User Researcher in Edinburgh

User Researcher - (UX/UI)

Location: Edinburgh

Grade: Consultant

Employment Type: Permanent, Full Time

Hybrid

REQ003898

About XPS Group:

XPS Pensions Group is no ordinary company. We've earned numerous awards and accolades, making us an industry leader in Pensions Consultancy. As the largest pure pensions consultancy in the UK, we are a team of approximately 2000 employees spread across 15 locations nationwide. Listed on the London Stock Exchange Main Market, we pride ourselves on our ability to think and act differently, offering expert advice to over 1600 pension schemes and administering pensions for over 1,000,000 members.

About the Team:

We are seeking an experienced, dynamic and ambitious professional to fill the role of User Researcher within our rapidly growing Client Communications Team.

This role is to establish user research as a core capability within our pensions administration business - building a deeper understanding of the people we serve and ensuring that their needs shape the products and services we create across our digital platforms and audiences: pension scheme members, our clients (trustees, sponsors, and corporate stakeholders), and the administrators who serve them.

This is a foundational, hands-on role. As well as conducting research, you will define the research standards, approaches, and ways of working that embed evidence into how we build digital products - working alongside our product designer and visual designer to keep product and design decisions grounded in user needs.

Key Responsibilities:

• End-to-end research - Plan and deliver research, from defining the question through to insight and recommendations.
• Research methods - Use qualitative and quantitative methods, including interviews, usability testing, surveys, and observation, selecting the right approach for each question.
• Audience insight - Research the needs, behaviours, workflows, and experiences of members, clients, and administrators, including those with access needs and/or low digital confidence.
• Insight and synthesis - Turn research findings and product data into clear, actionable insight that informs product and service decisions.
• Research and design partnership - Work closely with product and visual designers to shape ideas and solutions from early exploration through to delivery.
• Inclusive and ethical research - Ensure research is accessible, ethical, and compliant with consent, safeguarding, and data protection requirements.
• Stakeholder influence - Communicate findings clearly, challenge assumptions constructively, and champion the voice of the user across the business.
• Research portfolio - Manage multiple research activities, prioritising where research can add the most value.
• Research capability - Help establish pragmatic research standards, tools, and ways of working as the capability matures.

Your Profile:

Essential:

• Right to work in the UK.
• Degree, professional qualification, or equivalent relevant experience in user research or service design.
• Significant experience in user research, leading research from defining the question through to actionable insight and recommendations.
• Strong qualitative research experience, with the ability to select and apply appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods, and explain the rationale for the approach.
• Experience researching with diverse and sometimes hard-to-reach users, adapting approaches to different needs and contexts, including people with access needs or low digital confidence.
• Experience working collaboratively with product and design teams to influence product and service decisions.
• Experience conducting ethical and compliant research, including safeguarding and data protection.
• Ability to establish and improve research practices and ways of working would be beneficial.
• A background in pensions, financial services, or another regulated industry would be beneficial.
• Familiarity with AI and emerging research tools would be beneficial.

Skills, abilities & personal qualities:

• Strong interpersonal, communication, facilitation, and influencing skills.
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to turn evidence into clear insight.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, work independently, and adapt to changing needs.
• Pragmatic and confident approach, with the ability to constructively challenge assumptions.
• Commitment to inclusive research and continuous professional development.

What We Offer:

Enjoy a competitive salary, annual discretionary bonus, and 25 days’ holiday with buy/sell flexibility. Benefits include pension matching, healthcare plans, life assurance, and retailer discounts. We support our team with a flexible benefits scheme, employee assistance, and digital GP service. Participating in volunteering events is encouraged with paid volunteer days available. Referral bonuses are offered for introducing suitable candidates to XPS.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit applications below or contact recruitment@xpsgroup.com. Join XPS Group and contribute to a dynamic and inclusive workplace.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

XPS Group is committed to diversity and equal opportunities. We welcome applications from all candidates, irrespective of sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or belief. As a Disability Confident employer, we ensure accessible and supportive work settings for all employees.

Eligibility:

Any employment offer made will be conditional upon you satisfying DBS Disclosure checks, Employment or educational references, Satisfactory credit checks and eligibility to work in the UK before an offer can be made. XPS Group is not able to provide sponsorship to employees.

Who are we:

To find out more please visit: www.xpsgroup.com