UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Researcher

Company: KP UK (Kaplan Professional)

Location: Manchester, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience (UX) Research / Product Insights

Date Posted: March 26, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (implied 2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Conduct comprehensive user research to inform the design and optimization of Kaplan UK's digital platforms, focusing on e-commerce conversion and product enhancement.

• Analyze customer research data and provide actionable insights to the Design and wider business teams, driving data-informed decision-making.

• Translate user needs and business objectives into tangible research plans, design recommendations, and measurable outcomes.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with design, product, marketing, and development teams to ensure a cohesive and user-centric digital experience.

• Leverage a variety of research methodologies, A/B testing, and analytics tools to measure the impact of design changes and identify areas for improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is titled "UX Researcher," the description emphasizes a strong link to business goals, conversion optimization, and ROI, indicating a need for researchers who can directly impact commercial outcomes. This role sits at the intersection of user advocacy and business strategy, requiring a blend of qualitative and quantitative research skills with a commercial mindset.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and execute user research studies, including user interviews, surveys, usability testing, and contextual inquiries, to gather deep user insights.

• Analyze qualitative and quantitative data from research activities, website analytics (e.g., Google Analytics), and A/B tests to identify trends, pain points, and opportunities.

• Develop detailed research reports, presentations, and actionable recommendations for the Design team and stakeholders, clearly articulating user needs and proposed solutions.

• Inform the design of user interfaces, user flows, and overall digital product strategy based on research findings, ensuring alignment with business objectives and conversion goals.

• Advocate for the user throughout the product development lifecycle, ensuring their needs are understood and addressed in design and development decisions.

• Collaborate with product managers, designers, and developers to prioritize research initiatives and integrate findings into product roadmaps and feature development.

• Stay abreast of industry best practices in UX research, emerging technologies, and competitor activities to continuously improve research methodologies and outcomes.

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of user personas, journey maps, and other UX artifacts that represent the target audience.

• Ensure research findings are communicated effectively to diverse audiences, from technical teams to senior leadership.

• Measure and report on the impact of UX improvements on key business metrics, such as conversion rates, user engagement, and customer satisfaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "conversion optimisation on our e-commerce sites" and "enhancing the products we offer" suggests that this role will be heavily involved in direct revenue-generating activities and product improvement cycles. The responsibility for "driving both improvements for conversion optimisation" and "enhancing the products" points to a dual focus on immediate commercial gains and long-term product strategy.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Computer Science, Marketing, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Experience:

• 2-5 years of experience in UX research, product research, or a similar role, with a demonstrated ability to conduct user-centric projects.

• Proven track record of applying research insights to inform product design and drive measurable business outcomes, particularly in e-commerce or digital product environments.

Required Skills:

• Strong Analytical and Critical-Thinking Skills: Ability to dissect complex problems, analyze data, and draw logical conclusions.

• User-Centric Attitude: Deep empathy for users and a passion for advocating for their needs, balanced with a commercial understanding.

• High Standard of Research Knowledge and Skills: Proficiency in a range of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies (e.g., interviews, surveys, usability testing, card sorting, tree testing).

• Commercial Awareness & ROI Focus: Understanding of business objectives and the ability to connect research findings to tangible Return on Investment (ROI).

• Experience with Analytics Tools: Hands-on experience with web analytics packages such as Google Analytics or similar for tracking user behavior and conversion metrics.

• Knowledge of Figma: Familiarity with design and prototyping tools like Figma for understanding design outputs and potentially contributing to wireframing or prototyping concepts.

• Excellent Presentation Skills: Ability to clearly and persuasively present research findings, insights, and recommendations to diverse audiences, including senior stakeholders.

• Collaboration & Relationship Building: Proven ability to build strong business relationships and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

• Project Management Skills: Ability to plan, manage, and execute research projects efficiently, meeting deadlines and objectives.

• Creative Problem Solver: Aptitude for identifying innovative solutions to user and business challenges.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with A/B testing platforms and methodologies.

• Knowledge of web standards, browser compatibility, and device considerations.

• Experience with planning, prototyping, usability, and accessibility testing.

• Familiarity with user journey mapping and persona development.

