UX Researcher
Location: London Office
Length: 6 months
Rate: £50 p/h (Inside IR35)
Hours: 40 hours

About you?
You are an expert in your field. You use your knowledge of qualitative and/or quantitative research methods to conduct moderately complex research projects with little oversight. You can communicate their findings clearly and concisely, and your work has a direct impact on product strategy and decision-making. You are also actively involved in contributing to the field of ux research, collaborating, and finding new ways to improve the user experience. You are a fully-trusted, senior member of a team, and may be seen as a ’lead’ of a particular area, project, or initiative.

Accountable for the entire research life cycle of complex efforts, and identify high-value opportunities and potential constraints to inform complex or cross-functional product initiatives. Demonstrate effective problem framing, and appropriate research method selection, may adapt or invent new research methods if needed, and demonstrate excellence in research execution.

May develop and lead advanced research initiatives for an organization (e.g. top-level UX metrics, CUJ program, etc.) with minimal supervision. Lead project or program scoping, managing priorities, and allocating time/resources in coordination with cross-functional stakeholders and larger project goals. Develop and advocate for long-term, user-centered product strategy across various teams and higher-profile initiatives.

Address complex research challenges with a mix of tactical and strategic research methods, or address complex data infrastructure challenges by implementing measurement. Utilize advanced qualitative and/or quantitative research methods and tools, or create new ones, to rigorously test, measure, and evaluate the end-user experience. Adaptably address complex challenges as they arise, with foresight that anticipates and mitigates future issues. Recognize when a solution being proposed will not benefit users and challenge the approach with alternative solutions.

Responsibilities:
*Prioritize research across projects, negotiate, and communicate priorities with team members and stakeholders
*Collaborate with stakeholders (e.g., participating in objectives and key results meetings) to include UX research as part of prioritization
*Own projects and priorities for all aspects of the research. This may include leading others (direct or indirect) while maintaining the quality of the work
*Anticipate and remove roadblocks with the potential to impede progress
*Plan, design, and engage in research that informs the product/service/business mission, direction, and/or strategy, increasing knowledge about users’ needs, pain points, values, opportunities, and motivations
*Through research include their needs, pain points, values, opportunities, and motivations, and identify problems to solve
*Use own understanding of the users to advocate for the user and build empathy and advocacy among own cross-functional stakeholders throughout the product development lifecycle

Increase the relevance, impact, and usefulness of the research insights
*Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to increase relevance, visibility, uptake of the research, and action on recommendations
*Propose and use key data and metrics to evaluate products/services/business.

Consolidate, synthesize, and communicate what is known about the user, product, service, or business to generate insights and create frameworks for driving strategic thinking and vision in a way that elicits empathy for users, and creates buy-in and/or new opportunities. Through this, increase the visibility of research and user insights
*Execute research to inform cross-functional stakeholders about user insights, business opportunities, and industry trends
*Work with stakeholders to achieve key performance indicators (KPIs), influence long-term product direction, and generate business impact through research expertise, user-centered thinking, strategy, vision, and future thinking

Essential Knowledge & Skills:

Knowledge of the overall process for developing products. This includes knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of engineering and other functions, major phases, checkpoints, and deliverables. This also includes the ability to identify common issues and considerations for delivering a product.

Ability to influence and inspire an audience by crafting stories using data that elicit user or stakeholder empathy or create buy-in. Ability to effectively communicate and illustrate insights and recommendations by constructing narratives based on appropriately represented data.

Ability to analyse situations or problems at the system level or from a broader perspective (including technical and/or organizational). This includes the ability to consider how factors or components in a system interrelate and work over time within the context of larger systems – and the ability to conduct or direct research and communicate insights that improve the user experience of those systems, ecosystems, or platforms.

Knowledge of principles and methods for defining and measuring UX, and the ability to adapt UX research methods to the appropriate user interface and platform.