Lead Researcher in London

Lead Researcher in London

London Full-Time 65000 - 75000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Wise

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead research initiatives in payment solutions and enhance user experiences.
  • Company: Wise Business, a forward-thinking fintech company in London.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, growth opportunities, and a chance to shape the future of payments.
  • Other info: Join a dynamic team focused on innovation and user-centred design.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on how businesses get paid globally.
  • Qualifications: Experience in UX research and team leadership required.

The predicted salary is between 65000 - 75000 £ per year.

Lead research initiatives in Wise's Acquiring domain, focusing on Payment Links, Invoices, QuickPay, card payments, and e-commerce.

Your Mission

Understand how businesses get paid, identify pain points, and design a convenient, instant, and low‑cost experience for receiving funds into Wise.

Key Contributions

  • Setting priorities and direction: Proactively set research priorities and align them with squad and business goals.
  • Elevating craft and capabilities: Lead by example and develop the research thinking and technical skills of individuals and the squad.
  • Articulating strategy: Communicate research strategy to the team and key stakeholders, influencing squad focus and priorities.
  • Demonstrating impact through people: Mentor and guide team members, ensuring their growth drives downstream impact.
  • Leading with grit: Set clear goals, course‑correct when necessary, and champion quality, the user, and a human‑centred approach.

Opportunities for Growth

  • Lead a team: Manage and develop researchers while driving direction and impact on how businesses get paid.
  • Shape strategy: Influence squad priorities and articulate the present, next, and future of the Acquiring experience.
  • Grow as a leader: Advance leadership skills in people management, stakeholder influence, and strategic thinking during pivotal moments such as team splits and new payment product launches.
  • Contribute to mission: Help make money without borders the new normal.

Qualities We Seek

  • Deep experience with both generative and evaluative research; exceptional problem‑solving and holistic research thinking.
  • Proven ability to lead mixed‑method studies, including ethnography, usability, surveys, and card‑sorting.
  • Capability to guide teams on actioning insights and collaborate closely with designers to ideate based on findings.
  • Skilled negotiator able to influence squads, teams, and senior leaders to champion user‑centred approaches.
  • Top‑notch presentation and storytelling skills, especially when sharing impactful insights.

Additional Experience

  • Managing and developing researchers, with examples of elevating team capabilities and performance.
  • Proven ability to set clear goals and priorities for others that align with business objectives.
  • Strong influence on senior leaders and cross‑team negotiations.
  • Track record of championing research quality, user advocacy, and human‑centred design at the organisational level.

Strategic Impact

  • Articulate research strategy and positively influence squad focus and priorities.
  • Deep understanding of how research connects to team, squad, and business goals.
  • Mentor others to create downstream impact through their growth.

Unsuitable for

  • Roles primarily centred on market research or academia.
  • Those lacking demonstrable experience leading UX research within the tech/product industry.
  • Those who have not managed or mentored researchers before.

Lead Researcher in London employer: Wise

Wise Business is an exceptional employer located in the vibrant city of London, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. As a Lead Researcher, you will have the opportunity to lead impactful research initiatives while mentoring a talented team, all within a supportive environment that prioritises personal and professional growth. With a commitment to making money without borders the new normal, Wise provides unique advantages such as flexible working arrangements and a focus on user-centred design, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.

Wise

Contact Details:

Wise Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Lead Researcher in London

Get Involved in Data Science Meetups

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Show Off Your Projects

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Join professional bodies related to data science, like the Data Science Society or similar organisations. Getting involved can lead to mentorship opportunities and insider knowledge about full-time positions at companies like Wise.

Apply Directly through Our Website

When you find a suitable opening like Lead Researcher at Wise, make sure to apply directly through our website. It gives you an edge and shows you're keen to join our team. Plus, who doesn’t love a direct application? It’s easier than navigating through job boards!

We think you need these skills to ace Lead Researcher in London

Research Methodologies
Generative Research
Evaluative Research
Problem-Solving Skills
Mixed-Method Studies
Ethnography
Usability Testing

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Projects:In the world of data science, your projects can speak volumes about your skills. Make sure to showcase a few key projects in your CV or portfolio, especially those that highlight your ability to work with data sets, build models, or use relevant tools like Python, R, or SQL. Don’t forget to include links to any GitHub repositories if applicable!

Quantify Your Achievements:Employers love numbers! When drafting your CV, highlight your achievements with quantifiable results. For instance, mention how your data analysis led to a certain percentage increase in efficiency or revenue at a previous job or project. These details can really make your application pop!

Craft a Tailored Cover Letter:For a full-time role at Wise, your cover letter should reflect your passion for data science and your excitement about the specific projects or values of the company. Dive into why you’re a good fit, how your skills align with their needs, and any unique perspectives you can bring to the team.

Stand Out with Relevant Courses and Certifications:Although experience talks, relevant courses or certifications can be your ticket to impressing hiring managers at Wise. Mention any standout courses you've completed that equipped you with essential skills, such as machine learning certifications or data visualisation courses. This shows your commitment to continuously developing your skills in the field!

How to prepare for a job interview at Wise

Brush Up on Your Statistics

For a data science role, we need to seriously sharpen our statistics skills. Get ready to tackle technical questions on probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis. These are often the bread and butter of data science interviews, so don't just skim over them!

Showcase Your Projects

Prepare a killer portfolio showcasing your data science projects. We should include details about the datasets used, the tools and techniques applied, and the impact of your findings. If we can walk them through a particularly challenging project or a cool visualisation that had real-world implications, it’ll really make us stand out!

Get Comfortable with Python and R

Most data science positions require us to be proficient in programming languages like Python and R. We should practice common libraries like pandas, NumPy, and scikit-learn, and be ready for live coding exercises or algorithm questions. Showing off our coding chops can really impress the interviewers at Wise!

Prepare for Case Studies

Expect to encounter real-world case studies during the interview. We might be asked how we’d approach a data problem or analyse a dataset to extract insights. It's essential to think out loud and demonstrate our problem-solving process so that the interviewer can see our logical thinking in action.