• Experience in the education or professional development sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "commercial awareness with a proven record of driving ROI" and experience with "A/B testing and Google Analytics" strongly suggests that this role is not purely academic. Candidates are expected to demonstrate how their research directly contributes to business growth and revenue, particularly in an e-commerce context. The mention of Figma indicates a need to work closely with designers and understand the digital product creation pipeline.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstration of Research Impact: Showcase case studies detailing research projects from inception to outcome, clearly articulating the problem, methodology, findings, and the impact on product design or business metrics.

• Quantifiable Results: Include specific metrics and data that demonstrate the success of your research, such as improvements in conversion rates, user satisfaction scores, task completion rates, or reduction in support queries.

• Methodological Diversity: Present examples of using a variety of research methods (qualitative and quantitative) tailored to different research questions and project phases.

• Tool Proficiency Showcase: Highlight your experience with relevant UX research tools, analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics), and design software (e.g., Figma), explaining how you leveraged them to achieve project goals.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Provide examples of how you collaborated with designers, product managers, and developers, illustrating your ability to translate insights into actionable recommendations and integrate them into the product lifecycle.

Process Documentation:

• Research Planning: Document your approach to defining research objectives, selecting appropriate methodologies, recruiting participants, and developing research plans.

• Data Analysis & Synthesis: Illustrate your process for analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, synthesizing findings, and identifying key themes and insights.

• Recommendation Development: Showcase how you translate research insights into clear, actionable recommendations that align with business goals and product strategy.

• Reporting & Presentation: Demonstrate your ability to create compelling research reports and presentations that effectively communicate findings and influence decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX Researcher role with a commercial focus, a portfolio is crucial. It should go beyond simply listing projects to demonstrating a clear process and measurable impact. The emphasis on ROI and conversion optimization means portfolios should highlight how research directly contributed to business success, not just user satisfaction. Clearly outlining the research process, from planning to synthesis and recommendation, will be key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £37,581 – £47,000 per annum (based on a Full-Time role, 37.5 hours per week)

Benefits:

• Generous Annual Leave: 28 days of annual leave, with the option to purchase additional days.

• Commuting Support: Season ticket loan and cycle to work scheme to facilitate sustainable commuting.

• Professional Development: Significant discounts on Kaplan courses for employees and their families, fostering continuous learning.

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness: Private medical insurance, income protection, and life insurance for peace of mind.

• Employee Assistance Program: A 24/7 confidential helpline offering counseling and support services for employees and their families.

• Retirement Savings: Company pension contributions to support long-term financial security.

• Enhanced Family Leave: Maternity, Adoption, Shared Parental, and Paternity/Partner pay that exceeds statutory minimums, supporting work-life balance during significant life events.

Working Hours:

• Full-time, 37.5 hours per week.

• Hybrid working model, combining home and office-based work at the Manchester office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specified salary range of £37,581 – £47,000 per annum for a UX Researcher in Manchester, UK, aligns with mid-level market rates for this profession in a major UK city. The extensive benefits package, including enhanced family pay and professional development discounts, reflects a commitment to employee well-being and growth, which is attractive to operations professionals seeking a supportive work environment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Education & Professional Development (specifically apprenticeships, accountancy, finance, and banking courses, and professional assessments).

Company Size: Part of the Kaplan group, a global organization operating in over 30 countries with a vast network of partnerships (over 1,000 educational institutions and 10,000 businesses). Kaplan Professional UK specifically is a significant provider within this structure.

Founded: Kaplan group founded in 1937, with Kaplan Professional UK being a long-standing provider in the professional education sector.

Team Structure:

• Reporting: The UX Researcher will report to a lead within the Design team, likely a Head of Design or UX Lead, and will work closely with product managers and other design specialists.

• Collaboration: The role requires close collaboration with the broader Design team, product development teams, marketing, and potentially customer service and sales to gather insights and disseminate research findings.

• Specialization: Within the Design team, this role focuses specifically on user research, complementing roles in UI design, UX/UI design, and potentially content design.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decisions: A strong emphasis on using research and data to inform business decisions, product design, and conversion optimization efforts.

