Senior User Researcher in Edinburgh

Do you want to use research to shape services that make a real impact? Are you ready to bring curiosity and insight to projects that improve people’s lives? If so, Opencast could be the place for you. We’re a growing tech consultancy that creates user‑centred solutions with purpose for our clients in government, healthcare and purpose‑driven businesses.

As a User Researcher, you’ll uncover the needs and voices of people, work in multi‑disciplinary teams to feed these needs into design decisions, shape impactful services, and bring curiosity, pragmatism and insight to projects. You’ll enjoy a supportive community whilst working across public sector clients, to solve real problems that impact people's lives.

The role involves using your experience in a variety of different user research projects, taking on more complex work and leading the direction of projects. You’ll apply best practice user research principles and coach junior colleagues. You’ll ensure that work is carried out in accordance with Opencast’s quality, environmental, and information security policies and procedures, as well as applicable customer policies, standards, and procedures while working on client.

This role involves weekly on‑site work, and you’ll be required to travel regularly to client locations across the UK. We’re looking for people who value in‑person collaboration, enjoy building strong relationships, and are passionate about delivering solutions that make a real difference for our clients.

Due to the nature of this role, you must either hold active Security Check (SC) clearance or be eligible and willing to undergo the clearance process. SC clearance is granted in line with UK Government security vetting requirements. Typically, applicants must have UK citizenship and have lived continuously in the UK for at least the past five years, with no single absence exceeding 28 consecutive days. Nationality and immigration status may also be considered as part of the vetting process. We are unable to progress applications from candidates who do not meet these requirements.

If you are unsure whether you meet the eligibility criteria, we encourage you to review the guidance or discuss this with us before applying. We’re looking to welcome new team members for multiple roles from July onwards. If you’re interested in joining Opencast, we’d encourage you to apply.

To succeed in this role, you need to have worked as a researcher on several different design projects. In your CV and interview(s) please show how you have:

• Planned user research using your varied experience to ensure it is inclusive and makes an impact
• Supported colleagues to plan and execute best practice user research
• Taken a collaborative approach and involved colleagues and stakeholders in research
• Used evidence to persuade a project to take a user‑centred approach, anticipate challenges and deal with tricky stakeholders
• Guided the direction of a project to better serve users’ needs
• Iterated and innovated user research approaches to suit an organisation's needs

In addition to user research skills, there are essential core skills you’ll need to work effectively as a consultant. In the interview, we’ll ask you questions based around these experiences and ask you to present a piece of work which you have:

• Taken a strategic approach to your work and your role on a project
• Tactfully challenged stakeholders’ views
• Investigated, defined, and resolved complex problems
• Confidently presented decisions to stakeholders
• Helped people with different motivations work together
• Continuously reviewed your work to make improvements and develop

There are some areas of experience which are not essential, but they are relevant to this role. If you don’t have this experience please do still apply, as we can coach you in these areas when you join us.

Additional experience which is relevant to the role includes:

• The UK government service standard
• The GDS assessment process and how to supply evidence for it
• Quantitative research

If you have any of this experience, please show it on your CV and in the interview.

What we offer: A competitive package including a 7% employer pension contribution, share options, and a discretionary bonus. You’ll also benefit from 25 days’ holiday and access to 3 annual “life happens” days to support unexpected situations. We provide wellbeing support, ongoing professional development, volunteering opportunities, and the chance to be part of a genuinely supportive team.

This role requires regular on‑site attendance at our HQ, hub offices, and client sites, as well as the ability to work from home. Applicants must be able to travel to offices and client sites across the UK as part of their normal working arrangements, as travel is essential for fulfilling the responsibilities of the role.

We welcome candidates from all identities, attributes, ways of thinking and backgrounds to thrive in a career at Opencast. Our aim is for the diversity of our people to be reflected in the solutions we deliver, to help create a fairer society for all.

Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams. We’re happy to make adjustments to support your needs.