Senior UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Researcher

Company: Takeaway

Location: London, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: User Experience Research

Date Posted: January 13, 2026

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

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive user-centricity by identifying and prioritizing research needs within cross-functional product and design teams.

• Conduct in-depth qualitative and quantitative research to uncover user needs and pain points across the entire customer journey.

• Translate complex user problems into actionable insights that inform product strategy and design decisions.

• Advocate for accessible and inclusive design principles throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Mentor and coach junior researchers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing within the UX team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior UX Researcher within a global food delivery marketplace. The emphasis on "cross-functional teams," "fast-paced," and "discovery" suggests a dynamic environment requiring strong collaboration and the ability to manage ambiguity. The "on-site" work arrangement implies a need for strong in-person communication and team integration.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Product Managers, Designers, Engineers, and Analysts to define research objectives and methodologies aligned with business goals.

• Plan, execute, and synthesize user research studies, including user interviews, usability testing, surveys, and contextual inquiries.

• Identify opportunities for research to address ambiguous problems and drive deeper understanding of user behaviors and motivations.

• Champion accessible and inclusive design by incorporating diverse user needs into research plans and advocating for inclusive solutions.

• Develop compelling narratives and presentations to communicate research findings and recommendations to stakeholders at all levels, influencing product strategy and design.

• Mentor and guide less experienced UX researchers, providing constructive feedback and supporting their professional development.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, acting as a trusted strategic partner for user insights.

• Own the end-to-end research process, from initial ideation and planning to final playback and impact assessment, ensuring a collaborative approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on research execution and strategic influence. The emphasis on "tackling complex problems," "working with ambiguity," and "advocating for accessible and inclusive design" points to a role requiring advanced problem-solving skills and a strong ethical compass. The mentoring aspect suggests leadership potential and team development responsibilities.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 5-10 years of professional experience in UX research roles, with a proven track record of delivering impactful user insights.

Required Skills:

• Stakeholder Engagement: Proven ability to build rapport, communicate effectively, and influence decision-making with diverse stakeholders.

• Research Methods: Deep understanding and practical application of a wide range of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies (e.g., interviews, usability testing, surveys, card sorting, diary studies).

• Problem Solving: Ability to dissect complex, ambiguous problems, define clear research questions, and develop appropriate research plans.

• Storytelling: Excellent communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives that bring research findings to life and drive action.

• Mentoring: Experience in coaching and guiding junior team members, fostering their growth and skill development.

• Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment, contributing to a shared understanding and collective success.

• Accessibility & Inclusive Design: Strong knowledge of accessibility principles and inclusive design practices, with experience in conducting research with diverse user groups.

• Business Impact Translation: Skill in connecting research insights directly to business objectives and demonstrating measurable impact on product development and user experience.

• Research Processes: Experience in establishing and refining best practices for research operations and workflows.

• Growth Orientation: A proactive and curious mindset, with a commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience conducting research in e-commerce, food delivery, or a related consumer-facing digital product environment.

• Familiarity with design thinking frameworks and their application in product development.

• Experience with remote research tools and methodologies.

• Basic understanding of front-end development principles to better collaborate with engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize practical experience and a blend of technical research skills with strong soft skills like stakeholder engagement and storytelling. The "5-10 years" experience level aligns with a senior role, suggesting expectations around independent work, strategic thinking, and mentorship. The mention of "establishing best practices" implies a need for someone who can contribute to the maturity of the research function.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: Showcase at least 3-5 comprehensive case studies demonstrating your end-to-end UX research process. Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your research approach, key findings, and the impact of your research on product decisions.

• Methodological Diversity: Include examples of research employing a variety of methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) to address different types of research questions.

• Impact Demonstration: Quantify the impact of your research whenever possible, showcasing how your insights led to measurable improvements in user experience, engagement, conversion, or business metrics.

• Collaboration & Influence: Highlight instances where you collaborated with cross-functional teams and influenced product direction based on research findings.

