based or hybrid arrangements provide us with the most productive environment to work well. Where possible, we'll offer a working pattern that suits you. The HRA offers home-based contracts for all locations. Newcastle based staff can be office based. For our bases in Manchester, Nottingham and Bristol, hybrid working arrangements may be possible. We encourage you to speak with us to explore how this could be accommodated.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know from experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger, more creative workplace that helps us to deliver the best services. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of our community: age, disability, gender identity and expression, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and other diverse characteristics, and we have policies in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process.

Job responsibilities:

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification documents for full details about this role. When completing your application, ensure you clearly demonstrate how your experience and skills align with the criteria outlined for this position.

We recognise that generative AI tools can be helpful in supporting applicants during the recruitment process, particularly for tasks such as proofreading, structuring, or refining written responses. However, we encourage candidates to use AI responsibly and sparingly. Applications should reflect your authentic voice, personal experiences, and genuine qualifications. Over reliance on AI-generated content can result in generic or inaccurate submissions that fail to meet the criteria or convey your individuality. Misrepresentation of skills, knowledge, or experience, including through AI-generated content, may lead to the rejection of your application, withdrawal of your offer, or your dismissal if you do start with us. If you choose to use AI, please ensure it enhances rather than replaces your own input, and be transparent about its use where appropriate. False and insincere examples go against our values of integrity and transparency.

We are unable to offer employment under any sponsorship arrangement as we do not hold a sponsorship licence. Applications requiring sponsorship will not be considered. Applications that do not clearly demonstrate how the essential criteria outlined in the person specification are met will not be shortlisted. Only the information provided in the application form will be considered. CVs will not be reviewed. We do not accept applications via recruitment agencies or other third parties. The HRA reserves the right to close this vacancy early should it receive a sufficient number of applications. Our fixed term roles are also open to applicants who wish to apply on a secondment basis. Applicants who fit this category are advised to speak with their line manager before applying and visit their organisations Secondments Policy.

Organisational structure and directorate overview:

The HRA is made up of five directorates: Approvals, Chief Executive, Digital, Policy and Partnerships and Resources. This role sits within HRA Digital. The digital directorate is responsible for developing, delivering and supporting complex solutions within the HRA's portfolio of UK-wide information systems for health and care research. This includes a major programme to build new systems, and to achieve the successful migration and eventual closure of current systems. The directorate owns, develops, and delivers the HRA's digital strategy in line with government digital and functional standards. The HRA Digital team is a collaborative, supportive team consisting of HRA employees, secondees, contractors and vendors.

Person Specification:

Qualifications:

• Educated to degree level (or relevant qualifications) in a relevant field, or significant relevant working experience of the subject matter.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• GDS trained or with extensive experience across a wide variety of research methodologies to carry out research to identify user needs following GDS standards.
• Providing advice and guidance across projects on both user research methodologies and GDS standards related to research and deliverables.
• Understand and communicate to others the benefits and applicability of UI design, user testing tools, methods and standards to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience in user centred design practices.
• Good attention to detail and able to work to a high level of accuracy.
• Familiar with collaborative tools such as JIRA and Trello.

Experience:

• Identifying user needs and ensure they are captured and implemented.
• Track record of conducting pro-active user experience research projects through all stages from research methodology planning through to analysis and outputs.
• Proven experience of a wide range of research methodologies such as professional and customer contextual interviews, workshops, pop-up, guerrilla research and usability testing.
• Accessibility considerations and testing with users with additional needs to shape inclusive design.
• Presenting user research findings to senior managers and external organisations, being challenged on results and research outcomes.
• Managing user data in a secure way, in line with organisational policy.
• Working within multidisciplinary agile teams, and experience of creating epics and user stories.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills:

• Excellent problem solving and analytical skills.
• Experienced in delivering user research outputs from both qualitative and quantitative research and able to constructively critique methodological and analytical choices taken within the organisation.

Interpersonal Skills:

• Training or mentoring junior user researchers and the wider team on user research best practice (e.g. methodology, ethics, recruitment, outputs) and agile methodology.
• Management, development and supervision of a small team of user researchers.
• A self-starter, highly self-motivated and disciplined, able to work under pressure and meet challenging deadlines.

Other:

• Commitment to inclusivity and valuing diversity.
• Creative and proactive enough to challenge the status quo with a natural curiosity and inquisitive nature.
• A high level of confidence and ability to engage with and influence others including senior managers.
• Excellent communication skills.

Interview:

• Ability to draw together and present reasonable conclusions from a wide range of incomplete and complex evidence and data.

Interpersonal Skills:

• Flexibility, perseverance and maintaining a focus on results despite unforeseen challenges and setbacks.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check:

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.