• User-Centric Approach: Commitment to understanding and prioritizing user needs throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Agile/Hybrid Working: Operations within a dynamic environment that likely employs agile principles for product development and offers flexible working arrangements.

• Continuous Improvement: A culture that values ongoing learning, feedback, and iterative development to enhance digital products and services.

Company Website: https://www.kaplan.co.uk/

📝 Enhancement Note: Kaplan Professional UK operates within the large, established Kaplan Inc. network, suggesting a stable and well-resourced organization. The company's mission in education and professional development, combined with its global reach, implies a commitment to impactful work and diverse opportunities. The culture is described as valuing integrity, knowledge growth, empowerment, opportunity creation, and collaborative results, which are positive indicators for operations professionals seeking a values-driven workplace.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level UX Researcher. It requires proven experience and the ability to work independently on research projects, translate insights into actionable recommendations, and collaborate effectively with various teams. It's a key individual contributor role with potential for specialized growth within UX research.

Reporting Structure: The UX Researcher will likely report to a Design Lead or Head of UX, who will provide mentorship and guidance. They will also work closely with Product Managers, who define product strategy and roadmaps, and collaborate with UI/UX Designers and Developers who implement the designs. This structure allows for exposure to strategic product planning and hands-on design implementation.

Operations Impact: The UX Researcher's impact is directly tied to enhancing Kaplan UK's digital presence. By improving user experience and conversion rates on e-commerce sites, they directly contribute to revenue generation. By informing product enhancements, they help maintain Kaplan's competitive edge in the professional education market, influencing customer acquisition, retention, and overall user satisfaction. This role bridges user needs with business performance, making it critical to GTM and revenue operations.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization in UX Research: Deepen expertise in advanced research methodologies, qualitative analysis, quantitative modeling, and specific UX research tools.

• Lead Researcher/Managerial Path: Progress to a Senior UX Researcher role, leading research initiatives, mentoring junior researchers, or potentially moving into a UX Research Management position.

• Product-Focused Roles: Transition into Product Management or Product Ownership roles by leveraging a deep understanding of user needs and business strategy gained through research.

• User Experience Strategy: Move into a broader User Experience Strategy role, influencing the overall digital experience vision and roadmap for Kaplan UK.

• Cross-functional Skill Development: Gain exposure to product development, data analytics, and marketing through close collaboration, opening doors to related GTM or product-focused roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role's focus on conversion optimization and ROI suggests that individuals who can demonstrate measurable business impact through their research will be well-positioned for growth. The connection between UX insights and commercial success is a key differentiator for career advancement in operations and product-focused roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid working model, combining remote work with office-based collaboration at their Manchester location. This suggests a modern approach to work, balancing flexibility with the need for in-person interaction.

Office Location(s): Universal Square, Manchester, England. This location likely offers good transport links and access to amenities typical of a city business district.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The Manchester office serves as a hub for in-person collaboration, team meetings, workshops, and strategic planning sessions, fostering a sense of team cohesion and enabling richer brainstorming.

• Technology Enabled: As a modern company, expect access to standard office technology, reliable internet, and potentially specialized UX research tools and software that may be used both remotely and in the office.

• Cross-functional Interaction: Opportunities to interact with diverse teams, including designers, product managers, developers, and marketing professionals, promoting a holistic understanding of the business and product development process.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (37.5 per week) with a hybrid arrangement providing flexibility in how and where the working week is split between home and the office. This allows for better work-life integration, crucial for sustained performance in demanding operations roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a significant draw for many professionals, offering flexibility while retaining the benefits of in-office collaboration. For operations roles, this balance is often appreciated, allowing for focused deep work at home and collaborative problem-solving or strategic discussions in the office. The Manchester location is a key factor for candidates in the North West of England.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Application review including CV and Cover Letter, focusing on alignment with core requirements and demonstrated experience.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: A discussion to assess cultural fit, communication skills, understanding of UX research principles, and alignment with Kaplan's values. This stage will likely delve into your experience with user-centric design thinking and data-driven decision-making.

• Portfolio Presentation & Case Study: A critical stage where candidates present a selection of their best work. This will involve walking through 1-3 case studies, explaining their research process, findings, impact, and how they drove ROI. Expect questions on methodology, data analysis, and stakeholder management.

