UX Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Researcher

Company: Utility Warehouse

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience (UX) Research / Product Research

Date Posted: 2026-03-16

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-4 years)

Remote Status: Remote first with monthly office travel

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive user-centric product development by conducting comprehensive UX research studies, from planning and execution to synthesis and recommendation.

• Collaborate closely with Product, Design, and Engineering teams to embed user insights into the daily product development lifecycle, ensuring user needs inform design iterations.

• Operate with a high degree of autonomy on feature-level work, proactively identifying user pain points and testing design solutions to advance product strategy.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of research operations and knowledge sharing within the dedicated Research team, refining research craft and maintaining insight repositories.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a mid-level UX Researcher, requiring 2-4 years of experience specifically within a product development context. The emphasis on autonomy and partnership with Product Managers and Designers suggests a role that bridges pure research with direct product influence, demanding strong communication and strategic thinking beyond just data collection. The "Remote first" policy with expected monthly office travel indicates a hybrid model requiring adaptability.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Research Strategy & Planning: Partner with product managers and designers to define clear research goals and objectives; independently select and apply appropriate research methodologies (e.g., usability testing, user interviews, surveys, diary studies) to address project needs and meet deadlines.

• Research Execution & Synthesis: Confidently plan, moderate, and facilitate research sessions with participants, ensuring ethical research practices. Synthesize qualitative and quantitative data to identify key user behaviors, motivations, pain points, and opportunities.

• Insight Communication & Translation: Develop and present clear, concise research reports, presentations, and artifacts (e.g., user journeys, empathy maps, personas) that effectively communicate findings and their implications to cross-functional teams. Translate complex data into digestible, actionable recommendations that directly inform design and product iterations.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Serve as a key research partner to Product Managers and Designers, ensuring research goals align with specific feature development and that research insights are seamlessly integrated into the user experience design process.

• Research Operations & Practice Contribution: Actively contribute to the Research team's culture by participating in critiques, sharing learnings, and assisting with participant recruitment, consent management, and the maintenance of insight repositories and knowledge management systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of independent research execution and strong collaborative partnership. The emphasis on translating data into "digestible, objective recommendations" and informing "design iterations" points to a role that requires not just research skills but also an understanding of product development workflows and the ability to influence product decisions.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience:

• 2-4 years of dedicated experience in UX Research, specifically applied within a product development environment.

• Proven track record of independently designing, executing, and synthesizing research studies to answer product-related questions.

Required Skills:

• Methodological Foundation: Strong understanding and practical application of core UX research principles, techniques, and best practices.

• Research Design & Execution: Ability to define research questions, select appropriate methodologies, plan study logistics, and recruit participants.

• Moderation & Facilitation: Proficient in moderating research sessions (remote and in-person), employing effective probing techniques to uncover user behaviors, motivations, and pain points.

• Data Analysis & Synthesis: Skill in analyzing both qualitative (e.g., interview transcripts, observational notes) and quantitative (e.g., survey data, analytics) data to identify recurring themes, patterns, and actionable insights.

• Communication & Presentation: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present findings clearly and concisely to diverse audiences (including non-researchers) without relying on overly academic jargon.

• Problem Solving: Natural ability to take a defined problem space and structure an effective research study to evaluate it.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with specific research tools (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey).

• Familiarity with A/B testing and experimental design.

• Experience with creating user journey maps, empathy maps, and personas.

• Understanding of agile development methodologies and how research integrates into sprints.

• Experience contributing to or managing insight repositories.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement is specific (2-4 years in product development). The emphasis on methodological foundation and the ability to "independently design, execute, and synthesise" studies suggests a need for a candidate who can manage research projects end-to-end with minimal supervision. The preference for specific tools and agile familiarity would be beneficial additions.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: A well-curated portfolio showcasing 2-4 detailed case studies demonstrating your end-to-end UX research process. Each case study should clearly outline the problem, your research approach, methodologies used, key findings, and the impact of your research on product decisions and user experience improvements.

