UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Researcher
Company: AJ Bell
Location: Salford, England, United Kingdom (Hybrid)
Job Type: Full-time
Category: User Experience (UX) Research / Product Development Operations
Date Posted: December 22, 2025
Experience Level: Mid-weight (2-5 years)
Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end generative and tactical discovery research to inform product strategy and development.
• Partner closely with UX Designers and Product Teams to shape user-centered product decisions.
• Synthesize complex research findings into clear, actionable insights for immediate stakeholder use.
• Contribute to the establishment and maturation of robust UX research practices within a growing central team.
• Drive evidence-based decision-making across business units by effectively communicating research outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "UX Researcher," the responsibilities and context provided strongly indicate a role that interfaces with product development operations and GTM strategy, by ensuring user needs are deeply embedded into product direction. The emphasis on "shaping product direction," "building shared confidence," and "helping teams make better decisions earlier" aligns with operationalizing user insights for business impact.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Independently plan, execute, and deliver generative and tactical discovery research projects from problem framing to insight delivery.
• Select and apply appropriate research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) to effectively address research goals and product questions.
• Conduct a variety of qualitative research methods including moderated discovery interviews and in-person observation.
• Execute quantitative research methods such as unmoderated think-aloud studies and surveys to complement qualitative findings.
• Collaborate closely with UX Designers to support early-stage product exploration and idea refinement before evaluative testing.
• Synthesize complex research data into clear, compelling, and actionable insights that can be readily utilized by product and design teams.
• Present research findings, insights, and strategic recommendations to diverse stakeholder groups, tailoring communication for maximum impact and understanding.
• Provide strong, evidence-based support to guide product development decisions, enhancing team confidence and accelerating progress.
• Actively contribute to the development and refinement of research practices, operational workflows, and tooling as the UX Research function evolves.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for autonomy and strategic thinking, indicating this is not a purely execution-focused role, but one that requires proactive problem-solving and methodological decision-making. The emphasis on "end-to-end" research and "contributing to the development of research practices" suggests a mid-weight to senior-leaning individual contributor role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Design Research, or a related field is typically expected for a UX Researcher role. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: Proven experience (approximately 2-5 years) working as a dedicated UX Researcher, with a demonstrated ability to lead research studies independently. Experience within financial services or other regulated environments is considered a plus.

Required Skills:

• Independent Research Leadership: Proven track record of independently planning and executing end-to-end UX research studies.
• Qualitative Research Expertise: Strong foundational knowledge and practical experience in a wide range of qualitative research methods (e.g., user interviews, contextual inquiry, usability testing).
• Quantitative Research Acumen: Experience applying quantitative research methods (e.g., surveys, analytics review, unmoderated studies) to complement qualitative insights.
• Methodological Agility: Confidence in selecting and applying appropriate research methods to answer specific product and business questions, with the ability to adapt methods as needed.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Experience working effectively with UX Designers, Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders in an agile or iterative product development environment.
• Insight Synthesis & Communication: Ability to synthesize complex findings from various data sources into clear, concise, and compelling insights.
• Stakeholder Presentation: Comfort and skill in presenting research outputs and recommendations to diverse audiences, including senior leadership.
• Problem Framing: Ability to effectively frame research problems and define clear research objectives.
• Evidence-Based Decision Making: Skill in using research evidence to influence product strategy and support confident decision-making.

Preferred Skills:

• Financial Services Experience: Prior experience working within the financial services industry or other regulated sectors.
• Mixed-Methods Research: Deeper experience in designing and executing mixed-methods research studies.
• Data Analysis Tools: Familiarity with tools for survey creation, data analysis, and statistical interpretation.
• UX Design Tools: Basic understanding of UX design principles and familiarity with design tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch) to facilitate collaboration.
• Agile Methodologies: In-depth experience working within agile development frameworks (Scrum, Kanban).

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "midweight," "lead meaningful research," and "independently plan and deliver" suggests that candidates with 2-5 years of dedicated UX research experience will be a strong fit. The "helpful but not essential" mention for regulated environments indicates that broader industry experience is valued, but specific domain knowledge is a bonus.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase examples of end-to-end research projects, demonstrating initiative from problem framing to actionable insights.
• Include case studies that highlight the application of diverse qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Present clear synthesis of complex research findings and the resulting actionable recommendations.
• Illustrate successful collaboration with design and product teams, detailing your role and contribution.
• Demonstrate how your research directly influenced product direction or decision-making, ideally with measurable outcomes.

