At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead user research to uncover real user needs and influence product design.
- Company: Join Zaizi, a forward-thinking company focused on public safety and user-centred design.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, pension contributions, life assurance, and generous annual leave.
- Other info: Inclusive culture welcoming diverse applicants; support for neurodiverse candidates available.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on critical projects that enhance the UK's digital infrastructure.
- Qualifications: Experience in user research methods and a passion for user-centred design.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
Zaizi is looking for a User Researcher (SFIA4) to work in a delivery-focused, agile environment, supporting government clients across Public Safety. You'll play a key role in helping multidisciplinary teams develop a deep understanding of users, ensuring services are designed around real user needs and evidence rather than assumptions.
Working across end-to-end services, you'll plan, lead and deliver user research activities that uncover user needs, behaviours, motivations and pain points. You'll help teams make informed decisions by translating research findings into actionable insights that influence product direction, service design and delivery. You'll also support and mentor other User Researchers, contributing to their growth while maintaining high standards across the team's research practice.
At Zaizi, a User Researcher works within a multidisciplinary team and is responsible for planning, leading and coordinating user research activities. You'll collaborate closely with a range of colleagues such as Product Managers, Business Analysts, UX/UI Designers and Engineers, to ensure user evidence informs decision-making throughout the product lifecycle.
These are the expected objectives for this role:
- Demonstrate and utilise your expert knowledge and experience of a wide range of qualitative and quantitative user research methods.
- Communicate and evangelise user needs to the team and wider stakeholders.
- Plan, design and conduct user research across all stages of the product and service lifecycle.
- Work with team members to design and facilitate workshops that support research, discovery and service improvement.
- Build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders to embed user‑centred ways of working.
- Identify research opportunities from ambiguous business or user problems.
- Be the go‑to person for user research expertise within your delivery team.
- Provide guidance and best practice on inclusive, ethical and accessible research.
- Work with multidisciplinary teams to ensure research findings are translated into actionable product and service improvements.
- Coach and mentor colleagues on benefits of user research and upskill where necessary.
You will oversee and support the planning and delivery of research activities, synthesis workshops, insight reports and other research artefacts to inform decision making and drive actions. You will help define user research approaches and methodologies for projects and initiatives, while supporting the planning of research activities across multiple workstreams.
Core Skills & Competencies
- Experience using a broad range of qualitative and quantitative user research techniques and practices.
- Excellent knowledge and experience of planning, conducting and analysing user research.
- Able to synthesise research findings into clear, evidence‑based insights and recommendations.
- Setting research objectives and selecting appropriate research methods.
- The ability to plan research activities and define research protocols.
- Experience of recruiting participants and conducting ethical, inclusive and accessible research.
- Theming and synthesising outputs from raw research to produce strategic insights.
- Communicating complex research findings to stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams.
- Able to work in an agile and flexible way across multiple agile projects.
- Experience mentoring or coaching other researchers and promoting best practice across teams.
This role will require Active SC Clearance.
We actively welcome applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, individuals with disabilities, neurodivergent individuals, parents, carers, and those from lower socio‑economic backgrounds. If you need any accommodations to support your specific situation, please feel free to let us know. For candidates who are neurodiverse or have disabilities, we are happy to make any adjustments needed throughout the interview process—just ask!
Compensation
Salary £55,000 - £65,000
Loyalty Pension: We invest in your future. Starting at a 5% employer contribution, we increase this by 0.5% every year after your third anniversary, up to a maximum of 8%.
Protection: Comprehensive Group Life Assurance for peace of mind.
Purpose & Culture
Real Impact: Work on mission‑critical projects that secure and improve the UK's digital infrastructure.
Autonomy: A culture that empowers you to make decisions, prototype rapidly, and iterate towards success.
Service & Community: We support those who serve. 10 paid days for Reservist Military Service.
Work / Life Balance
Time Off: 25 days annual leave +
User Researcher in London employer: Zaizi Ltd
Zaizi Ltd is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration within the Defence Tech sector. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we provide ample opportunities for professional development and a competitive compensation package, ensuring our team members feel valued and motivated. Located in a vibrant area, our culture promotes inclusivity and teamwork, making Zaizi a rewarding place to advance your career while contributing to national security.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land User 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 Zaizi Ltd for a User 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 Zaizi Ltd before they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace User Researcher in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like User Researcher at Zaizi Ltd, 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 Zaizi Ltd 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 Zaizi Ltd. 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 Zaizi Ltd.
How to prepare for a job interview at Zaizi Ltd
✨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 Zaizi Ltd, 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. Zaizi Ltd 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 Zaizi Ltd!
✨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 Zaizi Ltd is looking for.