• Process Documentation: Include examples of research plans, synthesis frameworks, or reporting templates that showcase your structured approach to research operations.

Process Documentation:

• Research Planning: Demonstrate a clear process for scoping research, defining objectives, selecting appropriate methods, and recruiting participants for diverse user groups.

• Execution & Synthesis: Showcase how you effectively conduct research sessions and synthesize complex data into actionable insights.

• Communication & Playback: Provide examples of how you present research findings to stakeholders, tailoring your communication style and format to the audience to ensure understanding and buy-in.

• Impact Tracking: Illustrate how you follow up on research recommendations to measure their effectiveness and iterate on product solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the senior nature of the role and the emphasis on influencing product strategy, a strong portfolio demonstrating a structured and impact-driven research process is crucial. The ability to showcase end-to-end ownership and collaboration will be key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £60,000 - £90,000 per annum (estimated)

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.

• Comprehensive health insurance, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and public holidays.

• Pension scheme with company contributions.

• Professional development budget for conferences, training, and certifications.

• Opportunities for internal mobility and career advancement within a global organization.

• Employee assistance program for mental well-being and support.

• Potential for hybrid work arrangements after initial on-boarding period, subject to team and business needs.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are typically 40 hours per week.

• While the role is on-site, there is an expectation of flexibility to meet project deadlines and collaborate effectively with global teams across different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on senior UX Researcher roles in London, UK, considering the company's industry and the specified experience level. Benefits are typical for a large tech organization in the UK, with specific emphasis on professional development and employee well-being, aligning with the company's stated culture.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (Online Food Delivery Marketplace)

Company Size: Large (10,000+ employees)

Founded: 2000 (Just Eat Takeaway.com formed through mergers and acquisitions)

Team Structure:

• The UX Research team is part of a larger Product & Design organization, working within agile, cross-functional "squads" or "tribes."

• Each squad typically includes Product Managers, UX/UI Designers, UX Researchers, Copywriters, Analysts, and Engineers focused on a specific product area or customer journey.

• Senior UX Researchers often take on a lead role within their squad, guiding research efforts and mentoring junior members.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasis on leveraging both quantitative data (analytics, A/B testing) and qualitative insights (user research) to inform product strategy.

• Agile & Iterative Development: Fast-paced environment focused on rapid iteration, continuous improvement, and learning from user feedback.

• User-Centricity: A core tenet, with UX research playing a critical role in ensuring user needs are at the forefront of product development.

• Experimentation: Openness to testing new ideas and features, with research informing hypothesis generation and outcome measurement.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Takeaway.com operates in the highly competitive online food delivery sector, requiring a strong focus on user experience to drive customer acquisition and retention. The company's global presence and large size suggest a structured but dynamic environment with opportunities for significant impact. The emphasis on agile methodologies and cross-functional collaboration is typical for tech companies of this scale.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior UX Researcher

This role sits within the mid-to-senior level of the UX Research career path. It requires independent execution of research projects, strategic input into product roadmaps, and the ability to mentor junior team members. The scope involves contributing to global product applications and influencing user-centric decision-making across multiple product areas.

Reporting Structure:

• Typically reports to a Head of UX Research, UX Research Manager, or a Director of Product Design.

Operations Impact:

• Directly influences product strategy and design decisions by providing deep user insights.

• Contributes to the improvement of customer acquisition, retention, and overall user satisfaction metrics.

• Helps to de-risk product development by validating concepts and identifying usability issues early in the process.

Growth Opportunities:

• Lead Researcher: Progress to leading research initiatives for larger product areas or strategic projects.

• Management Track: Transition into a UX Research Manager role, focusing on team leadership, strategy, and people development.

• Specialization: Develop expertise in specific research areas like generative research, quantitative methods, or accessibility research.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Move into Product Management or Design Strategy roles, leveraging a deep understanding of user needs.

