At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead user research to shape digital services and enhance user experiences.
- Company: Join Hitachi Solutions, a global leader in digital transformation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, bonuses, and a strong work/life balance.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for career growth and mentoring.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by understanding user needs and driving design decisions.
- Qualifications: Experience in user research for complex digital products and strong communication skills.
Hitachi Solutions Europe is a global Digital, Data and Technology consultancy, Microsoft Inner Circle and Cloud Services partner, specialising in end-to-end transformation. We build services that are user centred and accessible, designed by our brilliant agile teams, capable of harnessing the power of the latest technologies.
Our capabilities include Microsoft Dynamics 365, Power Platform and Azure, Application Modernisation, Modern Data Platform, Performance & Analytics, Fraud and Error, Grants, User Centred Design, Accessibility and Agile DevOps.
What to expect, your benefits
Hitachi Solutions offers competitive compensation packages (incl. bonuses), pension and benefits plans. Work/Life balance is an essential part of our culture, and all our employees are home workers, although you will be expected to come into our or customer’s offices regularly. We operate a comprehensive career development programme that includes mentoring and training plans to ensure that you will continue to grow and develop your career at Hitachi.
Job Description
The Role
We are looking for a Senior User Researcher to join our User-Centred Design (UCD) practice. You will work within multidisciplinary teams delivering complex digital transformation programmes across public and private sector organisations. Senior User Researchers play a key role in helping teams understand real user needs, behaviours and contexts, and ensuring those insights shape decisions throughout the design and delivery process.
This role involves working across the full lifecycle of digital services, from early problem exploration and discovery through design and delivery to live service improvement. You will collaborate closely with designers, project and product managers, engineers and stakeholders to ensure services and products are grounded in evidence and informed by a deep understanding of users.
Key Responsibilities
- Research strategy and planning
- Plan and deliver research activities that help teams understand user needs, behaviours and pain points
- Select appropriate research methods based on the problem being explored and the stage of delivery
- Contribute to shaping research strategies for complex products or services
- Ensure research activities support evidence-based decision making within delivery teams
- Conducting and synthesising research
- Conduct qualitative and quantitative research using a range of appropriate methods
- Analyse and synthesise research findings to generate meaningful insights
- Translate research findings into clear recommendations that support product and service decisions
- Help teams understand the implications of research insights for design and delivery
- Working across the delivery lifecycle
- Contribute to early problem exploration and discovery activities
- Support design and delivery teams in testing concepts and validating design decisions
- Ensure research insights continue to inform improvements once services are live
- Help teams develop an ongoing understanding of user needs as services evolve
- Collaboration and consulting
- Work closely with designers, service designers, engineers, project and product managers in multidisciplinary teams
- Facilitate research activities with stakeholders and support teams in interpreting research findings
- Communicate insights clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
- Support teams in making decisions grounded in evidence and user insight
- Contributing to design practice
- Advocate for user-centred and evidence-based approaches within delivery teams
- Promote ethical research practices and inclusive research approaches
- Support and mentor less experienced researchers where appropriate
- Contribute to improving research practices and knowledge sharing within the UCD team
Qualifications
We are looking for researchers who combine strong research capability with the ability to work effectively in complex organisational environments. You may have gained your experience in consulting, government, product teams or large digital transformation programmes.
- Experience planning and conducting user research for complex digital products or services
- Ability to select appropriate research methods and adapt them to different delivery contexts
- Experience analysing and synthesising research findings into clear insights and recommendations
- Strong communication skills and ability to present research findings clearly to diverse audiences
- Experience working within multidisciplinary teams alongside designers, engineers and product managers
- Understanding of inclusive research practices and accessibility considerations
- Experience supporting teams in making decisions informed by user insight
Preferred Experience
We would particularly welcome candidates with experience in:
- Enterprise technology ecosystems
- UK Government or public sector services
- Designing experiences within complex organisational or regulatory environments
We are interested in designers who are curious about how emerging technologies are changing digital services. This includes interest in:
- How artificial intelligence is changing digital products and services
- How new tools and technologies can support research, synthesis and insight generation
- How organisations can responsibly integrate emerging technologies into services that work for people
Additional Information
In applying for a role with Hitachi Solutions Europe Limited and/or its affiliates (“Hitachi”) you consent to Hitachi collecting and storing your personal information (including your name, job title and email address) in relation to this role and any others that may be suitable in the future. For more information please refer to our Privacy Policy located at http://www.hitachi-solutions.co.uk/privacy-policy. Your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
Beware of scams
Our recruiting team may communicate with candidates via our @hitachisolutions.com domain email address and/or via our SmartRecruiters (Applicant Tracking System) domain email address regarding your application and interview requests. All offers will originate from our @hitachisolutions.com domain email address. If you receive an offer or information from someone purporting to be an employee of Hitachi Solutions from any other domain, it may not be legitimate.