Process Documentation:

• Provide evidence of how you have contributed to or established pragmatic research practices and workflows.
• Highlight instances where you've adapted research methodologies to suit specific project needs or constraints.
• Showcase examples of how you communicate research insights effectively to different stakeholders, potentially including tailored reporting formats.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated as a "portfolio requirement," the description of the role and desired attributes ("you can run discovery research independently," "comfortable making methodological decisions," "stakeholders trust your work") strongly imply that a portfolio demonstrating these capabilities will be essential for evaluation. Candidates should prepare case studies that emphasize their autonomy, methodological rigor, and communication effectiveness.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a UX Researcher with 2-5 years of experience in the Salford/Manchester area, a competitive salary range is estimated between £40,000 and £55,000 per annum. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in the UK financial services sector, considering the company's FTSE 250 status and location.

Benefits: AJ Bell offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employee well-being and financial security, including:

• Generous starting holiday entitlement of 25 days, increasing with service.
• Holiday buy and sell scheme for greater flexibility.
• Choice of pension schemes with matched contributions up to 6%.
• Discretionary bonus scheme for performance-based rewards.
• Annual free share awards scheme.
• Buy As You Earn (BAYE) Scheme for share ownership.
• Health Cash Plan (Medicash).
• Discounted private healthcare scheme and dental plan.
• Free on-site gym membership with a variety of classes.
• Employee Assistance Programme for confidential support.
• Bike loan scheme to encourage sustainable commuting.
• Sick Pay+ Pledge for enhanced sick pay provisions.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave.
• Discounted nursery fees at Kids Planet on Exchange Quay.
• Loans for travel season tickets.
• Death in service scheme for peace of mind.
• Dedicated time and support for professional development, including conferences, training, and qualification support.
• Paid time off for volunteer work and charitable giving opportunities.
• Active social calendar with various events throughout the year.
• Parking availability at Exchange Quay.
• Peer recognition scheme with tangible rewards.
• Monthly leadership breakfasts and lunches.
• Casual dress code.
• Access to benefits from sponsorship deals.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected, likely around 37.5-40 hours per week, with a hybrid working model. A minimum of 50% of working time per month is required in the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on general UK market data for this role and experience level. Specific salary will be determined by the candidate's experience, qualifications, and performance during the interview process. The extensive benefits package demonstrates AJ Bell's commitment to employee well-being and professional growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Investment Platforms/Wealth Management). AJ Bell operates within the regulated financial services sector, specifically focusing on investment platforms. This industry demands a high degree of precision, compliance, and a strong customer-centric approach, influencing the pace and rigor of product development and research.

Company Size: Over 1,500 employees. As a FTSE 250 company, AJ Bell is a large, established organization. This size offers stability and resources but also implies a need for clear processes and effective communication to ensure agility. For operations professionals, this means opportunities for impact within a structured environment, with potential for process improvement and scalability.

Founded: December 2018 (as a listed company, with a history preceding this). AJ Bell's listing in 2018 signifies a period of significant growth and maturity. The company has a strong track record, evidenced by being named one of the UK's 'Best 100 Companies to Work For' for six consecutive years and a Great Place to Work®. This suggests a culture that values employee experience and fosters a positive work environment.

Team Structure:

• Centralized UX Research Capability: The role is part of a newly forming centralized UX Research team, indicating an opportunity to influence how research is structured and integrated.
• Business Unit Alignment: Researchers will be aligned to specific business areas (Direct to Consumer or Advised), providing focus and domain expertise while remaining part of a supportive central team.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role requires close partnership with UX Designers, Product Managers, and development teams, emphasizing a collaborative approach to product development.
• Reporting: The role does not involve line management, suggesting a focus on individual contribution and expertise, with potential for mentorship of junior researchers as the team grows.

