Senior UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Researcher

Company: interactive investor

Location: Manchester, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience (UX) Research / Product Development

Date Posted: 2026-02-20

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years indicated)

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office, 2 days remote)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and execute comprehensive user research initiatives, leveraging both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to deepen the understanding of user behaviors and needs.

• Drive a user-centric transformation within a leading financial services platform, directly influencing product strategy and roadmap development.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including UX Designers, Product Managers, Developers, and Analysts, to translate research insights into actionable product improvements.

• Advocate for user needs and champion data-driven decision-making throughout the product development lifecycle, ensuring intuitive and high-performance user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is explicitly for a Senior UX Researcher, indicating a need for significant experience in research design, execution, and strategic influence. The hybrid nature with specific office days suggests a structured approach to team collaboration and knowledge sharing. The company's focus on financial services implies a need for understanding complex user journeys and regulatory environments.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Embed user research practices into the core discovery and product development processes, working in close alignment with Onsite Analytics, Product Owners, and Product Managers.

• Manage end-to-end research projects, encompassing planning, participant recruitment (in-house or via third parties), moderation, data collection, rigorous analysis, and clear debriefing.

• Design and facilitate engaging workshops to foster ideation, problem-solving, and stakeholder alignment around user insights.

• Conduct primary and secondary user research, employing a diverse array of qualitative and quantitative methods to gather comprehensive data.

• Perform market and ethnographic research to understand broader user contexts, competitive landscapes, and emerging trends.

• Execute and evaluate usability studies to identify friction points and opportunities for enhancing user interaction with products and services.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify, prioritize, and evaluate key research topics that align with business objectives and user needs.

• Develop and implement strategic user research plans and methodologies tailored to project goals and company objectives.

• Effectively communicate research findings and actionable insights to diverse audiences through compelling written reports and oral presentations.

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders across the organization, influencing product decisions through evidence-based research.

• Provide mentorship, guidance, and coaching to fellow UX professionals, designers, copywriters, and product managers to up-skill the team and embed a user-first mindset.

• Champion accessibility standards within the UX Research team and ensure research outputs contribute to accessible product design.

• Drive the implementation of research insights across the organization, ensuring that user feedback informs strategic initiatives and operational improvements.

• Demonstrate adaptability and resilience in a dynamic and evolving business environment, consistently delivering high-quality research outputs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a comprehensive scope for a Senior UX Researcher, extending beyond basic research execution to include strategic planning, team enablement, and cross-functional influence. The emphasis on embedding research and advocating findings suggests a proactive role in shaping product strategy.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Design, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior UX Researcher role.

Experience: A minimum of 5-10 years of hands-on experience in UX research is implied by the "Senior" title and the depth of responsibilities, with a proven track record of leading research initiatives and influencing product decisions.

Required Skills:

• Mentoring Skills: Demonstrated ability to guide and develop junior researchers and other team members.

• Qualitative Research Methods: Deep understanding and practical application of methods such as user interviews, focus groups, ethnographic studies, and contextual inquiries.

• Quantitative Research Methods: Proficiency in utilizing methods like surveys, A/B testing analysis, statistical analysis, and data interpretation.

• User Research Methodologies: Comprehensive knowledge of a broad range of UX research techniques and their appropriate application.

• User Interviews: Expertise in planning, conducting, and synthesizing insights from one-on-one user interviews.

• Usability Testing: Skill in designing, moderating, and analyzing moderated and unmoderated usability tests.

• Diary Studies: Experience in designing and managing diary studies to capture longitudinal user behavior and attitudes.

• Competitor Research: Ability to conduct thorough analysis of competitor products and user experiences.

• Communication Skills: Exceptional verbal and written communication, with the ability to articulate complex findings clearly and persuasively.

• Proactive Attitude: A self-starter mindset, capable of identifying research opportunities and driving initiatives independently.

• Data Synthesis: Strong analytical skills to synthesize findings from various research methods into coherent and actionable insights.

• Report Writing: Proficiency in creating clear, concise, and impactful research reports for diverse audiences.

• User Recruitment: Experience in planning and executing effective participant recruitment strategies.

• Stakeholder Communication: Confidence and skill in engaging with and presenting to senior stakeholders.

• Resilience: Ability to handle challenging feedback, navigate complex projects, and maintain effectiveness under pressure.

• Accessibility: Understanding and advocacy for accessibility principles in UX research and design.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the financial services or FinTech industry.

• Familiarity with onsite analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics).

• Experience with A/B testing platforms and analysis.

• Knowledge of UX design principles and best practices.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The extensive list of required skills, particularly in both qualitative and quantitative methods, underscores the senior nature of this role. The emphasis on mentoring and stakeholder communication indicates expectations for leadership and strategic influence beyond individual research contributions.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: A portfolio showcasing detailed case studies of research projects led, demonstrating the research process from problem definition to actionable insights and impact.

