User Researchers - Contractors Inside IR35 in Leeds

Hippo is recruiting for talented User Researchers for current and future contractor opportunities. Due to the variety of our projects and clients, we have Inside IR35 positions available on a short-term or long-term basis with fully remote/flexible working arrangements.

User Researchers design, plan and conduct research into what people need from a service and produce recommendations for user-centred service design. Working with designers, product owners, developers and other members of Agile teams, they also test services as they are being designed and use research evidence to help explain design decisions to clients.

What you’ll do:

• Advise clients on how to solve complex problems using research, people-centred design and Agile methodologies.
• Lead multidisciplinary Agile teams to design services that meet identified user needs.
• Advocate inclusive approaches within user research.
• Build supportive relationships with clients and stakeholders, yet challenge ideas and manage difficult conversations.
• Support user researchers and advise other colleagues how to get the best from user research.
• Promote Hippo’s people-centred design offer both internally and externally.

Skills and experience that you need:

• Expertise in applying user research methodologies across different environments.
• Experience of working in multidisciplinary Agile teams to design and deliver people-centred services.
• Working knowledge of how to research accessibility needs or assisted digital needs.
• Proven experience of working in the Public Sector.
• Proven experience of championing user research / user-centred design / service design approaches.
• Experience of mentoring/training other user researchers.
• Advanced communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to manage conflict and convey difficult messages with tact and sensitivity.
• A good understanding of other Agile roles across design, product and tech.
• Strong consultancy and leadership skills, and confidence in exploring problem spaces with clients to determine the most appropriate way forward.

What makes us great:

Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at Hippo. At Hippo, we’re dedicated to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace that works for everyone. We understand that having a diverse team unlocks our capacity for innovation, creativity and problem solving. Only by building a community of diverse perspectives, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds can we create an environment where all can contribute and thrive. We actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups including women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent and people with disabilities. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process that reflects our workplace culture.

We are a registered Disability Confident Employer, Mindful Employer, Endometriosis Friendly Employer and a member of the Armed Forces Covenant. Hippo continually strives to remove barriers, provide accommodations and offer reasonable adjustments to ensure equity throughout our practices.

Hi, we’re Hippo. At Hippo, we design with empathy and build for impact. We do this by combining data-informed evidence, human-centred design and software engineering. We're a digital services partner who is genuinely invested in helping our clients thrive as modern organisations. Our delivery methodology is truly agile, from concept to reality, supporting innovation and continuous improvement to achieve your desired outcomes. We firmly believe that technology should serve humanity, not the other way around. We take a human-centred approach to everything we do because we understand that complex problems require a service design approach. This means understanding how users behave and ensuring our solutions work for them in the real world.

Our combination of data, design, and engineering delivers bespoke digital services that make a positive and meaningful impact on organisations and society. We're confident in our abilities, authentic in our approach, and passionate about what we do. If you're looking for a digital services partner that can deliver real results, let us help you build for the future and make a lasting impact.

Hippo locations: We are headquartered in Leeds and located across the UK in Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, London and Bristol. We're on the lookout for top talent nationwide, so don't let location hold you back from applying. We welcome candidates from all over the UK who possess the flexibility to work from any of our locations. It's worth noting that, given the dynamic nature of our business, you may be required to work on-site at client locations or from your own home.