• Global Impact: Gain experience working on products used by millions of users worldwide, contributing to international market strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Senior UX Researcher role is a pivotal point in a UX researcher's career, offering a balance of hands-on work and strategic influence. The growth opportunities at a global company like Takeaway are substantial, allowing for specialization or a move into leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Modern, collaborative office space designed to foster teamwork and innovation. Likely open-plan areas mixed with quiet zones and meeting rooms.

Office Location(s): London, United Kingdom (EC4M 7RF) - a central location offering good transport links.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment is designed to encourage spontaneous interactions, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional teamwork.

• Tools & Technology: Access to standard office productivity software, collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Teams), and specialized UX research tools.

• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities to engage with colleagues from various disciplines (Product, Design, Engineering, Data) through stand-ups, sprint reviews, and ad-hoc discussions.

Work Schedule:

• The primary work schedule is office-based, reflecting a commitment to in-person collaboration.

• While core working hours will exist, there may be flexibility to accommodate project needs, but a strong emphasis is placed on being present for team activities and stakeholder interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "on-site" requirement suggests an environment that values in-person collaboration and the serendipitous interactions that can drive innovation. This is typical for companies that prioritize a strong team culture and rapid iteration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion with the hiring manager (likely a UX Research Manager or Head of UX) to explore your background, approach to research, and suitability for the senior role.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where you will present your UX research portfolio to a panel (e.g., other researchers, designers, product managers). This is a critical stage to demonstrate your skills, process, and impact.

• Practical Exercise/Case Study: You may be asked to complete a take-home assignment or a live case study exercise to assess your problem-solving skills, research planning abilities, and how you translate ambiguity into actionable research.

• Cross-Functional Panel Interview: Interviews with key stakeholders from Product, Design, and Engineering to evaluate your collaboration skills and ability to influence cross-functional teams.

• Final Round: Potentially a final interview with a more senior leader to confirm fit and discuss overall career aspirations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies as compelling narratives. Clearly define the problem, your approach, the challenges faced, your key insights, and the tangible impact of your work.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, prototypes, data visualizations, user quotes) to illustrate your process and findings.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the business value of your research (e.g., "Our research led to a 15% increase in conversion," or "Identified usability issues that were resolved, reducing customer support tickets by X%").

• Highlight Collaboration: Explicitly mention how you partnered with product managers, designers, and engineers.

• Address Ambiguity: Showcase how you handled unclear research briefs or complex problems by defining clear research questions and methodologies.

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize projects and skills that align directly with the Senior UX Researcher responsibilities and requirements outlined in the job description.

Challenge Preparation:

• Research Planning: Be prepared to outline how you would approach a given product problem or ambiguous research brief. Think about target users, research methods, recruitment strategies, and key questions.

• Synthesis & Insight Generation: Practice distilling qualitative and quantitative data into clear, actionable insights.

• Communication: Rehearse presenting your findings concisely and persuasively, anticipating potential stakeholder questions.

• Accessibility Focus: Be ready to discuss how you incorporate accessibility and inclusive design principles into your research and recommendations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to thoroughly assess both research expertise and the ability to operate effectively in a senior, collaborative role. The portfolio presentation is a key component, requiring candidates to articulate their process and impact clearly.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• User Research Platforms: Tools like UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, dscout for remote usability testing, in-depth interviews, and unmoderated testing.

• Survey Tools: Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms for quantitative data collection and user feedback surveys.

• Collaboration & Whiteboarding: Miro, Mural for collaborative ideation, affinity mapping, and team workshops.

• Prototyping & Design Tools: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD (familiarity is helpful for understanding design outputs and providing feedback).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web/App Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel for understanding user behavior at scale and informing research questions.

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, or similar tools for creating dashboards and presenting quantitative findings.

CRM & Automation:

• While not direct UX Research tools, familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms can provide context on customer journeys and data points.