• Skills Assessment/Challenge: Potentially a short exercise or scenario-based questions to assess analytical skills, problem-solving abilities, or familiarity with specific research techniques or tools like Figma or Google Analytics.

• Final Interview: May involve meeting with senior leadership or key stakeholders to discuss strategic alignment and overall fit for the organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Prioritize case studies that clearly demonstrate how your research led to tangible improvements in user experience, conversion rates, or business outcomes. Quantify results wherever possible.

• Showcase Your Process: Clearly articulate your research methodology, from defining objectives and participant recruitment to data analysis and synthesis. Explain why you chose specific methods.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies as narratives that engage the reviewer and highlight your problem-solving skills and strategic thinking.

• Tailor to the Role: Select projects that best align with Kaplan's need for conversion optimization, e-commerce insights, and product enhancement. Highlight experience with A/B testing and analytics.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your decision-making process, challenges faced, how you handled conflicting feedback, and how you ensured your research was actionable.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Kaplan's Context: Research Kaplan's products, target audience, and digital presence. Consider common challenges in online education or professional development.

• Practice Research Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you would approach research for a specific hypothetical scenario, e.g., "How would you research why users abandon their shopping carts on our website?"

• Articulate Data-Driven Recommendations: Be ready to explain how you would use data (e.g., from Google Analytics or A/B tests) to support your research hypotheses and recommendations.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss your experience with Figma, Google Analytics, and other relevant tools, and how you use them to extract insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process clearly prioritizes practical application and demonstrable impact. The portfolio review is a key component, so candidates must be ready to present their work with a focus on business outcomes and research methodologies. Expect questions that probe your understanding of conversion optimization and how UX research directly contributes to revenue and business goals.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: For understanding and potentially collaborating on design artifacts, wireframes, and prototypes.

• Google Analytics: Essential for website performance analysis, user behavior tracking, and conversion rate monitoring.

• A/B Testing Platforms: Experience with tools like Optimizely, VWO, or Google Optimize for running controlled experiments and validating design hypotheses.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Software: Proficiency in Google Analytics or similar platforms for tracking user journeys, identifying drop-off points, and measuring campaign effectiveness.

• Data Visualization Tools: While not explicitly mentioned, familiarity with tools for creating clear charts and dashboards (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, or even advanced Excel/Google Sheets functions) would be beneficial for presenting findings.

• User Feedback Platforms: Experience with tools for collecting and analyzing survey data, feedback forms, and potentially NPS scores.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems (e.g., Salesforce): Understanding how user data is managed within a CRM can provide context for customer segmentation and behavioral analysis, though direct CRM management might not be a core responsibility.

• Survey Tools: Platforms like SurveyMonkey, Typeform, or Qualtrics for designing and deploying user surveys.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and Google Analytics, along with A/B testing, indicates a modern, data-driven approach to UX research. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their practical experience with these tools and how they leverage them to drive insights and business impact. Familiarity with a broader analytics and reporting stack would be advantageous.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Act with Integrity: Upholding ethical research practices, ensuring data privacy, and being honest in reporting findings, even when they are challenging.

• Grow Knowledge: A commitment to continuous learning, staying updated on UX research methodologies, tools, and industry trends, and sharing knowledge within the team.

• Empower and Support: Fostering a collaborative environment where team members feel supported, can voice opinions, and are empowered to contribute to user-centric initiatives.

• Create Opportunity: Actively seeking opportunities to apply research to improve products and user experiences, and contributing to the professional development of oneself and colleagues.

• Drive Results Together: A focus on achieving shared business objectives through effective teamwork, clear communication, and a shared commitment to delivering high-quality, impactful UX research that drives conversion and product success.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: A highly collaborative style, working closely with design, product, marketing, and development teams to ensure research insights are understood, integrated, and acted upon.

• Open Communication: Encouraging open dialogue, constructive feedback, and knowledge sharing to foster innovation and continuous improvement within the UX and product teams.

• Data-Informed Partnership: Partnering with teams by providing them with clear, actionable data and insights that support their decision-making processes, rather than dictating solutions.

