Senior User Researcher

About Methods

Methods Business and Digital Technology Limited is a UK-based IT services consultancy with over 30 years of experience and an annual turnover exceeding £100 million. Specializing in both public and private sectors, Methods combines skills across transformation, delivery, and collaboration to create innovative, people-centered, safe, and future-proof business and technical solutions. Methods values a human-focused approach, integrating people, technology, and data to deliver sustainable value for clients, employees, communities, and the environment. In early 2022, Methods became part of the Alten Group.

Role Overview

We seek a Senior User Researcher passionate about understanding users and championing their needs, ideally with experience in public sector product and service environments. The candidate should conduct user research adhering to high ethical standards and be familiar with government service standards and principles.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with client product managers and owners to create appropriate research strategies that provide focused insights supporting product development.
• Work closely within multidisciplinary teams, involving colleagues in research and analysis tasks.
• Advocate on behalf of users by effectively communicating their needs to help design intuitive and accessible services.
• Analyze complex and sometimes incomplete evidence and data to draw, present, and test reasonable conclusions.
• Make informed decisions and take actions even when details are ambiguous.
• Evaluate data from multiple sources and identify when to engage additional Methods support.
• Identify key issues in complex problems and clarify stakeholder expectations to determine the best solutions.
• Persuade skeptical colleagues and stakeholders tactfully about research value and purpose.
• Gather, use, and share user and customer insights from diverse stakeholder groups to enhance policy and delivery.
• Support the Head of User Research by coordinating quality research across the Digital Delivery portfolio via the research community.
• Guide, coach, and mentor fellow user researchers within Methods and client organizations.
• Identify, develop, and disseminate best practices collaboratively with colleagues.
• Establish and monitor research standards in ethics, lab testing, recruitment, and documentation.
• Conduct formal peer reviews for quality assurance or assessment purposes.
• Engage confidently with stakeholders at all levels to strengthen relationships within and beyond the user research community.
• Develop and maintain a professional network of contacts and colleagues.
• Evaluate Methods' user research practices against government and competitor benchmarks, proposing necessary improvements.
• Promote user-centered design principles actively within Methods and government circles.
• Take responsibility for self-development by seeking learning opportunities to expand knowledge and experience.
• Provide project support and mentoring to less experienced user researchers.
• Assist with bids and recruitment for additional user research staff as needed.

Essential Skills and Experience

• A strong enthusiasm for behavioral research.
• Proven leadership abilities with experience supporting and developing junior colleagues.
• Ability to define research questions and select optimal research and analysis techniques.
• Skill in conducting representative and inclusive research to ensure designs work effectively for all potential users.
• Capability to communicate research findings clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.
• Experience facilitating workshops and collaboratively contributing to service design with multidisciplinary teams.
• Proficiency in identifying critical insights ('so what') and presenting them persuasively.
• Experience working within agile project environments.

Qualifications

Relevant industry experience is required.

Benefits and Culture

• Autonomy to develop and enhance your skills and experience.
• Participation in impactful projects contributing positively to society.
• Access to strong, inspirational leadership and a supportive, collaborative workplace.
• Management development programs and training opportunities.
• 24/7 confidential employee assistance program for wellness.
• Flexible working arrangements, including home working and part-time options.
• Regular social events such as office parties, breakfast Tuesdays, pizza Thursdays, and Thirsty Thursdays.
• Commitment to charitable causes and community involvement.
• Generous time off: 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase 5 additional days yearly.
• Two paid volunteer days per year to support charities or local communities.
• Salary exchange pension scheme with 4% employer and 5% employee contributions.
• Life assurance coverage at four times the base salary.
• Comprehensive private medical insurance including spouse and dependents at no cost.
• Worldwide travel insurance inclusive of spouse and dependents, non-contributory.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay benefits.
• Additional programs including season ticket loans and cycle to work schemes.