Methodology:

• Thoughtful Execution: AJ Bell's approach to research emphasizes "doing just enough research to make confident decisions, without slowing teams down." This points to a pragmatic, agile, and impact-oriented methodology.
• Evidence-Based Decisions: A strong emphasis is placed on using "strong evidence" to support decision-making and challenge norms constructively.
• Strategic Partnership: Research is positioned as a strategic partner rather than a gatekeeper, highlighting the importance of integration and influence.
• Continuous Improvement: The role is expected to contribute to shaping research practices, suggesting a culture of learning and iterative improvement.

Company Website: AJ Bell Company Website

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture description highlights a balance between a large, stable FTSE 250 organization and a desire for agile, impactful work. The emphasis on "thoughtful execution" and "strategic partnership" is key for operations professionals looking to understand how their work will be integrated and valued.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a "midweight UX Researcher." This level typically signifies an individual contributor who can operate with a significant degree of autonomy, lead projects independently, and contribute to the strategic direction of their functional area. It's a step beyond junior roles, requiring a solid foundation of skills and the ability to mentor or guide less experienced team members implicitly through best practices.

Reporting Structure: The UX Researcher will sit within a growing central UX Research team and be aligned to a specific business area (Direct to Consumer or Advised). While not explicitly stated, they would likely report to a Head of UX Research or a similar senior leadership role within the product or design function. This structure allows for both specialized focus and integration into a broader team community.

Operations Impact: The UX Researcher's impact is centered on ensuring that product development is deeply user-informed. By leading discovery research, they directly influence product strategy, roadmap prioritization, and feature design. This ensures that AJ Bell's products meet user needs effectively, which in turn drives customer acquisition, retention, and satisfaction – critical operational metrics for a financial services platform. Their work helps mitigate the risk of building the wrong product, thereby optimizing development resources and maximizing ROI.

Growth Opportunities:

• Research Practice Development: As part of a newly centralized team, there's a significant opportunity to shape and refine research methodologies, tooling, and best practices, contributing to the operational framework of UX research at AJ Bell.
• Specialization & Domain Expertise: Alignment with specific business units (Direct to Consumer or Advised) allows for the development of deep domain expertise within the financial services sector, a valuable asset for career progression.
• Mentorship & Leadership: While not a formal line management role, the "midweight" nature suggests opportunities to mentor junior researchers, lead cross-functional initiatives, and potentially grow into lead researcher or management positions as the team expands.
• Skill Expansion: Exposure to diverse research challenges within a FTSE 250 company provides opportunities to hone both qualitative and quantitative research skills, as well as develop stronger stakeholder management and strategic influencing abilities.
• Industry Engagement: Support for attending conferences, events, and meet-ups fosters continuous learning and networking within the UX and financial services communities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "building a centralised UX Research capability" and the "midweight" designation suggests this role is ideal for someone looking to move beyond pure execution and contribute to the strategic and operational setup of a research function within a large, established company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid working model, requiring a minimum of 50% of working time in the office. This suggests a blend of focused individual work and collaborative team interaction. The initial period for new team members will be full-time in the office to facilitate onboarding and relationship building.

