UX Research Consultant

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Research Consultant Company: WPP Media (Code) Location: Manchester, United Kingdom Job Type: Full-Time Category: User Experience (UX) Research & Design Operations Date Posted: 2025-10-21 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and facilitate the end-to-end product lifecycle, integrating qualitative and quantitative research methods to inform design and business strategy.
• Champion an insight-led approach within product teams, ensuring continuous research is embedded into build, measure, and learn cycles.
• Drive a joined-up research approach across disciplines, fostering an experimentation-driven DNA for innovative user research and experience design.
• Translate gathered insights into tangible design deliverables and structures that inform product thinking and strategic decision-making.
• Collaborate closely with designers, developers, analysts, and clients to deliver world-class, commercially successful digital products and services.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior individual contributor with strong leadership and mentoring expectations. The focus is on a blend of hands-on research execution, strategic influence, and fostering research best practices within cross-functional teams. The "Operations" aspect of this role lies in the systematic application and propagation of research methodologies to ensure consistent, high-quality product development and client success.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and conduct end-to-end user research activities, employing a diverse range of qualitative and quantitative methods to gather deep user insights and inform product strategy.
• Facilitate the entire product lifecycle, from initial problem definition and ideation through to production, experimentation, and final delivery, ensuring alignment with the original vision and highest standards of craft.
• Embed a continuous research and experimentation mindset (build, measure, learn) within product teams, enabling them to make data-driven decisions and iterate effectively.
• Develop and produce essential design deliverables, tools, and structures derived from research findings to guide product thinking, user experience design, and strategic planning.
• Make sound, evidence-based decisions by critically evaluating data, insights, and user needs, providing expert advice to internal teams and clients.
• Foster strong collaborative relationships with designers, developers, analysts, product owners, and clients to define impactful research programs and innovative product experiences.
• Maintain a holistic view of product strategy, ensuring research activities directly contribute to broader business objectives and deliver measurable customer and commercial value.
• Balance user needs and business objectives with brand considerations, project timelines, budgets, and technological constraints to achieve commercially viable and user-centric solutions.
• Ensure all design and product development efforts are grounded in empathy, consistently forming and testing ideas with the needs and behaviors of real people in mind.
• Cultivate and maintain strong, positive client relationships, acting as a trusted advisor and research lead for assigned programs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic leadership, hands-on execution, and a strong focus on embedding research practices into the core product development lifecycle. The "full product lifecycle" and "build, measure, learn" mentions highlight an operational approach to research, focusing on process and continuous improvement.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While formal education is not explicitly stated as a requirement, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Design, or a related field is typically expected for this level of consultancy. Equivalent practical experience will be highly valued.

Experience:

• 5-10 years of progressive experience in User Experience (UX) research, with a proven track record of leading research initiatives across various clients and projects.
• Demonstrated experience in managing the research component of the full product lifecycle, from discovery to post-launch iteration.
• Experience in a consultancy or agency environment, working with diverse clients and project types, is highly desirable.

Required Skills:

• Design Research Expertise: Proficient in designing, planning, and executing a broad range of qualitative and quantitative research methods (e.g., user interviews, usability testing, surveys, ethnographic studies, contextual inquiry, card sorting, tree testing).
• Facilitation Mastery: Exceptional ability to facilitate diverse and progressive design research methods, including in-person interviews, observations, stakeholder workshops, and remote sessions.
• Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interrogate multiple data sources, identify root causes, and develop insightful, non-obvious solutions to complex problems.
• Effective Communication: Ability to articulate research findings, insights, and recommendations clearly and persuasively in both formal (presentations, reports) and informal settings to diverse audiences.
• Stakeholder Management & Persuasion: Proven ability to influence and convince stakeholders and team members about the value of user research and how meeting user needs drives tangible business results.
• Empathy & User Centricity: Deep understanding and consistent application of user empathy to inform design decisions and ensure solutions are grounded in real people's needs.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Ability to work effectively within cross-functional product teams (designers, developers, analysts) and build strong, collaborative relationships with clients.
• Commercial Acumen: Understanding of how to balance user needs with business objectives, brand identity, time, budget, and technological constraints to deliver commercially successful outcomes.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in running kick-off calls, writing recruitment screeners, and creating detailed discussion guides and task lists.
• Proven experience planning and conducting stakeholder interviews to gather business context and requirements.
• Proficiency in planning and facilitating collaborative workshops with peers and clients for activities such as prioritization, ideation, and strategy development.
• Experience in proposing and testing information architecture (IA), taxonomies, navigation structures, and key product journeys.
• Familiarity with modern product management and development practices (e.g., Agile, Scrum).
• Experience in leading and facilitating Design Sprints.
• Specialist knowledge in areas such as Brand, Art Direction, or Motion Research.
• Survey writing and analysis skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The 'Skills, knowledge and experience' section has been structured to clearly delineate essential versus desirable competencies, enhancing clarity for applicants. The emphasis on 'running' research activities, 'facilitation,' and 'communication' directly supports the operational aspect of embedding research into product development workflows.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing a range of UX research projects, demonstrating the ability to apply various research methodologies effectively across different client contexts.
• Case studies that clearly articulate the research problem, the chosen methodology, the process followed, key insights derived, and the impact of the research on product decisions and outcomes.
• Evidence of translating research insights into actionable design deliverables, such as user personas, journey maps, user flows, wireframes, or prototypes.
• Demonstrations of how research was integrated into an iterative product development process, including examples of experimentation and learning cycles.
• Examples of how user needs were balanced with commercial objectives and business goals within projects.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates should be prepared to discuss their systematic approach to planning and executing research programs, including how they define research objectives, select appropriate methods, manage recruitment, and synthesize findings.
• Ability to articulate how they ensure research activities are documented and communicated effectively to cross-functional teams and stakeholders to drive adoption of insights.
• Experience in contributing to or establishing research best practices and guidelines within teams or organizations.
• Examples of how they have used research to inform and validate strategic product decisions and roadmaps.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX Research Consultant role, a portfolio is critical for demonstrating practical application of research skills. The focus here is on showcasing the process of research and its operational integration into product development, not just the final outputs.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for a UX Research Consultant with 5-10 years of experience in Manchester, United Kingdom, the estimated annual salary range is £55,000 - £75,000. This range accounts for the seniority of the role, the required expertise, and the cost of living in Manchester.

Benefits:

• Generous Annual Leave Allowance: Typically 25-30 days plus public holidays, reflecting a commitment to work-life balance.
• Professional Development Budget: Support for training, conferences, workshops, and certifications relevant to UX research and design, encouraging continuous learning.
• Pension Scheme: Competitive employer contribution to a company pension plan.
• Health and Wellness Programs: Access to private healthcare, mental health support, and wellness initiatives.
• Hybrid Working Model: Flexibility to balance in-office collaboration with remote work, supporting efficient workflow and personal well-being.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential support services for personal and professional challenges.
• Opportunities for Mentorship and Coaching: Access to senior leadership for guidance and career development.
• Team Social Events and Activities: Fostering a strong sense of community and collaboration.

Working Hours:

• Standard working hours are typically 40 hours per week. However, the hybrid work arrangement offers flexibility, allowing for adaptation of schedules to accommodate project needs and personal commitments, while ensuring core collaboration times are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary ranges are estimates based on current market data for similar roles in the specified location. Benefits are common offerings for mid-to-senior level roles in the UK tech/media industry. The role's hybrid nature implies a need for structured time management to ensure operational efficiency.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Transformation, Marketing, Media, and Technology Services. WPP Media operates within a dynamic sector that bridges creative services, data analytics, and technology solutions for a diverse range of clients. Company Size: WPP is a global network of agencies, with Code (formerly Code Computerlove) being a significant part of its UK operations. The specific size of the Code division in Manchester would likely be in the range of 100-500 employees, contributing to a larger WPP global workforce of tens of thousands. This size offers the stability and resources of a large corporation with the agility of a focused digital agency. Founded: Code (formerly Code Computerlove) was established in 1999. WPP itself was founded in 1982. This long history indicates a stable, experienced organization that has successfully navigated industry evolution.

