Design Researcher (12 -Month FTC)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Researcher (12-Month Fixed-Term Contract)

Company: Lloyds Banking Group

Location: London, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time, Temporary

Category: User Experience & Design Research

Date Posted: May 01, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and develop research strategies for critical business areas within a large financial services organization, driving product and service innovation.

• Conduct end-to-end research across the product development lifecycle, from generative discovery to evaluative testing, ensuring customer needs are central to development.

• Collaborate within multi-disciplinary teams, including design, product, and engineering, to translate research findings into actionable product enhancements and strategic direction.

• Foster a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing within a diverse community of 40+ researchers, contributing to best practices in design research.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a 12-month fixed-term contract (FTC), which is crucial for candidates to understand regarding career planning and commitment. The description emphasizes a strong community of researchers and a supportive learning environment, suggesting a collaborative and knowledge-sharing culture within the design research function.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive research strategies and roadmaps for assigned product or service areas, aligning with business objectives.

• Design and conduct a variety of qualitative research methods, including moderated and unmoderated usability testing, concept testing, and in-depth interviews.

• Plan and execute quantitative studies, such as surveys, and effectively analyze and interpret the resulting data.

• Synthesize insights from diverse research methodologies (qualitative, quantitative, ethnographic) to create compelling narratives that inform product decisions and unlock new opportunities.

• Collaborate closely with product managers, designers, engineers, and other stakeholders to identify key research questions and ensure research findings are integrated into the development process.

• Facilitate sense-making sessions with cross-functional teams, encouraging collective understanding of user needs and pain points.

• Present research findings and recommendations clearly and concisely to a wide range of business stakeholders, influencing strategic direction and roadmap prioritization.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of research practices and methodologies within the broader Design Research and Analytics community.

• Manage multiple research projects concurrently, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to project plans.

• Explore and apply ethnographic research techniques such as contextual inquiry and diary studies to gain deep user understanding.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic planning (research strategy, roadmaps) and hands-on execution across both qualitative and quantitative methods, indicating a need for a versatile researcher. The emphasis on synthesizing diverse data sources and influencing stakeholders points to a senior-level contribution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While specific educational requirements are not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Design Research, or a related field is typically expected for senior-level research roles. Relevant professional experience can often substitute for formal education.

Experience: A minimum of 5-10 years of professional experience in design research, user experience research, or a similar role is required, with a strong track record of contributing to product development.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in developing and leading research strategies and roadmaps.

• Deep expertise in qualitative research methodologies (e.g., usability testing, concept testing, depth interviews).

• Proficiency in designing and executing quantitative research studies (e.g., surveys) and analyzing results.

• Demonstrated ability to combine qualitative and quantitative methods to generate comprehensive insights.

• Strong skills in synthesizing research data from multiple sources into actionable recommendations.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence decision-making.

• Experience working collaboratively within multi-disciplinary product and engineering teams.

• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple research projects simultaneously.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the financial services industry.

• Familiarity with accessibility research standards and best practices.

• Experience with advanced analytics tools and techniques.

• Knowledge of A/B testing and experimentation frameworks.

• Mentorship or coaching experience within a research team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5-10 years" experience level suggests a mid-to-senior role. The emphasis on combining qualitative and quantitative methods, influencing stakeholders, and managing roadmaps are key indicators of the expected seniority and impact.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrations of end-to-end research projects, showcasing the entire research process from problem definition to actionable insights and impact.

• Case studies detailing how research findings directly influenced product design, strategy, or business outcomes.

• Examples of research plans, roadmaps, and methodologies employed for various projects.

• Evidence of synthesizing insights from mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative data).

• Clear articulation of user needs, pain points, and opportunities identified through research.

• Documentation of stakeholder engagement and how research influenced their decisions.

Process Documentation:

• Showcasing the ability to document research processes, including study designs, participant recruitment strategies, and data analysis frameworks.

• Illustrating how research findings were translated into clear, actionable recommendations for design and product teams.