• Methodological Diversity: Portfolio examples should highlight your proficiency in a range of research methods, including both qualitative (e.g., interviews, usability testing) and quantitative (e.g., surveys, data analysis) techniques.

• Impact & Outcomes: Clearly articulate the tangible outcomes and impact of your research. Quantify improvements where possible (e.g., reduction in task completion time, increase in user satisfaction scores, identification of critical usability issues).

• Collaboration & Communication: Demonstrate how you collaborated with cross-functional teams (design, product, engineering) and how you communicated your findings and recommendations effectively.

Process Documentation:

• Research Planning Documentation: Examples of research plans, including objectives, target users, methodologies, timelines, and success metrics.

• Synthesis Artifacts: Showcase examples of synthesized research findings, such as affinity diagrams, empathy maps, user journey maps, or detailed reports that clearly articulate insights and recommendations.

• Recommendation Delivery: Evidence of how you translated research insights into actionable recommendations for product and design teams, and how these recommendations were implemented.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UX Researcher role, a strong portfolio is paramount. The emphasis is on showcasing the entire research process and demonstrating a clear link between research activities and positive product outcomes. Articulating impact with data is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• For a UX Researcher with 2-4 years of experience in London, UK, a typical salary range would be between £45,000 and £65,000 per annum. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in the London tech market, considering the cost of living and the "industry benchmarked salary" mentioned in the listing.

Benefits:

• Industry-Paced Salary: Competitive remuneration benchmarked against industry standards.

• Flexible Work Environment: Remote-first policy with monthly travel to the Farringdon office, offering a blend of flexibility and in-person collaboration.

• Electric Car Scheme: Access to a salary sacrifice scheme for electric vehicles through Tusker.

• Employee Discounts & Rewards: Discount on UW services, a free Cashback Card, and access to a wide range of rewards and discounts via Perkbox.

• Financial Security: Matched contribution pension scheme, life assurance (up to 4x salary), free mortgage advice, and a financial wellbeing tool.

• Family Support: Comprehensive family-friendly policies designed to support employees and their families.

• Health & Wellbeing: Discounted private health insurance, access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), a free Virtual GP service, and the Unmind wellbeing app for mental health support.

• Inclusive Culture: Access to belonging groups to shape a more inclusive future for UW.

• Career Development: Commitment to career growth through learning, coaching, and new experiences.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week (standard full-time).

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical London market rates for this experience level and role. The "Remote first" policy is a significant benefit, balanced by the requirement for monthly office visits, which should be factored into commute planning. The extensive benefits package reflects a company investing in employee well-being and financial security.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Utilities (Energy, Broadband, Mobile, Insurance) and Technology. UW operates in a competitive, regulated market, aiming to simplify utility management for consumers through a single platform and bill.

Company Size: Utility Warehouse is a significant player in the UK utilities market. While the exact employee count isn't provided, the ambition to "double in size" suggests a company that is growing rapidly and has established operational processes but is scaling significantly. This implies opportunities for process improvement and the need for adaptable team members.

Founded: The founding date is not provided, but UW has been established for some time, indicating a mature business model with a history in the market.

Team Structure:

• Research Team: You will be an active member of the Research team, participating in critiques, sharing learnings, and helping to maintain research operations and insight repositories. This suggests a dedicated research function with opportunities for peer learning and knowledge sharing.

• Cross-functional Squads: You will work closely with Product, Design, and Engineering teams, operating as a key partner within a specific product squad. This implies a matrixed or agile team structure where research is embedded within development teams.

• Reporting: While not explicitly stated, UX Researchers typically report into a Head of UX, Head of Product, or a similar leadership role overseeing product development and user experience.

Methodology:

• User-Centric Approach: The company emphasizes putting "people first" and being a "dedicated advocate for the user," indicating a strong commitment to user-centered design and research.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The expectation to translate "data into digestible, objective recommendations" suggests that decisions are informed by research findings and analytics.

• Agile Development: Collaboration with Product, Design, and Engineering within daily product development processes strongly implies an agile or iterative product development methodology.

