At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead user research to enhance educational technology and improve user experiences.
- Company: Join RM plc, a pioneer in education technology supporting over 10 million students globally.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, private healthcare, and opportunities for additional leave.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on learners' lives while collaborating with diverse teams in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in UX research, strong communication skills, and a passion for user-centred design required.
- Other info: Monthly workshops and occasional travel for user research and customer engagement.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
Would you like to help enrich the lives of learners around the world? At RM, we’ve been pioneers of education technology since 1973. We provide technology and resources to the education sector, supporting over 10 million students worldwide. We work with over 28,000 schools, nurseries, and education trusts in 115 countries to deliver customer-centric solutions that improve education outcomes.
We are looking for a seasoned User Researcher to join our growing UX and Service Design team. In this role, you will be instrumental in establishing a cross-platform user research initiative that spans all UX and CX segments, working closely with our lead designer. As a User Researcher, you will play a crucial role in understanding user behaviour and needs to inform the design and development of user-centred products, services, and experiences.
Your ability to be flexible, resourceful, and creative in your approach will be essential in navigating the digital assessment landscape and our matrixed environment. You will be responsible for meeting the user research needs across our Assessment portfolio. This means you will be working upstream in strategy, helping to identify new opportunities and validate product concepts before significant resources are invested. At the same time, you will be deeply involved in the product development process, working with design and engineering teams to enhance user experiences.
Your ability to quantify the impact of UX changes and demonstrate the ROI of user-centred design will be key in fostering cross-functional collaboration and securing buy-in for UX initiatives. We are looking for someone who can confidently present research findings to diverse stakeholders, from C-suite executives to customers and product managers, and effectively communicate how these insights can drive business growth and product success.
If you are excited about using research to influence both strategic direction and tactical execution, this role offers the perfect opportunity to make a significant impact.
Main Responsibilities- Develop and lead assessment research strategy: Create and implement a research plan that aligns with our cross-platform vision and focuses on measuring and improving user outcomes. Collaborate across product teams and business areas to maximise the impact of research efforts.
- Conduct comprehensive user research: Employ a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods (e.g. data analysis of software usage, user interviews, contextual inquiries, usability testing of assessment tools) to gain deep insights into users and the effectiveness of various assessment types within a digital context.
- Analyse and synthesise insights: Transform complex assessment and user data into clear, actionable insights. Present findings to cross-functional teams to underpin evidence-based decision making.
- Champion data-driven design: Ensure all assessment development is grounded in psychometrics and measurement science. Advocate for fair, valid, and reliable assessment practices throughout the product lifecycle, emphasising accessibility and equitable evaluation for all students.
- Collaborate cross-functionally: Partner with internal and external business areas to share insights and inform product design. Lead other researchers and designers to build out a coherent experience across user journeys.
- Contribute to portfolio expansion: Conduct exploratory research to guide the development of new digital assessment types and assessment solutions. Along with research artefacts, such as personas and journey maps, craft research proposals to align stakeholders and clarify scope.
- Stay ahead of industry and research trends: Continuously monitor developments in educational measurement, assessment technology, and emerging research methodologies to ensure our digital assessment experiences are aligned with best practices and emerging trends.
- Actively contribute to internal design capability: Coach others on research best practices and help them improve their own research skills.
You have proven experience working as a UX designer or product designer within cross-functional teams, taking a user-centric approach to design and collaborating effectively to build high-quality software products or services.
Technical excellence- Expert knowledge and proven skills with a broad methodological toolkit, ideally including interviews, usability testing, field studies, diary studies, surveys, and quantitative analysis.
- Extensive experience leading user research initiatives for digital and non-digital products and services.
- Ideally you have experience with SaaS B2B solutions.
- Familiarity with design thinking principles and user-centred design processes.
- Experience with UX research tools and software (e.g., UserTesting, Qualtrics, Optimal Workshop).
- Strong visual communication skills, including the ability to create compelling, visually appealing artifacts to present research findings.
- Experience in packaging insights into easily digestible formats for various audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to influence product strategy and decision-making through research findings.