• Demonstrating the ability to articulate the impact and ROI of research initiatives through metrics and qualitative outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Design Researcher role, a portfolio is critical. It needs to showcase not just the research itself, but the strategic thinking, methodological rigor, and tangible impact on product development and business goals. The emphasis on mixed methods and stakeholder influence will be key areas to highlight.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £72,702 - £80,780 per annum.

Benefits:

• A generous pension contribution of up to 15%.

• An annual performance-related bonus.

• Share schemes, including free shares.

• A range of benefits that can be adapted to individual lifestyles, such as discounted shopping.

• 30 days of annual holiday, in addition to bank holidays.

• A comprehensive package of wellbeing initiatives.

• Generous parental leave policies.

Working Hours: Full-time, typically 40 hours per week. The role supports hybrid working, with an expectation of spending at least two days per week (or 40% of time) in the London office. Flexibility in working patterns is available.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly provided, which is helpful. The listed benefits are standard for a large corporate in the UK financial sector, emphasizing comprehensive employee support. The hybrid working model with a minimum office presence is clearly defined.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services. Lloyds Banking Group is one of the UK's largest financial institutions, offering a wide range of banking and financial services to individuals, SMEs, and large corporations. This industry context implies a focus on customer trust, data security, regulatory compliance, and digital transformation initiatives.

Company Size: Large. As one of the UK's biggest banks, Lloyds Banking Group has a significant employee base, indicating a structured corporate environment with established processes and a broad impact.

Founded: The current Lloyds Banking Group structure has evolved through various mergers and acquisitions, with roots tracing back to the early 19th century. This long history suggests a company with deep-seated traditions alongside modern innovation efforts.

Team Structure:

• The Design Research team is substantial, comprising over 40 researchers, indicating a well-resourced and specialized function.

• Researchers work within multi-disciplinary design, product, and engineering teams, fostering cross-functional collaboration.

Methodology:

• A strong emphasis on customer-centricity, using research to solve customer problems and unlock new opportunities.

• Encouragement of experimentation and learning new research methods.

• A collaborative approach to research, involving team members in sense-making and insight generation.

• Integration of research findings throughout the product development lifecycle, from generative to evaluative phases.

• A commitment to data-driven decision-making, combining qualitative and quantitative insights.

Company Website: https://www.lloydsbankinggroup.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's scale and industry are important for understanding the scope and potential impact of the research role. The description highlights a strong internal research community, suggesting a supportive environment for professional development within the operations and design functions.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a mid-to-senior level within the Design Research function. It requires leadership in research strategy and execution, influencing product direction, and contributing to a larger research community. The "Design Researcher" title, coupled with the salary range and responsibilities, suggests an individual contributor role with significant influence and autonomy.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly detailed, researchers typically report into a Head of Design Research, UX Lead, or a Product Lead within their specific business area. They will work closely with Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers.

Operations Impact: The Design Researcher directly impacts business success by ensuring products and services are user-centered, addressing genuine customer needs, and identifying market opportunities. This leads to improved customer satisfaction, increased adoption rates, reduced development waste, and ultimately, enhanced revenue and market share for Lloyds Banking Group.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific research methodologies (e.g., advanced quantitative analysis, accessibility research, ethnographic techniques).

• Leadership: Potential to grow into a Senior Design Researcher, Research Lead, or even a management role within the growing research community.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gaining experience across various product lines and digital initiatives within a diverse financial services organization.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to mentor junior researchers and learn from experienced colleagues within the large research community.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning encouraged through testing new methods and collaborating with peers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers substantial growth potential within a large organization, particularly for those looking to specialize in research methodologies and gain broad industry experience. The FTC nature means growth might be within the project scope or through internal mobility if opportunities arise.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid working model, requiring a minimum of 2 days per week (40%) in the London office. This suggests a modern, collaborative office space designed to support teamwork, workshops, and in-person interactions.

