At a Glance
- Tasks: Conduct hands-on UX research to enhance digital experiences for millions of readers.
- Company: Join a leading media company with a collaborative and innovative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy private medical insurance, gym discounts, generous holiday, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with a focus on collaboration and inclusivity.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on journalism by understanding user needs and shaping digital products.
- Qualifications: Experience in full-stack UX research and strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
About the Product Design Team
The Product Design team at The Times is a dedicated group of around twelve professionals working across reading experiences, subscriber journeys, and daily newsroom tools. We operate close to the newsroom, collaborating directly with editorial, product, engineering, and data teams to design trusted digital experiences for millions of readers.
Your role
We are looking for a hands‑on UX Researcher to support the work behind everything we build on the customer side of The Times: subscription journeys, retention, commercial moments, and the verticals readers stay for after the news. You will be the second researcher in the team, partnering with our senior researcher who covers the content tribe. Together you run the research practice. You will focus on customer: running your own studies end to end, synthesising what you learn, and making sure it changes what gets built.
This is a hands‑on role for a confident mid‑level researcher. You will own your work and your stakeholders. You will have a senior researcher alongside you for the harder calls, the bigger studies, and the conversations about how the practice grows.
Day to day you will:
- Own customer research from conception to decision-making, including methodology selection, recruitment, moderation, and synthesis.
- Execute a balance of generative discovery for new opportunities and evaluative testing for features nearing launch.
- Run continuous discovery loops with subscribers to establish research as an ongoing, fast‑paced habit within the product team.
- Partner with the senior researcher to share methods, align participant panels, and scale the reach of the research practice.
- Interrogate user behavior tools like ContentSquare and data dashboards to challenge assumptions and ask analytical questions.
- Lift research literacy across the department by guiding designers and product managers through their own lightweight studies and discussion guides.
What we're looking for from you:
- Experience delivering full‑stack UX research on shipped digital products, showcasing both generative and evaluative methodologies.
- Deep qualitative depth in conducting user interviews, diary studies, and usability testing with an ability to navigate complex conversations.
- Familiarity with continuous discovery frameworks to support fast‑paced, iterative product development loops.
- Analytical comfort with quantitative data, giving you the ability to interpret user dashboards and design reliable surveys.
- Strong synthesis skills to transform complex user feedback into clear, actionable recommendations that guide product managers and designers.
- Fluency using AI tools within research workflows for transcription or analysis, paired with the critical eye to spot inaccuracies or ethical risks.
- Genuine care for journalism and a passion for understanding why human audiences choose to engage with and support our titles.
Hybrid work model
At News UK, we embrace a hybrid work model, currently requiring a minimum of three days per week in the office. This approach fosters collaboration, innovation, and team spirit within our workspace. Certain roles may necessitate additional in‑office days; please discuss this with your recruiter for specific requirements.
Benefits
- Private medical insurance including coverage for pre‑existing conditions
- Discounted gym memberships, free ClassPass at Home, weekly in‑person/virtual exercise classes
- Bikes for Work and Electric Car scheme
- Up to 60% discount on Harper Collins books
- Maternity leave up to 18 weeks full basic salary & paternity leave up to 2 weeks
- Access to exclusive events and competitions with exciting brands such as talkSPORT, Virgin Radio UK & The Times. Weekly virtual panel chats with top journalists and celebrities
- Access to wellbeing benefits such as EAP, physio/massage and counselling
- A generous pension scheme with employer contributions of up to 5%
- Wide range of training available, plus full LinkedIn Learning access
- 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays and up to 4 volunteering days per year
Inclusivity
We are committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process. If you require reasonable adjustments due to a disability or health condition at any stage of your application or interview, please let us know. You can contact us to discuss how we can support you to perform at your best.
UX Researcher in London employer: The Times
At News UK, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters collaboration and innovation within our Product Design team. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we provide extensive training opportunities, a generous benefits package including private medical insurance and wellness initiatives, and a hybrid work model that promotes work-life balance. Join us in shaping trusted digital experiences for millions of readers while enjoying the unique advantages of working in a vibrant newsroom atmosphere.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land UX Researcher in London
✨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 The Times for a 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 The Times before they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace UX Researcher in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like UX Researcher at The Times, 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 The Times 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 The Times. 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 The Times.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Times
✨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 The Times, 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. The Times 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 The Times!
✨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 The Times is looking for.