• Continuous Improvement: The focus on refining craft, sharing learnings, and maintaining repositories points to a culture that values continuous learning and process optimization within the research function.

Company Website: uw.co.uk

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission to simplify utilities and its ambitious growth plans are key context points. The "Remote first" with monthly office visits suggests a modern, adaptable work culture, likely supported by strong digital collaboration tools. The emphasis on user advocacy and data-driven decisions is central to this UX Research role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a mid-level UX Researcher role (2-4 years of experience). It requires the ability to work autonomously on feature-level projects, plan and execute studies independently, and synthesize findings into actionable recommendations. This level typically involves contributing significantly to specific product areas rather than setting broad research strategy for the entire organization.

Reporting Structure: The UX Researcher will report into a lead within the Research team and work closely with Product Managers and Designers within their designated product squad. This structure allows for both specialized research development and close integration with product development cycles.

Operations Impact: The UX Researcher's impact is directly tied to improving the user experience of Utility Warehouse's products and services. By identifying user pain points and testing design solutions, the role directly influences product usability, customer satisfaction, adoption rates, and ultimately, customer retention and acquisition, which are critical for achieving the company's growth objectives.

Growth Opportunities:

• Senior UX Researcher: Progression to a Senior UX Researcher role, taking on more complex research projects, mentoring junior researchers, and potentially contributing more significantly to research strategy and operations.

• Specialization: Opportunity to specialize in specific research areas (e.g., quantitative research, generative research, service design research) based on interest and business needs.

• Research Management: With significant experience and demonstrated leadership, potential to move into a Research Lead or Manager position, overseeing a team of researchers and setting the research agenda.

• Product Strategy: Deeper involvement in product strategy discussions, leveraging research insights to shape the product roadmap and identify new opportunities.

• Cross-functional Expertise: Gaining deeper expertise in product development, design thinking, and agile methodologies through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for a UX Researcher at a growing company like UW typically involves increasing autonomy, scope of influence, and leadership. The company's stated commitment to "helping you develop your career journey" suggests structured support for professional development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company operates on a "Remote first" model, supplemented by monthly travel to their office located in Farringdon, London. This indicates a hybrid work arrangement that prioritizes remote work flexibility while maintaining opportunities for in-person collaboration, team building, and strategic discussions.

Office Location(s): The primary office location mentioned is Farringdon, London. This central London location is likely accessible via public transport for those who choose to attend office days.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Flexibility: The "Remote first" approach means the primary work environment will be home-based, requiring individuals to have a suitable home office setup conducive to focused work and virtual collaboration.

• Collaborative Hub: The Farringdon office serves as a hub for in-person collaboration, team meetings, workshops, and potentially social events, fostering team cohesion and facilitating more dynamic brainstorming sessions.

• Technology Enabled: Given the remote-first nature and collaboration needs, expect a robust technology stack for communication (e.g., Slack, Teams), project management (e.g., Jira, Asana), and research tools.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are 40 per week. The "Remote first" policy implies flexibility in how these hours are structured, allowing for potential adjustments to accommodate personal needs, provided core collaboration needs and deadlines are met. This flexibility is beneficial for researchers managing participant schedules and deep work sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Remote first" with monthly office visits is a key aspect of the work environment. Candidates should be comfortable with remote work and prepared for monthly travel to London, which may involve overnight stays depending on their home location. This model aims to balance individual flexibility with essential team connection.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: The interview process is likely to involve several stages, common for UX Research roles in tech companies:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter to discuss your background, experience, and interest in the role, and to provide salary expectations.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A more in-depth conversation with the hiring manager (likely a Research Lead or Product Manager) focusing on your UX research experience, methodologies, and how you approach problem-solving.

• Portfolio Review / Presentation: A dedicated session where you present your portfolio, walking through 1-2 key case studies. This is a critical stage to demonstrate your research process, critical thinking, and ability to communicate findings effectively.