Office Location(s): London, 25 Gresham Street. This central London location is likely well-connected by public transport, making it accessible for employees.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on multi-disciplinary teams indicate an environment that values in-person collaboration for brainstorming, sense-making, and team cohesion.

• Tools & Technology: Access to standard office technology, research tools, and potentially specialized software for data analysis and visualization within the design and product teams.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities to engage with a large community of researchers, as well as designers, product managers, and engineers, fostering knowledge exchange and professional networking.

Work Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week, with flexibility in working patterns. This allows for balancing professional responsibilities with personal life, a common expectation in modern work environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid aspect is key here. While offering flexibility, candidates must be prepared for regular office presence in London to engage with their teams and the broader research community.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of CV and portfolio to assess alignment with required skills and experience.

• First Interview: Likely with a hiring manager or senior researcher to discuss experience, research philosophy, and approach to key responsibilities. Expect questions about past projects and how you handle complex research challenges.

• Practical Exercise/Case Study: Candidates may be asked to complete a take-home exercise or a live case study presentation focused on a research problem. This will assess problem-solving skills, methodological choices, and ability to synthesize and present findings.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a panel including design leads, product managers, or other senior stakeholders to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and strategic thinking.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use concrete examples from your past work to illustrate your skills and impact.

• Structure Your Projects: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your role, the methods used, your process, key findings, and the resulting impact or recommendations.

• Highlight Mixed Methods: Explicitly demonstrate your ability to integrate qualitative and quantitative data to build a holistic understanding.

• Emphasize Influence: Show how your research led to tangible changes in product design, strategy, or business outcomes. Quantify impact where possible.

• Tailor to the Role: While showcasing breadth, ensure your portfolio highlights experience relevant to financial services and large-scale product development.

• Clarity and Conciseness: Present your work clearly and concisely, making it easy for reviewers to grasp your contributions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a case study, quickly identify the core business problem and target users.

• Methodological Justification: Be prepared to explain why you chose specific research methods and how they align with the research objectives.

• Synthesis and Storytelling: Focus on how you would synthesize potential findings and craft a compelling narrative for stakeholders.

• Stakeholder Empathy: Consider the different perspectives of stakeholders (product, design, business) and how you would tailor your communication.

• Actionability: Ensure your proposed recommendations are practical and directly address the identified problems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is a critical component for a Design Researcher. Candidates should prepare to walk through 2-3 key projects that best demonstrate their end-to-end research capabilities, strategic thinking, and impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Research Platforms: Familiarity with tools for usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback), survey creation (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics, Google Forms), and potentially participant recruitment platforms.

• Analytics & Data Visualization: Experience with tools for analyzing quantitative data (e.g., Excel, SPSS, R, Python for statistical analysis) and creating dashboards for insights (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker).

• Collaboration Tools: Proficiency in tools like Jira, Confluence, Miro, Figma, and Microsoft Teams for cross-functional collaboration, documentation, and workshop facilitation.

• Qualitative Data Analysis Software: Experience with tools that aid in coding and analyzing qualitative data (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo, Atlas.ti).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Ability to interpret web analytics data (e.g., Google Analytics) to supplement user research findings.

• Experience in creating clear, impactful reports and presentations that communicate research insights effectively to various audiences.

CRM & Automation: While not directly a CRM role, understanding how user data is managed and how insights can feed into customer journey mapping and personalization efforts is beneficial. Familiarity with how research findings can inform automated customer communications or service flows would be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: Specific tool mentions are less critical than demonstrating proficiency with the types of tools used in UX research and product development. The ability to integrate research insights into broader analytics and CRM contexts is a plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: A deep commitment to understanding and serving customer needs is paramount, driving all research efforts.

• Collaboration: Working effectively within multi-disciplinary teams, valuing diverse perspectives and shared problem-solving.

• Curiosity & Learning: A continuous drive to explore, learn, and test new methodologies and approaches to research.

• Impact & Actionability: Focusing on delivering insights that are not only informative but also actionable, leading to tangible improvements.