Team Structure:

• Cross-Functional Product Teams: The UX Research Consultant will work within agile, cross-functional product teams, comprising designers, developers, analysts, product owners, and potentially client-side representatives.
• Reporting: This role likely reports into a Head of UX, Design Director, or a similar senior leadership position within the Code division. There may also be a dotted line reporting relationship to project leads or client directors.
• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on collaborative working, with regular interaction across disciplines and with clients. The culture promotes shared ownership and collective problem-solving.

Methodology:

• Human-Centred Design: Core to the agency's approach, emphasizing deep user understanding and empathy.
• Agile & Iterative Development: Projects are managed using agile methodologies, with a focus on iterative development, testing, and learning.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Insights from research, analytics, and experimentation are used to inform strategic and tactical decisions.
• Commercial Impact Focus: The agency prides itself on delivering measurable business results for clients, ensuring that creative and technical solutions drive commercial value.

Company Website: https://www.wpp.com/ (WPP Group), https://www.codecomputerlove.com/ (Code division, though the job posting mentions "Code" as part of WPP Media).

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding WPP's broader ecosystem and Code's specific positioning within it provides context for the types of clients and projects the UX Research Consultant will encounter. The emphasis on "new kind of digital partner" and "reinvent" suggests a forward-thinking, adaptive culture.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a senior individual contributor with significant leadership responsibilities. It sits at a Consultant level, indicating a high degree of autonomy, expertise, and the ability to influence strategy. It's a step above a junior or mid-level researcher and precedes more senior roles like Lead UX Researcher or Head of UX.

Reporting Structure: The UX Research Consultant will likely report to a senior leader within the UX/Design discipline (e.g., Head of UX, Design Director). They will also work closely with Product Owners, Project Managers, and other discipline leads within project teams. The role requires influencing peers and mentoring junior team members.

Operations Impact: The UX Research Consultant's impact is fundamental to the success of digital products and services. By ensuring that products truly meet user needs and deliver commercial value, they directly influence customer satisfaction, engagement, conversion rates, and ultimately, client business objectives. Their work operationalizes the understanding of users into tangible product features and experiences.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Progression: Potential to move into Lead UX Researcher, Principal UX Consultant, or Head of UX roles, managing larger teams and more complex programs.
• Specialization: Opportunity to develop deep expertise in specific research areas (e.g., service design, behavioral economics, specific industry verticals) or advanced methodologies.
• Strategic Influence: Increased involvement in shaping client strategies, agency-wide best practices, and new service offerings.
• Mentorship & Coaching: Formal opportunities to mentor junior researchers and designers, developing leadership and people management skills.
• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Exposure to a wide range of digital disciplines (strategy, creative, engineering, data analytics) within WPP's broader network.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Consultant" title implies a significant level of autonomy and strategic input. Growth paths will involve deepening expertise, expanding influence, and potentially moving into management or specialized strategic roles, all within the operational framework of delivering client value.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as Hybrid. This typically means a blend of working from the company's office in Manchester and working remotely. The company culture emphasizes collaboration and mentorship, suggesting that in-office days will be crucial for team interaction, workshops, and client meetings. Office Location(s): Manchester, United Kingdom. Specific office details would need to be confirmed, but it's generally expected to be in a central, accessible location within the city.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office environment likely features open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and dedicated spaces for workshops and brainstorming sessions, facilitating seamless collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard UX research tools, software, and collaboration platforms will be provided to support efficient research execution and communication.
• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for informal and formal interaction with UX/UI designers, developers, analysts, project managers, and other colleagues, fostering knowledge sharing and a strong team dynamic.