• Methodology Diversity: Evidence of applying a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods appropriate to different project needs and research questions.

• Impact Demonstration: Clear articulation of how research insights directly influenced product decisions, user experience improvements, and contributed to business objectives (e.g., increased conversion, reduced support queries, improved customer satisfaction).

• Deliverable Examples: Examples of research deliverables, such as detailed reports, presentations, personas, journey maps, and user flows informed by research.

Process Documentation:

• Research Planning: Demonstrations of structured research plans, including clear objectives, hypotheses, target user groups, chosen methodologies, and timelines.

• Execution & Analysis: Examples that highlight the systematic approach to data collection, rigorous analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, and the synthesis of findings.

• Insight Communication: Evidence of translating complex research data into clear, concise, and compelling narratives and actionable recommendations tailored for product teams and stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: While a formal portfolio isn't explicitly requested, the responsibilities and skills imply that candidates will need to present evidence of their work, likely through a portfolio or detailed examples during the interview process. The focus should be on the 'how' and 'why' of their research process and its tangible impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: From £42,400 per year.

• Regional Considerations: For Manchester, England, a salary of £42,400 for a Senior UX Researcher with 5-10 years of experience is competitive, potentially on the lower to mid-range depending on the specific company's compensation philosophy and the candidate's full skillset and experience depth. The UK market for UX research roles can vary significantly by location and industry, with London often commanding higher salaries. A more typical range for a Senior UX Researcher in Manchester might extend to £50,000 - £65,000+, so this figure could represent a starting point or be indicative of a specific compensation band.

Benefits:

• Group Personal Pension Plan: 8% employer contribution and 4% employee contribution.

• Life Assurance and Group Income Protection: Providing financial security for employees and their families.

• Private Medical Insurance: Provided by Bupa, offering access to private healthcare services.

• Annual Leave: 25 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays, providing ample time for rest and rejuvenation.

• Staff Discounts: Discounts on interactive investor's investment products, encouraging employee engagement with the company's offerings.

• Personal & Well-being Fund: A dedicated fund to support employees' physical and mental wellness.

• Retail Discounts: Savings available at a wide range of high street and online retailers, offering broad lifestyle benefits.

• Voluntary Flexible Benefits: Options to tailor benefits packages to suit individual lifestyle needs and preferences.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week. The hybrid arrangement allows for flexibility, with 3 days in the Manchester office and 2 days remote.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary is a starting point. A Senior UX Researcher in the UK, especially with specialized financial services experience, could command a higher salary. Candidates should be prepared to negotiate based on their specific experience and the full scope of responsibilities. The benefits package is comprehensive, offering strong support for financial security, health, and work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services / Investment Platform. interactive investor operates within the FinTech sector, providing investment services, financial content, and a community platform for investors. This industry is characterized by a need for trust, security, data accuracy, and increasingly, user-friendly digital experiences.

Company Size: Interactive Investor has grown significantly, managing assets under administration approaching £75 billion and serving over 500,000 customers. While an exact employee count isn't provided, this scale suggests a large, established organization with sophisticated operational structures and a substantial customer base.

Founded: The company has been helping investors for nearly 30 years, indicating a long history and established presence in the market. This longevity suggests a stable organization with a deep understanding of the investment landscape, while also acknowledging the need for modernizing its user experience.

Team Structure:

• The Senior UX Researcher will work within a team of UX professionals who are leading a user-centric product transformation. This implies a dedicated UX function that is central to the company's strategic direction.

• The role involves close collaboration with UX Designers, UX Copywriters, UX Researchers, Analysts, Product Owners, Product Managers, Developers, Testers, Customer Service Advisers, and various business stakeholders. This indicates a highly cross-functional and collaborative working environment.

Methodology:

• The company is undergoing a "user-centric product transformation," indicating a deliberate shift towards data-driven decision-making and a focus on user needs.

• Research insights will be used to "generate ideas and highlight opportunities for our roadmaps," suggesting an agile and iterative approach to product development where research directly informs strategic planning.

• The emphasis on "better design thinking and a user-centered focus" points to a culture that values innovation and a proactive approach to improving user experiences.

Company Website: ii.co.uk

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's position as a leading investment platform suggests a mature business embracing digital transformation. The UX team is positioned as a key driver of this change, requiring researchers to be influential and strategic. The blend of established financial services with a drive for modern UX implies a dynamic work environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Senior level within the UX Research discipline. This implies a significant degree of autonomy, responsibility for leading complex research projects, and the expectation to mentor and guide more junior team members. A Senior UX Researcher is expected to contribute strategically, not just operationally, by identifying key research opportunities and influencing product roadmaps.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Researcher will work closely with and report into a UX leadership structure, likely a Head of UX or similar, while collaborating daily with Product Owners, Product Managers, Designers, and Developers. This structure facilitates both specialized UX focus and deep integration with product teams.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is significant, as research insights are intended to "inform, influence and support cross functional teams" and "champion user driven decisions." The Senior UX Researcher's work directly contributes to creating "simple, intuitive but high-performance user experiences," which in turn impacts customer acquisition, retention, satisfaction, and ultimately, the company's financial performance and market standing.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: The explicit requirement for mentoring skills suggests opportunities to grow into a team leadership or management role, potentially managing a team of UX Researchers or contributing to the strategic direction of the UX function.