• Integrity & Trust: Upholding high ethical standards in research practices and data handling, crucial in the financial sector.

• Efficiency: Finding effective and efficient ways to conduct research that delivers timely and valuable results.

Collaboration Style:

• Inclusive: Actively involving team members in the research process, from planning to sense-making.

• Transparent: Sharing research plans, findings, and methodologies openly with stakeholders.

• Consultative: Acting as a research partner to product, design, and engineering teams, guiding them towards user-centered decisions.

• Feedback-Oriented: Open to receiving and providing constructive feedback to improve research quality and team dynamics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on collaboration and learning aligns with modern product development practices. For a financial institution, integrity and a customer-centric approach are foundational values that will shape how research is conducted and applied.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scale and Complexity: Navigating the complexities of a large organization with diverse customer segments and product portfolios.

• Balancing Generative and Evaluative Research: Effectively managing both exploratory research to uncover needs and evaluative research to test solutions within project timelines.

• Data Triangulation: Integrating insights from disparate sources (qualitative research, quantitative data, analytics, customer feedback) into a cohesive understanding.

• Influencing Stakeholders: Persuading a wide range of stakeholders with varying priorities and levels of research understanding.

• FTC Nature: Adapting to a fixed-term contract, requiring rapid onboarding and impactful contributions within a defined period.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Methodological Advancement: Deepening expertise in advanced qualitative and quantitative research techniques.

• Industry Insight: Gaining comprehensive knowledge of the financial services landscape and customer needs within it.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Developing strong partnerships with product, design, and engineering disciplines.

• Strategic Impact: Contributing to high-level product strategy and roadmap development.

• Community Learning: Benefiting from the knowledge and experience of a large, established research community.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for senior roles in large organizations, with the FTC adding a specific time-bound pressure. The growth opportunities are significant, particularly in terms of specialized skills and strategic impact within the financial sector.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you developed a research strategy for a complex product or service. What were the key considerations and how did you align it with business goals?" (Preparation: Focus on strategic planning, goal alignment, and stakeholder buy-in.)

• "How do you approach synthesizing insights from both qualitative and quantitative data to tell a compelling customer story?" (Preparation: Prepare a case study demonstrating mixed-methods research and clear narrative construction.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for Lloyds Banking Group, and how do you see your research skills contributing to our mission of helping Britain prosper?" (Preparation: Research LBG's mission, values, and recent initiatives; connect your skills to their strategic objectives.)

• "How do you foster collaboration within multi-disciplinary teams, especially when research findings might challenge existing assumptions?" (Preparation: Discuss your approach to inclusive research practices and stakeholder management.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: Prioritize projects that demonstrate clear business value and user-centered outcomes.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, methodology, key findings, recommendations, and the measurable impact.

• Be Methodologically Sound: Be prepared to defend your choice of research methods and explain how they addressed the research questions.

• Showcase Synthesis: Demonstrate your ability to weave together diverse data sources into a coherent and actionable narrative.

• Engage Your Audience: Treat the portfolio review as a conversation, inviting questions and tailoring your explanations to the interviewer's background.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on showcasing strategic research leadership, mixed-methods expertise, and a proven ability to drive tangible business impact through user insights, all within the context of a large financial institution.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link.

• Tailor your CV: Highlight experience in qualitative and quantitative research, strategy development, stakeholder influence, and specific methodologies mentioned in the job description (usability testing, surveys, ethnography). Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare your Portfolio: Curate 2-3 of your strongest research projects that demonstrate end-to-end process, mixed-methods application, and significant impact. Be ready to present and discuss these in detail.

• Research Lloyds Banking Group: Understand their mission, values, recent news, and the financial services landscape they operate in. Consider how your research skills align with their strategic goals.

• Practice your Presentation Skills: Be prepared to articulate your process, findings, and impact clearly and concisely, especially for portfolio reviews and potential case study presentations.

⚠️ 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.

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