Senior User Researcher

Senior User Researcher

Location:

UK - Remote or Hybrid, subject to location.

Salary: £46-65,000 subject to location and experience.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE.

We’re looking for a Senior User Researcher with significant experience in delivering user research projects. The focus of your role will be to plan, facilitate and lead user research activities on a variety of projects. You’ll often be working with multidisciplinary teams on complex projects where autonomy and project management will be important.

We’re on the hunt for someone who will champion our values: to care passionately, be fluent in people, believe in your craft, push convention, be open to change, and to value each other.

We work with a broad range of clients, some of whom are completely new to user‑centred design (UCD). This means you’ll also play a key role in championing our UCD approach.

• Lead and direct user research projects, managing multidisciplinary teams and clients to produce inclusive, accessible and effective research outcomes.
• Support and manage the user research team, including line management, appraisals and professional development.
• Define and refine practice, shaping how NEC Digital Studio delivers inclusive, accessible and effective design.
• Support new business by spotting opportunities with clients and contributing to proposals and pitches.
• Support the Design School with the development and delivery of courses.

We work with central and local government, the NHS, voluntary, not‑for‑profit, and private sector organisations, often embedding in client teams. You’ll move across sectors over 3‑12 months, gaining varied experience. NEC Digital Studio’s User Researchers also collaborate with design and development teams, attend weekly meet‑ups, and receive support and feedback from senior members.

• Leading multidisciplinary teams on user research activities.
• Inclusive research, ensuring ethical practice and accessibility.
• Planning and conducting research across agile phases to meet GDS service standards.
• Qualitative analysis and synthesis: producing user journeys, stories and needs.
• Facilitation of user interviews, usability testing, co‑analysis, co‑synthesis sessions.
• Service design thinking experience or strong interest.
• Strong written communication, presenting findings engagingly.
• Recommendation and implementation: collaborating to produce actionable insights.
• Proactive and autonomous: lead conversations and add value.
• Stakeholder management: negotiate and guide clients towards positive outcomes within budget.
• Managing complexity and ambiguity: thrive in complex UCD projects.

• Private Medical Cover funded by NEC, with option to add family.
• 25 days paid holiday with option to buy/sell (FTE).
• 4× basic salary life assurance cover funded by NEC.
• Group Pension Plan with employer contributions up to 8.5%.
• Flexible benefits to suit individual needs.
• Free access to Linked In Learning (15,000+ courses).
• Give back days.
• Annual team and company away‑days.

• Candidates must have right to work and travel within the UK; documentary evidence required.
• All offers subject to vetting, references and occupational health checks.
• DBS check may be required depending on role.

NEC Software Solutions is an equal opportunities employer. If you require reasonable adjustments or have accessibility needs during the recruitment or interview process, please let us know.

• CV.
• Cover Letter (explain why you’re a good fit and why you want to work for NEC Digital Studio, 1000 words max).
• Presentation (max 5 pages) on a project or process you led demonstrating your qualification for the role.

NEC Digital Studio is part of NEC Software Solutions, a global tech company that supports public services. We design, build and maintain digital solutions for governments, hospitals, police, housing providers, and more. Our mission is to empower organisations to be more effective, inclusive and sustainable, putting people at the centre of services with evidence‑led solutions at scale.