• Skills-Based Exercise/Take-Home Task: You might be given a small research problem to solve or asked to critique a design, demonstrating your practical skills and thought process.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with members of the Product, Design, and Engineering teams to assess your collaboration style and how you integrate with development squads.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a more senior leader to assess cultural fit and overall suitability.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Frame your case studies as stories – what was the problem, what did you do, what did you learn, and what was the impact?

• Focus on Process: Clearly articulate how you conducted your research, not just what you found. Explain your methodology choices and rationale.

• Demonstrate Impact: Quantify the impact of your research whenever possible (e.g., "led to a 15% increase in task completion," "identified critical usability issues that were fixed, reducing support tickets").

• Highlight Collaboration: Explain how you worked with designers, product managers, and engineers. Show how your insights were translated into action.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to present your most impactful work concisely. Focus on the most relevant aspects for the role.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your methodology, challenges faced, how you handled conflicting feedback, and what you would do differently.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the UW Product: Familiarize yourself with Utility Warehouse's services (energy, broadband, mobile, insurance) and their current digital offerings.

• Research UW's User Base: Consider who their typical customers are and what their needs and pain points might be when managing utilities.

• Practice Methodologies: Be ready to discuss how you would approach common UX research tasks, such as evaluating a new feature, identifying pain points in a user flow, or understanding user needs for a new service.

• Prepare for Behavioral Questions: Think about examples that demonstrate your problem-solving skills, collaboration style, ability to handle feedback, and passion for user advocacy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is the most critical component for a UX Researcher. Candidates should select case studies that best represent their ability to independently manage research projects and drive product impact. The "Remote first" policy might mean that initial interviews are conducted entirely remotely.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Research Platforms: Experience with platforms for remote usability testing and participant recruitment (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, UserZoom, Optimal Workshop).

• Survey Tools: Proficiency in creating and distributing surveys for quantitative data collection and analysis (e.g., Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms).

• Collaboration Tools: Familiarity with tools that facilitate remote collaboration and communication, such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, and Miro for virtual whiteboarding.

• Project Management Tools: Experience with tools used in agile development environments for tracking research tasks and progress (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Synthesis & Analysis: Skills in qualitative data analysis (e.g., using tools like Dovetail, NVivo, or even advanced spreadsheet techniques) and basic quantitative analysis.

• Reporting & Visualization: Ability to create clear, compelling reports and presentations using tools like PowerPoint, Google Slides, or potentially data visualization tools if required for specific quantitative outputs.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary focus for UX Research, an understanding of how user data is managed within a CRM (like Salesforce) or how automated user journeys are implemented can be beneficial for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific tools mentioned are examples common in the UX Research field. While proficiency in all is unlikely, demonstrating experience with a relevant subset and the ability to quickly learn new tools is essential. The emphasis here is on tools that support remote research execution and collaborative synthesis.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User Advocacy: A core value of being a "dedicated advocate for the user" means prioritizing user needs and perspectives in all decision-making processes. This translates to a commitment to ethical research and ensuring user feedback directly influences product direction.

• Collaboration: The emphasis on working "in the trenches alongside designers and product managers" highlights a value placed on teamwork and cross-functional partnership. Research insights are seen as a shared asset, not siloed information.

• Proactivity & Autonomy: The description of the role requiring a "proactive team player" and operating with a "high degree of autonomy" suggests a culture that empowers individuals to take initiative, identify opportunities, and drive work forward without constant supervision.

• Clarity & Conciseness: The need to present findings "clearly without relying on overly academic jargon" points to a value on clear communication and making insights accessible and actionable for a broad audience.

• Continuous Improvement: Contributing to the research team's culture, refining craft, and assisting with repositories indicates a commitment to ongoing learning, skill development, and building collective knowledge.

Collaboration Style:

• Embedded Research: The UX Researcher is expected to be a key partner within product squads, working closely with Product Managers and Designers on a daily basis. This implies a deeply integrated and iterative collaboration style.

• Insight Sharing: Active participation in the Research team involves sharing learnings, critiquing work, and contributing to shared resources, fostering a culture of collective learning and mutual support.

