At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead user research for digital pensions, shaping user experiences with a focus on UCD principles.
- Company: Join TCS Interactive, a leader in digital customer experience with a human-first approach.
- Benefits: Enjoy a diverse culture, wellness initiatives, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a team that values diversity, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the pensions sector while influencing design decisions at a high level.
- Qualifications: Significant UX research experience and strong understanding of UCD and GDS standards required.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
The Senior UX Researcher is responsible for leading and shaping user research activities across digital pensions products and services, applying User‑Centred Design (UCD) principles, including experience aligned to UK Government Digital Service (GDS) standards. The role ensures that robust user insight, evidence, and testing inform service, product, and design decisions in complex, regulated environments. Working with a high degree of autonomy, the UX Researcher advises senior stakeholders, influences delivery at a programme or portfolio level, and embeds best‑practice UCD approaches throughout the lifecycle.
Key Responsibilities
- Research Strategy & UCD Leadership: Define and lead UCD‑aligned research strategies and plans across pensions initiatives. Ensure research supports all phases of delivery, from discovery and alpha through beta and live, in line with GDS service design expectations. Select and apply appropriate qualitative and quantitative research methods to address complex user and business problems.
- Pensions Domain Research: Lead research across end‑to‑end pensions journeys, including auto‑enrolment and onboarding, contributions and fund selection, transfers and consolidation, retirement planning, drawdown, and decumulation. Develop a deep understanding of pensions user behaviours, needs, and decision‑making. Identify and articulate risks and opportunities arising from complex financial and regulatory processes.
- GDS & Service Assessment Support: Conduct research that provides clear evidence to support GDS Service Assessments and design and delivery decisions in public‑sector‑aligned environments. Ensure research outputs meet expectations for traceability, rigour, and transparency. Work closely with service designers and delivery teams to demonstrate how user needs are being met.
- Insight Generation & Advisory: Analyse and synthesise research findings into clear, strategic insights. Translate insights into actionable recommendations that influence UX and interaction design, content and service design, and product and delivery strategy. Advise stakeholders on user needs, accessibility risks, and usability issues, particularly within pensions services.
- Stakeholder Engagement & Influence: Collaborate with product owners, designers, engineers, policy, compliance, and delivery managers. Influence decision‑making by championing evidence‑based, user‑centred approaches. Communicate complex findings clearly to senior, non‑technical, and external stakeholders, including assessors where required.
- Research Governance & Best Practice: Establish and maintain UX research standards, templates, and frameworks aligned with UCD and GDS best practice. Ensure research is conducted ethically and complies with data protection requirements, inclusive and accessible research practices, and financial services and pensions regulatory expectations. Oversee or contribute to research repositories and insight libraries.
- Leadership & Capability Building: Provide mentoring and guidance to junior and mid‑level UX researchers. Support the development of UCD capability across delivery teams. Promote a strong user‑centred culture within pensions and financial services programmes.
- Continuous Improvement & Measurement: Use research, analytics, and behavioural insight to measure and improve user understanding and confidence, accessibility and inclusion, and outcomes across pensions journeys. Identify opportunities to improve service effectiveness, trust, and compliance.
Characteristics
- Autonomy: Works under broad direction; accountable for research outcomes across multiple initiatives.
- Influence: Influences programmes, teams, and senior stakeholders through insight and expertise.
- Complexity: Manages complex research challenges in regulated, high‑impact environments.
- Knowledge: Applies and advises on advanced UX research, UCD, and pensions domain knowledge.
Skills & Experience
- Essential Skills: Significant experience in UX research or user research roles. Proven experience applying User‑Centred Design (UCD) principles. Experience working to GDS standards, including supporting service assessments. Experience working within pensions, retirement services, or financial services. Expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methods. Strong ability to synthesise complex data into strategic insights and recommendations. Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Desirable Skills: Strong understanding of the UK pensions landscape (e.g. defined contribution schemes, auto‑enrolment). Knowledge of FCA regulations and Consumer Duty. Experience researching complex financial decision‑making. Experience influencing service or product strategy through research. Familiarity with analytics, experimentation, and service metrics.