Office Location(s): The job description lists "Manchester or Bristol" as potential office locations for the role, although the primary address is Salford. Candidates should clarify their preferred office location during the application process. AJ Bell has offices in Manchester, London, and Bristol, with the headquarters in Manchester.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and focus on cross-functional collaboration suggest an environment where teamwork and shared working are encouraged, particularly when in the office.
• Operations Tools & Technology: While specific tools aren't detailed here, the role implies access to standard UX research software, collaboration platforms (like Slack or Teams), and potentially project management tools. The company also mentions "Dedicated time for proof-of-concepts and assessing new tech," indicating an openness to adopting effective tools.
• Team Interaction: Being part of a growing central UX Research team provides opportunities for knowledge sharing, peer support, and collaborative problem-solving. The hybrid model requires proactive engagement to maintain these connections.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (likely 37.5-40 hours per week) with a hybrid arrangement. The company culture emphasizes "thoughtful execution" and "doing just enough research to make confident decisions, without slowing teams down," suggesting a focus on efficiency and impact within the work schedule rather than simply hours logged.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment. Candidates should be prepared for a structured approach to office presence, with an initial intensive onboarding period. Clarifying the specific office location (Salford, Manchester, or Bristol) is crucial.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and CVs, likely focusing on relevant UX research experience and alignment with the role's core responsibilities.
2. Hiring Manager/Team Interview: This stage will likely delve deeper into your experience, research methodologies, and approach to problem-solving. Expect questions about past projects and how you've handled specific research challenges.
3. Portfolio Review & Presentation: A critical step where you'll be asked to present examples from your portfolio. This is where you demonstrate your research process, synthesis skills, and ability to communicate insights effectively. Be prepared to discuss your methodology, rationale, and the impact of your work.
4. Stakeholder/Cross-Functional Interview: You may meet with UX Designers, Product Managers, or other stakeholders to assess your collaboration style, communication effectiveness, and ability to integrate research into the product development lifecycle.
5. Final Interview/Offer: A final discussion, potentially with more senior leadership, to confirm fit and extend an offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 strong, representative case studies that showcase your end-to-end research process, methodological diversity (qualitative/quantitative mix), and ability to derive actionable insights.
• Focus on Process & Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate: the problem you were trying to solve, your research questions, the methods you chose and why, your process, the key insights you uncovered, and the resulting recommendations or impact on the product/business.
• Demonstrate Autonomy: Highlight instances where you independently drove research initiatives, made methodological decisions, and managed projects from start to finish.
• Quantify When Possible: If your research led to measurable improvements (e.g., increased conversion rates, reduced user errors, improved satisfaction scores), present this data clearly.
• Tailor Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio concisely and engagingly. Be prepared to adapt your presentation based on the interviewer's questions and interests. Focus on storytelling and making complex information accessible.

Challenge Preparation:

• Methodology Questioning: Be prepared to justify your choice of research methods for hypothetical scenarios. Think about the trade-offs between different approaches.
• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Anticipate questions about how you would approach a specific research problem or tackle a challenging stakeholder request. Demonstrate your critical thinking and adaptability.
• Insight Communication: Practice articulating complex findings in simple, actionable terms for different audiences (e.g., designers vs. senior executives).

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is likely to be a significant part of the interview process for this role. Candidates should focus on demonstrating not just research execution, but also strategic thinking, methodological rigor, and strong communication skills. Preparing case studies that highlight autonomy and impact will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Research Platforms: Proficiency with various UX research tools is expected. This could include platforms for:
  • Moderated & Unmoderated Testing: Tools like UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, UserZoom (now part of UserTesting).
  • Survey Creation & Analysis: Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, Typeform.
  • Recruitment & Participant Management: UserInterviews.com, specialized panel providers.
• Collaboration & Communication:
  • Messaging: Slack, Microsoft Teams.
  • Video Conferencing: Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet.
• Documentation & Synthesis:
  • Note-taking & Synthesis: Dovetail, Miro, Mural, Notion, Confluence.
  • Presentation Software: PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics for understanding user behavior on the platform.
• Data Visualization: While not a primary analyst role, understanding how to interpret and present data using dashboards (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) or within presentation software is beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management): While not directly managing a CRM, understanding how user data is captured and utilized within systems like Salesforce or a proprietary CRM could be advantageous for understanding the broader customer journey.

