Senior User Researcher

The Design Project; Scotland; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading learning and development firm is seeking a Senior User Researcher to lead user research initiatives that inform product design and strategy. This fully remote role requires significant experience in user research, a strong user-centered mindset, and collaboration within Agile teams. The ideal candidate will drive impactful insights and foster a user-centric culture. The position offers a salary range of £55,000 - £75,000 per annum, along with generous benefits including a performance-based bonus and comprehensive health coverage.

Benefits

Generous Holiday Allowance

Performance-Based Bonus

Comprehensive Health Coverage

Financial Security

Life Assurance

Sustainable Commuting

Lifestyle & Wellness Programs

Savings & Discounts

Work-Life Balance Options

Qualifications

• Significant experience (5-10 years) leading user research projects from conception to delivery.
• Ability to synthesize complex findings into actionable recommendations.
• Experience in Agile development teams for integrating research findings.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute comprehensive user research projects.
• Synthesize research findings into clear narratives and recommendations.
• Influence product teams and stakeholders with research insights.

Skills

User Research Leadership

Methodological Expertise

Data Synthesis & Insight Generation

Stakeholder Influence & Communication

User-Centered Mindset

Agile Collaboration

Inclusive & Ethical Research

Storytelling

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in HCI, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Design Research

Tools

UserTesting.com

Qualtrics

Dovetail

Miro

Google Analytics

Amplitude

Job description

Job Title: Senior User ResearcherCompany: Insights Learning & Development LtdLocation: Remote (Scotland, United Kingdom)Job Type: Full-timeCategory: Product Development & Research OperationsDate Posted: January 15, 2026Experience Level: 5-10 YearsRemote Status: Fully Remote

• Lead end-to-end user research initiatives, encompassing both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to uncover critical user needs, behaviors, and motivations.
• Translate complex research data and user stories into actionable insights that directly inform product design, strategic decisions, and overall service direction.
• Champion user-centered design principles across cross-functional teams, influencing senior stakeholders and embedding evidence-based decision-making throughout the product lifecycle.
• Collaborate extensively with Product Managers, Designers, and Software Engineers within an Agile development framework to ensure user insights are integrated at every stage.
• Drive the adoption of inclusive and ethical research practices to ensure products are accessible and effective for a diverse user base.

Primary Responsibilities

• Design and execute comprehensive user research projects, applying a diverse range of qualitative and quantitative methods tailored to specific project goals and the product lifecycle.
• Synthesize complex findings from multiple research streams into clear, compelling narratives and actionable recommendations for product strategy and feature development.
• Influence and educate senior stakeholders, product teams, and engineering teams on the value and application of user research to foster a strong user-centered culture.
• Integrate research findings seamlessly into the Agile development process, providing timely and relevant insights to support iterative design and development cycles.
• Champion and implement ethical research practices, ensuring data privacy, participant consent, and the inclusion of diverse user perspectives in all research activities.
• Align research objectives and activities with broader organizational goals, ensuring user insights contribute directly to strategic decision-making and long-term business value.
• Effectively communicate research insights through various channels, including presentations, workshops, storytelling, and direct stakeholder engagement, to bring user voices to life.

Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Design Research, or a related field is highly beneficial for foundational understanding of research methodologies.

Experience: Significant experience (5-10 years) in leading user research projects from conception to delivery, with a demonstrable track record of impacting product strategy and design.

Required Skills:

• User Research Leadership: Proven ability to design, plan, and lead complex, end-to-end research projects.
• Methodological Expertise: Strong command of a wide range of qualitative (e.g., interviews, usability testing, ethnography) and quantitative (e.g., surveys, analytics, A/B testing) research methods.
• Data Synthesis & Insight Generation: Skill in analyzing and synthesizing complex qualitative and quantitative data into clear, actionable insights that drive product and service decisions.
• Stakeholder Influence & Communication: Ability to effectively communicate research findings and influence senior stakeholders, product managers, designers, and engineers.
• User-Centered Mindset: Deep understanding and passion for embedding user needs and behaviors into product development processes.
• Agile Collaboration: Experience working within Agile development teams, integrating research findings into iterative development cycles.
• Inclusive & Ethical Research: Commitment to and practical experience in conducting inclusive and ethical research practices.
• Storytelling: Ability to translate data into compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences and drive action.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with specific user research tools for data collection, analysis, and collaboration (e.g., UserTesting.com, Qualtrics, Dovetail, Miro).
• Familiarity with product analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude) to complement qualitative insights.
• Experience in research operations (ResearchOps) principles for scaling research efficiently.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor junior researchers or guide teams in research best practices.
• Experience in a remote-first or hybrid work environment.