Senior User Researcher in London employer: Hitachi Solutions, Ltd.
Hitachi Solutions Europe is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises work/life balance and employee development. As a Senior User Researcher, you will thrive in a collaborative environment where your insights directly influence user-centred design across diverse digital transformation projects. With competitive compensation packages, comprehensive career development programmes, and the flexibility of home working, Hitachi Solutions provides a rewarding and meaningful career path for those passionate about making a difference in technology.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior User Researcher in London
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
In the world of UX/UI design, your portfolio speaks volumes! Make sure it's packed with your best work and showcases your process, not just the final product. We want to see how you tackle design challenges, so consider adding case studies that reflect your thought process and user-centric approach.
✨Get Involved in Design Communities
Jump into local or online design meetups and workshops! Places like UXPA or local design events can be goldmines for networking and learning. Plus, mingling with fellow designers can introduce you to potential job openings that might not be listed elsewhere.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you find a role that excites you, like the one at Hitachi Solutions, Ltd. for a Senior User Researcher, make your application count! Highlight specific projects and skills that directly relate to the job description. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who fit into their specific team, so show them you’re the one!
✨Leverage Social Media
Don't underestimate the power of social media in finding a UX/UI design job! Follow design leaders on platforms like Twitter or Instagram, share your work, and engage in conversations. It’s a great way to get noticed by recruiters and even catch wind of openings at companies like Hitachi Solutions, Ltd. before they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior User Researcher in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Senior User Researcher at Hitachi Solutions, Ltd., make sure to include examples that clearly highlight your design process. We want to see not just the final product but also the journey that led you there—wireframes, user personas, and iterations demonstrate your thought process and user-centric approach!
Tailor Your Portfolio:A tailor-made portfolio is crucial for a full-time design role! Curate your best projects that align with the kind of work Hitachi Solutions, Ltd. does. We suggest including 3-5 case studies that showcase a variety of skills such as wireframing, prototyping, and user testing to really make your application pop.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should not just be a summary of your CV. Use it to express why you’re excited about UX/UI Design and what draws you specifically to Hitachi Solutions, Ltd.. Mention any relevant experience, tools you’re proficient in (like Sketch or Figma), and how you can contribute to their projects.
Highlight Collaboration Skills:In the world of UX/UI Design, teamwork is crucial. Make sure to highlight any past experiences where you worked in cross-functional teams. Illustrate how you communicated design decisions and listened to feedback, as this will resonate well with the culture at Hitachi Solutions, Ltd..
How to prepare for a job interview at Hitachi Solutions, Ltd.
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
When you're gunning for a full-time UX/UI design role, your portfolio is your best friend! Make sure you've got a solid selection of your work, showcasing not just the final designs, but the process behind them—think wireframes, user flows, and any user research you've conducted. During the interview with Hitachi Solutions, Ltd., be prepared to discuss your design decisions and how they solve specific user problems.
✨Prepare for Design Challenges
Expect to face some practical design tasks during your interview. Hitachi Solutions, Ltd. might ask you to tackle a quick design challenge or critique an existing interface. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and try to articulate your thought process as you work through these scenarios. Showing how you approach a design problem is just as important as the final output!
✨Know the Tools of the Trade
Familiarise yourself with the tools commonly used in the industry—figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch should be second nature to you. Be ready to discuss your preferred tools during the interview and how they've shaped your design process at previous positions. This knowledge could give you an edge at Hitachi Solutions, Ltd.!
✨Show Passion for User Experience
In a full-time UX/UI design role, having a genuine passion for improving user interactions can set you apart. Be prepared to share instances when you went above and beyond to ensure a great user experience in your previous projects. This will demonstrate that you’re not just a designer, but a user advocate, which is exactly what Hitachi Solutions, Ltd. is looking for.