Work Schedule:

• The hybrid model offers flexibility. While a standard 40-hour week is expected, there's scope for adapting working hours to suit project demands and personal needs, provided core collaboration times and client commitments are met. This flexibility is key to managing research workflows effectively alongside other operational tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role is a key aspect of the work environment, requiring strong self-management and communication to maintain operational continuity and team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.
• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, showcasing key UX research projects, methodologies, insights, and impact. This is a critical stage to evaluate practical skills and communication abilities.
• Technical/Skills Interview: Deeper dive into research methodologies, problem-solving approaches, and experience with specific tools and techniques. This may involve hypothetical scenarios or case studies.
• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential peers (designers, developers) and senior stakeholders to assess collaboration style, leadership potential, and alignment with company values.
• Final Interview: Often with a senior leader (e.g., Head of UX, Director) to discuss strategic alignment, career aspirations, and final offer details.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-4 of your strongest, most relevant projects that demonstrate a breadth of skills and a clear impact.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process (methodology), the insights, the solutions you informed, and the measurable outcomes. Focus on your specific contributions.
• Highlight Process: Emphasize your systematic approach to research, including how you selected methods, managed challenges, and translated findings into actionable recommendations. This demonstrates operational rigor.
• Showcase Impact: Quantify the results of your research whenever possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion times, increased user satisfaction scores).
• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your decision-making process, how you handle conflicting feedback, and how you adapt your approach to different client needs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready for a practical exercise, which might involve analyzing a problem statement, proposing a research plan, or critiquing an existing design.
• Focus on demonstrating your thought process, your understanding of user needs, and how you would apply research methods operationally to achieve specific goals.
• Practice articulating your recommendations clearly and concisely, as if presenting to a client or product team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not just what they did, but how they did it and why, showcasing their operational thinking and ability to drive tangible results through research.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Research Platforms: Tools for conducting remote interviews, usability testing, and surveys (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey).
• Collaboration & Prototyping: Software for wireframing, prototyping, and collaborative design (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Miro, Mural).
• Data Analysis Software: Tools for qualitative data analysis (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo) and potentially quantitative analysis (e.g., Excel, SPSS, R, Python for statistical analysis).
• Project Management & Communication: Platforms for team collaboration and project tracking (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello, Slack, Microsoft Teams).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics for understanding user behavior on live products.
• BI/Dashboarding Tools: Experience with tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Looker for visualizing user data and research insights.

CRM & Automation:

• While not core UX research tools, an understanding of how CRM data (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms can inform user segmentation and research targeting is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in a range of UX research tools is expected. The ability to leverage data analysis and visualization tools is also crucial for synthesizing and communicating research findings effectively within an operational context.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Brilliance & Craftsmanship: A commitment to high-quality work, both in research execution and in the insights and recommendations provided. Striving for excellence in every aspect of the role.
• Continuous Improvement: A dedication to self-improvement, learning new methodologies, and actively seeking ways to enhance personal skills and the effectiveness of research processes.
• Collaboration & Joy: Valuing strong teamwork, positive working relationships, and the ability to achieve more through effective collaboration. Being a pleasure to work with is as important as technical skill.
• Empathy & Human-Centrusticity: Placing the needs and experiences of real people at the forefront of all research and design activities.
• Data-Driven Insight: A belief in using evidence, data, and user insights to inform decisions and drive strategy.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively working within multidisciplinary teams, ensuring research insights are shared and integrated into the work of designers, developers, and strategists.
• Open Communication & Feedback: Encouraging a culture where feedback is openly exchanged, and constructive critique is welcomed to improve both the research process and the final product.
• Knowledge Sharing: Proactively sharing learnings, best practices, and new research techniques with colleagues to elevate the overall capability of the team and agency.
• Client Partnership: Building trust and strong working relationships with clients, acting as a collaborative partner in their product development journey.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values emphasize a blend of technical excellence, collaborative spirit, and a people-centric approach, which are crucial for a UX consultant operating within a client-facing agency environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Competing Demands: Managing multiple client projects simultaneously, each with unique research needs, timelines, and stakeholder expectations, while maintaining high quality.
• Translating Insights into Action: Ensuring that research findings are not just delivered but are effectively understood, adopted, and acted upon by product teams and clients to drive meaningful change.
• Navigating Client Stakeholder Dynamics: Effectively communicating research value and recommendations to diverse client stakeholders, some of whom may have differing perspectives or priorities.
• Keeping Pace with Evolving Methodologies: Continuously learning about and adapting to new research tools, techniques, and ethical considerations in the rapidly changing UX landscape.
• Demonstrating ROI: Clearly articulating and proving the commercial value and return on investment of UX research activities to clients and internal leadership.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Methodologies Training: Access to specialized training in areas like service design, mixed-methods research, generative AI in research, or advanced qualitative analysis techniques.
• Industry Conferences & Events: Opportunities to attend leading UX and research conferences (e.g., CHI, UXPA, IxDA) to stay abreast of trends and network with peers.
• Mentorship Programs: Formal or informal mentorship from senior UX leaders within WPP Media, providing guidance on career progression and skill development.
• Contribution to Agency Best Practices: Opportunities to contribute to the development of agency methodologies, toolkits, and training materials, solidifying expertise and leadership.
• Exposure to Diverse Industries: Working with a varied client portfolio across different sectors, providing broad experience and transferable skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the operational complexities of a consulting role, requiring strong project management, communication, and strategic thinking. Growth opportunities focus on deepening expertise and expanding influence within the agency and client landscape.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex product challenge you faced and how you used UX research to define the problem and inform a strategic solution. Walk us through your process." (Focus on problem framing, methodology selection, and strategic impact.)
• "How do you ensure your research findings are actionable and adopted by product teams and clients? Provide an example of a time you encountered resistance and how you overcame it." (Focus on communication, persuasion, and stakeholder management.)
• "Imagine a client wants to build a new feature but has limited budget and time. How would you approach scoping research to provide maximum value within these constraints?" (Focus on pragmatism, prioritization, and operational efficiency.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding of WPP Media and Code, how do you see your UX research approach aligning with our values and client-centric methodology?" (Research WPP Media's approach to digital transformation and Code's emphasis on human-centered design.)
• "How would you foster an 'insight culture' within a product team, especially if research isn't initially prioritized?" (Focus on proactive engagement, demonstrating value, and collaborative methods.)
• "Discuss a time you had to balance user needs with commercial objectives or technical limitations. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on commercial acumen and pragmatic problem-solving.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the "before" (problem/opportunity), "during" (your research process and insights), and "after" (impact/outcomes).
• Highlight Your Role & Process: Be specific about your contributions and the steps you took. Emphasize how you operationalized research.
• Showcase Deliverables: Present examples of your key research outputs (e.g., journey maps, personas, reports) and explain their purpose and use.
• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your research and its contribution to business goals.
• Prepare for Deep Dives: Be ready to answer detailed questions about your methodology, decision-making, and how you handled any challenges encountered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just research skills, but also strategic thinking, client management capabilities, and the ability to operate effectively within an agency's operational framework.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Research Consultant position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Greenhouse job board.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience with specific research methodologies, client-facing roles, and contributions to product lifecycle management. Use keywords from the job description such as "UX Research," "Design Research," "Full Product Lifecycle," "Facilitation," and "Stakeholder Management."
• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 3-4 of your strongest UX research projects. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your process, key insights, actionable recommendations, and measurable impact. Focus on demonstrating how your research operationalized user understanding into product success.
• Research WPP Media & Code: Understand their client base, recent work, and stated values. Prepare to discuss how your skills and approach align with their business and culture.
• Practice Your Portfolio Presentation: Rehearse walking through your case studies, focusing on storytelling, clarity, and demonstrating your strategic and operational approach to research. Be ready to answer in-depth questions.

⚠️ 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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