Portfolio & Operational Emphasis:

• Case Studies: A portfolio showcasing 3-5 detailed case studies that demonstrate end-to-end user research projects. Each case study should clearly outline the research problem, methodology used, your specific role, the insights generated, and the impact on product/service decisions.
• Methodological Diversity: Evidence of applying a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods, with clear explanations of why specific methods were chosen for particular problems.
• Insight-to-Impact Demonstration: Quantifiable or qualitative evidence of how your research insights led to significant product improvements, strategic shifts, or business value.
• Process Documentation: Examples of how you have documented research processes, synthesized findings, or created research repositories that facilitated knowledge sharing and operational efficiency for teams.

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior User Researchers in the UK (remote), with 5-10 years of experience, the estimated salary range is £55,000 - £75,000 per annum. This range reflects the seniority, specialized skills, and remote nature of the role.

• Generous Holiday Allowance: 35 days of holidays, providing ample time for rest and rejuvenation.
• Performance-Based Bonus: Discretionary Annual Bonus, rewarding individual and company performance.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Private Medical Insurance, Health Cash Plan, and Critical Illness Cover for employee well-being.
• Financial Security: Pension Plan and Income Protection to provide long-term security.
• Life Assurance: To ensure peace of mind for employees and their families.
• Sustainable Commuting: Electric Car Scheme, promoting eco-friendly transportation options.
• Lifestyle & Wellness: Gymflex and Employee Assistance Program to support physical and mental health.
• Savings & Discounts: Employee Giving and My Advantage – Employee Discounts for financial benefits.
• Work-Life Balance: Holiday Purchase Option and Flexible Working arrangements to support personal needs.

Working Hours: The role is described as Full-time, typically equating to 40 hours per week. The inclusion of "Flexible working" suggests an emphasis on output and work-life balance rather than strict adherence to a 9-to-5 schedule, allowing for operational efficiency around core collaboration times.

Industry: Learning and Development, Educational Technology, Human Resources Software. Insights Learning & Development Ltd operates within a dynamic sector focused on personal growth, self-awareness, and improving interpersonal dynamics in professional settings.

Team Structure:

• The Senior User Researcher will likely be part of the Product and Innovation function, reporting to a Head of Product, Director of Product, or a Lead UX Researcher.
• This team collaborates closely with Product Managers, UX/UI Designers, Software Engineers, and potentially Marketing and Sales teams to ensure a cohesive and user-centric product strategy.
• The structure encourages cross-functional teamwork, with research insights feeding directly into cross-functional Agile teams.

Methodology:

• Curiosity and Customer-Centricity: The Product and Innovation team operates with a spirit of curiosity, creativity, and a strong focus on the customer.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: User research is central to informing product evolution, ensuring that decisions are grounded in evidence of user needs and behaviors.
• Continuous Improvement: The company embraces an evolving mindset, constantly seeking to test, refine, and improve products and services based on emerging trends and user feedback.

Office Type & Location: This role is remote within Scotland, United Kingdom, with a culture of belonging and inclusivity to support distributed collaboration.

Work Schedule & Remote Ops: Remote collaboration tools, Agile sprints, cross-functional interaction, and emphasis on asynchronous communication to support distributed teams.

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening
• Portfolio Review
• Hiring Manager Interview
• Cross-Functional Interviews
• Final Interview/Panel

Application Requirements:

The role requires significant experience in leading user research projects and a strong ability to apply various research methods. Candidates should possess a user-centered mindset and the ability to influence stakeholders with actionable insights.

Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.