📝 Enhancement Note: Specific tools are not listed, but the responsibilities indicate a need for a broad toolkit. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with common UX research platforms and collaboration tools. Highlighting experience with tools that facilitate synthesis and insight sharing (like Dovetail or Miro) would be particularly relevant.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A core value, ensuring that user needs and experiences are at the forefront of product development decisions.
• Evidence-Based Decision Making: A commitment to using data and research findings to guide strategy and product direction, rather than relying on assumptions.
• Pragmatism & Efficiency: The culture values "thoughtful execution" – doing "just enough research to make confident decisions, without slowing teams down." This implies a focus on delivering value efficiently.
• Collaboration & Partnership: Research is seen as a strategic partner, fostering strong collaborative relationships with design, product, and engineering teams.
• Continuous Improvement: Encouragement to challenge norms gently, bring strong evidence, and contribute to shaping how research is done within the organization.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Partnering: Researchers are expected to "partner closely with UX Designers" and work within agile teams, indicating a highly integrated and collaborative approach.
• Constructive Challenge: The culture encourages researchers to "speak up when evidence challenges assumptions," but to do so "constructively." This points to a mature environment that values open feedback.
• Knowledge Sharing: As part of a central team, there's an implicit expectation of sharing best practices, learnings, and contributing to a collective research knowledge base.
• Agile Mindset: Working within agile teams means embracing iterative development, rapid feedback loops, and adaptable communication strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The cultural emphasis on "thoughtful execution," "evidence-based decision making," and "strategic partnership" is crucial for operations roles. This suggests a data-driven environment where research insights are valued and integrated into operational workflows for product development.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Establishing Research Practices: As part of a newly forming central UX Research function, a key challenge will be contributing to the definition and implementation of robust, scalable research processes and best practices.
• Balancing Speed and Rigor: The company's desire for "thoughtful execution" and not "slowing teams down" presents a challenge in ensuring research is both rigorous enough to be credible and fast enough to be actionable within agile cycles.
• Influencing Stakeholders: Effectively communicating complex research insights and influencing decision-making across various stakeholder groups, especially in a potentially traditional financial services environment.
• Navigating a Large Organization: Integrating research seamlessly into the product development lifecycle of a FTSE 250 company requires strong collaboration and communication skills to navigate different departments and priorities.
• Research Methodological Diversity: Ensuring a balanced and appropriate application of both qualitative and quantitative methods to address a wide range of product questions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Shaping Research Operations: Opportunity to directly influence the operational framework and strategic direction of UX Research within AJ Bell.
• Domain Expertise: Deepen knowledge in financial services and investment platforms, a highly valuable niche.
• Advanced Methodologies: Potential to explore and implement more advanced or mixed-methods research techniques.
• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Enhance skills in stakeholder management, strategic communication, and product strategy influence.
• Industry Engagement: Support for attending conferences, events, and professional development programs to stay abreast of UX research trends and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents a unique opportunity for a midweight researcher to have a significant impact on how UX research is operationalized within a large organization. The challenges are directly tied to growth and influence, making it an attractive prospect for ambitious individuals.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led a complex discovery research project from start to finish. What was your process, what challenges did you face, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on autonomy, methodology, and impact.)
• "How would you approach framing the research problem for [a hypothetical AJ Bell product/feature]?" (Demonstrate your problem definition skills.)
• "Imagine a stakeholder is pushing back on your research findings. How would you handle this situation?" (Assess your communication, persuasion, and evidence-based approach.)
• "Describe your experience collaborating with UX Designers and Product Managers. How do you ensure research insights are effectively integrated into the product development process?" (Highlight your partnership and operational integration skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about AJ Bell and the financial services industry?" (Show research into the company's mission, values, and market position.)
• "How do you see UX research contributing to the success of a company like AJ Bell?" (Connect your understanding of research's strategic value to the company's goals.)
• "The company values 'thoughtful execution.' How does this principle align with your approach to UX research?" (Demonstrate understanding of their pragmatic, impact-driven culture.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, follow a clear story arc: Problem -> Your Role/Approach -> Methodology -> Insights -> Recommendations -> Impact.
• Highlight Your Autonomy: Emphasize where you took initiative, made decisions independently, and drove the research process.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (screenshots, charts, quotes) to illustrate your process and findings.
• Focus on Actionable Insights: Clearly articulate what your research uncovered and the specific, actionable recommendations you made.
• Quantify Impact: If possible, present data showing the impact of your recommendations (e.g., improved conversion, user satisfaction).
• Practice Your Delivery: Rehearse your presentation to ensure it's concise, engaging, and within the allotted time. Be prepared for deep dives and follow-up questions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviews for UX Research roles, especially in established companies, will heavily scrutinize your research process, decision-making rationale, and ability to translate findings into actionable business outcomes. A well-prepared portfolio presentation is key to demonstrating these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.smartrecruiters.com.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight specific UX research projects, methodologies used, and quantifiable achievements. Ensure keywords such as "generative research," "discovery research," "qualitative," "quantitative," "synthesis," and "stakeholder communication" are present.
• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 2-3 strong case studies that demonstrate your end-to-end research process, your ability to work independently, and the impact of your insights. Be ready to present these concisely.
• Research AJ Bell: Understand their business model, target audience (Direct to Consumer vs. Advised), recent news, and company values. Consider how your research skills can specifically address their operational challenges.
• Practice Interview Questions: Prepare answers for common UX research interview questions, focusing on your problem-solving approach, methodological choices, and collaboration skills. Rehearse your portfolio presentation.

⚠️ 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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