• Specialization & Breadth: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific research methodologies or expand into related areas such as product strategy, service design, or advanced analytics integration.

• Industry Influence: Contributing to a user-centric transformation in the financial services sector offers the chance to shape user experience within a critical industry and build a strong professional reputation.

• Career Progression: Potential to move into roles like Lead UX Researcher, UX Manager, Head of UX, or even Product Management roles, leveraging deep user understanding.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Senior title and emphasis on mentoring and strategic influence indicate clear pathways for career advancement within interactive investor or the broader FinTech/UX industry. The role is designed to be impactful and provides opportunities for both skill enhancement and leadership development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "Hybrid - 3 days in Manchester, 2 days remote." This indicates a modern work environment that balances the benefits of in-person collaboration and team cohesion with the flexibility of remote work. The Manchester office is likely equipped to support collaborative activities.

Office Location(s): Manchester, England, United Kingdom. This location suggests a vibrant city environment with access to talent and resources. Specific details about the office's amenities or accessibility would be company-specific.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The requirement to work 3 days a week in the office is designed to foster strong collaboration among UX professionals, product teams, and stakeholders. This facilitates real-time problem-solving, idea generation, and relationship building.

• Tools and Technology: While not explicitly detailed, it's assumed the office and remote setup will support standard UX research tools for data collection, analysis, collaboration, and communication. Access to necessary software and hardware will be provided.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model allows for dedicated time for in-person team meetings, workshops, and spontaneous interactions that are crucial for building team rapport and fostering a shared understanding of user challenges.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is specified, with the hybrid arrangement offering flexibility in how those hours are structured between office and remote work. This allows operations professionals to manage their time effectively while ensuring consistent contribution to team goals and research activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key feature, indicating a commitment to work-life balance while ensuring team cohesion and productivity. The Manchester location places the role in a significant economic hub.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a call with an HR representative or recruiter to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the direct hiring manager (likely a Head of UX or similar) to delve deeper into experience, research philosophy, and strategic thinking.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A critical stage where candidates present their portfolio, showcasing key research projects, methodologies, and impact. This will likely involve a presentation and Q&A session with the UX team and potentially product stakeholders.

• Skills-Based Exercise/Case Study: Candidates may be given a hypothetical research problem or asked to analyze a dataset to assess their practical research skills, analytical abilities, and problem-solving approach.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with peers from Product Management, Design, Development, or other relevant teams to assess collaboration skills and ability to integrate research insights into product workflows.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Product, CTO) for final assessment of strategic alignment and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your senior-level capabilities, covering a range of methodologies and showcasing significant impact.

• Structure Your Narratives: For each project, clearly outline: the business/user problem, your research objectives, the methodologies used (and why), your role and contributions, key findings, actionable recommendations, and the resulting impact or outcomes. Quantify impact wherever possible (e.g., "led to a 15% increase in task completion rate").

• Highlight Leadership & Mentorship: Emphasize instances where you led research initiatives, mentored junior team members, or influenced strategic decisions.

• Showcase Adaptability: Include examples that demonstrate your ability to adapt research methods to different contexts, constraints, and project phases.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your decision-making process, how you handle conflicting data, how you advocate for user needs, and how you collaborate with diverse teams.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Company: Research interactive investor's products, target audience, and recent news. Consider the unique challenges of UX research in the financial services sector (e.g., regulation, complex user journeys, trust).

• Anticipate Research Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you would approach research for a specific feature or problem relevant to an investment platform. Think about user segmentation, key research questions, and appropriate methodologies.

• Practice Presentation Skills: Rehearse your portfolio presentation and any potential case study responses to ensure clarity, conciseness, and confidence. Focus on storytelling and demonstrating your thought process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely rigorous, with a strong emphasis on practical application and strategic thinking. A well-prepared portfolio and thoughtful responses to research scenarios will be crucial for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Research Platforms: Proficiency with tools for survey creation (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics), user interview scheduling and conducting (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet, Lookback), and usability testing platforms (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze).

• Data Analysis Software: Experience with qualitative data analysis tools (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo) and quantitative analysis tools (e.g., Excel, SPSS, R) for synthesizing research findings.

