User Researcher - Public Sector

Introduction

At IBM CIC, we deliver deep technical and industry expertise to a wide range of public and private sector clients in the UK.

A career in IBM CIC means you\’ll have the opportunity to work with visionaries across multiple industries to improve the hybrid cloud and AI journey for the most innovative and valuable companies in the world. Your ability to accelerate impact and make meaningful change for your clients is enabled by our strategic partner ecosystem and our robust technology platforms across the IBM portfolio.

Curiosity and a constant quest for knowledge serve as the foundation to success here. You\’ll be encouraged to challenge the norm, investigate ideas outside of your role, and come up with creative solutions which impact a wide network of clients, whom may be at their site or one of our CIC or IBM locations. Our culture of evolution centres on long-term career growth and development opportunities in an environment that embraces your unique skills and experience.

We offer:

• Many training opportunities from classroom to e-learning, mentoring and coaching programs and the chance to gain industry recognized certifications

• Regular and frequent promotion opportunities to ensure you can drive and develop your career with us

• Feedback and checkpoints throughout the year

• Diversity & Inclusion as an essential and authentic component of our culture through our policies and process as well as our Employee Champion teams and support networks

• A culture where your ideas for growth and innovation are always welcome

• Internal recognition programs for peer-to-peer appreciation as well as from manager to employees

• Tools and policies to support your work-life balance from flexible working approaches, sabbatical programs, paid paternity leave, maternity leave and an innovative maternity returners scheme

• More traditional benefits, such as 25 days holiday (in addition to public holidays), online shopping discounts, an Employee Assistance Program, a group personal pension plan of an additional 5% of your base salary paid by us monthly to save for your future.

Your role and responsibilities

An Experience Consultant specializing in Research is responsible for conducting a range of methodologies to gather customer insights for creating engaging and interactive digital experiences, including web, mobile, and other digital platforms. These techniques may encompass ethnographic research, generative research, quantitative research, workshops, secondary research, surveys, focus groups, social listening, prototyping, usability, and accessibility testing. The role requires interpreting and analysing research data, extracting valuable insights, and applying analytical skills and technical or statistical backgrounds to uncover user needs and behaviours. Ultimately, the Experience Consultant in Research plays a crucial role in shaping brand experiences and communications that resonate with target audiences.

• Conduct user research using both qualitative and quantitative methods including interviews, surveys, usability testing, and analytics analysis.

• Employ user-centered design methodologies to inform design decisions, focusing on empathy, iterative design, and evidence-based practices.

• Develop and implement strategies to identify and document user needs, pain points, and expectations.

• Design and maintain user personas, user journey maps, and experience trackers to visualize and communicate user insights effectively.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including designers, developers, product managers, and stakeholders, to ensure user needs are considered at all stages of the development process.

• Conduct heuristic evaluations and cognitive walkthroughs to improve interface design and user flow.

• Stay abreast of emerging trends and best practices in user research and user-centered design.

This role requires a candidate who is passionate about understanding human behaviour and how to leverage those insights to create meaningful, effective, and accessible digital solutions for the public sector.

If you\’re a detail-oriented, empathetic, and analytically

Required technical and professional expertise

• Experience in user research, preferably within the public sector.

• Experience with research a range of research techniques e.g. interviews surveys usability tests etc.

• Strong analytical and storytelling skills.

• Familiarity with UX design and agile development processes.

• Ability to work independently and autonomously.

• Proven experience with user-centered design methodologies and their application in a professional setting.

• Strong analytical skills to interpret research findings and translate them into actionable insights.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills to effectively share findings with diverse audiences.

• Proficiency with research tools and techniques such as A/B testing, card sorting, and contextual inquiry.

As an equal opportunities’ employer, we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds. However, for you to be eligible for this role, you must have the valid right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we do not offer visa sponsorship and have no future plans to do so. You must be a resident in the UK and have been living continuously in the UK for the last 10 years. You must be able to hold or gain a UK government security clearance.

Preferred technical and professional experience

• Certified Professional in User Experience by the International Association of UX Professionals (UXPA).

• Certification in User Research by a reputable organisation.

• Google Analytics Individual Qualification (GAIQ) certification.

IBM is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, caste, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, veteran status, or other characteristics. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.