Key Competencies
- Strategic research leadership
- UCD and GDS expertise
- User advocacy in complex financial contexts
- Stakeholder influencing and advisory skills
- Analytical and critical thinking
- Ethical, inclusive research practice
- Mentoring and capability development
Typical Outputs
- Research strategies and plans
- Evidence to support GDS service assessments
- Strategic insight reports and recommendations
- Personas and behavioural segmentation
- End‑to‑end pensions journey insights
- Research standards and frameworks
Senior UX Researcher in Bolton employer: Tata Consultancy Services
At TCS Interactive, we pride ourselves on fostering a vibrant and inclusive work culture that champions diversity and employee well-being. As a Senior UX Researcher, you will have the opportunity to lead impactful user research initiatives within the dynamic pensions sector, while benefiting from robust professional development programmes and a supportive environment that values your insights and expertise. Our commitment to equity and belonging ensures that every team member can thrive, making TCS Interactive an exceptional employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior UX Researcher in Bolton
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
In the world of UX/UI design, your portfolio speaks volumes! Make sure it's packed with your best work and showcases your process, not just the final product. We want to see how you tackle design challenges, so consider adding case studies that reflect your thought process and user-centric approach.
✨Get Involved in Design Communities
Jump into local or online design meetups and workshops! Places like UXPA or local design events can be goldmines for networking and learning. Plus, mingling with fellow designers can introduce you to potential job openings that might not be listed elsewhere.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you find a role that excites you, like the one at Tata Consultancy Services for a Senior UX Researcher, make your application count! Highlight specific projects and skills that directly relate to the job description. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who fit into their specific team, so show them you’re the one!
✨Leverage Social Media
Don't underestimate the power of social media in finding a UX/UI design job! Follow design leaders on platforms like Twitter or Instagram, share your work, and engage in conversations. It’s a great way to get noticed by recruiters and even catch wind of openings at companies like Tata Consultancy Services before they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior UX Researcher in Bolton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Senior UX Researcher at Tata Consultancy Services, make sure to include examples that clearly highlight your design process. We want to see not just the final product but also the journey that led you there—wireframes, user personas, and iterations demonstrate your thought process and user-centric approach!
Tailor Your Portfolio:A tailor-made portfolio is crucial for a full-time design role! Curate your best projects that align with the kind of work Tata Consultancy Services does. We suggest including 3-5 case studies that showcase a variety of skills such as wireframing, prototyping, and user testing to really make your application pop.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should not just be a summary of your CV. Use it to express why you’re excited about UX/UI Design and what draws you specifically to Tata Consultancy Services. Mention any relevant experience, tools you’re proficient in (like Sketch or Figma), and how you can contribute to their projects.
Highlight Collaboration Skills:In the world of UX/UI Design, teamwork is crucial. Make sure to highlight any past experiences where you worked in cross-functional teams. Illustrate how you communicated design decisions and listened to feedback, as this will resonate well with the culture at Tata Consultancy Services.
How to prepare for a job interview at Tata Consultancy Services
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
When you're gunning for a full-time UX/UI design role, your portfolio is your best friend! Make sure you've got a solid selection of your work, showcasing not just the final designs, but the process behind them—think wireframes, user flows, and any user research you've conducted. During the interview with Tata Consultancy Services, be prepared to discuss your design decisions and how they solve specific user problems.
✨Prepare for Design Challenges
Expect to face some practical design tasks during your interview. Tata Consultancy Services might ask you to tackle a quick design challenge or critique an existing interface. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and try to articulate your thought process as you work through these scenarios. Showing how you approach a design problem is just as important as the final output!
✨Know the Tools of the Trade
Familiarise yourself with the tools commonly used in the industry—figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch should be second nature to you. Be ready to discuss your preferred tools during the interview and how they've shaped your design process at previous positions. This knowledge could give you an edge at Tata Consultancy Services!
✨Show Passion for User Experience
In a full-time UX/UI design role, having a genuine passion for improving user interactions can set you apart. Be prepared to share instances when you went above and beyond to ensure a great user experience in your previous projects. This will demonstrate that you’re not just a designer, but a user advocate, which is exactly what Tata Consultancy Services is looking for.
