User Researcher - Consultant in Manchester

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.

The role involves conducting research which supports the development of a user centred service. You’ll work closely with other user centred design roles, such as Service Designer, Content Designers, and Interaction Designers, to solve complex and interesting problems for our clients.

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 projects.

To succeed in this role, you need experience of delivering user research to a delivery team. In your CV and interview(s), please show how you have:

• chosen from a range of research methods to design the right research approach for the project phase
• produced the required ethics and governance documentation and materials for research activity
• recruited a wide range of participants in line with GDPR and MRS guidelines
• identified key themes, user needs, personas, and design feedback through analysis
• produced clear and concise user research deliverables to meet the needs of different audiences
• worked to GDS standards
• worked in agile delivery teams

In addition to user research skills, there are essential core skills you’ll need to work effectively as a consultant. In the interview, please show how you have:

• planned your own tasks to achieve the objectives of your project
• respectfully challenged decisions or solutions you don’t agree with
• collaborated well with your colleagues, teammates and clients

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

Consultant salary range: £43,000-£56,000

Requirements: Due to the nature of this role, applicants must either currently hold active Security Check (SC) Clearance or be eligible to obtain it. Eligibility typically requires UK citizenship and continuous residence in the UK for the past five years, with no single absence exceeding 28 consecutive days. As a result, we are unable to progress applications from candidates who do not meet these requirements.

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

Where you’ll work: Applicants must be able to commute to offices and client sites as part of their normal working arrangements, as travel is essential to fulfilling the responsibilities of the role.

We include you: 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.

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

Want to know more? Visit our website or email.