📝 Enhancement Note: A Senior UX Researcher is expected to be proficient with a range of qualitative and quantitative research tools. Familiarity with analytics platforms is crucial for cross-referencing insights and understanding the broader user data landscape. Proficiency in collaboration tools is essential for a role embedded in cross-functional teams.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user in all product decisions.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working together across teams to achieve shared goals.

• Curiosity & Learning: A continuous drive to explore, learn, and improve, both individually and as a team.

• Impact-Driven: Focus on delivering research that leads to tangible improvements and business value.

• Inclusivity & Diversity: Commitment to creating products and experiences that are accessible and welcoming to everyone.

• Agility & Adaptability: Embracing change and iterating quickly in a fast-paced environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership: Researchers work as embedded partners within product squads, not as an isolated function.

• Open Communication: Encouraging direct and honest feedback, both within the research team and with cross-functional partners.

• Knowledge Sharing: Regular opportunities to share learnings, best practices, and insights across the broader UX and Product teams.

• Proactive Engagement: Actively seeking out opportunities to contribute research insights and support product initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be dynamic, user-focused, and collaborative, aligning with modern tech industry standards. The values emphasize both the craft of UX research and its strategic integration into the business.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Ambiguity and Rigor: Navigating unclear research briefs while maintaining methodological rigor and delivering timely, actionable insights.

• Influencing Stakeholders: Effectively communicating research findings and advocating for user needs in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities.

• Global Scale: Conducting research and developing insights that are relevant and applicable across diverse global markets and user segments.

• Rapid Iteration: Keeping pace with agile development cycles and ensuring research can inform quick iterations without sacrificing quality.

• Measuring Impact: Developing robust methods to track and demonstrate the long-term impact of UX research on business outcomes.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Research Techniques: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specialized research areas or learn new methodologies.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining a broader understanding of product management, engineering, and business strategy through close collaboration.

• Mentorship: Learning from and contributing to the development of a growing UX research community within Takeaway.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Access to external learning resources to stay abreast of the latest trends and best practices in UX research.

• Leadership Development: Potential pathways for growth into leadership and management roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are characteristic of senior roles in dynamic tech environments, requiring strong problem-solving, communication, and strategic thinking. The growth opportunities are well-defined, offering clear paths for career advancement and skill enhancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to tackle a complex, ambiguous problem with limited information. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process for defining the problem, choosing methods, and communicating findings.)

• "How do you ensure your research findings are actionable and influence product decisions? Can you share an example?" (Highlight your storytelling, presentation skills, and ability to connect insights to business impact.)

• "How do you balance the need for rigor in your research with the demands of a fast-paced, agile development environment?" (Discuss your strategies for efficient research, prioritization, and delivering timely insights.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Takeaway and our mission?" (Research the company's recent news, product offerings, and market position.)

• "How do you approach advocating for accessibility and inclusive design in your research and recommendations?" (Showcase your understanding and commitment to these principles.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select Your Best: Choose 3-4 diverse case studies that best showcase your senior-level skills, end-to-end process, and impact.

• Structure Clearly: For each case study, follow a consistent narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Research Approach -> Key Findings -> Recommendations -> Impact.

• Be Concise: Allocate time wisely for each case study. Practice your delivery to ensure you cover the most important points without rushing.

• Know Your Metrics: Be ready to discuss the quantitative impact of your research clearly and confidently.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your methodology, decision-making process, challenges, and alternative approaches you might have considered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation for this role should focus on demonstrating not just research proficiency but also strategic thinking, collaborative abilities, and the capacity to mentor. The portfolio presentation is a key opportunity to showcase these skills effectively.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Takeaway careers site.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your experience with complex problems, stakeholder engagement, mentoring, and delivering measurable business impact through UX research.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience, specific research methodologies used, tools proficiency, and quantifiable achievements relevant to a senior-level role.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your research process and impact using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions. Prepare specific examples for your portfolio presentation.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Takeaway's products, market presence, and recent news to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding of their business context.

⚠️ 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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