• Collaboration Tools: Familiarity with tools like Jira, Confluence, Miro, Mural, and Slack for cross-functional teamwork, documentation, and ideation.

• Design Prototyping (for testing): While not a designer, understanding and potentially testing prototypes created in tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD is beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Experience with tools like Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics to understand user behavior on the website and app.

• Reporting & Visualization: Ability to use tools like Tableau, Power BI, or even advanced Excel/Google Sheets to create reports and dashboards that communicate research insights effectively.

CRM & Automation:

• While direct CRM/automation tool usage might not be the primary focus, understanding how user data is managed within CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, Dynamics 365) and its implications for research can be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role requires a broad toolkit, focusing on research execution and analysis. Familiarity with the broader product development technology stack (analytics, collaboration, design tools) is essential for effective integration and communication.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A core value where understanding and advocating for the user is paramount in all product decisions.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasizing the use of research insights and analytics to inform strategy and design.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Encouraging open communication and teamwork across departments to achieve shared goals.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: A mindset focused on exploring new ideas, challenging the status quo, and consistently enhancing user experiences and internal processes.

• Integrity & Trust: Essential in the financial services industry, this value underpins how the company operates and interacts with its customers.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The UX team is central to product development, working seamlessly with Product Management, Design, Development, and Analytics to ensure user needs are met.

• Insight Advocacy: A proactive approach to sharing research findings and influencing decisions, often through presentations and direct engagement with stakeholders.

• Feedback Culture: An environment where constructive feedback is welcomed and utilized for continuous improvement of both products and internal processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Mechanisms for sharing research findings, best practices, and learnings across the UX team and wider organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's transformation towards user-centricity suggests a culture that is embracing change and valuing user feedback. Collaboration is key, and researchers are expected to be active participants in the product lifecycle, not just observers.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Driving Cultural Change: Influencing a traditionally financial services-oriented company to fully embrace a user-centric mindset requires strong advocacy and consistent delivery of impactful insights.

• Balancing Research Rigor with Speed: In an agile environment, researchers must find ways to conduct thorough research efficiently without compromising quality, especially when rapid product iterations are needed.

• Complexity of Financial Products: Understanding and researching complex investment products and user needs within a regulated industry can be challenging.

• Integrating Diverse Data Sources: Synthesizing insights from qualitative research, quantitative analytics, customer feedback, and market trends to form a holistic view of the user.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Methodologies: Opportunities to master or introduce cutting-edge UX research techniques and tools.

• Financial Services Expertise: Deepening knowledge of the investment industry, its users, and regulatory landscape.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Developing coaching and team leadership skills through mentoring junior researchers and contributing to UX strategy.

• Cross-functional Skill Development: Gaining a deeper understanding of product management, agile development, and business strategy through close collaboration.

• Industry Conferences/Training: Potential support for attending relevant UX research and FinTech conferences or pursuing certifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior roles in transforming organizations. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a clear path for professional development and career advancement by leveraging the unique context of the financial services industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to influence a skeptical stakeholder to adopt your research recommendations. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on advocacy, data presentation, and stakeholder management.)

• "Walk us through a complex research project you led from start to finish. What were the key challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Demonstrate end-to-end research process, problem-solving, and resilience.)

• "How would you approach researching the user needs for a new feature on an investment platform, considering both novice and experienced investors?" (Assess ability to segment users, define research questions, and select appropriate methodologies.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about interactive investor and our mission?" (Showcase your research into the company, its products, and its market position.)

• "How do you see your role contributing to our user-centric transformation?" (Align your skills with the company's strategic goals.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Frame each case study as a narrative with a clear beginning (problem), middle (your research journey), and end (impact/solution).

• Highlight Your Role: Clearly articulate your specific contributions, especially for team projects. As a senior, emphasize leadership, strategic input, and mentorship.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals where possible (e.g., snippets of reports, personas, key findings summaries) to make your presentation engaging.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify results and explain the business value of your research. How did it improve the product, user experience, or business metrics?

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your methodological choices, data interpretation, and how you handled any challenges or limitations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating senior-level strategic thinking, leadership, and the ability to translate research into tangible business impact. Understanding the FinTech context is crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the Workable application link provided.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your experience in qualitative and quantitative research, user-centric product development, and any experience within financial services or complex digital platforms. If you have a portfolio, ensure it showcases projects relevant to this role, emphasizing senior-level contributions and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your years of experience, specific research methodologies employed, and quantifiable achievements. Use keywords from the job description such as "user research," "qualitative," "quantitative," "usability testing," "stakeholder communication," and "mentoring."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your research process, decision-making, and impact. Prepare examples for common UX research interview questions, focusing on your senior-level experience and ability to mentor. Rehearse your portfolio presentation for clarity and conciseness.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research interactive investor, its products, competitors, and recent news. Understand their current market position and their stated goal of a "user-centric product transformation" to tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.