- Champion for accessibility.
- Comfortable leading on research activities across a range of different projects and with a high level of autonomy.
- Proven experience adapting research approach to different project contexts.
- Apply metrics to gauge if product goals and objectives are being met.
- Able to communicate the rationale, value, and next steps of user research.
- Experience in presenting work at various stages of the design process to different levels within an organisation, and to non-design stakeholders.
- Can solicit, receive, and action feedback.
- Proactively engage with internal stakeholders, teams and customers.
- Demonstrated ability to gather support for and lead cross-functional projects independently.
- Attend monthly workshops for in-person collaboration and fostering strong working relationships.
While we’re looking for a generalist user researcher, you’ll get bonus points if you’re T-shaped and have expertise in one or more of the following: visual communication workshop facilitation.
At RM we have My Work Blend @RM which provides office-based colleagues with multi location and hybrid working options. As well as your office base, you can spend a proportion of your time working at other locations that suit your role and your life, including home, other offices, customer sites, distribution centres or on the move.
We encourage you to discuss arrangements for this role with your potential line manager during the recruitment process. As well as a competitive salary and our core benefits package which includes private medical healthcare, life assurance and a Group Personal Pension Plan with higher contribution levels available, some roles are also eligible for a performance-related bonus. There are lots of voluntary benefits too. You could buy additional annual leave, join our dental plan, sign up for a health assessment, or take part in our cycle to work scheme. You could even earn yourself an extra bonus for successfully recommending a friend or family member for a position within RM.
To better reflect the society that we serve, we’re committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. To achieve this, we create teams of talented people from different backgrounds and experiences and strive to be a business where our people can bring their whole selves to work, we also want to make the recruitment process as inclusive as possible for everyone. Should you require additional support with your application or through the interview process, please contact us at recruitment@rm.com.
User Researcher employer: RM plc
Contact Detail:
RM plc Recruiting Team
recruitment@rm.com
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land User Researcher
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with RM plc's mission and values. Understanding their commitment to enriching the lives of learners will help you align your research approach with their goals, making you a more attractive candidate.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your experience with various user research methodologies. Highlighting your expertise in both qualitative and quantitative methods will demonstrate your versatility and ability to adapt to different project contexts.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss how you've influenced product strategy through research findings in past roles. Being able to articulate specific examples will showcase your impact and ability to drive business growth.
✨Tip Number 4
Network with current or former RM employees on platforms like LinkedIn. Engaging with them can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be beneficial during interviews.
We think you need these skills to ace User Researcher
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure to thoroughly read the job description for the User Researcher position at RM plc. Understand the key responsibilities and required skills, and think about how your experience aligns with these.
Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV to highlight relevant experience in user research, UX design, and any specific methodologies mentioned in the job description. Use keywords from the job posting to ensure your CV stands out.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that not only showcases your passion for user research but also demonstrates your understanding of RM plc's mission and how you can contribute to their goals. Be specific about your past experiences and how they relate to the role.
Showcase Your Work: If applicable, include a portfolio or examples of your previous user research projects. Highlight your methodology, findings, and how your insights influenced product design. This will give the hiring team a clear view of your capabilities.
How to prepare for a job interview at RM plc
✨Understand the Company and Its Mission
Before your interview, take some time to research RM plc and its commitment to enriching the lives of learners. Familiarise yourself with their products and services, especially in the education technology sector. This will help you align your answers with their mission and demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your Research Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience with various user research methodologies. Highlight specific projects where you've successfully employed qualitative and quantitative methods. Use examples that illustrate how your research has influenced product design and decision-making, particularly in a digital context.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration Questions
Since the role involves working closely with design and engineering teams, expect questions about your experience collaborating across different functions. Share examples of how you've effectively communicated research findings to diverse stakeholders and how you've fostered collaboration to enhance user experiences.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Accessibility
RM plc values accessibility and equitable evaluation for all students. Be ready to discuss your understanding of accessibility in user research and design. Share any relevant experiences where you've championed inclusive practices or contributed to making products more accessible for users with diverse needs.