Senior User Researcher

Company Description

NEC Digital Studio We’re NEC Digital Studio. while you read this ad, our software is helping to dispatch ambulances, support families, keep trains on the move, locate missing people and even test the hearing of newborn babies. We’re a 3,000+ employee organisation working with governments, hospitals, police forces, housing providers, local authorities, charities and more. Our mission is to empower organisations to be more effective, inclusive and sustainable, through tools, systems and experiences that are intelligent, integrated and intuitive for all. We design and develop with a people-first approach, focusing on accessibility and digital inclusion. We’d love your help and will support you along the way. Discover more at NEC Digital Studio | Made for Life (necsws.com).

Location: UK – Remote or Hybrid, Subject to Location

Salary: £46-65,000 subject to location and experience

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Job Description

What we’re looking for: We’re looking for a Senior User Researcher with significant experience in delivering user research projects. The focus of your role will be to plan, facilitate and lead user research activities on a variety of projects. You’ll often be working with multidisciplinary teams on complex projects where autonomy and project management will be important. We’re on the hunt for someone who will champion our values: to care passionately, be fluent in people, believe in your craft, push convention, be open to change, and to value each other. We work with a broad range of clients, some of whom are completely new to user-centred design (UCD). This means you’ll also play a key role in championing our UCD approach.

The role may also involve:

• Leading and directing projects – You’ll lead multidisciplinary teams and clients in the pursuit of inclusive, accessible and effective research outcomes.
• Team support and management – You’ll help to support the user research team by inspiring and line managing team members, including overseeing appraisals and professional development.
• Defining and refining practice – You’ll help to define the way our disciplines work together, and progress the way NEC Digital Studio delivers inclusive, accessible, and effective design.
• Supporting new business – You’ll help NEC Digital Studio identify and win projects by spotting opportunities with clients and helping with proposals and pitches.
• Supporting our Design School with the development and delivery of courses

How we work

We work with central and local government, the NHS, voluntary, not-for-profit, and private sector organisations. We work hand-in-hand with our clients and sometimes we’re embedded in their teams for projects. You’ll move on to different sectors after 3 – 12 months to get a variety of experiences, from applying GDS standards to improving customer buy-in. Beyond individual projects, NEC Digital Studio’s User Researchers support each other at weekly meet-ups where we share our work, discuss wider implications, and learn methods. You’ll broaden your skills by working closely with Digital teams, including interaction and content designers, and developers. All of our User Researchers are supported by more senior members of the User Research team who help you set goals, provide feedback, and support your growth.

Qualifications

Your skills and experience: We’d like to hear from you if you have skills or experience in some of these areas:

• Multidisciplinary teams – Leading and advocating for user research activities on a project, working with the wider team to deliver insights.
• Inclusive research – Conducting ethical user research, identifying accessibility needs, and making adjustments as required.
• User Research to GDS service standards – Planning and conducting research across different agile phases.
• Qualitative analysis and synthesis – Producing representative user journeys, user stories and needs from findings.
• Facilitation – Conducting sessions such as interviews and usability testing and guiding stakeholders through processes.
• Service Design – Interest or experience in service design thinking and outcomes
• Written communication – Writing and sharing findings clearly to colleagues and stakeholders.
• Recommendation & implementation – Working with the wider design team to produce clear insights for design decisions.
• Proactive and autonomous – Leading conversations and adding value.
• Stakeholder management – Negotiating with clients to deliver outcomes within budget.
• Managing complexity and ambiguity – Adapting to the complexities of UCD projects and guiding teams through uncertainty.

Additional Information

We pride ourselves on an excellent benefits package, including an above-average pension. When you join NEC Software Solutions, you are provided with:

• Private Medical Cover funded by NEC for Employees (option to add family members)
• 25 days paid holiday with the option to buy/sell (FTE)
• 4 x basic salary life assurance
• A Group Pension Plan with employer contributions up to 8.5%
• Flexible benefits to suit your needs
• Free access to LinkedIn Learning with 15,000+ courses
• Give back days
• Annual team and company away-days
• Personal learning budget

Other information:

• Candidates must demonstrate right to work in the UK. Documentary evidence required.
• All offers subject to vetting, references and health checks.
• DBS check may be required depending on role.

NEC Software Solutions is an equal opportunities employer. If you require reasonable adjustments during recruitment or interviews, please share your accessibility needs. We are committed to an inclusive experience for all candidates.

Application details (varied by source):

• A CV
• A Cover Letter describing fit and motivation (approx. 1000 words)
• A presentation (no more than 5 pages) on a project or process you led, demonstrating qualification for the role; if shortlisted, you will present it in an interview.