As an Associate User Researcher you will join our growing User-Centred Design practice. This is an entry-level user research role, suited to someone developing their research skills while working with more experienced user researchers and multidisciplinary teams.

You will support the planning, delivery, analysis and communication of user research across public and private sector projects. You will help teams understand user needs, behaviours and experiences, and contribute to the design of accessible, inclusive and user-centred services.

This role offers the opportunity to build your capability in agile research practices, user research methods, analysis and synthesis, stakeholder engagement and user-centred design, with guidance, coaching and support from senior members of the UCD team.

Key Responsibilities:

User-centred Design Projects

· Support the planning and delivery of user research activities across digital products and services.

· Work with more experienced user researchers to prepare research materials, organise sessions and carry out research.

· Help conduct and observe research activities such as interviews, usability testing, surveys and workshops.

· Support the production of research outputs, including insight summaries, user needs, journey maps, playback materials and recommendations.

· Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to help services better meet user needs.

Analysis and Synthesis

· Support the analysis of research data by organising notes, identifying patterns and helping to develop clear findings.

· Work with senior researchers and UCD colleagues to turn research evidence into insights and recommendations.

· Help communicate research findings in a clear and accessible way for project teams and stakeholders.

Inclusive and Ethical Research

· Demonstrate awareness of the diversity of users and the need to make services usable and accessible for everyone.

· Support research planning that considers accessibility, inclusion, consent, ethics and data protection.

· Help prepare accessible research materials and support inclusive research sessions.

Agile Research Practices

· Develop an understanding of agile ways of working and how user research supports digital delivery.

· Participate in multidisciplinary team activities, including stand-ups, planning sessions, retrospectives and show and tells where appropriate.

· Support research activity across different phases of delivery, including discovery, alpha, beta and live.

Stakeholder Engagement

· Support engagement with client teams, internal teams and other stakeholders.

· Help prepare and share research findings through playbacks, show and tells and collaborative sessions.

· Build confidence in explaining the value of user research and understanding what stakeholders need from research.

Qualifications:

Experience:

· Some experience, training or demonstrable interest in user research, service design, UX, social research, psychology, digital delivery, customer insight or a related field.

· Awareness of user-centred design principles and the value of understanding user needs.

· Experience supporting research, analysis, workshops, interviews, surveys, testing or evidence-gathering activities is desirable.

· Awareness of working in agile or multidisciplinary teams is desirable.

· Experience or interest in public sector, healthcare, government or complex service environments would be beneficial.

· Familiarity with GDS or NHS service standards is desirable but not essential.

Skills:

· Good communication skills, with the ability to share information clearly and simply.

· Curiosity about people, behaviour, services and how digital products can better meet user needs.

· Ability to listen carefully, capture accurate notes and summarise key points.

· Awareness of the importance of inclusive, accessible and ethical research.

· Ability to work collaboratively with designers, researchers, product managers, delivery managers, developers and client stakeholders.

· Organised and reliable, with the ability to support planning, scheduling and documentation.

· Willingness to learn, take feedback and develop user research skills.

· Developing confidence in using research tools, collaboration platforms and digital ways of working.

· Interest in service design, content design, interaction design or broader UCD practice would be beneficial.