• Stakeholder Engagement: The role requires effective communication and translation of research findings to various stakeholders, indicating a need for strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships across departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture seems to foster a balance between individual autonomy and strong team collaboration, with a clear focus on user-centricity and practical, actionable insights. The "Remote first" model necessitates proactive communication and a strong digital collaboration ethic.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Research Methodologies: Independently selecting the best methodology for each project while meeting tight product deadlines can be challenging. Striking a balance between research rigor and speed is key.

• Translating Insights into Action: Effectively communicating complex research findings and persuading cross-functional teams to adopt recommendations, especially when faced with competing priorities or different perspectives.

• Maintaining Research Operations: Assisting with participant recruitment and repository management can be time-consuming and requires organizational skills, especially in a growing company.

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Ensuring effective collaboration and communication with distributed team members in a "Remote first" environment, requiring proactive engagement and strong digital facilitation skills.

• Impact Measurement: Quantifying the direct impact of UX research on business metrics can be difficult but is crucial for demonstrating value.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Methodologies: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific research methods or learn new ones through hands-on experience and potentially internal/external training.

• Cross-functional Skill Development: Gaining a deeper understanding of product management, UI/UX design principles, and agile development processes through daily collaboration.

• Mentorship: Potential for mentorship from senior researchers or product leaders within the organization.

• Impactful Projects: Contributing to a rapidly growing company means working on significant features and initiatives that have a direct impact on the business and customer base.

• Career Progression: Clear pathways exist for advancement into Senior or Lead UX Researcher roles, as outlined in the Career & Growth Analysis section.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a mid-level researcher in a fast-paced, growing environment. The opportunities for growth are significant, especially given the company's stated commitment to career development and the potential for increased responsibility as the research function matures.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to choose between multiple research methodologies for a project. What factors influenced your decision, and what was the outcome?" (Assesses research strategy and decision-making)

• "Walk me through a complex research project from start to finish. What was the problem, your approach, your key findings, and how did you influence the product?" (Assesses end-to-end process, synthesis, and impact)

• "How do you translate qualitative research findings into actionable recommendations for designers and product managers?" (Assesses synthesis and communication skills)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Utility Warehouse and our mission to simplify utilities?" (Assesses company research and alignment)

• "How do you advocate for the user when there are conflicting business priorities or stakeholder opinions?" (Assesses user advocacy and negotiation skills)

• "Describe your experience working in a remote-first environment. What strategies do you use to collaborate effectively with distributed teams?" (Assesses remote work readiness and collaboration style)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select 2-3 Strongest Case Studies: Choose projects that best showcase your end-to-end process, problem-solving abilities, methodological range, and demonstrable impact.

• Structure for Clarity: For each case study, follow a clear narrative: Problem/Opportunity -> Your Role & Approach -> Methodology & Execution -> Key Findings -> Recommendations -> Impact/Outcome.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your research (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced error rates, increased satisfaction scores).

• Highlight Collaboration: Explicitly mention how you partnered with Product, Design, and Engineering.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your methodology choices, participant selection, data analysis, and how you handled any challenges or unexpected findings.

• Showcase Synthesis Skills: Clearly articulate the "so what?" of your findings – what are the implications for the user and the business?

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to not only present their portfolio but also to discuss their research philosophy and how they approach problem-solving in a product development context. Understanding UW's business and target audience will be beneficial for tailoring responses.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Smartrecruiters.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your 2-4 years of UX research experience within product development environments. Emphasize your proficiency in core research methodologies, your ability to work autonomously, and your collaborative approach.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly lists relevant UX research skills, tools, and methodologies. Use action verbs and quantify achievements where possible, focusing on your impact on product decisions and user experience.

• Portfolio Walkthrough Practice: Practice presenting your chosen portfolio case studies. Focus on clear storytelling, articulating your process, demonstrating impact, and highlighting your collaboration skills. Be ready to discuss your rationale for methodology choices and how your insights drove product improvements.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Utility Warehouse's mission, services, and target audience. Understand their "Remote first" approach and their commitment to user advocacy. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.