• User Advocacy: Championing the user's perspective in all discussions, ensuring that business goals are met while maintaining a positive and effective user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: Kaplan's stated values provide a strong framework for the expected team culture. For a UX Researcher, "Grow Knowledge" and "Drive Results Together" are particularly relevant, emphasizing continuous learning and a collaborative, impact-oriented approach. The emphasis on user advocacy within a business context is key.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Navigating the inherent tension between advocating for ideal user experiences and meeting commercial objectives like conversion rates and ROI. This requires strong negotiation and communication skills.

• Translating Research into Action: Ensuring that research findings are not just reported but are effectively translated into actionable design changes and product improvements that get implemented.

• Data Overload & Synthesis: Managing and synthesizing large volumes of qualitative and quantitative data from various sources to extract meaningful and actionable insights.

• Rapid Iteration Cycles: Working within a fast-paced digital environment that requires quick research turnaround times to support iterative product development and A/B testing.

• Demonstrating ROI of UX: Quantifying the direct impact of UX research on business metrics, which can sometimes be challenging to isolate from other influencing factors.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Research Methodologies: Opportunities to explore and implement more sophisticated research techniques, such as advanced qualitative analysis, behavioral economics principles, or large-scale quantitative studies.

• Specialized Tool Training: Deepening expertise in analytics platforms, A/B testing tools, and advanced UX research software.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gaining deeper insights into product strategy, marketing analytics, and development processes through close collaboration.

• Industry Conferences & Workshops: Potential for attending UX and research conferences or participating in specialized training programs to enhance skills and network with peers.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to be mentored by senior design or product leaders, and potentially to mentor junior team members as experience grows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the strategic nature of the role, requiring not just research skills but also the ability to influence stakeholders and demonstrate business value. The growth opportunities are geared towards deepening expertise and expanding influence within the product and operations landscape.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used user research to significantly improve a conversion rate or a key business metric. What was your process, and what were the results?" (Focus on ROI, data analysis, and impact.)

• "How would you approach researching a decline in user engagement on our e-commerce platform? What methods would you prioritize, and how would you measure success?" (Assesses research planning, methodology selection, and metrics.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do Kaplan's values (Act with integrity, Grow knowledge, Empower & support, Create opportunity, Drive results together) align with your approach to UX research?" (Assess cultural fit and understanding of company ethos.)

• "How do you ensure your research findings are effectively communicated and acted upon by diverse teams, including those with less UX experience?" (Probes communication, collaboration, and influence skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select Impactful Projects: Choose 2-3 case studies that best showcase your ability to drive business results through research, ideally related to e-commerce, conversion, or product improvement.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline: the problem/opportunity, your research objectives, the methodology used (and why), key findings, actionable recommendations, and the quantifiable impact (metrics, ROI).

• Highlight Tool Usage: Explain how you used tools like Google Analytics, Figma, or A/B testing platforms to inform your research or present your findings.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Prepare to answer detailed questions about your research process, decision-making rationale, any challenges faced, and how you measured success.

• Connect to Kaplan: Where possible, draw parallels between your past work and Kaplan's specific needs and context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a blend of rigorous research methodology, strong analytical skills, persuasive communication, and a clear understanding of how UX research contributes to business objectives, particularly conversion and revenue. The portfolio presentation is a critical opportunity to showcase this.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your CV and a Cover Letter detailing how you meet the role's requirements via the application link provided by KP UK.

• Tailor Your CV: Ensure your resume highlights experience with user research methodologies, data analysis, conversion optimization, A/B testing, and tools like Google Analytics and Figma, using keywords from the job description. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Directly address the key requirements, emphasizing your user-centric approach, analytical skills, commercial awareness, and proven track record of driving ROI. Briefly explain why you are interested in Kaplan and this specific UX Researcher role.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 2-3 strong case studies that demonstrate your research process, findings, and, most importantly, the measurable impact you've had on business outcomes (e.g., conversion rates). Be ready to present this confidently.

• Research Kaplan: Understand Kaplan's mission, products, target audience, and digital platforms. Consider how your UX research skills can benefit their specific business goals in professional education and e-commerce.

⚠️ 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.